Had my right knee replaced Tuesday, the 5th, at West Marion by Dr Duke. Last operation of the day for him at 3:30 (actually started at 4:00 and was over before 5:00). Into Recovery to await coming out of spinal block and for room to open. West Marion had a full house but did get into a room at 6:30. The rooms are all single patient rooms and nicely done. I had a really great night nurse, Jocelyn. She was always there when needed or was quick to let me know if she was delayed serving another patient. She said she average 60-66,000 steps each night! She changed my dressing about mid-night and said her goal was to get me walking before her shift ended. Since I had a late surgery my walking came at 6am.
Quads are really stiff and sore, more so than my knee. Knee itself is not making a statement since the quads are yelling. Breakfast was non-cardiac with bacon, French toast and scrambled eggs. Had my round of pt at 8:30 and was checked out by 12:30. My surgical wound was closed by subcutaneous stitching, then steri-strips, covered by gauze strip and 3"wide clear plastic tape. I'm good to shower anytime...though not charging into that yet.
I've just ordered a tray to fit over the handles of my walker. Found that navigating hot cup of coffee and iced water bottles to my ice machine needed some help. I expect home-pt visits to start today, probably later in the day.
Left the hospital with 4 scripts, two regular and two narcotic. The regular were called in but you have to hand-deliver the narcotic ones to the pharmacy. So far I've not needed to tap the 20 pills of oxy..I have used the Tramadol HCL pills that call for 1pill 3x's per day for 14 days.
I don't know how people manage getting 2 knees done at same time. I know they do, but wow... not for me.
So that's all for now, perhaps I'll update this later in the process.
Dean
__________________
Columbus, IN and Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD
|