December 31, 2013
I posted early in this "diary" around the time of my first ACI, things I
had bought or borrowed to prepare for my recovery. I am reposting the
short list here the things that are very helpful.
1. Raised toilet
seat[ftp] - Drive Medical Premium Seat Riser with Removable Arms for
Standard Toilets, purchased on Amazon. Very good-comfortable, good
height, and stable because it is screwed in. Has arm rails.$34.70
2. Shower seat-white plastic seat, can't find the brand-Amazon purchase.
3.
Slip on shoes with rubber bottoms. The ones I got were pricey, but
have held up very well since my first surgery
in March.and they show no wear.....The two I purchased are: Merrell
Women's Circuit Mary Jane Breeze Shoe ($136) and Ahnu Women's Gracie
Flat.-$110 (black suede-these are my dress up shoes!), both purchased on Amazon!
4. a hospital style table on
wheels, which I absolutely love, even before the surgery I have been
using it bedside or in a chair. The brand I got is very stable, lifts
and lowers easily, is large enough for computer and books, place for
cups. The brand is: Medline Overbed Table, Composite Top-$65.
5. I
rented the "Game Ready" ice machine-my doctor works with a certain
company who met me before both knee surgeries at the surgery suite prior
to my operation to review how to use it. It cost $300 to rent for both
surgeries. We thought we were going to have it covered under that first
payment for this 3rd surgery, but we ended up paying. I use it all
night when sleeping and much of the day.
6. I put a chair (actually
the rocking chair I bought for nursing my kids when they were babies)
with an ottoman in my room to make it easy to get to a place to sit
comfortably. I actually don't sit in it much, but my visitors do.
December 26, 2013-Today, I had my second ACI-this time patella and trochlea-as well a second Fulkerson (osteotomy). My first ACI and Osteotomy was on my right leg , this one on the left. went very well. I slept much of the day and now have some energy so ill do a quick blog entry and hopefully sleep through the night.
I am getting used to crutches again. I practiced for the week prior to surgery on the crutches. Today I needed to have my husband help me do the minimal walking (car to house, bed to bathroom), but by this evening, the tranquilizers I had requested and other meds wore off and I felt steady enough to crutch the short distance from bed to bathroom-but with my husband in close proximity in case I stumble.
I again have a nerve block which means no pain! It also means no feeling in my leg/foot. This nerve block should last 2-3 days. I use the "Game Ready" ice machine on and off throughout the day. Right now, I also use a soft stabilizer cuff, which helps to keep leg straight when out of bed.
The ice machine was delivered to the surgery suite before I went in for surgery. We had initially paid $300 prior to the first of what is now 3 surgeries, and we though the rep said that we would not have to repay for the following surgeries. That was true for the last one on June, but today he did not give us that deal. I do think that it may have played a part in my past two good recoveries and worth the cost.
I have to sleep on my stomach the first two nights (maybe three-I was groggy post op and my husband got the post op info from the surgeon and nurse.
Advice for any surgery: bring at least one companion to post op and have them WRITE everything down in detail).
When i was alert before my first surgery, Dr Gillogly had told me the reason for sleeping face down and he said there is a theory that this helps the cells adhere better to patella. I believe he said it is best to lie on stomach in these first day even awake.
The CPM machine (which constantly moves your knee) will be delivered to the doctor's office tomorrow when i am rhere. I have a post off doctor appointment and my first PT appointment tomorrow morning.
I am less anxious than prior to the surgery! I was so tense and my internist gave me a couple of Xanax for the 2 days prior to surgery which helped a lot. Now I am doing ok. It seems like I'm just going to repeat the whole process of my first ACI. But, I am not naive. I know complications could pop up-even though the first 6 months on my right leg have gone very smoothly.......