Now for the gory details....: I was in theatre for... - NRAS

NRAS

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Now for the gory details....

sylvi profile image
12 Replies

I was in theatre for five hours. I had a block put into my back to start with and thats the last i can remember until i came to in recovery at one o'clock.

It seems that the other joint was loose,hence all my problems. He had to cut everything and then take the joint out and then he had to repair everything. He had to pin the new joint in and re-attach all the ligaments and nerves. I have forty clips in place to come out next week. Not looking forward to that i can tell you. I think that will be a two appointment job.

I have found it to be very uncomfortable to say the least. I have put so many painkillers down my throat i am rattling. The nursing staff have been wonderful.

I had to have two x-rays, one for my chest and then later one for the knee. While i was down a lovely young lady doing the x-rays i had her in stitches because i made a comment about her collegue and when she looked at him she saw what i meant. It was quite hilairios i can tell you. I saw her when i was leaving hospital yesterday and she was pleased to see me and waved at me like mad man.

Blood tests. Now they were more worried about them as my crp was high. At one stage it was near to 200. Then they took another blood test and it was down to 117. Then yesterday it was down to 84. I don't think that they would have let me go if it hadn't gone down again. I told them that it was due to the ra. They seemed very worried about that than anything else.

The pschios were very pleased with my progress. I was up and walking with sticks rather than the frame or crutches. I work best with the sticks as i have been using them for so long. I got 90% bend on it on tuesday, which i was pleased about. Mind you it all depended what time of the day i tried to do it. On wednesday i was with them in the gym and they had me going up and down the steps. Good knee to up to heaven,bad knee to go to hell. Thats how i know which leg to use first either to go up or down.

Coming home, now thats a story all on its own. Got all the paperwork together and was ready for hubby to come and get me. Told him to get a wheelchair, which he tried to do. He came on the ward minus wheelchair as he said he couldn't find one. The nurse had to ring for a porter to bring us one up. Then we got back to the car and what a performance just getting into the damn car that was. Safely in and on our way home, when we got to a village near where we live when there was a bang and hubby lost the steering. He kept going very slowly so as he could get me home, which bless him he did. He got me indoors and i sat on my stairlift and boy did i break my heart out.

Now i am sorted and no i'm not outside yet i will see how i feel when i have finished this. Oh to add insult to injury while i was in hospital i had thrush in my mouth as well. I think i had better stop as this will soon turn into a book. I wish you all a lovely day and get the sun on those joints and enjoy.....xxxx

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sylvi profile image
sylvi
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12 Replies

Wow you've been through a lot Sylvi.

Sounds as if its gonna take time til you are fighting fit again! This nice weather should do you lots of good.

Take care and keep positive.

Mary x

sylvi profile image
sylvi

Thanks mary,it has been hard,but i am on the other side of the door now,even though its a long road to go, i will get there. xx

It's been a massive ordeal for you but it sounds like you're doing really well. The little scooter may well be in retirement soon! I know you've got a long way to go Sylvi but you sound fab and have a great attitude to it all which helps. It's lovely to have you back, I've really missed seeing your colourful personality and hair popping up on the blogs. Best of luck with your recovery.

Paula x

sylvi profile image
sylvi

Paula, i wish i felt fab, it has been so hard that i couldn't even begin to describe on here. The tears i have cried since the op is numerous. I do try to be upbeat,but at times i find it very hard. Your words calling it massive isn't far off the mark. Mind you there 3 more on my ward and none of them was as mobile as i am. They were older than me i know,but they didn't have what i had. One woman who was discharge yesterday could still only walk with a frame and she was bent over even then. I've been told by them at the hospital that i was doing very well. I am not so sure,by the way i'm feeling, i think it is just post op fatique. When i can walk better and am more mobile i will be a lot more happier. I'm glad its all over anyway,now i'm back and before long everyone will fed up with me!!!!! Yes i am joking and i need that at the moment.

Anyway paula how are you, i need to catch up with everyone while i've been gone.

Love sylvi.xxx

in reply to sylvi

You're bound to be feeling emotional after all you've been through..are going through Sylvi. It's so unfair that you've had to suffer so much but here's hoping that it's all going to turn around for you now. I hope you've been given some hard core drugs to help you along :-)

I'm doing ok thanks, I'm on my 4th week of mtx and am on 15mg. My bloods are ok up to now and my esr is down to 21. I'm not in nearly so much pain but I don't know how much of this is down to the mtx or the steroid injection. I'm continuing to get fitter and enjoying my walking and swimming. I've now lost 53lbs so that in itself is helping me feel better.

Paula x

aligator profile image
aligator

Hi Sylvi,

What a difficult time you have had & the journey home , stressful. I do hope you will soon be able to enjoy better mobility with less pain. May this weather bring a smile when you look at your garden.

Look forward to reading more of your blogs.

Love Alison x

Gina_K profile image
Gina_K

Hi Sylvie,

So glad you have a good sense of humour to get you thru. hopefully, the op will be a success and you can put it behind you and get a better quality of life. I wish you the speediest of recoveries.

xx Gina.

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

Oh yuck. That all sounds really unpleasant, so well done you for coping and trying to stay cheerful. I'm sure it'll be a hard road back, but the prize of being able to walk better would be wonderful for you so great that you're trying so hard and doing so well already. But don't overdo it! Polly

Judi profile image
Judi

Hiya you !!!!!!!

Firstly thank Grace for keeping us informed.

Secondly, apparently the amount of anaesetic (< spelling ?) they give you, the more emotional you are after the op. (Don't know how much truth there is in this but was told this by nurse years ago). When I first wake up after an op I feel so relaxed and free from worries, I know it's only been due to the anaesetic but I have always found it a great feeling.

Congratulate your OH - I bet he was scared stiff driving you home with little steering. Hope the steering is easy to get sorted and not too expensive - you really didn't need that happening. However, at least it didn't go when he was visiting you in hospital and he would have been taking it easy on your journey home (because of your leg) and not rushing about, I shudder to think !

Don't get near a metal detector (or magnet) with all that metal in your leg. (Hope you're not flying off anywhere soon as the airport thingy that you have to go through will definitely make some noise).

Hope you manage to sit out in your garden now we've got some good weather (between resting up and the exercises of course) the suns rays will do you good.

Keep smiling

Judi xxxxxxxx

PS - almost forgot, really do hope you feel better with every passing day (no, ..... hour!)

sylvi profile image
sylvi

Oh judi you know how to make a girl smile. The problem with the car car was the fan belt,only cost £130 so that was a relief i can tell you. Day one of being home has passed and by the end of the day my ankle and foot resembled an elephants foot,not a pretty sight i can tell you. It was a difficult evening thats for sure, and i was closed to tears. I had a bawling session in the afternoon as well.

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes. love sylvi.xxx

Sweet,sweet Syvi, I am so glad to know you are home, and by now, likely out in your garden, enjoying the sites and sounds.

I have been out there and about the yard for days now, and have really treasured it all. Love to hear the birds in the trees. We have a neighborhood cardinal that sits on the highest point of the tallest pine tree and just sings his heart out, every morning and evening. I have zoomed in on the camera and gotten some terrific pictures. Will have to go through the archives to find where he is, then I can post him.

I got the new walker yesterday, and tonight, a girlfriend, who is a widow, has invited me to go with her to the local high school alumni reunion. We know all the same people and will sit together and have a great time.

Maybe you shouldn't try walking with the canes in the garden just yet, sure don't want to fall!! Take care, get a good suntan! manufacture Vit. D, good for the bones! L..

Pleased you are doing so well xx

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