So yesterday was my knee surgery to loosen up/remove scar tissue. I had to be there at 8:30 for a supposed 9:45 surgery, but it was actually after 10:00 by the time I went back. I was home by about 12:30. At this moment it is still heavily wrapped up, but I can remove the bandages tomorrow, and switch to bandaids. On Friday I have a followup appointment, then on Monday I have a therapy appointment where they will remove my stitches and evaluate whether I need any actual therapy.
I noticed late in the evening that it had bled through the ace bandage to an extent that was more than they told me was OK, so I called the answering service, who paged the doctor and he called me back. They had obviously woken him (it was 10:15), so I felt a little bad, particularly when he said that kind of surgery usually has a lot of fluid, and to just overwrap it. It didn't leak any further after that. It hasn't been painful, though I can feel the stitches pulling a little. While I am looking forward to getting rid of the big bandage, I'm not looking forward to having to see the mess. I am eternally grateful that there are people who want to be doctors and nurses, and who want to deal with that kind of stuff, because I just don't. I will do it, though.
I had a really terrible night. Part of the problem might have been the pizza with onion I had for dinner (maybe I wasn't ready for onions), and the G2 I drank during the evening. It is kind of salty, and part of my problem was that I was really thirsty and my eyes were dry. I probably used my expensive eye drops four times during the night. I was taking hydrocodone on schedule and it made me a little loopy. I felt like my heart was racing and I couldn't breathe if I was lying on my back, but didn't know how else I could position myself. I tried two pillows, but that didn't really help. I felt like I was just dozing, not sleeping, and I kept waking myself up snoring or talking or drifting in and out of weird dreams. I was probably up about every hour or so. I skipped the 7 a.m. dose of hydrocodone and finally fell deeply asleep until 9:30, then laid in bed intending to watch a movie but I couldn't get the DVD player to work (or maybe the TV - it said it was in DVD mode, but it wasn't showing the movie). I ended up dozing off again until almost 11:00. I used Dad's cane when I got up last night, but otherwise, I haven't used crutches or anything.
I spent today watching a movie, three episodes of an old Amazing Race season, and part of another movie. With all of the bleeding last night, I was trying not to put much stress on it today. The surgery center called this afternoon to check on me, but I really haven't had any problems or pain. And though I can't really bend it yet because of the bandage, it seems a bit looser already. The doctor told me that he uses a machine that vaporizes the scar tissue, and it should not redevelop. I am really anxious to see how it will be painwise, like on the stairs.
Tomorrow, once I take off the big bandage, it will be back to real life. I am going to a movie with Mom (it's Wednesday). Dad is still in the field helping with harvest so he will be busy. Then I have NCHS Alumni Foundation at 7:00. Friday night is the Homecoming game, where I will be helping man the alumni table. And next week I work M-F 5-9 again.
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