[Labhaoise]

Well I finally had surgery done to repair the ligament that I ruptured late last year whilst playing soccer with work (we didn't win that game either).

I had to be at the hospital by 7am on the Friday April 3rd...which meant getting up before 6am to make sure that we didnt get stuck in traffic or anything. Personally I think that the words "before 6am" are evil... if the sun's not up you shouldn't be up. But oh well.

I got to the hospital just before 7am like a good girl, and started the whole checking in process. I was asked about a thousand times if I was allergic to anything, which got annoying but it's better to be safe than sorry. A physio guy spoke to me before I got a gown or anything on and explained what was going to happen after the surgery in regards to recovery and getting the knee moving again. Then the nurse took my blood pressure (pretty good by the way) and filled in some more forms, then I was taken into a pre-op ward; I think thats what it's called. I was told that I was scheduled in for 9am, but the surgery before me took a lot longer than they expected and I waited for over an hour once the nurse had painted my leg in iodine. It was so boring there was no TV or magazines or anything. My poor Dad was bored too, and hungry since he hadn't had breakfast either (I wasn't allowed to, but he could but was waiting with me till I went in... he's a great Dad)

I think it was some time after 10am when the anesthetists nurse came and wheeled me into a room just outside the operating room. Then the anesthetist came in and put the drip thingy in my arm (which by the way is very painful and has left a lovely bruise on my hand which is still visible today) and gave me something to make me drowsy so he could put the nerve block in my leg. Well he took his time coming back to do the nerve block since whatever had made me drowsy had worn off... woops! So he gave me a local in my leg and then did an ultrasound to find the nerve, then injected the nerve block. By the way I still HATE NEEDLES!!! Then they wheeled me into the operating room and I shuffled onto the other bed and they injected something else into my drip thing and I don't remember much after that (which is a very good thing).

The next thing I remember is the bed moving out of recovery and me not feeling too well. I was still pretty out of it so.... I threw up into my blankets. Someone made some comment and took my blankets off me and gave me a bowl and then some more blankets.

I was taken up into the ward and I buzzed the nurse to tell her that I needed to go to the loo. She came back with a bedpan and helped me onto it and said to call her when I was done and she'd come back and get it. Well I think that the whole "toilet training" thing has brainwashed me to not be able to empty my bladder in a bed; I just could not go in the bedpan. I wanted to, I needed to, but I physically couldnt.

Then the physio guy came in to show me some exercises to start doing when I got home that night. That was the original plan... to be at home that night. So he's got me sliding my leg along the bed to bend my knee, which was working fine, until he wanted me to put my leg flat again. Sure thing Andrew (physio guy)...okay knee unbend...now...okay any time now...NOW! Nope it wasn't happening. I don't know if it was because of the nerve block I couldn't actually control my thigh muscles properly. So Andrew unbent my knee for me and then I threw up again. I actually managed to reach the bowl this time, yay for me! So because of my stunning reaction to the anasthetic, I stayed the night at the hospital.

Dad had come back to sit with me and he went home some time after 7pm.. a long day for him (but he'd eaten at least ). I got dinner just after he left. If food in private hospitals is supposed to be better than that in public hospitals, well public hospital food must be well I don't know...reallly terrible!! So after eating some sort of soup and little sandwiches, being tricked by evil jelly that looked like apple juice but wasn't, and eating a half melted tub of ice cream (low fat too) I felt a bit better. Then I buzzed the nurse to help me get to the toilet. So she wheeled me in and then went out to fix my bed up... and well long story short I fell. I don't really know how it happened I think I was still really affected by the anasthetic. I was on a 'comode chair'- great invention and I think what happen was that I put my left foot onto the ground to push myself up so that I could pull my underwear up. I was still on the chair and was using my right hand to push up as well (I couldn't use my left because of the drip- it hurt too much), and my left foot just gave way . So the nurse came rushing in and was all worried. She helped me back into the chair and wheeled me over to the sink after asking me if I was okay. I washed my hands and promptly threw up in the sink

The nurse helped me back into bed and feeling like an idiot I dozed for a few minutes. Then the Resident came in to check on me and make sure I was okay. My knee didn't hurt any more than what it did before I fell, so he left me and the nurse came and gave me something for my nausea... I recognised the name of it as... Zofran, lol something I knew of. The rest of the night was a mix of having my blood pressure and pulse taken by nurses, broken sleep, tv, being uncomfortable in the bed and some more broken sleep.

I got discharged in the morning after breakfast ("grilled" tomato & lukewarm toast and apple juice) and after John (new physio guy) finished showing me the exercises and making sure I could use my brand new pair of crutches without collapsing. I got my meds (antibiotics and painkillers) and my Dad drove me home.

So basically what they did in the surgery was to attach a new artificial ligament with two screws (one in my femur and one in my tibia/shin bone). Over time the damaged ligament is supposed to grow around artifical "LARS" ligament. I have four lots of stitches on and around my knee, which I find more painful than anything else since they always pull... but they'll hopefully come out tomorrow when I go back to see the specialist. I'm really hoping they come out anyway.
Do you think they will? How long usually do they wait to take them out?

Overall I'm doing okay.. getting around slowly still but its getting easier.
Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and well wishes!

[mommy2067]

WOW that sounds like quite the experience you had!!! Happy that the surgery went well and that you are on the mend....hospital food generally sucks!!! At least you are home now and you can eat the things you like...I hope your recovery is swift and complete and that you will be out of pain soon!!!

[AussieD]

Glad to hear it's all over. Hospitals are never fun. And as for the food. Yuk! Stitches in my arm came out after two weeks, if that's any guide. You're on the improve now that's the main thing.

[QueenAngie]

Not a fun surgery by any means! Next time tell the anesthesiologist that you are one to vomit and they can give you something for that in recovery.

Your Dad was a trooper to stay w/ you all day long. He deserves a big hug.

Good luck with all your hard working rehab! You'll be good as new before you know it.

[Samual]

I share your thoughts about hospital food, I've had private and state hospital care, the food in both reminds me of school dinners.

[purelegance]

well that's quite an experience! if you ever have surgery again, make sure they KNOW about the effects this one had on you. they can switch the anesthesia drug to a different one that hopefully won't be as bad! hugs & prayers dear! keep us updated!

[browneyes01]

Glad to hear everything went well, And your dad is a trooper. I think it usually takes about two weeks to remove stitches. Good luck with the rehab.

[Labhaoise]

Thanks everyone! I had the stitches out earlier on today... that was 8 days after and they were driving me crazy! But they're out now and it feels good.

I saw the specialist and he's really happy with my progress. I can bend my knee, raise it and keep it straight and push down with my knee whilst keeping it straight too. I can walk without the crutches, but I don't really think I'm ready to go without them completely just yet.
Everything is still going well. I have my first physio appt. for wednesday morning, so I'll probably update again after that.

[angelic_ky]

glad it's all going well

[mommy2067]

Glad you are healing and making such good progress...look forward to hearing how your first physio goes next wk...don't over do it...even though it is feeling better you don't want to push yourself too much..glad you will still use the crutches for extra support until you feel more ready to go it alone!!! Keep up the good work, Louise!!!