My Knee Surgery . . . I'm back . . .

Monday, September 20, 2010

500 words.

Last Tuesday and had my right knee replaced. I didn’t expect it to be a breeze and I was right, it was an ordeal for me. To get ready I stopped taking all my meds that I used to take, so nothing would conflict with any new ones I would be getting.

I took a shower the night before and another in the morning. It was an 8:30 a.m. appointment but they never said what time the operation would be nor would they say when I would be released.

I didn’t want them to give me morphine and told them so. Apparently, I must have told the wrong person because it was given to me.

When I awoke a nurse said, “If you want some more morphine for your pain just press this button and automatically will get the proper doze of it. If you press it four times you will get a doze every ten minutes until you get four dozes.

After I was prepped for surgery, got an epidural I was taken to the surgery room. After a little while, all I remember was black.

I don’t remember when I woke up nor if I was given something to eat. Some close family members were visiting me

I remember that a physical therapist came, made me get out of bed, stand and sit on the commode next to my bed. Stand again and take several steps to a wheel chair. She took me to a therapy room, had me walk up and down three stairs. All this took a long time since every step was painful.

That ordeal happened the next day also. That was it as far as getting better.

I was released against my wishes. I felt I was not ready. The physical therapist said. "There was no medical reason for you to stay."

Therefore, the discharge started at 10 am I was going out the door at 3:30 pm.

“Take this flask from my lips, as I don't need this.”

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I was back at the Emergency Hospital with a fever at 5 p.m. and released the second time at 10 p.m.

Then Saturday afternoon 5 p.m. I was back at the Emergency because I could not breathe. I had the hiccups and it would cause my air intake to stop.

After many tries and one new method that the surgeon came up with they stopped. I was released at 9:05 p.m. While I was going out the hiccups came back. I went back in. They did the method again and gave me a shot for hiccups, gave me some type of pill and released me again.

"This is not medical science," said the doctor. "I am just throwing things at it and hope they work."

So now, I am somewhat stable at home and progressing slowly. I have a physical therapist that comes twice a week and a nurse to take the blood. I just hope this end up in great success.

I probably won’t be posting until I am much better.