Thursday, January 29
I am coming to in the recovery room and most of all I am thirsty. And my throat is scratchy from the breathing tube. The nurse says I can have some ice chips in a few minutes. Right now apparently the worry is that I will get an upset stomach if I eat or drink anything. It's a little after 10:00 A.M.
Soon I get a cup of ice chips to eat with a spoon. When I didn't throw up they bring me another cup of ice.
The anesthesiologist visited and said it all went well. Then I saw the surgeon and he said the knee replacement went fine but there was a ligament attached to a bone spur that had to be repaired. I'll be in a cast for a few days then I'll need to wear a brace for a while.
They kept me in the recovery room longer than planned. My room wasn't ready yet in the hip and knee joint wing. Just before noon they took me to my room, very nice, a suite of two private rooms sharing a bathroom.
Once I am settled in my bed I am awake enough to count all the tubes and catheters connected to me. I have an IV for fluids, another for antibiotics, two small hoses connecting the nerve blocker, a drain at the wound, a catheter for urine, a connector for taking blood and a morphine pump. I also have an automatic blood pressure cuff and a red L.E.D. taped to a finger to check my oxygen level. The L.E.D. is on all the time and glows in a very E.T. way.
The room is bright and cheery, on the ground floor with a view of a busy courtyard. My nurse asked if I wanted a special meal for lunch. I told her I didn't need anything special and ten minutes later I got a very nice lunch -- pot roast, veggies and dessert. And endless Cokes all afternoon. And I can press the painkiller pump whenever I need to. Or even want to.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Day 0 -- The Knee Is Replaced, Part 1
Thursday, January 29
Up at 4:20 A.M. and no coffee for me, or even any water. Jack had time for one cup of coffee. We got to the waiting room at 5:00 and sat with other people having surgery today. When I checked in the receptionist said, "Your doctor says you'll need a wheelchair to get to Pre-Op. Be sure to tell the attendant." I told her I could probably make it using my cane but she said it's a long walk. It turns out it's close to a quarter of a mile.
At about 5:20 we all leave the first waiting room and head for the surgery waiting area -- led by me getting pushed in the wheelchair. There are about 9 or 10 patients and another dozen friends and family. The receptionist was right, it's a long walk.
The surgery waiting room is busy and cheery. Lots of nurses and technical people come to me with questions and forms to sign. After I got changed into my gown they paged Jack and he came in to sit with me.
A lady from the chaplain's office appeared to see if I was Catholic and wanted a priest; if not then perhaps a representative from some other religion? The anesthesiologist, an Osteopath, (why are there M.D.s and D.O.s and what's the difference?, that's something to Wiki about someday) stops by to explain what's going to happen. He's the tenth person this morning to ask me when I last had anything to eat or drink.
The anesthesiologist's P.A. came by with a student/intern around 6:45 and they prepped me for the nerve blocker. I would get a light dose of sedation while they found some nerves in the front and back of my upper thigh. These nerves -- serving the area around the knee -- would get flooded with pain killer during surgery and for the next three or four days. This reduces the amount of morphine I'll need after the operation. At this point Jack headed for home and a nap I hope.
As I started to fall asleep somebody told me my surgery was scheduled for 8:00 and I would just stay under after the nerve block installation. When I woke up the surgery was over. I was in the recovery room being told to take deep breaths. I was thirsty, hungry and high as a kite.
Up at 4:20 A.M. and no coffee for me, or even any water. Jack had time for one cup of coffee. We got to the waiting room at 5:00 and sat with other people having surgery today. When I checked in the receptionist said, "Your doctor says you'll need a wheelchair to get to Pre-Op. Be sure to tell the attendant." I told her I could probably make it using my cane but she said it's a long walk. It turns out it's close to a quarter of a mile.
At about 5:20 we all leave the first waiting room and head for the surgery waiting area -- led by me getting pushed in the wheelchair. There are about 9 or 10 patients and another dozen friends and family. The receptionist was right, it's a long walk.
The surgery waiting room is busy and cheery. Lots of nurses and technical people come to me with questions and forms to sign. After I got changed into my gown they paged Jack and he came in to sit with me.
A lady from the chaplain's office appeared to see if I was Catholic and wanted a priest; if not then perhaps a representative from some other religion? The anesthesiologist, an Osteopath, (why are there M.D.s and D.O.s and what's the difference?, that's something to Wiki about someday) stops by to explain what's going to happen. He's the tenth person this morning to ask me when I last had anything to eat or drink.
The anesthesiologist's P.A. came by with a student/intern around 6:45 and they prepped me for the nerve blocker. I would get a light dose of sedation while they found some nerves in the front and back of my upper thigh. These nerves -- serving the area around the knee -- would get flooded with pain killer during surgery and for the next three or four days. This reduces the amount of morphine I'll need after the operation. At this point Jack headed for home and a nap I hope.
As I started to fall asleep somebody told me my surgery was scheduled for 8:00 and I would just stay under after the nerve block installation. When I woke up the surgery was over. I was in the recovery room being told to take deep breaths. I was thirsty, hungry and high as a kite.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A link to my other (non-medical) blog
Click here to see my non-medical blog -- cruise diaries, photos, restaurant reviews, lists and logs.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Pre-Op Appointment
Last Friday I arrived at the huge, regional, not-for-profit, medical center, known hereafter as "the hospital", for my 10:00 A.M. appointment. They were busy, but that's no surprise. And running late.
The first step began at 10:20 when I was called in to have my blood pressure taken by nurse #1. Then we went into her rather nice office and she said, "Let's see, you're going to come in next Thursday for a left hip replacement."
I was ready to leave. We then looked at all the paperwork and the computer screen. She had mis-read the malady. Yes, all the documents say I'll be having a left knee replacement. She was sorry to have made such a mistake.
She took my medical history. I have done this several times before in recent weeks. When she was finished I asked her about all the things my surgeon said would be explained at this interview. She knew nothing about any of them and asked me, "Weren't these questions all covered in your joint replacement class?" That was the first I had heard of the class.
I am to arrive at the surgery check-in office at 5:00 A.M. on Thursday.
Next I went back to the waiting room to wait. Then nurse #2 took blood (lots of it) and urine and gave me an EKG. I passed that one nicely she said. Then back to the waiting room.
Then nurse #3 explained my anaesthesiology to me and mentioned, for the very first time, that I would have some nerve blocker surgery before my knee operation. I'll be asleep for it but they will wake me up after -- just in time to put me under for the knee surgery. She gave me several sheets of paper telling me what to do and what not to do the day before.
Then I left the Pre-Op waiting area to visit another waiting room for a couple of chest x-rays. I got out of there at 12:00 noon exactly.
Apparently all the things the surgeon said would be explained to me will be explained when I go to physical therapy after the operation. I do have a booklet from the surgeon telling me, along with many other instructions, to scrub the knee area the night before with the special soap provided. But no body gave me any special soap. Or knows anything about the special soap. I'll use Dial.
All I can say right now is, "Just do it."
The first step began at 10:20 when I was called in to have my blood pressure taken by nurse #1. Then we went into her rather nice office and she said, "Let's see, you're going to come in next Thursday for a left hip replacement."
I was ready to leave. We then looked at all the paperwork and the computer screen. She had mis-read the malady. Yes, all the documents say I'll be having a left knee replacement. She was sorry to have made such a mistake.
She took my medical history. I have done this several times before in recent weeks. When she was finished I asked her about all the things my surgeon said would be explained at this interview. She knew nothing about any of them and asked me, "Weren't these questions all covered in your joint replacement class?" That was the first I had heard of the class.
I am to arrive at the surgery check-in office at 5:00 A.M. on Thursday.
Next I went back to the waiting room to wait. Then nurse #2 took blood (lots of it) and urine and gave me an EKG. I passed that one nicely she said. Then back to the waiting room.
Then nurse #3 explained my anaesthesiology to me and mentioned, for the very first time, that I would have some nerve blocker surgery before my knee operation. I'll be asleep for it but they will wake me up after -- just in time to put me under for the knee surgery. She gave me several sheets of paper telling me what to do and what not to do the day before.
Then I left the Pre-Op waiting area to visit another waiting room for a couple of chest x-rays. I got out of there at 12:00 noon exactly.
Apparently all the things the surgeon said would be explained to me will be explained when I go to physical therapy after the operation. I do have a booklet from the surgeon telling me, along with many other instructions, to scrub the knee area the night before with the special soap provided. But no body gave me any special soap. Or knows anything about the special soap. I'll use Dial.
All I can say right now is, "Just do it."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
"Preparing For Joint Replacement Surgery"
Go to this link, for an excellent article by Jonathan Cluett, M.D., from about.com's website. It has some good tips for anyone planning to have total knee replacement surgery.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Follow-up phone call
I got a call from LaQuanna at the hospital. She was checking some of the facts in my file. And making sure I was planning to show up Friday for my appointment for a pre-op interview.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Research Study of Blood Thinners
When I met the orthopedic surgeon last Tuesday he mentioned a double-blind research study of an investigational drug, a blood thinner. He added that this drug is, "not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration." Not yet, at least. It will be compared to a drug that is approved by the FDA for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after knee replacement surgery.
He gave me a 14 page contract-like legal document -- an Informed Consent Form -- and asked me to read it and decide, by the time of my pre-op interview at the hospital, if I would take part.
I have decided not to participate. The study appears to require a lot of followup and some tests that sound intrusive and stressful.
Am I expected to participate? I feel awkward turning it down, but I really don't want to be part of it. Deciding on having the knee surgery itself was a huge step for me. Now this question comes up. And by the surgeon himself.
I am sure the surgery and recovery will be quite stressful enough without adding any more stress factors.
He gave me a 14 page contract-like legal document -- an Informed Consent Form -- and asked me to read it and decide, by the time of my pre-op interview at the hospital, if I would take part.
I have decided not to participate. The study appears to require a lot of followup and some tests that sound intrusive and stressful.
Am I expected to participate? I feel awkward turning it down, but I really don't want to be part of it. Deciding on having the knee surgery itself was a huge step for me. Now this question comes up. And by the surgeon himself.
I am sure the surgery and recovery will be quite stressful enough without adding any more stress factors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)