Re: TKR coming up on 6/27/06

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/13/2006 9:52:40 A.M. Central Standard Time, morsekittyl@... writes:

Hello, I will be having a TKR on 6/27/06 and am looking for all the help and support I can get. I have read a few of the posts so far here and can see there is some good support on this site. I am in Chatham on Cape Cod, MA. Anyone else nearby? Had surgery at Cape Cod Hospital? I am very fearful of the pain but am in good shape, 62, work full time and used to regular exercise. I am doing strenuous workouts to prepare. Live alone and that is a concern.Thank you, Marcia

Hi Marcia, I'm 45 and have had both of my knees replaced. I live in Indiana. The pain is not all that bad, but everyone has different levels of pain. Be sure to let them know if it hurts too bad. You have to be able to function. They'll make you get up really soon, like the next day. If you are doing workouts that should really help. I didn't do that. I'm not sure if it would have helped, but I know it wouldn't hurt . The first week, I'm like what in the world did I do to myself, then it starts getting a lot better. It goes slowly sometimes, but you have to just keep on working at it. Sounds like you have the motivation. You'll do great. I was so excited to have my first one done in Nov. that I wanted to schedule my next one right away. I had it done in Feb.

[Guest guest]

Hi Marcia,

Im having both knees replaced on June 27th!

We can " cyber recoup " together.

The folks in this site and also The Happy Hobblers have been a Godsend!

Your in my prayers, debbie

>

> Hello, I will be having a TKR on 6/27/06 and am looking for all the

> help and support I can get. I have read a few of the posts so far

here

> and can see there is some good support on this site. I am in Chatham

on

> Cape Cod, MA. Anyone else nearby? Had surgery at Cape Cod Hospital?

I

> am very fearful of the pain but am in good shape, 62, work full time

> and used to regular exercise. I am doing strenuous workouts to

prepare.

> Live alone and that is a concern.

> Thank you, Marcia

>

[Guest guest]

Hello , Thank you so much for the encouragement. That is a big help. I, too, need to have the second knee done at some point, but right now there is no pain and not too much weakness in that knee. Ironically, the thing which bothers me the most is having to take pain meds as they really make me feel awful and cause all sorts of awful side effects, especially with my bowels and I dread that part the most. I am hoping to find a way to ease that part of it if I can. I have had many surgeries before as I am a two-time cancer survivor and eash time the drugs have been the worst part. Does your e-mail address imply that you are a great animal lover?? I am for sure. and right now just have one very wonderful cat who is my constant companion and a great source of entertainment! I am enjoying reading the posts! Thanks again, MarciaCritrkrazy@... wrote: In a message dated 4/13/2006 9:52:40 A.M. Central Standard Time, morsekittyl@... writes: Hello, I will be having a TKR on 6/27/06 and am looking for all the help and support I can get. I have read a few of the posts so far here and can see there is some good support on this site. I am in Chatham on Cape Cod, MA. Anyone else nearby? Had surgery at Cape Cod Hospital? I am very fearful of the pain but am in good shape, 62, work full time and used to regular exercise. I am doing strenuous workouts to prepare. Live alone and that is a concern.Thank you,

Marcia Hi Marcia, I'm 45 and have had both of my knees replaced. I live in Indiana. The pain is not all that bad, but everyone has different levels of pain. Be sure to let them know if it hurts too bad. You have to be able to function. They'll make you get up really soon, like the next day. If you are doing workouts that should really help. I didn't do that. I'm not sure if it would have helped, but I know it wouldn't hurt . The first week, I'm like what in the world did I do to myself, then it starts getting a lot better. It goes slowly sometimes, but you have to just keep on working at it. Sounds like you have the motivation. You'll do great. I was so excited to have my first one done in Nov. that I wanted to schedule my next one right away. I had it done in Feb.

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/17/2006 11:22:55 A.M. Central Standard Time, morsekittyl@... writes:

Hello ,

Thank you so much for the encouragement. That is a big help. I, too, need to have the second knee done at some point, but right now there is no pain and not too much weakness in that knee.

Ironically, the thing which bothers me the most is having to take pain meds as they really make me feel awful and cause all sorts of awful side effects, especially with my bowels and I dread that part the most. I am hoping to find a way to ease that part of it if I can. I have had many surgeries before as I am a two-time cancer survivor and eash time the drugs have been the worst part.

Does your e-mail address imply that you are a great animal lover?? I am for sure. and right now just have one very wonderful cat who is my constant companion and a great source of entertainment!

I am enjoying reading the posts!

Thanks again, Marcia

Hi Marcia, glad I could be of some help. With the bowel thing if they have you taking Iron be prepared. Milk of Mag, sp, helped me and also some pills, over the counter called Senna. They have been great. You may get diahrrea but it is much better than being stopped up. The surgery and the pain meds will do that to you. You've had two times at cancer and I'm depressed?

And yes, I'm totally nuts about animals. We have dogs, cats, birds, goats, chickens, and I had to sell my horse cause I couldn't handle her anymore on the ground. I love every animal and that has gotten me down not being able to care for them the way that I used to. Both of my knees were shot but I was still plugging along. I'm just now getting back out and trying to enjoy them. I would also foster animals for a no-kill rescue group I'm in, but haven't been able to do that either. I had back surgery for a slipped disc last April so I've been out of the loop for quite a while. I would love to talk to you some more.

[Guest guest]

Dear Heart,

Hello and welcome. This is one of the most supportive sites I have found and as a sucessful recipient of two knees in the last 7 months I can share a little of what I have been through. I had RTKR on 09-31-05 and LTKR on 01-18-06 and both are doing great. I am in Omaha Ne. I had about two months post op on both knees recovery time meaning pain meds and Phys Therapy. I am still recovering but am gardening and wearing high heels already. I say good for you for getting in the best shape you can pre op as it will make recovery easier and faster. You will get lots of advice here and be able to share other's experiences hopes and fears. Any questions you have please don't hesitate to ask and it doesn't make a difference how trivial it may seem either. Ask away. You may also e-mail me directly if you want to. Good luck to you and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Gentle Hugs, Contessa

-- TKR coming up on 6/27/06

Hello, I will be having a TKR on 6/27/06 and am looking for all the

help and support I can get. I have read a few of the posts so far here

and can see there is some good support on this site. I am in Chatham on

Cape Cod, MA. Anyone else nearby? Had surgery at Cape Cod Hospital? I

am very fearful of the pain but am in good shape, 62, work full time

and used to regular exercise. I am doing strenuous workouts to prepare.

Live alone and that is a concern.

Thank you, Marcia

[Guest guest]

Hello , Thank you for the advice. I am just about to start taking the iron so I will be prepared for what might ensue. You are so encouraging about the recovery from your two TKR's. I am feeling very positive that I, too, will have a very good recovery and am prepared for the hard work to get bback to my walking and exercise which I so love to do. At this point, I have two trips scheduled in May which I have to do and it is such a hassle with all the walking involved but I will get through it. No way am I going to miss my grandson's graduation from HS in FL nor will I miss the Sheep and Wool Festival in land....I am an avid knitter so that event each year is so interesting and I buy lots of yarn there, not to mention all the cute baby animals who will be there! It is nearly a whole day of walking but I can sit down often and my sister-in-law will be with me. I love to visit them in Baltimore and we always go to have those

wonderful land crabcakes. My sister-in-law spins her own yarn so she buys lots of wool at the show. She is a nurse so will come up to MA to be with me for a bit after my surgery. Love hearing about your work with animals and I truly admire you for that! Such a need. MarciaCritrkrazy@... wrote: In a message dated 4/17/2006 11:22:55 A.M. Central Standard Time, morsekittyl@... writes: Hello , Thank you so much for the encouragement. That is a big help. I, too, need to have the second knee

done at some point, but right now there is no pain and not too much weakness in that knee. Ironically, the thing which bothers me the most is having to take pain meds as they really make me feel awful and cause all sorts of awful side effects, especially with my bowels and I dread that part the most. I am hoping to find a way to ease that part of it if I can. I have had many surgeries before as I am a two-time cancer survivor and eash time the drugs have been the worst part. Does your e-mail address imply that you are a great animal lover?? I am for sure. and right now just have one very wonderful cat who is my constant companion and a great source of entertainment! I am enjoying reading the posts! Thanks again, Marcia Hi Marcia, glad I could be of some help. With the bowel thing if they have you taking Iron

be prepared. Milk of Mag, sp, helped me and also some pills, over the counter called Senna. They have been great. You may get diahrrea but it is much better than being stopped up. The surgery and the pain meds will do that to you. You've had two times at cancer and I'm depressed? And yes, I'm totally nuts about animals. We have dogs, cats, birds, goats, chickens, and I had to sell my horse cause I couldn't handle her anymore on the ground. I love every animal and that has gotten me down not being able to care for them the way that I used to. Both of my knees were shot but I was still plugging along. I'm just now getting back out and trying to enjoy them. I would also foster animals for a no-kill rescue group I'm in, but haven't been able to do that either. I had back surgery for a slipped disc last April so I've been out of the

loop for quite a while. I would love to talk to you some more.

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Contessa, and I can tell that your kind voice is a great help to many here. I will need the other knee done at some point, too. Just finding this site gives me more courage and hope and it is nice to know that I am already well on my way to being prepared. I am in the process of obtaining the things I will need at home, my children are buying me a new chair, and I am lined up to attend classes at the hospital, as well as donate blood in advance. Still have some physicals to have and many other appointments. The most difficult emotional challenge is to let go of caring for my elderly father (95 yrs!). My brother and his wife now have him at their house and I have been helping them a lot but will have to let go while I take care of my own needs. It will be painful not to see him for a bit but I will be better in the future and more able, so that is what counts. Thank you for your kind words. MarciaCrazy Contessa

<momcats55@...> wrote: Dear Heart, Hello and welcome. This is one of the most supportive sites I have found and as a sucessful recipient of two knees in the last 7 months I can share a little of what I have been through. I had RTKR on 09-31-05 and LTKR on 01-18-06 and both are doing great. I am in Omaha Ne. I had about two months post op on both knees recovery time meaning pain meds and

Phys Therapy. I am still recovering but am gardening and wearing high heels already. I say good for you for getting in the best shape you can pre op as it will make recovery easier and faster. You will get lots of advice here and be able to share other's experiences hopes and fears. Any questions you have please don't hesitate to ask and it doesn't make a difference how trivial it may seem either. Ask away. You may also e-mail me directly if you want to. Good luck to you and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Gentle Hugs, Contessa -- TKR coming up on 6/27/06 Hello, I will be having a TKR on 6/27/06 and am looking for all the help and support I can get. I have read a few of the posts so far here and can see there is some good support on this site. I am in Chatham on Cape Cod, MA. Anyone else nearby? Had surgery at Cape Cod Hospital? I am very fearful of the pain but am in good shape, 62, work full time and used to regular exercise. I am doing strenuous workouts to prepare. Live alone and that is a concern. Thank you, Marcia

[Guest guest]

Hi Marcia-I am having my LTKR on June 5th up here in NH so I am not

too far from you. I made the appointment for this surgery back in

February but since I work in the academic field I wanted to do it

just as school gets out for the year so I have plenty of time to

recover. I hate the waiting-I wish it were done by now but nothing

I can do about it now. My surgeon is the head of Orthopaedic

Surgery in the hospital I am having it done in and he books up way

ahead of time. He did both of my neighbor's knees and he was up and

moving without a lot of pain pretty fast. I hope I can be the same

but am preparing myself for the worst. But I have been spending the

months waiting trying to get in shape-the recumbant bike is the only

thing I can now do-but I gues that is better than nothing. So good

luck to you and I'll post when I have everything done.

in NH

>

>

> In a message dated 4/13/2006 9:52:40 A.M. Central Standard Time,

> morsekittyl@... writes:

>

> Hello, I will be having a TKR on 6/27/06 and am looking for all

the

> help and support I can get. I have read a few of the posts so far

here

> and can see there is some good support on this site. I am in

Chatham on

> Cape Cod, MA. Anyone else nearby? Had surgery at Cape Cod

Hospital? I

> am very fearful of the pain but am in good shape, 62, work full

time

> and used to regular exercise. I am doing strenuous workouts to

prepare.

> Live alone and that is a concern.

> Thank you, Marcia

>

>

>

>

> Hi Marcia, I'm 45 and have had both of my knees replaced. I live

in

> Indiana. The pain is not all that bad, but everyone has

different levels of pain.

> Be sure to let them know if it hurts too bad. You have to be

able to

> function. They'll make you get up really soon, like the next

day. If you are doing

> workouts that should really help. I didn't do that. I'm not

sure if it

> would have helped, but I know it wouldn't hurt . The first

week, I'm like

> what in the world did I do to myself, then it starts getting a

lot better. It

> goes slowly sometimes, but you have to just keep on working at

it. Sounds

> like you have the motivation. You'll do great. I was so excited

to have my

> first one done in Nov. that I wanted to schedule my next one

right away. I had

> it done in Feb.

>

[Guest guest]

Hello I am so happy to hear from you. I know what you mean about the waiting. I could have gone in sooner but had already booked two flights for trips in May which I must do. It will be painful to do all the travel but nice to know that soon I will be without that pain. Do you have a recumbent bike at home? I am doing a prescribed set of exercises 3x's a day and that should help me prepare. I was already doing exercise daily and have been a distance walker for many years so I am fairly strong. That was good planning to have it done while you are not working. I will have to take the time off but will receive disability pay. My office has to hire a temp which will be hard but they are very supportive of my plan and they will be good about helping me any way they can. I live very close to work. Living alone is a big drawback but my children will come and help and stay as long as I need them. My oldest daughter is an angel!

I have found the posts about what we need to prepare very helpful. Will you go to Hitchcock Hospital? That is a great one! So happy you wrote. I will stay in touch. Marcia<chorne@...> wrote: Hi Marcia-I am having my LTKR on June 5th up here in NH so I am not too far from you. I made the appointment for this surgery back in February but since I work in the academic field I wanted to do it just as school gets out for the year so I have plenty of time to recover. I hate the waiting-I wish it were done by now but nothing I can do about it now. My surgeon is the head of Orthopaedic Surgery in the hospital I am having it done in and he books up way ahead of time. He did both of my neighbor's knees and he was up and moving without a lot of pain

pretty fast. I hope I can be the same but am preparing myself for the worst. But I have been spending the months waiting trying to get in shape-the recumbant bike is the only thing I can now do-but I gues that is better than nothing. So good luck to you and I'll post when I have everything done.in NH>> > In a message dated 4/13/2006 9:52:40 A.M. Central Standard Time, > morsekittyl@... writes:> > Hello, I will be having a TKR on 6/27/06 and am looking for all the > help and support I can get. I have read a few of the posts so far here > and can see there is some good support on this site. I am in Chatham on > Cape Cod, MA. Anyone else nearby? Had surgery at Cape Cod Hospital? I > am very fearful of the pain but am in good

shape, 62, work full time > and used to regular exercise. I am doing strenuous workouts to prepare. > Live alone and that is a concern.> Thank you, Marcia> > > > > Hi Marcia, I'm 45 and have had both of my knees replaced. I live in > Indiana. The pain is not all that bad, but everyone has different levels of pain. > Be sure to let them know if it hurts too bad. You have to be able to > function. They'll make you get up really soon, like the next day. If you are doing > workouts that should really help. I didn't do that. I'm not sure if it > would have helped, but I know it wouldn't hurt . The first week, I'm like > what in the world did I do to myself, then it starts getting a lot better. It > goes slowly

sometimes, but you have to just keep on working at it. Sounds > like you have the motivation. You'll do great. I was so excited to have my > first one done in Nov. that I wanted to schedule my next one right away. I had > it done in Feb. >

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