The Morning After

Good morning! Welcome to my hospital room where I have spent my first night in the hospital. It's now the morning after my TKR and so far I'm feeling fine. I still know there's going to be pain because everyone tells me so (doctor, nurses, physical therapist), but for now I still have a nerve-block IV drip going plus I have a button to push if I want to administer any more painkiller.

At the end of last night's post, Stan and I were waiting for the therapist to come show me how to get out of bed and into the recliner. As soon as she came and got me settled in my chair, Stan said his goodbyes and left. Over the next two hours, I sat in my chair and engaged in several diverting activities: talking to the son in Florida, talking to the son who lives here, reading my latest mystery (The Square Root of Murder by Ada Madison), watching "House Hunters" on HGTV and using my Blackberry to catch up on email and to web browse. At 9:45, the aide came back to help me get back into bed and to take my vitals. I texted a couple of times with Stan, then turned out the lights.

Even though the night was punctuated with nurses taking my vitals (12:00, 2:00, and 4:00 a.m.), I slept soundly in between their visits. I was awakened shortly after 5:00 by a lab technician who drew two vials of blood and who, again, took my vitals. This might be a good time to mention that I've had VERY low blood pressure since the recovery room. My BP has been in the upper 90s over about 60. This must be due to the medication I'm taking, but it's been interesting nonetheless.

Well, there was no point in trying to go back to sleep, so I've been awake since 5:00. There have been several people in and out of my room, and I can't express strongly enough how pleasant and professional they have been. The nursing, lab, and tech staff here are wonderful! I ordered my breakfast at 6:40 and it arrived at 7:10. Unlike last night, I was hungry and ate all my breakfast: Raisin Bran, nonfat milk, fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt, a fruit cup, and a cup of black coffee. My oh my, that coffee surely did taste like the best coffee ever! I couldn't have coffee yesterday, so I was dying for a good, hot cup of coffee. Tomorrow I'll order two cups!

After breakfast, the physical therapist came and helped me through several of the daily goals which have been established for me and which are written on a big whiteboard in my room. The goals I've already accomplished for today are:
Do all my breathing exercises.
Get out of bed using my walker with minimal assistance (I needed no assistance).
Walk 40 feet using my walker ( I walked approximately 100 feet according to the therapist).
Take a sponge bath in my chair with the help of the aide.
Get dressed with help of the aide (pale yellow shorts, royal blue tee shirt).
Get in and out of bed by myself. (I can bend my knee to the 60 degree mark while sitting on the edge of my bed.)
Sit in chair and get up again by myself.
Go to the bathroom by myself (catheter removed early this morning).
Step into and out of shower by myself.
Lift my leg up and down unassisted (piece of cake!).

The occupational therapist and the physical therapist say that I'm doing so well that I don't need any other help and that I'll be discharged tomorrow. I know it's the result of the painkillers, but I can honestly say that I have no pain--a little stiffness perhaps, but that's all.

Stan and I have just placed our lunch orders from the extensive menu, and soon we'll go to the JIM (Joints in Motion) for lunch with all the other TKR patients and their coaches, and, following that, group physical therapy.

If you wonder what we're having for lunch, here's what we ordered.
Me: grilled cheeseburger, side Caesar salad, baked Lays potato chips, fruited yogurt, apple, Diet Coke
Stan: grilled cheese sandwich, garden salad with 1000 Island dressing, Baked Lays potato chips, carrot cake, unsweetened ice tea

Shall I sum up? I slept well despite interruptions, I have had no problems with any of the goals they've set for me, I have a healthy appetite, and my pain is, so far, nonexistent. I know I'll start feeling more uncomfortable soon (the PCA self-administered narcotic drip has been removed and I've been given a percocet tablet), but for now, everything is just fine.

Stayed tuned and I'll update you this evening!