after surgery question

[Guest guest]

Maybe you are allergic to the eardrops..Might be something to ask your dr. about.. It could also be just a side affect too... You should call your Dr. and see what they say. Best of luck to you.

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, I wasn't paying proper attention during my pre-op

briefing and need to ask - on the average, will I be able to care for

myself daytimes at home the second week after surgery? I have a

call into the doc, but I'm really feeling anxious about this and know

you all can give me some idea.

I know when I talk to the doc I'll be able to sort the whole thing

out, but that may not be until Monday at least. It just became clear

today that my DH is having a problem understanding how the recovery

goes. Problem is, he had neck surgery that fused several vertebrae

and he had to drive 150 miles from home to a jobsite two days after

the surgery, so he says if he can do it, I can, too. I pointed out

that HE could walk. He replied, " But they'll have you up and

walking if not that afternoon, the day after! " So you can see, I'm

all of a sudden having a communication/knowledge problem. I don't

have but one friend that lives close enough to ask for some help

(everyone else lives 20 miles or more away), and I don't want to

impose so much that it will inconvenience her life, and I don't have

any other family members in state.

So the bottom line question is, assuming that the second week after

surgery I'll have only lunchtime help, is it possible one can manage?

In addition to your input, is there a online site I could give him

that would go into the details of after-surgery life?

I realize I'm just really getting the pre-op jitters, but I really

need some idea, at least so I can have a reasonably informed talk

with the DH.

Regards,

Robin in NWFlorida

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I didn't mention that I'm having a RKTR. Robin

[Guest guest]

I would accept help if you could, Robin. I was at my mom's home through the second week. I could get up and used my walker but I'm glad I didn't have to fix meals or do my own laundry. It was tiring just to sponge bath and dress. And when you have the walker, it's hard to carry things with you. Maybe you could have some easy frozen meals ready for yourself for that second week or people bringing you food. I slept so much that I wouldn't have gotten anything done without help.

If you are only responsible for day times then just have your "other" leave you food and lots of water and your medicine within reach. You can spend the day on the couch. Seriously, that second week I was trying to go get myself a snack and almost passed out from tiredness. The walker didn't fit through all the doors in my mother's house and it was exhausting to drag myself back and forth from the frig.

You will be up and walking the day after surgery but it isn't like regular walking. It's lurching with a walker and you go like 50 feet at first.

-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of levan_53Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 1:29 PMJoint Replacement Subject: after surgery question

Unfortunately, I wasn't paying proper attention during my pre-op briefing and need to ask - on the average, will I be able to care for myself daytimes at home the second week after surgery? I have a call into the doc, but I'm really feeling anxious about this and know you all can give me some idea.I know when I talk to the doc I'll be able to sort the whole thing out, but that may not be until Monday at least. It just became clear today that my DH is having a problem understanding how the recovery goes. Problem is, he had neck surgery that fused several vertebrae and he had to drive 150 miles from home to a jobsite two days after the surgery, so he says if he can do it, I can, too. I pointed out that HE could walk. He replied, "But they'll have you up and walking if not that afternoon, the day after!" So you can see, I'm all of a sudden having a communication/knowledge problem. I don't have but one friend that lives close enough to ask for some help (everyone else lives 20 miles or more away), and I don't want to impose so much that it will inconvenience her life, and I don't have any other family members in state.So the bottom line question is, assuming that the second week after surgery I'll have only lunchtime help, is it possible one can manage?In addition to your input, is there a online site I could give him that would go into the details of after-surgery life?I realize I'm just really getting the pre-op jitters, but I really need some idea, at least so I can have a reasonably informed talk with the DH.Regards,Robin in NWFlorida

[Guest guest]

Technically you should be able to cope during the second week. But - I

wouldn't want to have to.

Show him http://kongee.livejournal.com/2004/08/17/ and he might understand.

It is tough surgery, which can produce miracles.

Good luck with it.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

after surgery question

| Unfortunately, I wasn't paying proper attention during my pre-op

| briefing and need to ask - on the average, will I be able to care for

| myself daytimes at home the second week after surgery? I have a

| call into the doc, but I'm really feeling anxious about this and know

| you all can give me some idea.

|

| I know when I talk to the doc I'll be able to sort the whole thing

| out, but that may not be until Monday at least. It just became clear

| today that my DH is having a problem understanding how the recovery

| goes. Problem is, he had neck surgery that fused several vertebrae

| and he had to drive 150 miles from home to a jobsite two days after

| the surgery, so he says if he can do it, I can, too. I pointed out

| that HE could walk. He replied, " But they'll have you up and

| walking if not that afternoon, the day after! " So you can see, I'm

| all of a sudden having a communication/knowledge problem. I don't

| have but one friend that lives close enough to ask for some help

| (everyone else lives 20 miles or more away), and I don't want to

| impose so much that it will inconvenience her life, and I don't have

| any other family members in state.

|

| So the bottom line question is, assuming that the second week after

| surgery I'll have only lunchtime help, is it possible one can manage?

|

| In addition to your input, is there a online site I could give him

| that would go into the details of after-surgery life?

|

| I realize I'm just really getting the pre-op jitters, but I really

| need some idea, at least so I can have a reasonably informed talk

| with the DH.

|

| Regards,

|

| Robin in NWFlorida

[Guest guest]

Robin, I went home from the hospital on the Friday following my Monday surgery. I got home about midday, and went straight to bed. That trip of just 20 minutes or so wore me out.

My husband was home that weekend and it gave us both peace of mind, but I could have managed if I had to, without him there. He went to work on the following Monday and I was home alone, and I didn't have any troubles.

[Guest guest]

Not sure what you mean care for yourself. You should be able to take

care of personal things like bathroom, washing and brushing teeth and

hair. You will not be cooking maybe microwave something. Get as

organized with the things you will need for basics. You will not want

to read a novel but a mag or paper will do. Of course you can catch

up with all the soaps. Or hear more about , UUGA 8^).

The getting up on the day of or day after surgery is like for a minute

or two not time for a 150 mile drive. When you leave the hospital you

will be able to walk 10 to 20 yard and go up a couple of steps. But

believe me you will be very tired and not have much energy for the

next two or three week. Time difference depends on you overall

health and strength before the surgery.

Have you husband read this.

Don

>

> Unfortunately, I wasn't paying proper attention during my pre-op

> briefing and need to ask - on the average, will I be able to care for

> myself daytimes at home the second week after surgery? I have a

> call into the doc, but I'm really feeling anxious about this and know

> you all can give me some idea.

>

> I know when I talk to the doc I'll be able to sort the whole thing

> out, but that may not be until Monday at least. It just became clear

> today that my DH is having a problem understanding how the recovery

> goes. Problem is, he had neck surgery that fused several vertebrae

> and he had to drive 150 miles from home to a jobsite two days after

> the surgery, so he says if he can do it, I can, too. I pointed out

> that HE could walk. He replied, " But they'll have you up and

> walking if not that afternoon, the day after! " So you can see, I'm

> all of a sudden having a communication/knowledge problem. I don't

> have but one friend that lives close enough to ask for some help

> (everyone else lives 20 miles or more away), and I don't want to

> impose so much that it will inconvenience her life, and I don't have

> any other family members in state.

>

> So the bottom line question is, assuming that the second week after

> surgery I'll have only lunchtime help, is it possible one can manage?

>

> In addition to your input, is there a online site I could give him

> that would go into the details of after-surgery life?

>

> I realize I'm just really getting the pre-op jitters, but I really

> need some idea, at least so I can have a reasonably informed talk

> with the DH.

>

> Regards,

>

> Robin in NWFlorida

>

[Guest guest]

There is a wide range of possible outcomes for a THR. It is not

possilbe to gaurantee whay you will be able to do. If surgery goes as

planned with no complications, you should do fine. Generally, you

won't go home until you can do the following: dress yourself, walk

with walker, and use bathroom. You will not be up to keeping house,

chasing kids, or exercising active pets. Plan on being a vegetable

for the first week or two. The only activity to worry about is doing

the exercises you will be instructed to do and keeping your cup full

of your favorite drink. (Non-alcoholic) Four days after surgery, I

was able to stand in kitchen for the 15 minutes to cook soups and

other semi-prepared foods. It wasn't fun, I leaned on the counter

top alot, and I was tired, but I had made my own meals.

Tell DH that THR is a totally different major operation than the

fusing he had done. THR is much larger is terms of physical scale

than fusing vertebrae. It requires cutting and disturbing major

muscles and other tissues. The fusing is very critical, but the body

is not reliant on the operated area for mobility. You can't put a

cervical collar on to support your leg so you can walk.

Tell yourself everything will be OK. You will be pleasntly surprised

at how well you will recover.

Knucklehead

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Don. You have put my heeby-jeebies in perspective for me,

and really helped reduce them! I had bunion surgry six years ago, and

then I was pretty much reduced to the bed for 4 weeks. I was

thinking of that, and you've put me straight.

Regards,

Robin in NWFlorida

--- " Don " <donavp@...> wrote:

>

> Not sure what you mean care for yourself. You should be able to

take care of personal things like bathroom, washing and brushing

teeth and hair. You will not be cooking maybe microwave something.

Get as organized with the things you will need for basics. You will

not want to read a novel but a mag or paper will do. Of course you

can catch up with all the soaps. Or hear more about ,

UUGA 8^).

>

> The getting up on the day of or day after surgery is like for a

minute or two not time for a 150 mile drive. When you leave the

hospital you will be able to walk 10 to 20 yard and go up a couple of

steps. But believe me you will be very tired and not have much

energy for the next two or three week. Time difference depends on

you overall health and strength before the surgery.

>

> Have you husband read this.

>

> Don

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, Margaret. You've been through so much and I thank

you for sharing your experience here. My panic has subsided, and

I'll talk to the doc Monday.

Regards,

Robin in NWFlorida---

" Margaret " <zztinau@...> wrote:

>

> Technically you should be able to cope during the second week.

But - I wouldn't want to have to.

>

> Show him http://kongee.livejournal.com/2004/08/17/ and he might

understand.

>

> It is tough surgery, which can produce miracles.

>

> Good luck with it.

>

> Aussie Margaret

> RTHR 1990 revised 2004

[Guest guest]

Thanks again, . I was in a panic, but all the replies here

have settled me down. I had bunion surgery in 2001 and I was

imprinting my experience (which wasn't good) on what is coming. I'll

talk to the doc on Monday.

Regards,

Robin in NWFlorida

---

" DeRouen " <asd@...> wrote:

>

> I would accept help if you could, Robin. I was at my mom's home

through the second week. I could get up and used my walker but I'm

glad I didn't have to fix meals or do my own laundry. It was tiring

just to sponge bath and dress. And when you have the walker, it's

hard to carry things with you. Maybe you could have some easy frozen

meals ready for yourself for that second week or people bringing you

food. I slept so much that I wouldn't have gotten anything done

without help.

>

> If you are only responsible for day times then just have

your " other " leave you food and lots of water and your medicine

within reach. You can spend the day on the couch. Seriously, that

second week I was trying to go get myself a snack and almost passed

out from tiredness. The walker didn't fit through all the doors in my

mother's house and it was exhausting to drag myself back and forth

from the frig.

>

> You will be up and walking the day after surgery but it isn't like

regular walking. It's lurching with a walker and you go like 50 feet

at first.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks again for your help, . From your writing to my head! I

was panicky, but you all have settled me down. Had a long talk with

the DH and I will talk to the doc on Monday.

You'd think all that worrying would have burned up some calories.

Regards,

Robin in NWFlorida

---

" Risener " <mariaelisa64@...> wrote:

>

> Robin, I went home from the hospital on the Friday following my

Monday surgery. I got home about midday, and went straight to bed.

That trip of just 20 minutes or so wore me out.

>

> My husband was home that weekend and it gave us both peace of mind,

but I could have managed if I had to, without him there. He went to

work on the following Monday and I was home alone, and I didn't have

any troubles.

[Guest guest]

Robin,

I did a google search for "total knee replacement surgery" prior to my surgery and found a link to an educational site that walked you step by step thru the surgery. It was an animation but you could also watch actual video of the surgery too. I found it very informative and it really helped me understand why I was going to be as limited as I was. I knew what the scope of the surgery was, but to actually visualize the steps made it click somehow on another level.

You'll do fine!!

I was at PT on Friday, I finally got my extension to 0, and flexion was up to my highest to date, 123. I am just under 7 weeks post-op.

in WA

[Guest guest]

Thanks again, .

I did find that surgery animation - it really was informative. Now I

can see why the surgery is up to 2 hours. I remember in the 80's there

was a TV program on Discovery? called " The Operation " where they showed

a different surgery every week, and the patients' lives, etc. I know

they did a TKR. The best was, one of the shows was a C-section. I

didn't get to see my daughter's delivery (I was asleep at the time;) so

now I know how things went.

I really hope my progress is as good as yours. Congrats on all

the " degrees " !

Regards,

Robin in NWFlorida

[Guest guest]

If all goes well then you should be ok....BUT...what if it doesnt go

ok...I for one had a few set backs and problems and would not have

been able to manage by week 2 on my own...so you have to be prepared

for the unexpected and have a plan as to what you do if the

unexpected happens

Marilyn (UK)

>

> Robin,

>

> I did a google search for " total knee replacement surgery " prior to

my surgery and found a link to an educational site that walked you

step by step thru the surgery. It was an animation but you could also

watch actual video of the surgery too. I found it very informative

and it really helped me understand why I was going to be as limited

as I was. I knew what the scope of the surgery was, but to actually

visualize the steps made it click somehow on another level.

>

> You'll do fine!!

>

> I was at PT on Friday, I finally got my extension to 0, and flexion

was up to my highest to date, 123. I am just under 7 weeks post-op.

>

> in WA

>

[Guest guest]

>You will likely experience tinnitus following your surgery. I still

have it, but it's loudest in the weeks right after surgery. It's a

little quieter now, mostly noticable at night, when trying to sleep....

Jackie

> Anyone experiences a noise in the ear that was operated on while it

was stuffed with gauze?

> It seems more annoying - but definitely not quiet.....

>