Hello everyone.

Had my knee replaced yesterday, took 3 people & 45 mins 2 find a way in my back between the bones for spinal block. Found out ra damage to my back I was very close to going under for op.
Had my ipod and was happy because I felt nothing, and waving my fingers like dancing!

The nhs care has been fabulous.

Was very sick last nite & this morning - morphine tablet.

Saw the surgeon this morning and found out extra bone inside was removed because of arthritis damage/bone on bone. So I have to do limited non weight bearing for 6 weeks.

Have one footed "shuffled" out of bed using zimmer to chair (but had bad vomiting) on the bed crashing out when I feel like it.
Feeling like death (lol) knackered lady.

Update in between dropping off in hospital for the weekend.
Jane
Xxx

Hi Jane

Congratulations on your new knee

Sorry to hear of all the problems with the spinal block, thank goodness they managed to do it and it worked. When I had my second knee replacement I had a spinal and an epidural which didn't numb my leg enough for the operation so ended up having a G.A and was very ill afterwards.

You are doing amazing to even get out of bed already. I couldn't even get my leg to the edge of the bed for 5 days, the pain was horrific. I am allergic to morphine and opiates, hope they can give you something that doesn't make you so sick. I kept passing out when the physios tried to get me out of bed, which was very embarrassing as all the other knee op patients were about 80 and walking up and down the ward in no time.

Take it easy Jane, the worst is over, each day will get a little easier, you will feel really knackered for a while until your body recuperates.

Thinking of you. A toast to your wonderful new happy knee

Love
Rebecca x

thanku for your kindness:
Day 2.
Was on chair for a short while yesterday - bad vomiting everywhere (again) lol. Filled 3 large egg containers - floating big time! Well had bad nite yesterday.
1) Nurse mentioned bone fractures in my leg frm operation
*just seen doctor - xrays say no fractures in leg* good news :)

2) Had a really bad experience with a lady in the bed next to me, put my lamp on for a cup of tea after lamp going on for meds.....the lady jumped out of bed about 1130pm swearing and shouting outside my cubicle that I have reuined her sleep (she was up watching tv) and I have to have her permission to turn my lamp on during the nite time - nurses came along and tried to settle her, they offered her room on her own. Well the ungrateful stuck up lady (solicitor) shouted I'm divorced and live on my own...I quietly offered to move into a room on my own :) the lady with the plum up her bum was so rude and didn't speak to me or the other two ladies we shared with.

So naughty to be in hospital and put up with behaviour from a lady that owened many horses and properties (she had 2 repeat this many times)!
Poor nurses and doctors put up with her cutting remarks.

I'm bed bound and awaiting help to get up - can't weight bear. Sexy catheter still in place.....BUT I have my own room hehehehe.
Xxx

Hiya everyone.
Hahaha Sylvia - the rude lady is down the other end of corridor - grotbags! Although me being next to nurses station her buzzer goes off a lot!

Day 3
Had the catheter out early (last nite, starting to feel sore)
No weight bearing because of extra bone removed due to the diease of ra I put my foot down quickly out of habbit. Pimping my wheels of steel - lovely shiny zimmer frame.
Different physios came round today and helped me with crutches and I walked very slowly just outside the room. Can't use crutches on my own only with staff - nurses busy and short staffed so let them get on with the demands from other people in the ward.
Using my zimmer frame a little BUT its not easy to one foot shuffle, trust me! physios don't give much time to everyone because they cover all the wards in the hospital.

Been poorly again floating on a cloud and sickness feeling since 3am from liquid morphine.

CONSTIPATION !
Been eating and drinking plenty, nurses say its the pain meds - all started at 5.10pm sitting there for almost 2 hours - 6.00 and plenty of times since! Took liquid constipation at 6.30pm then tablet constipation pill just after 9pm. A sense of humour is a must - the nurses come in for a chat without being alarmed at the sight of me on the throne with zimmer frame in front of me!

Can't go home yet, soft bones from surgery is the main factor.

Must go, need the loo again!
Xxx

Hi Shelia,
Its funny to look back on! I had help from the nite nurse after 5am this morning - she gave 2 bullets up the bum (I remember Jenni mentioning this and thought she will be laughing over this!)
Had 2 wait 20 minutes until I went to the loo for the bullets to work for the constipation. Glad to say its back to normal, had allbran for breakie, wholemeal toast.

Not sent home because I'm not strong enough and need to do the stairs. Zimmered up the corridor slowly to practiced the stairs - which I need plenty of practice. Had to tell hubby he needs to put a bannister in before I return home!!ohh my hubby diy

I've also had some discussions re us moving to bungalow.....um the penny dropping thay my idea gets me more mobile and free to use all of the property.

Did a none weight baring shuffle in the corridor, found the solicitor that was uinhappy with the light going on and off - she was sat there in an empty ward looking rather happy.

The physio session drained me out, I got a blanket and curled up in the chair and slept until I was woken for tea
Had dressing changed and area cleaned up, didn't expect to see so many staples!

Loving my scrummy meals and own room being very well looked after by the caring nhs nurses.
Seems windy outside tonite, glad I'm tucked up in bed!

Sleep now whilst I feel sleepy
Xxx

Been home since Wednesday pm, stayed in yesterday. Hubby took me out this morning for a hot drink - not too much walking....came home after drink.
My hubby been washing my pinkies/toes/legs and helping to take surgical stockings off and clean ones one He is enjoying his little jobs! Says the stockings are very hard to get over my feet

I'm watching television, my hubby snoring away! Little jobs has made him feel very sleepy!
My loo on a stand from hospital that goes over the loo is fantastic, I couldn't bend my knee down to reach a normal loo seat. Yes my knee is painful but in a strange way I'm more mobile than when I had my bunion done last year. Have to go very careful on crutches so I don't load bare or worst get a bone fracture.

Loving the painkillers - on a cloud somewhere floating! Woooooo
Jane
Xxx

Hi Jane - fantastic blog - sorry that I've had to catch up with it all in a single sitting, rather than follow it day by day. Just so glad that the ops gone well and you're recovering with your usual quirky sense of fun!! Just remember that if it does get you down, you are allowed to share those bits too - hugs and best wishes - Sylvia xx

Hello everyone
I'm still in bed. No rush I'm ashamed to say that I may of over done things yesterday. My little one went to a party and I convinced my hubby to take me to cafe nero for a drink, a little bit of walking with crutches. Then wanted to go to another shop to get bio oil for when knee healed.
Last nite I got told off because my knee hurt (wasn't a lot of walking) and hands hurt from gripping crutches, I'm stubborn but my hubby may be right for over doing things.
The bungalow conversations - men and money go hand in hand! He says when I'm better (better in what way, um)! Keep going on rightmove and emailing him bungalow details hehehe.
He thinks the bannister rail the hospital asked him to put up is enough for now (bless him).
I felt something in my knee go last nite and I'm resting today - got a telling off for doing too much last nite

A couple of years ago we bought a motorhome for touring before our little one started school, visited lots of lovely places for a few days to a couple of weeks - Wales/Cornwall/Devon/Dorset/Somerset. Miss our motorhome but we needed a 2nd car. Maybe look at an older caravan sometime (subject to pennies).
Going camping gave happy memories for us as a family and spured me on to make me be mobile and not focus on ra. I said to my hubby can we live in a caravan and I be gypsy Jane ! he said like mystic meg?!!

My hubby cleaned my legs and feet earlier, a man's way of getting surgical stockings is so much more rough than a nurse!! But needs must! I think he enjoys his little job deep down.
Two more sleeps to go until the staples come out at the surgery - male nurse....let's hope he is gentle!
Xxx

Hello Paula,
Ooohh, the staples came out Tuesday by a nice nursey young man! Felt everyone that he pinged out, he didn't want me on the couch instead I sat on a chair slumped my top half over desk - wishing there was no more left to ping out!.
Half the wound is fine and dry, half has gone a bit wet and yucky. We bought smaller wound pads and hubby has just covered the wet area up
The hospital meds ran out today and had to take in hospital letter stating what they issued me because the surgery has not received any info from the hospital with tweaking of meds (for pain). At the moment I'm on co-codomol & diclafenic - doesn't touch the pain (the stronger meds worked a treat).
Have walked around a supermarket today (snail pace, light wear bearing) swaying merrily on my crutches. My hubby bribed me with lunch out in the supermarket!
Had call from boss at work - asked if my knee pain has gone by now (2 weeks after op) and if my arthritis stopped?! the same conversation as when I was off last summer for foot op. Trying to let it wash over me did offer the nras booklet for employers lots of times last year - but my boss knows everything that happens with arthritis because of her dog and elderly mother!!!
Jane
Xxx

Hi Jane, sorry, only just caught up all this.

So glad it is all over for you and that you are starting to get out and about all be it very gently.

You are so perky and cheerful through the whole thing, just hope I can be half as upbeat when my time comes.

Hope you get the pain relief sorted soon, and do take care,

Zena xx