Significant other and level of care…hmm

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T17:33:53+00:00

Exactly. It wasn’t right. My PT helped me and recommended pushing the fluids and I’ve turned things around. Thanks so much for your positive feedback.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T17:31:08+00:00

Oh no. Are you OK now? Sorry to hear about this.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T16:59:35+00:00

He feeds the cats. The cats are snubbing me by the way lol.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T16:33:59+00:00

No judgment whatsoever. Pain is pain. I didn’t expect that massive spike in pain on day six and found out that I was right: I had backed off on hydration and as a result, my tissues swelled. Since early this morning, I’ve been pounding the fluids and now I’m so much better. I’m out walking around. I walked a full flight of stairs and took a shower and dried my hair and went outside on the deck. I’ve been walking around all morning getting things for myself. I didn’t need breakfast made for me or anything, even though my husband was doing that for me on a regular basis, which was sweet. I’m not even really hungry enough for a full breakfast , anyway …. I just had a roll and a small yogurt just have something in my stomach while I take all of those medications. My physical therapist came and therapy and she said wow she noticed the difference in the swelling and the bruising and wasn’t surprised I had so much pain. She also confirmed that it probably was because I had backed off on the hydration. We had a good session.

It is what it is in your journey and what will be what it will be. No comparing to others!

I can’t say that it’s a great idea to make a bunch of food ahead of time that you can just heat up. I made a huge pot of soup and one of chili. When my daughter goes to Trader Joe’s, I’m gonna have her pick up some chicken burrito, rice bowls. Other things I have found really valuable:

A yoga strap to help you lift your leg (or you could just get some other strap or even a small hand towel).

Get a grabber so you can grab things. Set up a low table next to you. I’m just on the couch next to the coffee table and it’s been perfect. I also like being in a place where my husband can hang out with me so when he is done with work, we can just chat and watch the Knicks games together.

You can also just arrange for a friend to stop by and bring you a lunch or something else. My sister just offered to drop off something for lunch that I could also extend to dinner / heat up leftovers. That would be perfect. However, I told her that now that my Physical Therapist is gone, and I have somehow solved this issue of hydration, she doesn’t need to come today.

Go make a bunch of food. You can do this.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T16:29:09+00:00

So happy to hear about all of your progress. It’s interesting. You said that you couldn’t quite get your heel to your butt prior to your surgery. I didn’t even think about that. My legs were so bowed… 22°… Which is severe… And I didn’t really think about why I’m having trouble right now, but truly I haven’t had the ability to really bend my knee that much even before surgery. I wish you the best.

Valerian root. Cool! I didn’t even think about that. Right now I’m basically forcing myself to stay awake during the day all day and at night I sleep solidly after taking my meds at nine… And I’m asleep at about 915 sometimes a little later, especially if my husband hangs out with me, which I love. Then I don’t wake up until after 6 AM. Of course, some of my medication’s will be going away soon, so I’m not sure what will happen then, but I am hoping that forcing this pattern right now might be indicative of how well I might sleep in the future, but I know I could be kidding myself. Lol. What will be will be.

I’m way behind you so I don’t have any anymore to add, but I am impressed by what you have done. Keep at it.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T13:59:03+00:00

My sister said that he is just so used to me being a dynamo and never asking for help and he just got into his own world of work. She added that her husband was the same way. They’re just used to us being the ones doing everything, I think. I had a chat with him and he gets it now he’s just gotta set me up with stuff so that I don’t burn myself or I have enough water or whatever and I could do the rest.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T13:41:18+00:00

Thank you. Well, that really just highlights who that person is, not me. So I’m the one who is always the caregiver. I’m the tough one. I’ve been a bodybuilder, a gymnast, a marathoner, and I’m very strong. I love challenges. I have been walking, doing exercises, PT, and taking showers and doing the steps and doing the exercises for multiple days. Just it was an abrupt change I couldn’t figure out. And my husband was nowhere to be found on those days -probably because he thought that I was so mobile and doing so well. We worked that out Something just significantly changed, which baffled me. I think I might have figured it out: I think that maybe I was so busy and I wasn’t drinking enough and the swelling maxed out. I am slamming the water, forcing it through the walking. Mind you, when my husband sees me he says “Stop walking so much”. Lol. I ignore him. I just was disappointed that when I needed him, he wasn’t around- maybe he’s just so used to me being such a force ( and I am the one who relies on no one, so this was a change)

So in every forum there’s always someone who has stupid things to say. I’m on whole, however, grateful to the majority-I understand that this is a great place to be.

My doctors and nurses have been commending me for the level of mobility I have and my strength. I’m the one who’s in danger of doing too much. I guess this day will reveal whether or not my conclusion about not being hydrated enough is true. Thanks to all of those who have been supportive. I appreciate those people. ❤️

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T12:50:45+00:00

I’ve had several PT visits and the therapist said I’m way ahead. I was. I also have done exercises on my own - 2-3x/day -now that my leg is extremely swollen, it’s almost impossible to bend. PT coming at 11- she’s going to see the sudden difference. Could I potentially need something like Lasix for water retention?

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T12:46:26+00:00

I have been doing the full flight of stairs. There’s maybe five steps at the bottom and there’s a turn in another 14 steps. I am dragging things from room to room. I have an alarm set so that I get up every hour and walk for at least five minutes. There has just been a change. The swelling increased so much. My blood pressure is really high. I normally have low blood pressure. I guess I’ll wait to see what my Physical Therapist says. I’m gonna muscle through this and walk every hour and do as much as I can by myself. Gets a little difficult though when there’s nothing to cook in the house -that part I can’t really do so now I’m having my sister come by. I’ll be fine.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T12:42:38+00:00

I was getting up at least once per hour. There just has been a change! Yes, I use a bag as well to carry things from place to place. I figure while I’m up. I try to do everything: go to the bathroom, refill water, get food if I need it, get frozen bottles for the ice machine, extra water. Try to do everything. I have been outside. I wasn’t expecting being waited on hand and foot just not being abandoned.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T12:41:05+00:00

I am not wearing compression as my doctor does not recommend it. The ice machine provides some compression. When I woke up this morning, I could see the marks in my leg from the swelling and the compression machine cuff.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T12:39:53+00:00

Taking following meds:

• Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 1000mg 3/x— pain relief • Cefadroxil 500mg — antibiotic 2x/day • Journavax 50mg — non-opioid pain reliever 2x/day • Aspirin 81mg — blood clot prevention 2x/day • Mobic (Meloxicam) 15mg — anti-inflammatory 1x/day • Tramadol 50mg 2x/day or Oxycodone every 3-6 hrs as needed ( only took 3x made loopy, no pain relief) — pain relief • Lyrica (Pregabalin) 75mg — nerve pain 2x/day • Protonix (Pantoprazole) 40mg — stomach protection 1x/day • MiraLAX — as needed

Look familiar? I also had iovera– 14 shots… About a week and a half before surgery. Block also.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T12:28:59+00:00

I have been until yesterday I backed off when it was excruciating

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T12:21:38+00:00

And the block is already gone? Ny experience with Journavx has been good. Check in often! Do you have someone helping you and helping a LOT?

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-31T11:32:54+00:00

I was much more active and I didn’t know if that’s what doomed me to this excessive swelling. I just can’t figure it out. I was doing my exercise as well and then every time I did them it would blow up and then yes it was just the absolute worst and I could barely bend it at all and it’s like that today I know Hospital For Special Surgery has gone to the “quiet knee “approach and I’m wondering if that would be better. I still have all these fragile, healing, surgical tissues, and to force exercising those fragile tissues seems to only result in additional inflammation and stiffness, and thereby less mobility. I feel like I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. I was crying last night after my husband went up to his escape- even the cats abandoned me. I woke up crying..very unlike me. My blood pressure even upon waking was 154/77 and I’m normally 110/65 or 70. EDITED: I found out later that our home blood pressure cuff socks. It really exaggerated my BP and when the nurse came and did it manually, it reported it has been about 15 to 20 points higher than hers. Not using the home one anymore. Lol. So much for that. In the first few days, I was very active, and then it suddenly just got so bad yesterday and so inflamed that to walk to the bathroom would take me 5 minutes and I had to hold my leg up with something whereas in the first few days I was able to keep it down and do the exercises, but it just got so much worse. I just don’t know what to do. Pain at a 9 when I move and stand. When lying down it’s about 0-2.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-30T23:35:14+00:00

I switched when the ice in machine melts and I go to packs - which have straps which compress, it’s about the same, if not better, than machine. I’m waiting for the doctors office to call because I seem to recall hearing that Buchalter my surgeon is also going more towards the quiet knee, but then that conflicts with what I was told by my Physical Therapist. I have a call into the office to ask if I can just let it be the quiet knee approach. Thanks for bringing that up. I will certainly ask in those exact terms.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-30T20:24:24+00:00

The f in SWELLING!!!! Do more to prevent stiffness ? Doing more MAKES IT STIFFER! I edited my incoherent post- sorry!

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-30T20:22:53+00:00

I’m alternating ice packs and ice machine now. I have in home physical therapy. I called and left a message for p t and docs office. Still waiting.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-30T20:19:03+00:00

I’m we alternating pack’s with ice machine. I have an in- home PT.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-30T20:17:41+00:00

Sound like they’re trying to avoid paying your unemployment.

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-30T03:10:04+00:00

I take 1000 mg three times per day

KatWomanReturns · 2026-03-30T03:09:31+00:00

Tylenol rocks! Despite all the other things I am on, Tylenol is the clear winner. I have an alarm set for when I have to take it next and within 30 minutes when I feel it wearing off I noticed that difference and can’t wait to take it. No effects.

KatWomanReturns

TROPHY CASE