how do you know when

constable
constable Member Posts: 2,115
edited 16. May 2011, 06:03 in Living with Arthritis archive
Yes, it's me, feeling sorry for myself again. but how do yu know, when to go to one stick.

I have started doing the washing up and know it is going to be painful, but never expected so much pain.

And the crying, well I'm fed up with myself at the moment, keep crying, like a big baby.

I just wish I knew when I should be trying to do more things. after taking loads and loads of laxatives, finally starting to break away now.

Sorry

Karen xx
Karen xx

Comments

  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had to go for physio and they assessed when i was ready to use one stick. Do you have any physio booked ready?
    I am certain you should continue on 2 crutches for at least 6 weeks. i had my op mid July and was still on crutches 1st week of Sept.
    I had the laxative problem too and they kept giving me big cups of the stuff.Over a week for me Karen.
    And the tears are because having such an op is a big thing. Part relief, part confusion and part shock I think. Its okay to cry Karen.Because it such a routine op people think it is easy but we have had a large piece cut away and replaced! The pain will lessen but we had to go through a lot to get this far.

    Elizabeth x
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • constable
    constable Member Posts: 2,115
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Elizabeth,

    There is no phsio after the operation down here, just given loads of bits of paper.maybe Imshould google it and see what comes up, also they gave me sticks not crutches.

    Karen xx
    Karen xx
  • Dottydoodah
    Dottydoodah Member Posts: 169
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    If you want to cry Karen you do just that. If i were going through what you are right now i would howl the house down.
    I am surprised you dont get physio after that kind of op.

    Thinking of you
  • magenta
    magenta Member Posts: 1,604
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen,
    Good to see you posting again but what a shame it's about you being in so much pain and feeling cr*p :sad: I'm with Dottydoodah with the physio. I assumed that was just a given thing-had op, got physio!

    I can't advise anything I'm afraid as I've not had the op but I just wanted to say hi and big hugs ((((((()))))). Hope you feel better soon,

    Eileen xxxx
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,827
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi karen

    listen my lovely you have had surgery...surgery is invasive and mucks everything about.

    CRY if you want to....l know when l had my back opp l bawled and bawled. I couldn't get my pain under control no matter what l tried. l felt such a failure.

    I hardly slept for weeks and my kids were helping me put my socks on and in the bath etc - they lived on micro foood as l was a single parent then....they were 5 and 8.

    I didnt go to the loo for 15 days :shock: prune juice sorted that one :oops: .

    HOWEVER

    I do NOT regret it for one minute now. Look at me up and about :smile: it WAS worth it. Elna did a diary when she had her first knee opp and it helped her to look back at how much things WERE improving. Would that help you?

    I hope it helps you to know you are not alone - we are here and we understand and care. I think l can also promise things WILL get easier.

    Love and hugs and tissues

    Toni xx
  • constable
    constable Member Posts: 2,115
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Elizabeth, Dottydoodah,Eileen,Toni

    Thanks to you all for responding so quickly, what would I do without you all.

    Karen xx
    Karen xx
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    crumbs sticks not crutches!!!!! I already had sticks and they gave me crutches. I much prefer them safety wise after a THR.


    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen
    Im sorry you are so down, but and there is a but, it is really early days, has for crying...they dont really understand this, but it is very common after surgery.
    I would not try to to much till your 6 week checkup, I haven't had my THR done yet so I am going off what the others have said when they had there's done.The 6 weeks was a milestone.
    Has for 2 sticks, could you not ask for crutches I should imagine 2 sticks being uncomfortable.
    You really are doing well, just take it one day at a time, and I really hope your pain eases very soon.
    Love
    Barbara x
    Love
    Barbara
  • suzygirl
    suzygirl Member Posts: 2,005
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, just wanted to send you a big (((hug)))

    I haven't had the op, but was in hospital with 2 lovely ladies who had the op. They were given zimmer frames to manage and physio is a definite!!

    I would be crying too, if I had such a major op, it is a huge shock to the system. Are you sure you are not overdoing things??? One stick to me, sounds not very stable.

    What about phoning the gp or nurse to ask for advice? Ask to be referred to physio, although all this should have been in place before your op.

    Wish I could help more x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    What the hell are you doing with washing up? I know that your OH has health troubles too but ye gods, Karen, this is only a few days after major, invasive surgery. Get paper plates, disposable flatware and plastic cups. Live out of the microwave and whilst you're stocking up on the paper stuff get paper pants too - anything to save work!

    You need to rest, girl, sleep, rest and to do your exercises, that's all. The family will have to fend for themselves for a while - if you start doing too much too soon it could all go horribly, HORRIBLY wrong and you could really end up in severe trouble: what would they all do then? YOU have to PUT YOURSELF FIRST at the moment, you really do. Surgery leaves one emotionally frazzled, physically drained, mentally exhausted. I cried on and off for weeks after my first open synovectomy, again after the second, not so much after the third (whole different ball game that one), surgery is stressful.

    I am amazed that no-one has given you any guidelines about what and what not to do after such a procedure. Did I really read that right? No-one has told you anything? And why only sticks? Crutches are so much more supportive. Please take care, get in as much help as you can - the more help you can have now the better and quicker your recovery will be, the faster you are back to being Karen the Mum. But you cannot be that now. You simply cannot. It's too much to ask. Take care, cry as and when you need, come and talk to us. We do know what it is like. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • chris7
    chris7 Bots Posts: 2,696
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen

    Sorry to see that the post op blues have hit hard. They did seem to rush you home quickly love and it IS major surgery you have had, so I should think you do need time to get used to the fact and to REST and recover both physically and emotionally. Cry if you need too and know we are listening but sorry you feel a tad abandonned. Physio and maybe hydro really should be an option at some point but surely not so soon love? Is there a phone number at the hossie you can phone for advise on the leaflets they gave you? Sorry I am clutching at straws but I hope each day gets a little easier.
    Gentle hugs (((( ))))
    Chris
  • caterina57
    caterina57 Member Posts: 1,424
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen
    I am sorry that you are in a bit of a pickle now.
    This surgery is a BIG thing my mum had it and he told her that it was like a butchering job. Do not think about doing washing up. You need to recover, you need to listen to your body- pain then you need to stop and rest and for goodness sakes dont even think of sitting down in the bath!

    You take things very steady - if you have had no feed back from hosp go back to GP and request a rehabilitation plan!

    Take care
    Cath
  • dachshund
    dachshund Member Posts: 9,112
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen.
    you have done good be kind to yourself.
    after i had my thr i was told by the consultant it take's a year for your body to get over the op.
    you take care.
    joan xx
    take care
    joan xx
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,827
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi karen

    How are you doing today my lovey???

    I do hope you feel a bit better but if you dont you only have to read all these messages to know you are not alone.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    don't bath. i was not allowed to even shower until stitches out. keep doing those exercises as they are very important. you do need to walk about at times for recovery but safe to have someone with you .
    i had a week in hosp then i was up and about doing loads like you otherwise the kids were in trouble, no clothes, no care.

    elizabeth x
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    How are things going now, Karen? I hope you have been able to take things a little more easy since we all 'yelled' at you! :smile: We were all singing from the same hymn sheet though - and we did (and still do) care. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Constable, I'm so sorry. I'm late coming to this thread and don't know what surgery you've had but clearly it's major so equally clearly (as a major surgery junkie) I can say you should not be washing up, you should have been given exercises and physio appointments and forget about chucking away crutches/sticks or anything else for the time being.

    You must give yourself time to heal properly. The inside bits take infinitely longer than the outside bits to knit together. Let the others look after you. If you don't you'll put back the healing process and they'll end up looking ater you for much longer.

    By the way, all this is delivered in my sternest voice. Normally I'm a **** cat, though some would disagree. Please look after yourself. It's so important.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright