Re: About me OT

[Guest guest]

Hi Arianne :-) I had a terrible problem with anxiety attacks/depression with my first hip replacement, before surgery and afterwards. It was usually the worst when I first woke up in the morning. I attacked it with a variety of things together, and within a couple months it was gone. I still practice these things but not as frequently, I guess you would call it maintanence. This is what I did.

I used a light therapy desk lamp daily. (mine is from fullspectrumsolutions.com )

I took 1000 IU vit. D daily.

I listened to a hypnosis cd once in the morning and once again just before sleeping. The cd's were made for me from a company called Positive Changes, there are probably some thriftier choices available online.

I rode a recumbent bike 30 min. a day.

I wish you well.

In a message dated 7/18/2007 3:20:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time, arianne377@... writes:

Hello all my friends. I have been away since April. Not physically away, but mentally. My panic has turned into anxiety and I can't shake it. I have had every test done and everything is negative. I even wore a Holter monitor. I know it is my anti-depressant, but my doctor just keeps wanting to give me other meds. I am now trying to wean off the AD. I hope to be posting more from now on. Now, I have to get caught up on all of the posts.Arianne

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[Guest guest]

Arianne

Anxiety after total joint replacement seems to happen alot. I had it

and meds helped for awhile. Then it started to get worse. I tried

weaning myself off the meds and I did get better. I seemed to be

getting a rebound anxiety. My first THR in 1997 and the other in

1998, I was okay. I first got the " panic attack " the day of my first

total shoulder replacement in 2000. I canceled that day. Had it

done a month later and the other shoulder 9 months later. After my

THR revision in 2004, the anxiety started up again. I took the meds

only as needed and not everynight. Now 60 pills has lasted me a year.

Hopefully you will get things sorted out. Glad to hear from you!

Sue

>

> Hello all my friends. I have been away since April. Not physically

away, but mentally. My

> panic has turned into anxiety and I can't shake it. I have had

every test done and

> everything is negative. I even wore a Holter monitor. I know it is

my anti-depressant, but

> my doctor just keeps wanting to give me other meds. I am now trying

to wean off the AD. I

> hope to be posting more from now on. Now, I have to get caught up

on all of the posts.

> Arianne

>

[Guest guest]

GOD IS WITH YOU KEPT YOUR HEAD UP! ALarianne377 <arianne377@...> wrote: Hello all my friends. I have been away since April. Not physically away, but mentally. My panic has turned into anxiety

and I can't shake it. I have had every test done and everything is negative. I even wore a Holter monitor. I know it is my anti-depressant, but my doctor just keeps wanting to give me other meds. I am now trying to wean off the AD. I hope to be posting more from now on. Now, I have to get caught up on all of the posts.Arianne

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[Guest guest]

Sue -- can you pinpoint anything that would have caused the long-lasting anxiety?

Ann

Re: About me OT

ArianneAnxiety after total joint replacement seems to happen alot. I had it and meds helped for awhile. Then it started to get worse. I tried weaning myself off the meds and I did get better. I seemed to be getting a rebound anxiety. My first THR in 1997 and the other in 1998, I was okay. I first got the "panic attack" the day of my first total shoulder replacement in 2000. I canceled that day. Had it done a month later and the other shoulder 9 months later. After my THR revision in 2004, the anxiety started up again. I took the meds only as needed and not everynight. Now 60 pills has lasted me a year.Hopefully you will get things sorted out. Glad to hear from you!Sue>> Hello all my friends. I have been away since April. Not physically away, but mentally. My > panic has turned into anxiety and I can't shake it. I have had every test done and > everything is negative. I even wore a Holter monitor. I know it is my anti-depressant, but > my doctor just keeps wanting to give me other meds. I am now trying to wean off the AD. I > hope to be posting more from now on. Now, I have to get caught up on all of the posts.> Arianne>

[Guest guest]

Hi Arianne, Didn't you have your operation in January ? I felt depressed for seven years since I had my Hip replacement done my other Dr wouldn't give me anything I have a women Dr now she let me go to PT for a month it help but not much I have Arthritis in my feet and on my one foot I have three hammer toes I went to a foot Dr and he gave me these covers to put on my toes its helps but I have a long way to go :-( I need my left knee done but I have to lose weight before I have a knee replacement :-) Well I been on Zoloft for the last month and I think I'm feeling better :-) Well you take care and have a nice day:-) Susiearianne377

<arianne377@...> wrote: Hello all my friends. I have been away since April. Not physically away, but mentally. My panic has turned into anxiety and I can't shake it. I have had every test done and everything is negative. I even wore a Holter monitor. I know it is my anti-depressant, but my doctor just keeps wanting to give me other meds. I am now trying to wean off the AD. I hope to be posting more from now on. Now, I have to get caught up on all of the

posts.Arianne

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[Guest guest]

I have an odd suggestion here, but need to tell a short story first.

I have just become a grandmother for the first time. My daughter in law is

Korean and there are some noticable differences in how post partum mothers

are treated in Korea and Australia.

In Australia most mothers are home by at least the 3rd day and expected to

resume normal life and care for their new baby. I remember when I bought my

baby home I did so without any support, and didn't even see a doctor for the

first 6 weeks.

Watching my daughter in law though has been a very different experience.

As soon as she came out of hospital her mother confined her to her bedroom,

put the heater on full blast and told her she needed to sweat for 3 weeks.

The other grannie has taken on all household chores including waiting on her

daughter hand and foot. So the new mother rests. Koreans believe you need

to give the mother lots of rest for the first 21 days, or else it will bring

bad health later in her life.

Looking for cultural information on the internet bought out another aspect.

In Korea post natal depression is quite rare, not like Australia and the US.

So how is this relevant?

When we have our surgery it is a huge drain on our bodies. We have had

surgery, gone through quite emotional experiences and work very hard on our

recovery.

I can remember being excessively tired, but I tried not to rest during the

day. Are we not resting enough to allow our bodies to heal?

Just a thought.

Personal thought only.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

[Guest guest]

Margaret, I think you might be onto something..... We were always

cautioned not to " overdo " early on....but the definition of " overdo " is

a personal thing. Perhaps too many folks really DO overdo thinking they

SHOULD, or thinking they can get away with it, or not understanding they

SHOULD rest when tired, or not having proper help with chores?

I tried to encourage to rest when tired after surgery. She was

older than recommended for resurfacing. She did, often being in bed

several hours during the day for the first month post op. Even after 7

months she is not back to the physical endurance level she had a year

pre-op. However, her mental state is excellent, she enjoys her garden,

shopping, and does all household chores. This surgery has been a big

WIN for both of us..... Of course " resting " requires a lot of help in

the house after surgery, just like the Korean grandmothers provide. :-)

We're looking at a TKR down the road... It's bone on bone, but we want

to be FULLY recovered first....maybe NEXT summer. She's walking

2 miles now, not many problems if she's careful how she uses it. Hills

are not fun, especially going down. Bionicare electrical knee

stimulator seems to help some....she's got over 1200 hours on it now.

FWIW,

Barrie & (age 65)

L BHR 12/19/06 Dr Snyder

Margaret wrote:

> I can remember being excessively tired, but I tried not to rest during the

> day. Are we not resting enough to allow our bodies to heal?

>

> Just a thought.

>

> Personal thought only.

>

> Aussie Margaret

> RTHR 1990 revised 2004

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ann

I think of it as post traumatic stress. Certain sounds, smells and

body aches trigger a memory. Sometimes I can not pin point it.

Driving in rain does it, but that is because we had our auto accident

in a thunder storm. Sometimes I can not figure it out. Since the

last surgery was in 2004, it has gotten better.

I always tell them I don't want to remember anything before or after

surgery. And I don't, but maybe I really do! Hope that made sense!

Being put under 16 or so times has got to do something weird to the

brain.

Sue

> >

> > Hello all my friends. I have been away since April. Not

physically

> away, but mentally. My

> > panic has turned into anxiety and I can't shake it. I have had

> every test done and

> > everything is negative. I even wore a Holter monitor. I know it

is

> my anti-depressant, but

> > my doctor just keeps wanting to give me other meds. I am now

trying

> to wean off the AD. I

> > hope to be posting more from now on. Now, I have to get caught

up

> on all of the posts.

> > Arianne

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi!, As far as time to recuperate, I totally believe it! In 1977 I had gallbladder surgery. At that time, it was major surgery and very painful because the diaphram had to be cut. I was in the hospital for more than a week. I was told to take it easy, but of course by the fourth day home I decided I should dust the house. g? No big deal! By the time I got done I felt like my arms and legs were jelly and I spent the next several days flat in bed. I certainly found that I needed a great deal of rest after TKR last September. Your body is concentrating on healing and if you interrupt that process, it will let you know. It simply takes time -- months for me. (I'm nearly 64.) Now I can honestly forget that I have a replacement, although there are days when I'm stiff and my other knee will have to be replaced eventually. I don't mean to suggest something that might not be for you, but I

highly recommend a B vitamin supplement. I have been taking it for a long time. Last week I had run out and didn't get to the store and I could certainly tell the difference. It really was wonderful after the knee surgery. I began to feel more like myself. I'm not a health professional so I don't know if there is any downside to this supplement. I have diabetes, arthritis, asthma and chemical depression as well as two cervical disk surgeries and some back problems and I'm sure (that for me) the B supplements have been helpful. I also take glucosamine and chondroitin, plus a regular vitamin supplement for seniors and flaxseed oil because I'm not a fan of fish. Please understand that I have no medical education. All I can say is that although I take the others, I don't know that they work, but I'm sure about the B vitamins. Just a suggestion for those who feel they need an energy kick. Barb from central

Illinois

[Guest guest]

Hi!, As far as time to recuperate, I totally believe it! In 1977 I had gallbladder surgery. At that time, it was major surgery and very painful because the diaphram had to be cut. I was in the hospital for more than a week. I was told to take it easy, but of course by the fourth day home I decided I should dust the house. g? No big deal! By the time I got done I felt like my arms and legs were jelly and I spent the next several days flat in bed. I certainly found that I needed a great deal of rest after TKR last September. Your body is concentrating on healing and if you interrupt that process, it will let you know. It simply takes time -- months for me. (I'm nearly 64.) Now I can honestly forget that I have a replacement, although there are days when I'm stiff and my other knee will have to be replaced eventually. I don't mean to suggest something that might not be for you, but I

highly recommend a B vitamin supplement. I have been taking it for a long time. Last week I had run out and didn't get to the store and I could certainly tell the difference. It really was wonderful after the knee surgery. I began to feel more like myself. I'm not a health professional so I don't know if there is any downside to this supplement. I have diabetes, arthritis, asthma and chemical depression as well as two cervical disk surgeries and some back problems and I'm sure (that for me) the B supplements have been helpful. I also take glucosamine and chondroitin, plus a regular vitamin supplement for seniors and flaxseed oil because I'm not a fan of fish. Please understand that I have no medical education. All I can say is that although I take the others, I don't know that they work, but I'm sure about the B vitamins. Just a suggestion for those who feel they need an energy kick. Barb from central

Illinois

[Guest guest]

Hi!, As far as time to recuperate, I totally believe it! In 1977 I had gallbladder surgery. At that time, it was major surgery and very painful because the diaphram had to be cut. I was in the hospital for more than a week. I was told to take it easy, but of course by the fourth day home I decided I should dust the house. g? No big deal! By the time I got done I felt like my arms and legs were jelly and I spent the next several days flat in bed. I certainly found that I needed a great deal of rest after TKR last September. Your body is concentrating on healing and if you interrupt that process, it will let you know. It simply takes time -- months for me. (I'm nearly 64.) Now I can honestly forget that I have a replacement, although there are days when I'm stiff and my other knee will have to be replaced eventually. I don't mean to suggest something that might not be for you, but I

highly recommend a B vitamin supplement. I have been taking it for a long time. Last week I had run out and didn't get to the store and I could certainly tell the difference. It really was wonderful after the knee surgery. I began to feel more like myself. I'm not a health professional so I don't know if there is any downside to this supplement. I have diabetes, arthritis, asthma and chemical depression as well as two cervical disk surgeries and some back problems and I'm sure (that for me) the B supplements have been helpful. I also take glucosamine and chondroitin, plus a regular vitamin supplement for seniors and flaxseed oil because I'm not a fan of fish. Please understand that I have no medical education. All I can say is that although I take the others, I don't know that they work, but I'm sure about the B vitamins. Just a suggestion for those who feel they need an energy kick. Barb from central

Illinois

[Guest guest]

Hi Arianne, I'm really sorry to hear about your depression and panic attacks. I've had them and they are absolutely terrible. Please be open to change or add to your medication. I know I will never be able to give up antidepressants. I have a very strong family history of depression. Right now I am on two antidepressants and I feel just normal. Don't feel there is anything "wrong" with taking antidepressants. If they help you and you need them, don't feel like you are weak because you need them. It's not a stigma. I really hope you are doing well. I feel for anyone going through depression. I had a bout with it after my TKR last September. Best of luck, Barb

[Guest guest]

May I ask which B vitamins?

Thanks.

Ann

Re: About me OT

Hi!,

As far as time to recuperate, I totally believe it! In 1977 I had gallbladder surgery. At that time, it was major surgery and very painful because the diaphram had to be cut. I was in the hospital for more than a week. I was told to take it easy, but of course by the fourth day home I decided I should dust the house. g? No big deal! By the time I got done I felt like my arms and legs were jelly and I spent the next several days flat in bed.

I certainly found that I needed a great deal of rest after TKR last September. Your body is concentrating on healing and if you interrupt that process, it will let you know. It simply takes time -- months for me. (I'm nearly 64.) Now I can honestly forget that I have a replacement, although there are days when I'm stiff and my other knee will have to be replaced eventually.

I don't mean to suggest something that might not be for you, but I highly recommend a B vitamin supplement. I have been taking it for a long time. Last week I had run out and didn't get to the store and I could certainly tell the difference. It really was wonderful after the knee surgery. I began to feel more like myself. I'm not a health professional so I don't know if there is any downside to this supplement. I have diabetes, arthritis, asthma and chemical depression as well as two cervical disk surgeries and some back problems and I'm sure (that for me) the B supplements have been helpful. I also take glucosamine and chondroitin, plus a regular vitamin supplement for seniors and flaxseed oil because I'm not a fan of fish. Please understand that I have no medical education. All I can say is that although I take the others, I don't know that they work, but I'm sure about the B vitamins.

Just a suggestion for those who feel they need an energy kick.

Barb from central Illinois

[Guest guest]

Due to my various setbacks since my LTKR last January, I too ended up

suffering bad depression and went to my regular doctor who prescribed

a mild anti-depressant. She couldnt prescribe anything too powerful

due to the pain meds I was taking. I found that they took a good 4

weeks to become really effective and now I am not bursting into tears

for virtually nothing, as I was before she gave them to me. I feel

about 50% better with this mild one and once I have cut down a bit

more on my pain meds, she says she will up the strength of the ones I

am taking to get me back to feeling normal.

I think that anti-depressants are very helpful and tghere should

not be any stigma for using them. Once you get depressed you have no

motivation to do anything and that includes the execises that we need

to do to help our knee recover. I got to the stage where I hadnt even

any motivation to get out of bed in the morning and felt that I was

never going to get better....but...I did have quite a few set backs

that most people having joint replacements dont have. These set backs

were what started my depression.

I had a time about 25 years ago when I was prescribed them too, but

after I managed to sort out my problems, I managed to come of the

meds slowly.

Marilyn (UK)

>

> Hi Arianne,

>

> I'm really sorry to hear about your depression and panic attacks.

I've had them and they are absolutely terrible. Please be open to

change or add to your medication. I know I will never be able to give

up antidepressants. I have a very strong family history of

depression. Right now I am on two antidepressants and I feel just

normal. Don't feel there is anything " wrong " with taking

antidepressants. If they help you and you need them, don't feel like

you are weak because you need them. It's not a stigma.

>

> I really hope you are doing well. I feel for anyone going through

depression. I had a bout with it after my TKR last September.

>

> Best of luck,

> Barb

>