Wow and Wow
June 16, 2013 | My Jottings
I’m so thankful my knee replacement surgery is behind me! And I thank all of you who prayed for me. There were times (especially on Wednesday) when I was quietly writhing in more pain than I’d anticipated, even though I’d had plenty of pain meds, when suddenly a wave of joy swept over me and I knew I was being lifted up to the Lord.
I hope to share more when I can, but I’ve been up a while now and must go back to bed. Ice is your friend, rest is your friend, pain meds to help you rest are your friend, are the wise words I keep hearing from those who’ve walked the New Knee Road before me, and I’m listening.
Here’s a photo I took with my iPhone a few hours after surgery:
The nurse was checking my incision and making sure the hemovac drain inserted at the right side of my knee was indeed draining, and she was getting ready to put on the ultra-suprema-comfy compression tights they make you wear to prevent blood clots.
And a day later when the swelling was enough to make me ask myself, “Hey, what in the world is that enormous purple thing that seems to connect your thigh and your calf, girl?” the hemovac was still intact. (I actually didn’t take a picture when it was purple — I was probably too preoccupied with writhing at the time.)
My sweet granddaughter Mrs. Nisky has spent two nights with us now that I’m home, getting me water, putting my warm ice packs back in the freezer and bringing me fresh cold ice packs, drawing pictures, playing gin rummy with me, cuddling close as I read this wonderful book out loud, setting and clearing the table, and spreading lots of cheer around.
Here’s what my nightstand looks like — the flowers Sara picked from our garden add a lovely soft touch to the cane/pain meds/bandage look I’ve got going these days. I’m more grateful than I can say that dentures, purple hair dye, and nose hair clippers are not part of this picture.
I’m still pretty swollen and the deep and richly colored bruising is starting to spread to the hinterlands of hip and ankle. Apparently it will be months before the swelling is down. But that horrible grinding pain that sent me to the surgeon to begin with is completely gone. It’s a wow and wow situation. Wow, there’s a lot of swelling and pressure. And wow, that cruel bone-on-bone torture is gone. There’s probably some whoa and some woe and some whew and some wah in there too, but I don’t want to confuse anyone. If I titled this blog post Wow and Whoa and Whew and Woe and Wah and Wow, it might be just too much.
I will share more when I can. Thank you for caring and praying….
Julie, so happy to read you are post-op! I know there is pain in healing, but you are on your way back to walking with a good knee. Have you thought of naming her?
It is very special to have a nurse like Mrs. Nisky. I am sure it means a lot to her to be able to be of help to you.
I hope you will allow yourself to rest, and not push yourself to overdo. I am sure it will be a temptation!
Roberta, I have not thought of naming my knee, until now! That sort of thing is right up my alley. Thank you for suggesting it — she’ll need to have a carefully thought out name. I’m open to suggestions… ? xoxo
Happy to hear from you & know all is well, prayers answered & you are being well loved. 🙂
Thank you Ganeida…prayers for all that’s going on in your family and on your island right now… xoxoxo
Lovely to see that you’re doing well and from your picture I can also see that you’ve got Mr. Herriot keeping you good company.
Good to know that you’ve getting lots of cuddles from your granddaughter.
(What about ‘Denise’ for a name? 🙂 )
xxoo
Hello Kay — thank you for saying hello. It took me a few minutes to understand why you thought Denise would be a good name for my new knee…hahahaha! You are clever. Hello to Alan…. xoxo
So glad you’re recuperating well! Sweet to have your grand girl as your nurse. I loved your previous dream retirement post, too!
Hi Elizabeth…thank you for stopping by. I see a physical therapist for the first time today and am half excited, half dreading it. LOL. xoxo
Hey Jules ~ so glad you are feeling better ~ off and on anyway :)! I had foot surgery on both of my feet, many years ago now, and had the VERY unrealistic expectation that I would be good as new just a few months down the road. When it did not happen when I though it should have I was so very disappointed. One of the toughest lessons I had to learn was how to “budget” my energy. It is however one of the best lessons I learned and still apply even though my feet are completely healed and good as new. Every time I walk and recognize it is without the horrible pain I used to have I say a short, but frequent, prayer of thanks. It took a full 18 months or so for me to be completely new again (with the exception of the re-broken foot from a car accident almost one year after my surgery). So, follow doctors’ orders, do your exercises, rest frequently, budget your energy and take your medicine, not necessarily always in that order though. I am sure Mrs. Nisky is taking very good care of everything else you need :). How is Sue doing? I have been praying for her as well. Much love to you my friend, I wish I was close by to share a cup of tea with you!! Take good care ~
I really needed this reminder today, Taun. However long it takes is however long it takes. You really went through a lot with your feet. I think you should teach a class on how you budget your energy, exactly. I’d love to know some practical details. Mrs. Nisky is home today so it’s just me today. I’m pretty slow, but am walking. And I’m being diligent about resting, elevating and icing too. I’d love to share a cup of tea with you too, Taun… xoxo
Thank you God that Julie’s knee is getting better!
Please help the healing to continue to go really well…
(…and so glad you have wonderful help, Julie! )
Thank you dear Shari…I say amen to your prayer! xoxo
Okay, I sent you a message a few days ago, saying: “‘Hope you are able to rest and to sleep, and that the pain is kept at bay as you heal.”
However, as it turns out, the person I sent it to was a copy-editor who also happens to be called Julie . . . I got in a muddle. She was surprised, but assumed I must have had a Word from the Lord and be speaking metaphorically . . .
So here I am now actually saying it to you in person – and it’s good to see in the pics that they made such a neat job of it, and it looks like you are being very ably cared for by both clinicians and Mrs Nisky.
May you be rested and all healed. xxx
That’s funny Ember… 😉
My assistant has returned to her own home, but we have been the blessed recipients of some wonderful meals brought by friends. Tears of gratitude mixed in with the chicken and pasta! And sleeping has been pretty consistent thanks to a very nice pain relieving narcotic called Percocet– do you have that there? I have about a week’s left of those pills and think it will go fine without them. xoxo
Thank you for sharing. I am an nursing student, and to hear about a patient’s journey is very insightful.
Thank you for leaving your comment, Jenny. God bless you in your studies! xox