Back in the land of the living.....

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi my friends, time for an update as promised.....

Thursday 29th October, 7 a.m., we all troop into the admissions ward like good little soldiers. I'm told I'm 2nd on the theatre list.

Blood pressure is still high, but my surgeon and anaesthetist are unconcerned. After all the paperwork is completed, I settle back for a wait, estimated my surgery time to be about 10.30

Next thing I know, it's all hustle and bustle, there a theatre trolley next to me, and a nurse brandishing a theatre gown and paper knickers. Apparently the chap who should have been first on the list had done (or NOT) done something important, and he was sent home. So for me ITS SHOW TIME!! No time to worry, I suppose......

My anaesthetic team were like a comedy double act, and had me laughing right up to the point where I went under........Next I know, I'm in recovery with a mouth like Ghandis flip-flop and a huge bandage on my knee.

All uneventful, was soon wheeled up to the ward where I was soon given pain meds, and was drifting in and out for a little while.

By 6pm, visiting time, I felt pretty good, had a quick family visit, had some supper, and spent the night in and out of sleep - I was on half-hourly obs, then hourly, so it was a bit too busy too sleep.

Friday, 1st day post op, and I can't help but compare this time with my last surgery. What a difference! I can already bend my knee and slide it up and down the bed, and VERY nearly lift it off the bed!

Just like my first TKR, half my leg was numb. But I wasn't worried, I knew it would pass. The staff though - I was having to reassure them that it was perfectly normal (for me!). Thankfully it didn't last as long as last time, and I was able to get out of bed by Sunday (last time I was stuck in bed for 5 days). I'm glad my anaesthetist and I decided to catheterise during surgery, so I avoided bedpan hell!

My time in hospital was pretty uneventful, a few highlights and lowlights that will share sometime. The physios were stunned at the ROM and mobility that I had so soon post op, one of them actually said she was astonished by how well I was doing so soon. I put this down totally to the amount of exercising I did in the weeks and months running up to my surgery.

I can already lift my leg off the bed, I have a bend of around 80 degrees (I'll get this confirmed at my physio assessment tomorrow), and I'm sleeping well (this is more than likely due to the pain meds, but I'll take it!).

I've had a couple of emotional wobbles, but on the whole I'm soooo much better 2nd time around - long may it continue!

So that's me. All that worry, and all unfounded.

It's good to be back 😁

2

Hi there, from a dull and raining Swad. Glad to hear all as gone well and you're on the way to recovery. Where did you have it done?.

Since I last posted I've retired from work cos as well as knee taking time to recover, menopause symptoms have overwhelmed me, and after experiencing severe anxiety attacks I'm now on HRT patches. For some reason this weekend has been particularly bad so I'm off to Docs tomorrow for some advice and assistance. My unoperated knee is now twanging, but only wen I'm sat down, and I'm terrified I'll need this one doing too and how I feel at moment I cudnt face it, plus the fact I'd have to come off my HRT too. God, wat a vicious circle!

It does me the world of good when I read of successful stories like yours.......hope your progress continues. 

3

Hi, it's raining here too, makes me glad to. be stuck I.doors!

My op was done at the Derby Royal, and my surgeon was Peter Howard. Lovely man, and he doesn't use clips! I'm stuck together with dissolving stitches and superglue!

Sorry to hear you're struggling just now, hopefully your GP will be able to suggest something....

Have you tried strengthening exercises on your twanging knee? I'm sure if I'd been working on mine sooner than I did I would have been able to postpone surgery for a few months - might be worth a try?

Hope you feel better soon xx

4

hi pam i did come off hrt a few weeks before my bi lateral tkr but when i had a revision tkr on one of the legs a year and a half later my doctor told me not to tell them about the hrt and keep taking it so i did and i was fine .  its hard enough going through the tkr without menopause driving you mad as well .i know some might think not telling them at the hospital is risky but lets face it most of the stuff they tell us not to do is a C.Y.A. (COVER YOUR A**) but with patches they might spot them lol

5

I've no idea why my last post is being moderated...I'll try again in a bit if it's not allowed....

6

terri you were lucky that you were first no time to think .i was suposed to be first for my revision but when i got in surgeon decided to put me back to last so that he colud give me more time .so i went in at 7am and went down at 3.30pm it was such a long wait hard to keep your mind relaxed !!

7

Terri well done!  Note to self: Pre op exercises!!

So pleased for you

8

Hi terri59470.....Good news story, I love it.

I hope my second one is better than the first. I'm on the waiting list, could be five months away, who knows?

 

9

Only just been able to look at your response, no idea y! Funnily enough the only thing I was bothered about following my op was removal of the clips. I could have done with gas and air when the nurse at my GP surgery removed them lol! And it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but I was still a wimp! 

Still raining here! 

10

Glad all went well sounds like you are doing brilliant hope I am as lucky when it's my turn for op number 2 x