Upcomong TKR and scared

[Guest guest]

I'm having TKR on my right knee Nov. 6. I went for my clearance

letter today with my PCP (all is well) and for my pre-op interview

yesterday.

I had the old, barbaric, open-and-scrape-with-flint-knives surgery in

1966 (L knee) and 1972 (R knee). I've been walking bone on bone ever

since and my knees are now badly in need of replacement.

I can't describe how bad that 1972 surgery was. I weighed probably

about what I do now - about 180. I lay in bed and couldn't move my

leg for a week. I had the surgery in Chicago; my family was in MD.

and PA. I was on crutches for 3 months. I got an infection in the

knee. It was a mess.

I am afraid of the pain, afraid of the surgery, afraid that I'll be

left like Harry Potter when he lost the bones in his arms (well, not

really ;D). I went to Brazil last year for weight loss surgery,

alone, and was less afraid than I am now. I'm afraid that I won't be

able to manage on my own, and even though I have family closeby, I

can't really count on anything more than getting the cats fed once a

day, someone there on the day of the surgery, and someone to take me

home.

I'm pretty well set up so I can get around my house even with a

walker. I'll clean before I go to the hospital; that should do for a

few weeks. But I'm really, really scared about being so alone.

Oh well, so much for my pity party today. I really do think I'll be

fine. It just won't be easy, but then when is anything?

Z