Haven't posted in awhile because mom needed me. Her first knee replacement back in October went well. So well, that she was trying to do as much as she could with the new left knee and put too much pressure on the right knee. Her arthritis flared up to the point that she was risking damage to the replacement because she was favoring the arthritic right knee.
(Comment: If you are getting a knee replacement, talk to your doctor about the recovery process and discuss the condition of both knees. You might want to consider getting both done at the same time. We wish we had.)
While the surgery January 27 went well, the rest of the recovery was a disaster. Mom had taken multi-vitamins and iron tablets in advance because she'd had to have a blood transfusion after the first surgery. (Note: A large amount of blood lose is common with this type of surgery.) After this surgery, she needed a transfusion and there was a problem. Her veins are small and fragile and something went wrong, sending blood into her tissues instead of into the veins and her arm turned black/purple from hand to shoulder.
She spent 5 days in the hospital instead of 3 and was still tired and worn out when she reached the rehab facility. She arrived on Sunday and by Thursday, she was feeling bad. By Sunday, she was really weak and not eating much but no doctors made rounds on the weekend. No doctor showed up on Monday and Tuesday afternoon, I was furious. She could barely stay awake and rarely answered questions. I managed to get her to drink a bit of milkshake but she was very weak.
To back up a little, she was in a double room, by the door. That meant all her roommate's visitors had to go past her bed. The roommate had family and friends sitting with her from 6:30 in the morning until she fell asleep at night, in 2 hour shifts. She didn't need them, she just wanted someone to wait on her all the time. Who knows what germs all these people brought in.
So Tuesday, I cornered the doctor and told him her condition, he ordered tests STAT at 4:45 PM. The lab people didn't get there until nearly 9 and we didn't get results until 11.
Pneumonia and dehydration. She went to the hospital in an ambulance and I spent all Tuesday night/Wednesday AM in the ER with her. She wasn't really awake and conscious of her surroundings until Thursday morning. She was so weak that I had to go to the hospital 3 times a day to feed her until the next Tuesday and continued after she was strong enough to eat on her own to make sure she did.
(Comment: If you have to leave rehab like my mother did, be sure your surgeon is notified so physical therapy can be ordered while in the hospital.)
After so many days in been, not exercising as she should have, the knee had a lot of scar tissue and was quite stiff, but the physical therapist helped her a lot and taught her some tricks on how to get up and transfer to the chair next to the bed, and gave me a list of exercises to do in addition to the therapy sessions.
We decided to go home and not back to rehab for several reasons. One, when she'd had the first knee done, she developed a continuing cough that lasted for weeks after she got home. This time, it was pneumonia. Two, we weren't happy with the frequency or availability of the doctor making rounds. Since mom wasn't completely over the pneumonia, we just couldn't risk her health by going back to rehab.
(Comment: Ask questions about doctor availability and what happens when you or your loved one gets sick when you're looking a rehabs. Remember that rehabs and nursing homes have a large number of older and ill people, and visitors, in a pretty confined space. Before you have surgery and go to a rehab, you might want to get flu and pneumonia shots for both the patient and any family members who will be visiting them.)
Our doctors agreed and she came home with an oxygen machine, a hospital bed, and home health. Her nurse comes twice a week. The physical therapist comes 3 times (the first week was 5 times). Back home with my cooking, her favorite foods, and my nagging <grin> for her to eat and drink more, she progressed real fast. After 12 days at home, she only needs oxygen at night and haven't used the wheelchair for 5 days, just her walker. She's doing great!
It was hard for us. I have been having more pain in my spine than normal (I have a degenerative spinal disease, but some is probably from stress). Running back and forth from the hospital and rehab, taking care of our two dogs at home, and all the other necessities of life, has really been difficult. I was always exhausted and thought it would be better once she was home. I hadn't thought ahead to the fact it would be 24 hours a day instead of three times. But skipping the 6 trips to town and all that gas money was a blessing. I could only leave the house when I could find a neighbor to come sit with her since we have no family in town. (By the way, our manufactured home here in Florida is for sale- I'm writing this and listening to the fireworks from Disney World just 12 miles away. We have to move back to Atlanta near family. See sidebar)
I've been too busy and tired to do any writing until the last couple days, but now that she can get around better and is eating more, I am able to find a few moments to myself now and then. I'm putting together a web site for the sale of our home and getting other things sold or packed to get ready to move. The pain in my spine varies so I have a few good hours here and there. We'll manage, though slowly.
Mom got very depressed in the hospital when she was so sick. It took a surprise visit from her grandson (he traveled over 400 miles on his Harley-Davidson) to help cheer her up. Now, she's making progress and feeling better. We'll get through this together. One day at a time.
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