knee replacement surgery

[lifeboatann58]

well that's me finally had knee replacement surgery done. Painful (as to be expected) but really surprised how easily I seem to be able to get around. Even planned a few days in London for next month.

Four days before I went into have my knee op I was told that I have type 2 Diabetes, was not expecting that. Now been told it's caused by being on steroids for so long. I'm waiting for appointment with a new rhuematologist,so hopefully he can get me on something to else control my RA. Just seems relentless, still waiting to find out what Lung disease I have, and to know if my blood Clots in my lungs have gone. Sorry for the rant. x

[helenlw7]

I glad your knee op went well. Both my knees are needing doing and are extremely painful. I hope you don’t mind me asking a question. I’m steroid dependent because of the number of years I’ve been on them. Did you have to come off them before you had the op, or even reduce the dose?I hope you enjoy your trip to London.

[lifeboatann58 in reply to helenlw7]

Hya helenlw7. No I stayed on the steroids, I only came off the Warfarin for a week before the op, then back on them after. Thanks really looking forward to going to London

Hope you get your knees done soon. X

[helenlw7 in reply to lifeboatann58]

I’ve been discharged from the knee department at the orthopaedic hospital because I know I can’t stop the steroids, but I’m being seen by a rheumatologist and an orthopaedic surgeon next week so hopefully they might be more relaxed about the steroids.

[davannh]

Glad to hear your surgery went well. I am interested to hear about your blood clots. I had blood clots in my lungs, unexpectedly, in December. This has delayed my knee surgery.

[lifeboatann58 in reply to davannh]

Hya Davannh. Thank You. I was in hospital March 2021 with the blood clots (Pulmonary Embolism) but they wouldn't go away, so in February this year they changed my medication and put me on Warfarin. I did have my operation cancelled a couple of times, then they done a eco-gram to check that the blood was going round my heart ok, it must have been ok as they were able to go ahead with my op. They said that they had to make sure that it was safe to go ahead. Hopefully you will have yours done soon, I was really glad that I got it done. Now to concentrate on the other illnesses. X

[nomoreheels]

Not a rant. You rarely post so see it as an update!

So pleased your surgery went well Ann. I hope you're able to manage the pain & recovery is uneventful. London will be a test. Don't try to pack everything in, better another trip later on than overdoing it & causing issues with your knee.

So, diabetes. Dash it. Do keep us updated on that, I’d be particularly interested as I’ve been on steroids a good while now too. My sister in law has also just been told she has type 2. They're trying a change in diet initially, mainly because she has serious liver issues but also due to pred her normal savoury taste has changed to sweet. Can't win. We need meds but they in themselves can cause problems. I hope you find it's easily managed & it doesn’t impact on life too much. I admit I don't know if it would reverse if your new Rheumy ditches the pred, I do know there's such a thing as steroid-induced diabetes so hoping for this to be your body’s response.

Hope all's well otherwise? x

[lifeboatann58 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks nomoreheels, the operation went better than I expected, recovery time etc. Only had it done on the 27th June and I have been out to the shops (I do use a walker) and been walking along the prom. Wasn't expecting the diabetes diagnosis though, but hey ho that's life, but now knowing that it's the steroids that's causing it, I can cope with that, changed my diet so will see how that goes. Just need to see my new rhuematologist so I can get on the best meds for the lung disease. It's just amazing that everything that's happened started through having rheumatoid arthritis. I didn't realize the damage that was getting done in my body. I would definitely ask your rheumatologist for a Diabetes test,

It does make you wonder about all the medication that we are taking. But apart from that I'm not too bad. Hope You are Well too.xx