23rd April 2004
Hi everyone!
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Kathi and I'm an alcoholic, 49 days sober.
I had knee replacement surgery on the 12th. I spent a few days in the hospital and then on the 15th I went into a rehab. facility. I just got home yesterday. My surgeon warned me that the first 6 weeks I would hate the surgery and wish I hadn't done it and then after those first 6 weeks he said I will wish I did it years ago. So, I prepared myself for the worst and it is actually worse than I anticipated :eek: ! I have never experienced so much pain in my life!
I was grateful that they were able to do the surgery by giving me an epidural, so I did not have to have general anesthesia and be intubated. I have had that type of surgery in the past and done very well, but it's one risk that is nice not to have to take. It was funny though, because I woke up twice during the surgery when I heard them using the saw and I remember asking the nurse anesthetist what part of the surgery they were on and she put me back to sleep. I was severly anemic. I had donated 2 of my own pints of blood before the surgery and they had to give me that back plus 2 more in the rehab. facility.
My biggest problem up to this point has been the inability to control my pain. I have always had a very high threshold for pain but for some reason this time I do not. They changed my pain medication nearly every day and nothing seemed to work. The finally left me on 40 mg of oxycontin twice a day and percocet for break through pain, 1-2 every 4-6 hours. They feel that I am on too much pain medication, but with out it, I am not able to do any physical therapy that will move my knee and help reduce the pain. When the physician assistant in the rehab facility was dicussing my discharge, she said that she would be writing my prescriptions by tapering me off the oxycontin. I said that would be good because I'm an alcoholic and I am concerned about getting addicted to pills. So she says "well, even if I didn't taper these pills, you could still become addicted, it's you needing to take responsibility." So much for being honest, what a piece of work she was.
So, she wrote me all these prescriptions that would get me through until 6 days before my first follow-up with the surgeon. So I asked what am I suppose to do for those 6 days and she said call the surgeon - whatever. I have home care for 2 weeks. The nurse and physical therapist both came to the house today. The physical therapist will be coming 3 times a week. The nurse will come 1-2 times a week and on Monday she will take the staples out. I have a 7 inch incision with about 24 staples in it.
The reason I quite drinking in the first place was because of the surgery, so I kept telling myself I couldn't drink until after the surgery. Now the nurse warned me today that you cannot drink at all, not only because of the pain medication but more specifically because I'm on coumadin to prevent blood clots. So that gives me more reason to continue. I have been in contact with my temporary sponsor from AA and hopefully, I will be able Sunday morning to go to a meeting. She will pick me up and bring me since I can't drive.
Karyn has been helpful in doing everything for me. I was really frustrated that she had 2 weeks practically to get the house clean before I came home but my sister and her husband had to come and help the night before I came home because she hadn't done it. I'm still trying to focus on my healing and not our relationship. I know I need to deal with that and I will, but for now I have to remind myself that I need to heal first.
Well, that's about it for now - I'm going to try to catch up on everyone. I know some of you are just back from rehab. - congratulations!
-Kathi
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Kathi and I'm an alcoholic, 49 days sober.
I had knee replacement surgery on the 12th. I spent a few days in the hospital and then on the 15th I went into a rehab. facility. I just got home yesterday. My surgeon warned me that the first 6 weeks I would hate the surgery and wish I hadn't done it and then after those first 6 weeks he said I will wish I did it years ago. So, I prepared myself for the worst and it is actually worse than I anticipated :eek: ! I have never experienced so much pain in my life!
I was grateful that they were able to do the surgery by giving me an epidural, so I did not have to have general anesthesia and be intubated. I have had that type of surgery in the past and done very well, but it's one risk that is nice not to have to take. It was funny though, because I woke up twice during the surgery when I heard them using the saw and I remember asking the nurse anesthetist what part of the surgery they were on and she put me back to sleep. I was severly anemic. I had donated 2 of my own pints of blood before the surgery and they had to give me that back plus 2 more in the rehab. facility.
My biggest problem up to this point has been the inability to control my pain. I have always had a very high threshold for pain but for some reason this time I do not. They changed my pain medication nearly every day and nothing seemed to work. The finally left me on 40 mg of oxycontin twice a day and percocet for break through pain, 1-2 every 4-6 hours. They feel that I am on too much pain medication, but with out it, I am not able to do any physical therapy that will move my knee and help reduce the pain. When the physician assistant in the rehab facility was dicussing my discharge, she said that she would be writing my prescriptions by tapering me off the oxycontin. I said that would be good because I'm an alcoholic and I am concerned about getting addicted to pills. So she says "well, even if I didn't taper these pills, you could still become addicted, it's you needing to take responsibility." So much for being honest, what a piece of work she was.
So, she wrote me all these prescriptions that would get me through until 6 days before my first follow-up with the surgeon. So I asked what am I suppose to do for those 6 days and she said call the surgeon - whatever. I have home care for 2 weeks. The nurse and physical therapist both came to the house today. The physical therapist will be coming 3 times a week. The nurse will come 1-2 times a week and on Monday she will take the staples out. I have a 7 inch incision with about 24 staples in it.
The reason I quite drinking in the first place was because of the surgery, so I kept telling myself I couldn't drink until after the surgery. Now the nurse warned me today that you cannot drink at all, not only because of the pain medication but more specifically because I'm on coumadin to prevent blood clots. So that gives me more reason to continue. I have been in contact with my temporary sponsor from AA and hopefully, I will be able Sunday morning to go to a meeting. She will pick me up and bring me since I can't drive.
Karyn has been helpful in doing everything for me. I was really frustrated that she had 2 weeks practically to get the house clean before I came home but my sister and her husband had to come and help the night before I came home because she hadn't done it. I'm still trying to focus on my healing and not our relationship. I know I need to deal with that and I will, but for now I have to remind myself that I need to heal first.
Well, that's about it for now - I'm going to try to catch up on everyone. I know some of you are just back from rehab. - congratulations!
-Kathi