Re: Back home after bilateral TKRs

November 6, 2006

Hi Judy,

Over the next few weeks you are going to have high highs and low lows.

Don't whip yourself for feeling this. It is the nature of the assult your

body has taken, and it takes a while to get it all sorted out.

Tale the pain killers and don't feel guilty about doing so. Exercise as

much as you can without over doing it. Eat healithy, but add a little of

what makes you feel good too.

We will be here for you. Don't be afraid to post your highs and lows to the

list, many of us have been there and those who haven't will understand when

they are in the same position.

try http://sudoku.com.au/ for something to help you pass the time.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

Back home after bilateral TKRs

| Well,you were all very helpful when I was stewing a couple of weeks

| ago and worrying about my upcoming surgery. Now I am home after two

| weeks of recovery in my regular hospital and a skilled nursing

| facility. Honestly, I think everything is going as expected, but I

| did NOT expect it to be so hard. I am on much heavier pain meds than

| I ever imagined (I hope I am putting my thoughts down clearly). The

| physical therapy is much more painful. My appetite sucks (not a

| completely bad thing, I have lost 5 pounds but I know I need to eat to

| recuperate). It is incredibly BORING to sit around all day staring at

| the TV or trying to read. Everything is very very tiring - the effort

| I expend to just do a few simple exercises is as much as a couple mile

| hike. I can walk with the walker fairly well and without too much

| pain - this is the good thing. I have home health and home physical

| therapy right now - will see my surgeon this Thursday, and maybe then

| will have a clearer idea of where I'm at in my recovery phase and some

| objective measure of how I'm doing. It's hard not to be discouraged

| right now by the gap between where I am and where I need/want to be.

|

| All words of support and encouragement will be immensely appreciated.

|

| Thanks,

|

| Judy

|

November 6, 2006

Thanks, I am trying to hang in there - good, I like sudoku...

Judy

>

> Hi Judy,

>

> Over the next few weeks you are going to have high highs and low lows.

> Don't whip yourself for feeling this. It is the nature of the

assult your

> body has taken, and it takes a while to get it all sorted out.

>

> Tale the pain killers and don't feel guilty about doing so.

Exercise as

> much as you can without over doing it. Eat healithy, but add a

little of

> what makes you feel good too.

>

> We will be here for you. Don't be afraid to post your highs and

lows to the

> list, many of us have been there and those who haven't will

understand when

> they are in the same position.

>

> try http://sudoku.com.au/ for something to help you pass the time.

>

> Aussie Margaret

> RTHR 1990 revised 2004

>

> Back home after bilateral TKRs

>

> | Well,you were all very helpful when I was stewing a couple of weeks

> | ago and worrying about my upcoming surgery. Now I am home after two

> | weeks of recovery in my regular hospital and a skilled nursing

> | facility. Honestly, I think everything is going as expected, but I

> | did NOT expect it to be so hard. I am on much heavier pain meds than

> | I ever imagined (I hope I am putting my thoughts down clearly). The

> | physical therapy is much more painful. My appetite sucks (not a

> | completely bad thing, I have lost 5 pounds but I know I need to eat to

> | recuperate). It is incredibly BORING to sit around all day staring at

> | the TV or trying to read. Everything is very very tiring - the effort

> | I expend to just do a few simple exercises is as much as a couple mile

> | hike. I can walk with the walker fairly well and without too much

> | pain - this is the good thing. I have home health and home physical

> | therapy right now - will see my surgeon this Thursday, and maybe then

> | will have a clearer idea of where I'm at in my recovery phase and some

> | objective measure of how I'm doing. It's hard not to be discouraged

> | right now by the gap between where I am and where I need/want to be.

> |

> | All words of support and encouragement will be immensely appreciated.

> |

> | Thanks,

> |

> | Judy

> |

November 6, 2006

At 04:48 PM 11/6/2006 +0000, you wrote:

Well,you were all very helpful when

I was stewing a couple of weeks

ago and worrying about my upcoming surgery. Now I am home after

two

weeks of recovery in my regular hospital and a skilled nursing

facility. Honestly, I think everything is going as expected, but

I

did NOT expect it to be so hard.

You've got a LOT of guts to do bilateral - I had a LTKR going on 6 weeks

ago, and I can't imagine having both! CONGRATS for getting so

far!

Yep, I agree that it's also a LOT tougher and lots s-l-o-w-e-r than I

like! I have the patience of a parrot - which is to say, none - and

I want this over with NOW. Wednesday will be six weeks, and I'm at

98 degrees flexion. It's improving, but way too slowly for me.

<G> It's also very, very hard for me, for the first time in

my life of many different kinds of PT, to WANT to hurt myself as much as

this hurts - without the almost immediate rewards I've experienced in the

past. I'm doing it, but I don't like it much! <G>

I've been on pain meds constantly for the 6 weeks, too, and I don't like

that much, either. Neither does my intestinal tract!

LOL I have cut down on the meds, and in fact have been on

Darvocet mostly, which isn't all that strong. But still, I'm very

tired of having to take pills - but the alternative is not acceptable,

and it does make sure that I can continue to do my exercises....even if I

reserve the right to bitch! <G>

As far as boring....I agree there, too. We can't do what we want or

need to do around the house, and I for one started to feel really useless

- I couldn't even take care of my critters! BUT...it does pass, and

you WILL be able to add things to your capabilities, a little at a

time. When I could finally stand long enough to do the chopping and

feeding of my parrots, I felt a LOT better about contributing to the

household chores. It WILL come, I promise! I found that television

- and I am NOT a television watcher! - was one of the only things that

kept me going, because I swore they took part of my brain along with my

knee, and I couldn't concentrate on anything. However, that's

starting to " regrow " again, and I can actually read a book,

surf the 'net and enjoy my critters again. It just takes

time.

Hang in there, Judy. I know it's slower than you want, but you ARE

doing well, and it WILL get better! Come bitch at us when you need

to - we've got big shoulders, and we're certainly willing to

listen. And keep your chin up!

Anni

November 6, 2006

I think you are doing very well for two weeks especially with having

both knees done. You are a hero. Keep up the good work.

On Nov 6, 2006, at 8:48 AM, Judy wrote:

> Well,you were all very helpful when I was stewing a couple of weeks

> ago and worrying about my upcoming surgery. Now I am home after two

> weeks of recovery in my regular hospital and a skilled nursing

> facility. Honestly, I think everything is going as expected, but I

> did NOT expect it to be so hard. I am on much heavier pain meds than

> I ever imagined (I hope I am putting my thoughts down clearly). The

> physical therapy is much more painful. My appetite sucks (not a

> completely bad thing, I have lost 5 pounds but I know I need to eat to

> recuperate). It is incredibly BORING to sit around all day staring at

> the TV or trying to read. Everything is very very tiring - the effort

> I expend to just do a few simple exercises is as much as a couple mile

> hike. I can walk with the walker fairly well and without too much

> pain - this is the good thing. I have home health and home physical

> therapy right now - will see my surgeon this Thursday, and maybe then

> will have a clearer idea of where I'm at in my recovery phase and some

> objective measure of how I'm doing. It's hard not to be discouraged

> right now by the gap between where I am and where I need/want to be.

>

> All words of support and encouragement will be immensely appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Judy

>

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace

of God will not protect you.

November 7, 2006

Judy, I was one of the people who encouraged you. And now at eight weeks post op and off the stronger pain meds, I still have my ups and downs. I'm with you, dear woman: I never knew it would be so painful. In fact, I put a call into my surgeon yesterday to discuss pain management and am waiting to hear back. My appetite is still out of whack. But the good news is that I needed to lose the weight. I am just believing in and holding on to all the success stories here. Be patient. Don't overdo. That's where I went wrong more than once. This time next year we'll be 110 percent! Warm regards, DonnaJudy <jdytart@...> wrote: >> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Judy" <jdytart@...>> <Joint Replacement >> Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 2:48 AM> > > > | Well,you were all very helpful when I was stewing a couple of weeks> | ago and worrying about my upcoming surgery. Now I am home after two> | weeks of recovery in my regular hospital and a skilled nursing> | facility. Honestly, I think everything is going as expected, but I> | did NOT expect it to be so hard. I am on much heavier pain meds than> | I ever imagined (I hope I am putting my

thoughts down clearly). The> | physical therapy is much more painful. My appetite sucks (not a> | completely bad thing, I have lost 5 pounds but I know I need to eat to> | recuperate). It is incredibly BORING to sit around all day staring at> | the TV or trying to read. Everything is very very tiring - the effort> | I expend to just do a few simple exercises is as much as a couple mile> | hike. I can walk with the walker fairly well and without too much> | pain - this is the good thing. I have home health and home physical> | therapy right now - will see my surgeon this Thursday, and maybe then> | will have a clearer idea of where I'm at in my recovery phase and some> | objective measure of how I'm doing. It's hard not to be discouraged> | right now by the gap between where I am and where I need/want to be.> |> | All words of support and encouragement will be immensely

appreciated.> |> | Thanks,> |> | Judy> |> |> |> |> |

November 7, 2006

Welcome Home & Back Judy,

I told you it wasn't an easy ride, but well worth the effort. Believe

it or not, the worst is over. The 1st two weeks of hell are done with

and the memories will fade. Now comes the " Good Fight " . The one you

have to do each and every day to get back the strength, flex and

extension of your knees. It isn't easy by any means but it is both

possible and achievable.

I am now 7-weeks post Bi-Lateral TKR and I'm making good progress. I

just got approved to drive again and I can walk around the block

without much pain and at least 1/2 the way without cane or other

walking aid.

Don't sweat the pain medication, it's all part of the pain management.

You will be able to decrease the amounts as the weeks pass and you

make progress. I have already decreased my pain medication by 40%

since I began the process.

Don't get discouraged, bored or weak hearted. You are doing just

fine. Please keep in mind your final goal of walking pain free and

without aid. If you keep your eye on the prize, you will succeed.

My prayers are with you and I'll think of you each time I bend my

knees past their limit. I'll do one extra for you if you promise to

take heart from it.

Best Regards & Keep trying,

Alan B.