Up the Stairs, Down the Stairs

It's been over 3-1/2  years since my second knee replacement.  The initial pain was so bad, but the rewards are so good.

Trying to Get Around the Corner.

There are good days, bad days, and some downright ugly days.  A couple of times I felt like I turned the corner only to find there are many more corners to turn.  Physical therapy is especially hard.  I know the hard work will pay off in the end, but I wish I could hibernate for a few weeks and wake up when the pain is gone, physical therapy is done, and the Coumadin checks are finished.  I'm doing more and more for myself instead of imposing on poor Hubby, so that probably accounts for some of the pain.  I'm walking around the house part of the time without any support, so I think by the end of the week I'll probably be able to send the walker back to the basement and just use my cane.  Slowly but surely I am making progress.  

Sleepy Time Gal.

Quite a few times I've tried to update my blog or write an email, but I dozed off right in the middle of a word or sentence.  All I ended up with was a few lines of Xs or some other letter, because I fell asleep and my finger/hand rested on the keyboard.  A few times I ended up deleting what little I'd written. Finally I just gave up.  But today I've been wide awake and bushy-tailed.  Well, actually, it's my dog that's bushy-tailed.  But right now I do feel wide awake.

I had my second PT session yesterday, and I'll say it again, ouch!  The medical clinic is in the same building as physical therapy, so I was able to coordinate the appointments for PT and INR blood draws.  Yay for me! 

A new fangled bandage called Aquacel was used this time.  It's waterproof, so it doesn't need to be covered when showering.  Nice!  Later today it needs to come off, though, since instructions are to leave it in place for 8 days, and lo and behold, today is postop day 8.  Already?  My, how time flies.

I've been down to the park three times since I was discharged.  Each time I walked about two blocks, shuffling behind my handy-dandy walker, of course.

Hubby is taking good care of me.  I feel bad that he has so much extra work to do--cooking, picking up prescriptions, taking care of the dog, driving me to appointments, etc.--but he knows I'd do the same for him.  As long as he doesn't need me as a caregiver before my knee is healed, then all is well.  Otherwise, we'd just be SOL now, wouldn't we?

Well, I'm not especially tired or sleepy, but since my knee/leg has swelled again to about 1-1/2 times its normal size, I suppose I should plop down on the couch, elevate my limb, and put some ice packs on it.



Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig.

I was discharged from the hospital yesterday morning about 11:30 or so.  It's good to get away from the very annoying nurse practitioner and physical therapist.  The NP seemed a little too concerned with my bowels, and the PT liked to pull my socks down. 

Hubby dropped me off at home and then headed out to pick up my prescriptions.  On the way back he stopped at Wendy's and got us chicken sandwiches and chili.  Yum!

Today was my first physical therapy session.  Ouch!  I'm ahead of where I was with my other knee at this time, but like a certain ex-president said, "It's hard work."

Out of Surgery and All is Well.

The anesthesiologist did my femoral nerve block with ultrasound guidance AFTER the spinal block instead of stimulating the nerve beforehand like last time.  It was sooo much better. 

The nurse anesthetist awakened me in the operating room just as the PA was finishing closing the wound.  That was different from last time, too.  I was wide awake by the time I hit the recovery room.

I was done with surgery and up to my room by 11:00, and right now I'm feeling pretty good.  Soon my lunch will arrive: strained vegetable soup, diet ginger ale and frozen vanilla yogurt.  Yum!  (not really)

All Set? You Bet.

Bag is packed  Alarm is set for 3:45.  Ugh!

Holy Moly! That's Early!

I just found out I have to check in at the hospital at 5:15 A.M.  Geez, I might as well just stay up all night.