Dedicated Dad Needs Help

[Baja boy]

I know how you feel. I've been on the road for 20+ days and my laptop has crashed 3 times . It's just 2 years old and has a new hard drive that was installed last month. Japanese tech. & made in China ---WTF ????
Good luck ---with the bone doc!!!!!!

Wish I could do more , maybe some books or ???

My laptop died - the one I just bought at the end of March - so I've been screwed there too... Naturally the warranty is up by just a few days - I've contacted the vendor hoping they'll do the right thing, but I'm not counting on it... I managed to borrow an old LT from my Bro. so I'll have some entertainment while I am laid up.

[SeekHer]

In any case, I am praying that when I wake up Monday afternoon, though I'll no doubt be in some significant pain, my knee will finally be "right" and I'll be able to get on with my life. I'd appreciate your joining the chorus if you're so inclined...
DD

When I woke up from my emergency surgery, of which I'm nearly recovered, I was hooked up to a lovely machine that at a press of a button injected morphine, alas, on five minute intervals could I depress the plunger but it certainly took off the majority of the pain just not the discomfort...

I, like you, have been home bound, home care nurses thrice daily and my family abandoning me to go to Europe and Israel for family stuff in mid June till end of August...but knowing that I'm alive is far better then the alternative, IMHP...

Sure brothers and sisters came to visit as well as cousins, nieces and nephews (I've got a huge family) and I was kept active, mentally, that way but have only been shooting three times, fishing the same number where by this time any year I'd have had 120, 130 days on the water...

Just think how good it will feel, in a couple of months, when you can walk out of the hospital, ON YOUR OWN and get back to the life you were accustomed to...think only of that and recovery will pass quickly...

I was thinking only about this next weekend, as we're having another double wedding so family are converging and I'll be able to dance the night away...and it won't be from a wheelchair, thankfully...Then again, if any complications arise, the doctor who performed the surgery will be there--we've been friends since teenagers and I'll just make a mess all over his new tuxedo, serve him right the lying bastard...

Just remember that what will be, will be! Fear is a natural stage of the healing process so Keep Positive about the future and that's what will happen...

Your surgery will be successful, you'll have a new knee, you'll be walking and you have the love and support of your family, your appeal will go through, you screw the bastards at the HMO/Insurance company and you'll be out shooting in no time...Life will be great!

[Mud_Dog]

When I woke up from my emergency surgery, of which I'm nearly recovered, I was hooked up to a lovely machine that at a press of a button injected morphine, alas, on five minute intervals could I depress the plunger but it certainly took off the majority of the pain just not the discomfort...

Aw man, that machine is awesome!

I had my tonsils taken out at the age of 19, not very pleasant at that age. I was in the hospital twice, once for the lancing of them, and the second for the removal of said tonsils. The second time I woke up in outpatient care, with that machine beside me. I think I woke up three times just to hit that button and then knocked out within a couple seconds each time. they did give me codine to take when I was at home, but the worst part was not being able to eat solid foods for a couple of months.

Anyways, here's to a speedy recovery for you!

[308Mike]

I just talked to DD's wife. The surgery wasn't as extensive as they thought might be needed, so they didn't need to tear it all out and start over. This way there's less trauma to the knee and less shock to his body.

His wife said they removed a BUNCH of scar tissue and put in the larger spacer. She's waiting for a call from her FIL (DD's dad) to let her know what room he's in. Apparently, he's still in the recovery room and might be there for a while until they can find a bed for him.

I didn't get many details besides that he's okay. If I get a chance, I might try and call the hospital to see if he's got a room.

EDIT: He's still in Recovery (2345 hrs UTC)

[clyde621]

It's good to hear that they didn't have to go the whole knee route. We pray that he will have a fast and complete recovery.

[blackeagle603]

that's encouraging. Here's hoping and praying.

[Dedicated_Dad]

Hi guys...

I was stuck in recovery for over 8 hours last night - don't know what was up with the bed... This place has a floor that's dedicated to hip and knee replacements, they've got it down to an assembly-line science, all scheduled months in advance... Personally I think the room was a BS excuse - the nurses were probably short-handed and didn't want to deal with a new patient. It was especially telling that I came up right at shift-change... The gal last night was nice as she could be, but seemed a bit peeved for my sake - that they'd left me down there so long...

As Mike said, Doc tells me he put in the next-thicker plastic bearing and quote "it was rock solid and still had plenty of flexion. It was perfect." I feel pretty good about that!! I can tell you that the first time I shifted in bed back in march, and all those parts smacking together... I knew right away "that ain't right!" Nothing like that this time - it feels tight... It's pretty amazing how much difference 2 millimeters can make!!

As noted, he also chopped out a bunch of calcified scar tissue from all around the under-side of my kneecap and took out the fat pad that was getting pinched. He said he was surprised at how much of that there was, and that this was no doubt getting caught on the metal parts and contributing the double-clicking I was feeling.

They got me out of bed bright and early today, made me walk the hall. Told me no rehab since I was doing so well so quickly - they'd send me straight home on Thurs... Wait - so I didn't fight you, tore myself up, and I get punished??!!

Went to PT in the afternoon, had a setback... My quads have reverted to their atrophy to some degree - I'm getting jiggles instead of good contractions again... I got through it before and will again, but damn that REALLY hurts when they jerk instead of contracting....

Early this AM they also took away the PCA pump and put me on pills. Too soon - tonight has been hell. I guess I pushed it a bit too hard today, and the pain pills they have me on are just not cutting it. I have raised some cain, and though it took a good while they finally gave me a little boost in the IV... I'll be damned if I am going to lay here and suffer...

i'M thinking they may re-think the rehab decision, but we'll see. The problem is that noone is home from ~6AM to ~10PM. I just don't think I'm going to be up to taking care of myself for that long... We'll see...

Anyhow, I can really use the prayers - it's been a really rough night...

DD

[blackeagle603]

peace and hope to you DD. rest well.

[Denis]

Best wishes, DD. Hang in there.

[Weetabix]

It's pretty amazing how much difference 2 millimeters can make!!

Isn't that the difference between a 9mm and a .45?

We're pulling for you, DD!