I've got to check back to see when I was able to stop using the cane, but I don't think it was this early. However, once I'm sitting for a while, I wish I had it!
I'm still icing quite a bit - and elevating - since the left knee is still swollen. I saw Dr. Chris on 5/7 - and he was pleased with my progress on both knees. Steve R measured me at 115 and -1 on Friday. I've started using the bike on level 1 and the NuStep on level 4 - 10 mins each. I really enjoyed the Aqua Therapy - 25 minutes of moving my legs and knees in 95 degree water!
I'm still sleeping erratically - maybe a total of 2 hrs at a time, then I flip and flop til I get comfortable again - and get another 2 hrs.... Went back to the Darvocet for night time - although I'm not sure how much good it actually does....
We leave for "vacation" next weekend - a 5 hr/4 hr two day drive to the OBX in NC. Not sure how this works with being on Medical leave, however, I'm sure the HR/Medical guys can help me with this one.... We're a little worried about the long drive, will be bringing the EBIce machine, and a converter for the car - and figure out a place I can stretch out and elevate my leg (the back seat?) during the icings. Sitting for a hr or so it just starts to ache...
More on that after our ride down next weekend!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Day 21 - Day by Day
I think your mind is an incredible thing - I realize that a mere 8 weeks ago, I was at the same stage for my Right knee, however, I don't remember the "bad" stuff. I keep thinking I was much further along in the healing/movement cycle, but it is not so.....
Michele tells me that this knee is much more flexible than the first - and that I'm really progressing well. However, my nights are restless, I am sleeping for more hours at a time, but am still struggling with the increased pain at night. One thing that is very different from the first knee, is that I am not sleeping as late - on the first one, I did my best and deepest sleeping from 7 to 9 or 10 each day. Now I'm waking up at 7, and laying in bed til 8, thinking should I take one more Darvocet? Deciding not to, and then getting up....
I went cold turkey off the Darvocet on Saturday, since I only had a few pills left, and knew I'd run out before I could get a refill. I decided to try Tylenol (well the Walgreen's generic) Arthritis formula, but I had a pretty rough day, I went along in the car with JD as he did errands, and by the end of the day, I was feeling nauseous, and a little car sick. My knees (yes both of them) were stiff, and swollen - and I spent the rest of the day and evening icing. I then tried the Tylenol PM formula, and it worked for about 4 hours, then restless...
Michele tells me that this knee is much more flexible than the first - and that I'm really progressing well. However, my nights are restless, I am sleeping for more hours at a time, but am still struggling with the increased pain at night. One thing that is very different from the first knee, is that I am not sleeping as late - on the first one, I did my best and deepest sleeping from 7 to 9 or 10 each day. Now I'm waking up at 7, and laying in bed til 8, thinking should I take one more Darvocet? Deciding not to, and then getting up....
I went cold turkey off the Darvocet on Saturday, since I only had a few pills left, and knew I'd run out before I could get a refill. I decided to try Tylenol (well the Walgreen's generic) Arthritis formula, but I had a pretty rough day, I went along in the car with JD as he did errands, and by the end of the day, I was feeling nauseous, and a little car sick. My knees (yes both of them) were stiff, and swollen - and I spent the rest of the day and evening icing. I then tried the Tylenol PM formula, and it worked for about 4 hours, then restless...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Day 14 - It's passing quickly
As I look back over the last week, I'm pleased with my progress. I've graduated to a cane, and at times, can even walk without it - but I sway badly, and don't want to get into that habit of walking.... I've walked outside several times - with JD's help walked around the yard - which is a lot harder than it sounds since the ground is uneven underneath that lush green lawn - to appreciate the spring flowers that are blooming. Our Pink dogwoods. that we planted several years ago when the sour gum fell down, are in full bloom! Very exciting! The bleeding hearts are blooming around the yard in their little shady spots. It's so much nicer to see them up close, rather than thru a window. I have to admit, I'm getting rammy!
I will be starting Out PT this week on Thursday - one day early! Colleen & Barbara (my Home PT) said that I'm doing so well, that Aetna wouldn't pay for another day of Home PT.... Surprising with my rough beginnings. However, I do know the drill, and am probably pushing it a bit - since I started doing my standing exercises earlier than they said to - just cause I needed to get moving....
My final measurements with the Goniometer were 111 degrees flexion and -.5 - 0 extension. I'm pleased.
I've also got my apetite back 100%, but am doing well at portion control - and have dropped all of the weight gain, plus some, so, hopefully next time I weigh-in with Weight Watchers, I'll be at the official 30 lbs down mark. I can tell, since I tried on three pairs of shorts, and the first two were way-y to big, so ended up with the third size down.... Yeah! What a way to lose weight! And with 3-4 lbs of new knee(s) to boot!
I'm still using the meds (darvocet) at a pretty regular pace - usually no more than 4.5 hrs between them, and can definitely feel it when I go too long. It's funny, you get a false sense of the level of pain when you're on the meds.... Over the next week, I'll be trying to space it out a lot farther...
Sleeping has also been a progression - I've moved from sleeping on my back 100% of the time to switching from side to side to back, moving when my hips, knees and everything else starts to ache... I'm now sleeping about 3 - 3.5 hrs at a clip, so that is much better.... I've stopped icing at night due to the chills.
I've started pulling my own weight around the house - well, a little anyway, and now am emptying the dishwasher, pushing the swivel sweeper (very light) around, and generally trying to pickup after myself. I've got a little carry bag that I use for all of my "have to haves", like my darvocet, book, ipod, and knitting project, that I could hook onto the walker, or carry easily while using the cane.
All in all, I'm pleased with my progress!
I will be starting Out PT this week on Thursday - one day early! Colleen & Barbara (my Home PT) said that I'm doing so well, that Aetna wouldn't pay for another day of Home PT.... Surprising with my rough beginnings. However, I do know the drill, and am probably pushing it a bit - since I started doing my standing exercises earlier than they said to - just cause I needed to get moving....
My final measurements with the Goniometer were 111 degrees flexion and -.5 - 0 extension. I'm pleased.
I've also got my apetite back 100%, but am doing well at portion control - and have dropped all of the weight gain, plus some, so, hopefully next time I weigh-in with Weight Watchers, I'll be at the official 30 lbs down mark. I can tell, since I tried on three pairs of shorts, and the first two were way-y to big, so ended up with the third size down.... Yeah! What a way to lose weight! And with 3-4 lbs of new knee(s) to boot!
I'm still using the meds (darvocet) at a pretty regular pace - usually no more than 4.5 hrs between them, and can definitely feel it when I go too long. It's funny, you get a false sense of the level of pain when you're on the meds.... Over the next week, I'll be trying to space it out a lot farther...
Sleeping has also been a progression - I've moved from sleeping on my back 100% of the time to switching from side to side to back, moving when my hips, knees and everything else starts to ache... I'm now sleeping about 3 - 3.5 hrs at a clip, so that is much better.... I've stopped icing at night due to the chills.
I've started pulling my own weight around the house - well, a little anyway, and now am emptying the dishwasher, pushing the swivel sweeper (very light) around, and generally trying to pickup after myself. I've got a little carry bag that I use for all of my "have to haves", like my darvocet, book, ipod, and knitting project, that I could hook onto the walker, or carry easily while using the cane.
All in all, I'm pleased with my progress!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Day 7 - One week after Surgery
I had a good weekend - I began to "walk" with my walker rather than step, move walker, step, move walker, etc. Good friends Rob & Deb came down on Saturday and brought dinner makings - Fish Tacos! It was really fun to be able to totally think about something else - as they related all of the decisions and milestones that they are dealing with in the rebuilding of their home.
The weather was spectacular on Saturday, and I sat on the front porch for about 1 1/2 hour - and several neighbors stopped by. The sun was out, all of the weeping cherries down the street were in full bloom, and when the wind blew - it seemed like it was snowing as the petals drifted to the ground. It reminded me of last spring when JD and I went (along with 2 million others) to Wash DC for the Cherry Blossom weekend - and walked along the Tidal Basin. I hope that I'll be able to do much longer walks than we did that weekend in the coming months and years.
One thing I found out this weekend is about my surgery day. I didn't realize how long I was in the recovery room - with JD waiting downstairs.... My surgery was 7:30am, we had to arrive at 5:30am, and I finally got to my room around 3pm. Usually you're in your room 2 - 3 hours after surgery - but in my case, my vital signs - bp, oxygen level, etc were so low that they kept me in recovery for (obviously) much longer. I don't remember any of this.
Yesterday, Sunday, I ate/drank every meal, moved a lot, did 2 rounds of my PT exercises, and generally felt much, much, much better than I have in the last week. I even started knitting again - which looking back I was doing even in the hospital last time. Boy oh Boy, was Michele right - each knee is different!
I don't feel like I have as much range of motion in this knee, but Colleen, my home PT will determine the exact measurements today on her Goniometer. My flexion measurements in the hospital were between 85 and 90 - and about 5 degrees of extension.
I took my first shower in a week today, boy did that feel good! I was glad to have the teak stool to rest on, and I even shaved my legs! Now I'm squeaky clean! It sure beats hanging over the tub holding on to the walker to wash my hair and take a sponge bath!
Thanks to everyone for their prayers, concern, caring, and comments!
The weather was spectacular on Saturday, and I sat on the front porch for about 1 1/2 hour - and several neighbors stopped by. The sun was out, all of the weeping cherries down the street were in full bloom, and when the wind blew - it seemed like it was snowing as the petals drifted to the ground. It reminded me of last spring when JD and I went (along with 2 million others) to Wash DC for the Cherry Blossom weekend - and walked along the Tidal Basin. I hope that I'll be able to do much longer walks than we did that weekend in the coming months and years.
One thing I found out this weekend is about my surgery day. I didn't realize how long I was in the recovery room - with JD waiting downstairs.... My surgery was 7:30am, we had to arrive at 5:30am, and I finally got to my room around 3pm. Usually you're in your room 2 - 3 hours after surgery - but in my case, my vital signs - bp, oxygen level, etc were so low that they kept me in recovery for (obviously) much longer. I don't remember any of this.
Yesterday, Sunday, I ate/drank every meal, moved a lot, did 2 rounds of my PT exercises, and generally felt much, much, much better than I have in the last week. I even started knitting again - which looking back I was doing even in the hospital last time. Boy oh Boy, was Michele right - each knee is different!
I don't feel like I have as much range of motion in this knee, but Colleen, my home PT will determine the exact measurements today on her Goniometer. My flexion measurements in the hospital were between 85 and 90 - and about 5 degrees of extension.
I took my first shower in a week today, boy did that feel good! I was glad to have the teak stool to rest on, and I even shaved my legs! Now I'm squeaky clean! It sure beats hanging over the tub holding on to the walker to wash my hair and take a sponge bath!
Thanks to everyone for their prayers, concern, caring, and comments!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Day 5 - First Home PT visit
Barb from VNA Visiting Nurses PT came this morning for my evaluation. She noted that my oxygen count is still low - 90 - 93, my blood pressure is high - 160/81, and pulse is high- over 100. But my temperature is normal - so that is good.... Not sure why, but decided to weigh myself - and yikes! I'm almost 10 lbs higher than the morning before we left for surgery.
We call Dr. Cascell's office to ask if all this was "normal". It took several hours for them to respond. Apparently this conditon is normal...for people who've had blood problems...due to a bad procedure! Eileen suggested geritol (iron) and/or dark green leafy vegetables.
Day 5 and have only eaten several bites of food in past 3 days...anyone who knows me knows that's unusual!!! Not sure why I'm not losing weight instead of gaining....
I think the extra weight it a result of all of the extra liquids I was given at the hospital, so will be keeping an eye on that. Maybe the hourly pee will take care of the water/liquid weight - that or the exercise of going up and down the stairs each time. This morning, I was so tired after I stayed upstairs at 10:30, and slept until each pee break. I didn't feel like making the hike up/down the stairs. I came back down around 2pm, and have eaten a little - I ate about 1 inch of the left over Bobbie from yesterday, and about 2/3 of a cup of chicken enchilada soup. Been trying to keep the water intake up to keep flushing the stuff in my body...
We call Dr. Cascell's office to ask if all this was "normal". It took several hours for them to respond. Apparently this conditon is normal...for people who've had blood problems...due to a bad procedure! Eileen suggested geritol (iron) and/or dark green leafy vegetables.
Day 5 and have only eaten several bites of food in past 3 days...anyone who knows me knows that's unusual!!! Not sure why I'm not losing weight instead of gaining....
I think the extra weight it a result of all of the extra liquids I was given at the hospital, so will be keeping an eye on that. Maybe the hourly pee will take care of the water/liquid weight - that or the exercise of going up and down the stairs each time. This morning, I was so tired after I stayed upstairs at 10:30, and slept until each pee break. I didn't feel like making the hike up/down the stairs. I came back down around 2pm, and have eaten a little - I ate about 1 inch of the left over Bobbie from yesterday, and about 2/3 of a cup of chicken enchilada soup. Been trying to keep the water intake up to keep flushing the stuff in my body...
Day 4 (Thursday) - Time to go home
Day 2 in hospital was a little rough - I had to have another two units of O- blood - this makes a total of four (4)! I ate almost nothing for dinner on Wednesday night - good thing J.D. didn't make the dinner he was thinking of. All in all, this time in hospital has been vastly different - I've been exhausted, low oxygen count (low 90's) , racing heart - and his pulse (100+), and I've gotten enough lactated ringers and Red Blood Cells (via IV) to float a ship. During the night on Tuesday night, my heart was racing (also low oxygen count) - so they put me on oxygen. This really helped - it's really weird to feel your heart beating in your head and ears.
Remember the old Bill Cosby routine "What do you mean when you say 'oops'"? Most of Jan's slow and lethargic recovery has been because of a mistake made before surgery. Seems the nurse surgical team took too much blood (100cc vs. 30cc) for a new anti-coagulant mix/process during surgery. Oops. That resulted in Jan's battle in fighting low blood count, anemia, chills, exhaustion, and other symptoms not directly related to the surgery itself.
I guess that's why they call it "medical practice"...
So, they let me out of the hospital around 11am - and we stopped at Capriotti's for a Bobbie - that should get the blood pressure up some (it didn't). - I settled into my comfie "stressless" chair with my legs elevated, and my new knee iced, and I proceeded to sleep away most of the afternoon.
JD made a wonderful Chicken Picata with fresh asparagus, and cheese tortellini for dinner, and I ate very little - guess I know what I'll have for lunch or dinner tomorrow.
Off to bed at 9pm
Remember the old Bill Cosby routine "What do you mean when you say 'oops'"? Most of Jan's slow and lethargic recovery has been because of a mistake made before surgery. Seems the nurse surgical team took too much blood (100cc vs. 30cc) for a new anti-coagulant mix/process during surgery. Oops. That resulted in Jan's battle in fighting low blood count, anemia, chills, exhaustion, and other symptoms not directly related to the surgery itself.
I guess that's why they call it "medical practice"...
So, they let me out of the hospital around 11am - and we stopped at Capriotti's for a Bobbie - that should get the blood pressure up some (it didn't). - I settled into my comfie "stressless" chair with my legs elevated, and my new knee iced, and I proceeded to sleep away most of the afternoon.
JD made a wonderful Chicken Picata with fresh asparagus, and cheese tortellini for dinner, and I ate very little - guess I know what I'll have for lunch or dinner tomorrow.
Off to bed at 9pm
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Day 3: Who knew Christiana Care was a BYO!
Tough afternoon and early evening...seems the hospital ice machine(s) broke, so Jan and her roommate Linda (as well as many other knee and hip replacement patients) didn't get any icing of her knee for 4-5 hours. Earlier in the day many of the blood pressure machines weren't working. The first evening was fraught with bleeping IV blood/Ringer's drip machine problems, Pulse/Ox machine alarms going off because nobody knew how to set it. Isn't technology, and the people who run it, wonderful?
Ironic that the new $200millon hospital expansion, including a new wing for joint replacement, starts next week. I wonder if they'll get a new ice machine...
JD went across the street to the local liquor store and bought ice for Jan.
Ironic that the new $200millon hospital expansion, including a new wing for joint replacement, starts next week. I wonder if they'll get a new ice machine...
JD went across the street to the local liquor store and bought ice for Jan.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Day 2 (Post Surgery)
Jan's holding the wonderful fiber infused jello looking oh, so pleased about the idea of eating it.
You'll notice the oxygen tubes - needed to improve the low oxygen levels in blood and racing heart (see comments later...this was probably avoidable...).
You'll notice the oxygen tubes - needed to improve the low oxygen levels in blood and racing heart (see comments later...this was probably avoidable...).
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Second Day: MUCH Better!
After an on & off night of sleep and two units of blood, Jan's doing much better. She's already gone to one PT session (getting around with a walker), and has asked her home nurse (aka J.D.) to bring in Pizza by Elizabeth's for dinner.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Second Surgery: Doing Well
Just a quick note that in spite of a 4:30am wakeup call Jan's 7:30am surgery today went well; she's resting in her room at the hospital...more news soon.
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