I spent about 10 days using my (Herschel) Walker... lol we just had to name it that!! I was really delighted when Mike (my physical therapist) said it was time to get a cane... Yes I guess I will call it Michael (Caine?!?!) I....willhelpyou....walk....acrosstheroom. Yea that's the way they write his scripts! It would have been nice to get one with flames on it, like House's. But I'm not willing to put out 80 bucks for one. So got a black one with shiny butterflies for $15.
On 10/6 the visiting nurse came and took out the staples. They were really gross looking, and I was glad they would be gone, but I was nervous about having them removed. Turns out they come out quite easily! A few little pinches, but most of them came out painlessly!
Every Monday and Thursday the phlebotamist comes and takes my blood. Then every Tuesday and Friday the doctor's office calls me and tells me how much Coumadin to take. Coumadin is a blood thinner always prescribed after leg surgery to reduce the chances of blood clots. It is very powerful and comes with a long list of bad drug interactions. Seems like everything increases the effects of this drug. Can't wait until 10/22 which is the last day I have to take it.
For 3 1/2 weeks I have been doing my stand up leg exercises twice a day. Mike comes 3 times a week to bend and stretch the knee.
I am happy to say that I am going to the grocery store for short trips, can walk around for 30 to 45 minutes. It is so good to be getting out, but always come home exhausted. Glad I don't have to go back to work too soon!!
I go to the doctor on the 24th, and will know then when we are going to do the right knee. Until then I'll keep doing my exercises and building my stamina!
Showing posts with label knee replacement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knee replacement. Show all posts
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Hospital time....
10 days after surgery.... I am surprised at how much I can do!! I can sit at the computer long enough to check e-mail, play games and attend to this blog thing... which we all know I am horrible at doing!!
My first two thoughts waking from surgery were I couldn't get warm, and the oxygen up my nose hurt!!! Very strange everyone asking me to wiggle toes, did I know where I was, wiggle toes again.
Pretty quickly got moved to my room. Delighted that it was private! And that I stayed in the bed I was in! Chris looked happy to see me, I know he was worried. Nurses came in, set up and explained the pain pump. Also explained the other options. Dilaudid was the shit! Don't remember a lot of that day or night.
Next morning sadly my morphine pump was capped off and taken away and got my last injection of dilaudid. But that was then replaced with percosets... Yay!! Dressing was changed, and when I saw all the layers no wonder I couldn't even wiggle my knee! Those staples are scary looking. Late morning, they got me out of bed and I walked an amazing 12 steps! Sat in my recliner and had lunch. Someone from anesthesia showed up to remove the epidural. The worst was all the tape coming off. Didn't realize until later how many welts were on my back from that.
My nurse said she would remove the foley before my afternoon rehab class. But tech Dan insisted I go with it still in! Yuck it was uncomfortable. Class was tough, had to do lift knee and bend it.. OUCH but going to push it! Then more walking, and learning stairs. Walked back to my room, and finally got the foley out... good and bad because from that point on I had to get up and walk to the bathroom.
The food in the hospital was interesting. Breakfast both days was really good, eggs cooked perfectly. Lunch was good on Saturday, but it's hard to mess up a grilled cheese. Pot roast was horrible!!!! Chris got me a hoagie (he got a cheesesteak) but apparently the place had no idea how to make either! He got me snackies for the evening, and he went to get some rest.
I got forgotten when it was time for my pain meds... ended up in a lot of pain, with nausea right around shift change. After I got taken care of, I got back in bed, and finally slept, and slept!
Sunday morning got the good news from the doc that I could go home!!! Went to my morning rehab class. Found out my walker would be delivered around 2, decided to wait to leave until I took meds at 3. And yes by 3:30 we were on the way home!!
My first two thoughts waking from surgery were I couldn't get warm, and the oxygen up my nose hurt!!! Very strange everyone asking me to wiggle toes, did I know where I was, wiggle toes again.
Pretty quickly got moved to my room. Delighted that it was private! And that I stayed in the bed I was in! Chris looked happy to see me, I know he was worried. Nurses came in, set up and explained the pain pump. Also explained the other options. Dilaudid was the shit! Don't remember a lot of that day or night.
Next morning sadly my morphine pump was capped off and taken away and got my last injection of dilaudid. But that was then replaced with percosets... Yay!! Dressing was changed, and when I saw all the layers no wonder I couldn't even wiggle my knee! Those staples are scary looking. Late morning, they got me out of bed and I walked an amazing 12 steps! Sat in my recliner and had lunch. Someone from anesthesia showed up to remove the epidural. The worst was all the tape coming off. Didn't realize until later how many welts were on my back from that.
My nurse said she would remove the foley before my afternoon rehab class. But tech Dan insisted I go with it still in! Yuck it was uncomfortable. Class was tough, had to do lift knee and bend it.. OUCH but going to push it! Then more walking, and learning stairs. Walked back to my room, and finally got the foley out... good and bad because from that point on I had to get up and walk to the bathroom.
The food in the hospital was interesting. Breakfast both days was really good, eggs cooked perfectly. Lunch was good on Saturday, but it's hard to mess up a grilled cheese. Pot roast was horrible!!!! Chris got me a hoagie (he got a cheesesteak) but apparently the place had no idea how to make either! He got me snackies for the evening, and he went to get some rest.
I got forgotten when it was time for my pain meds... ended up in a lot of pain, with nausea right around shift change. After I got taken care of, I got back in bed, and finally slept, and slept!
Sunday morning got the good news from the doc that I could go home!!! Went to my morning rehab class. Found out my walker would be delivered around 2, decided to wait to leave until I took meds at 3. And yes by 3:30 we were on the way home!!
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