Today I am hugely thankful that the last major issue we had here was in 2013 when Tom had his heart attack. That event caused me to start a whole new blog to post about our experiences.
Adapted from https://maryomedical.com/category/other-medical/bees-knees/
It all started on our 40th wedding anniversary, when I fell on my knee on the way to visit DH in the hospital – he’d had a lot of nerve to have a heart attack on our anniversary.
The very first of the Bee’s Knees series was February 28, 2016. I had no idea it would go on so very long., until my knee replacement surgery on March 9, 2023.
Finally, December 21, 2022, I wrote in this post:
From the last post…12/4/2022 And, there was good news and some surprising news. I got to the doctors office and right away they took x-rays. The results were “Evidence of end stage bilateral knee OA, L>R. Evidence of complete joint space narrowing. Evidence of osteophyte formation. Evidence of cyst formation“
I had no idea that my right knee was as bad. I guess I’ve been so focused on my left that it never occurred to me that I might have other issues.
The term “end stage” was a bit freaky. That sounds to me like I should be bedridden or something.
~~~
12/17/2022
So, I’ve scheduled the surgery but i don’t have a specific time yet – I do have a date and a date for follow up and dates for physical therapy.
My dental clearance didn’t go well yesterday.
The new dentist never got my multi-page form and asked me for it in several emails and texts. I had filled it out as soon as I made the appointment and emailed a copy which they never got. Fortunately, I printed it out.
The parking situation was bad, I hadn’t considered that it was a mall-type place and just before Christmas. After circling the buildings a few times, I had to park in a parking garage and walk. Remember, I’m doing this because of knee surgery.
I got to the building and…I was stuck in the elevator. I tried pushing any and all buttons but I never moved. Finally, I called the office and told them I was in the elevator and they sent someone out who pushed the button on the second floor and I started moving up.
The receptionist didn’t know who I was or why I was there but I had that 8-page printout of their form. I was surprised to see a bowl of candy canes on the main desk – really?
I finally went back and was (very slightly) calmed by the fact that the background music was Mannheim Steamroller.
I told the dental assistant what she would have known had they seen/read my form: I have been terrified of dentists since I was thrown out of one when I was a child (I’ll share more about this later), I have a very small mouth and a bad gag reflex.
She did the preliminary xrays and finally, the real dentist came in. She never looked at me but told my back that she wouldn’t approve me for surgery because there was a “lot of work she wanted to do first.”
I escaped to the front desk and the printer was broken. No receipt for my payment and no copy of a treatment plan. The person assured me that she would email them to me.
I was very leery of that elevator, so I took the stairs and walked back to my car.
Friday and Saturday and neither the treatment plan or the receipt for payment ever arrived.
I tried to log into their system to see if I could get the info that way and I’m not listed as a patient. It did ask me to fill out the forms…again.
Along about now, I decided that this wasn’t the dental practice for me so I found a new dentist, located way closer, on the first floor, in my old bank. I see him Monday. For a person terrified of the dentist seeing 2 in 2.5 days is amazing. I must really want to get my knee fixed!
On Saturday night, reject-dentist asked for a review. I’m waiting for new-dentist to be sure I’m not going back before I fill it out but I don’t think they’ll want to see what I have to say!
When getting dressed on Sunday morning, I found a small cut on my lip, possibly from Friday’s visit and then a filling fell out. Hmmm. Was she creating some of the work she wanted to do?
Monday, new dentist. I got to the new, closer dentist and they also had candy out in the waiting room. Also, they didn’t get my new patient forms and this is starting to look like a rerun.
They took me back and the receptionist was very kind and gentle and she listened to my bad dentist stories from long ago and last Friday.
More x-rays, the dentist came in and he talked to me, too. After the review and in-mouth checkup, he also wants to do a lot of work BUT he is working around my upcoming cruise and he thinks he can get this done so I can keep my surgery schedule. What a change from reject-dentist.
Unfortunately, that means I get a root canal and crown later today. But still. More after he actually does some work!
My TKR (total knee replacement) surgery is scheduled for 2/2, which is Groundhog Day. I’ve been telling people I hope it doesn’t mean I have to keep repeating my surgery! Now, it seems I keep repeating dental visits, too.
Later Monday, December 19, 2022 – the afternoon wasn’t as bad as I remembered partly because somehow, my root canal had closed up. The dentist said that was “good news and bad news” because I had saved myself from the full treatment today AND saved a bit of money – like $1,000. I guess the bad news is if i ever get decay under my new crown, I won’t have any pain to let me know. Sounds like good news to me.
Interestingly, the beginning of the crown the muted tv was showing the same program as the tv at reject-dentist. Maybe there’s a Dental TV station?
My next dentist thing is “just” a cleaning on December 28 and a tentative permanent crown on January 3.
Hopefully, no more knee related issues until then.
Meanwhile, it’s Wednesday night and Reject-Dentist still hasn’t sent a treatment plan or called to discuss it yet.
This post is officially done…for now
Then, in January, 2023:
1/18/2023
Reject-Dentist still hasn’t sent the receipt, a treatment plan or called to discuss it yet. They did send me an email today asking me to set up an appointment.
Also on 1/18, I went to Reston Hospital for pre-op clearance. This was the third appointment this week, all because of my knee.
1/23/2023
New, Approved-Dentist finished up everything he needed so I got Dental Clearance. This is the final piece of the clearance puzzles
When I got home yesterday I had a new insurance card in the mail. I read all the information and it said I had dental insurance. Reject-Dentist had said that I didn’t so I assumed that I didn’t. Now I get to collect my papers from Approved-Dentist and submit those.
I was supposed to attend a class on knee replacement but the next one isn’t until next month so I got to watch a video instead. I also found this one very helpful:
This post is officially done…for now. Next stop, Total Knee Replacement.
But no, there’s a setback 🙁
On 1/23/2023 I said:
“New, Approved-Dentist finished up everything he needed so I got Dental Clearance. This is the final piece of the clearance puzzles”
At the end of that appointment, Approved-Dentist gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, just in case.
Stupid me. I asked the intake nurse about that. She reported it to the surgeon who moved my surgery from 2/2/2023 to 3/9/2023. If someone else is rescheduled, I might be able to move mine back. Maybe.
Then, other test results came back – staph infection in my nose, maybe UTI.
Wednesday, 1/25/2023
So, I am still limping around, changing all the physical therapy appointments I’d set up for the 2/2 surgery. One of the positives is that I get more time in water aerobics building up my leg muscles.
A very positive:
1/27/23 was our 50-year anniversary. Amazing! We celebrated early with a cruise on the Wonder of the Seas. I’m still assembling those photos/posts but we went a little earlier in the month because it was cheaper 🙂 I chose this cruise because I thought it would be cool to be on the current world’s largest cruise ship. I have been on larger ships but DH has not.
We have another cruise scheduled for the Arctic Circle in July but I may not make it because of the new surgery date and recovery. I am very excited about that cruise because we tried to do something very similar and Covid changed those plans.
Someone pointed out that, since the new surgery is more than 30 days away, I may have to do all the clearances again.
And that someone was right. Another setback 🙁
Thursday, February 15, my heart sank when I got a call from the hospital. After being on hold forever, I talked to a person who wanted to schedule my medical clearance, again. I told her I’d done it before in February for the rescheduled surgery. She said she’d check with my surgeon to see what he wanted.
Friday, I heard nothing until 4:58 pm. He wants to do a medical clearance “revision” whatever that means. So I go back to the hospital next Thursday (March 2) for more testing. If they find some other obscure infection, that won’t be enough time to fix it before the current surgery date Thursday May 9.
March 2, 2023
So, I had the Medical Clearance Revision today and it was exactly like the Medical Clearance I did just over 30 days ago. It looks like surgery is a go. Thursday, March 9 at 12:15.
There’s extra stuff for me to do to prepare, thanks to Cushing’s, the GH deficiency, the Adrenal Insufficiency, the one kidney, etc but I can do it!
March 9, 2023 – Finally!
After going through the Medical Clearances again, 5 days of antiseptic showers (plus another one this morning), drinking what seems like gallons of Gatorade (I couldn’t have the hospital-offered strawberry Ensure), my surgery is scheduled for 12:30 pm today. There will be a Covid test at 10:30.
We have been watching tons of youtube videos on knee replacement, physical therapy I think that this was one of the most helpful:
From the hospital…
As your surgery date gets closer, you might feel uneasy. But the more you know about what to expect, the less nervous you’ll be. Take a few minutes to learn how the day will unfold.
What happens when I get to the hospital?
You’ll usually be asked to arrive about 2 hours before your operation starts. A registered nurse will greet you and help you prep. You’ll discuss with them your medical history and the medicines you take. You’ll also get a chance to talk to people on your surgical team about the operation.
Before you go to the operating room, you’ll first change into a gown. The nurse will remind you to remove things like your jewelry, glasses or contact lenses, hearing aids, or a wig if you have them.
A nurse checks your heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse. The surgeon may mark the spot on your body where the procedure will be done. A nurse places an IV line in your arm so the doctor can give you fluid and medicine during your operation.
When it’s time for your surgery, you’re wheeled into the operating room on a stretcher.
Who will be on my surgical team?
A group of doctors and nurses work together to make sure everything goes smoothly. The specific people depend on the type of procedure you’re going to have. But in general, your team will have these pros:
Surgeon. This doctor leads the team and does the operation.
Surgeons have to complete 4 years of medical school, plus at least 5 years of special training. They also have to pass a national surgical board exam. The one you choose should be experienced in the type of procedure you’re having.
Anesthesiologist. This health care professional gives you medicine that makes you pain-free during surgery.
Certified registered nurse anesthetist. They assist your anesthesiologist and monitor you before, during, and after your operation to make sure you get the right amount of pain medicine.
Surgical tech. They set up the tools your surgeon will use and make sure they’re sterile.
Operating room nurse. They help the surgeon during your procedure. For instance, they may pass instruments and supplies during the operation.
Will I be in any pain during the operation?
You’ll get medicine, called anesthesia, so that you won’t feel anything during surgery. The type you get depends on your health and the procedure you’re having.
Local anesthesia. It blocks pain in the part of your body where you have surgery. You’ll still be awake and alert.
Regional anesthesia. You‘re injected with medicine that numbs the whole area of your body where the surgery takes place.
General anesthesia. It puts you to sleep during your operation. You get this type of medicine through an IV in your vein or by breathing into a mask.
What will happen during my surgery?
Once you’re in the operating room, you breathe oxygen through a mask. Your anesthesiologist gives you medicine to prevent pain.
Your surgical team will track your health during the whole procedure. They’ll probably use:
- A clip on your finger to measure your oxygen levels
- A cuff on your arm to check blood pressure
- Pads on your chest to keep tabs on your heart rate
How will my surgical team keep me from getting an infection?
Before the surgery starts, a nurse cleans your skin with an antiseptic to help prevent infections. They may remove hair from the area and place a sterile drape over your body. It will have an opening in the place where the surgeon will work.
It’s rare to get an infection during surgery. Your team does everything it can to protect you. Your doctors and nurses will:
- Clean their hands and arms up to their elbows with a germ-killing cleaner before the operation.
- Wear masks, gowns, and gloves.
- Clean the part of your body where the surgery is being done with a germ-killing soap.
- Clean and cover the cut afterward.
They may also give you antibiotics before your procedure to help prevent an infection.
Where will I go after my surgery?
You’ll wake up in a recovery room. A nurse checks your heart rate, breathing, and the bandaged area where your procedure was done. They might also ask you to take deep breaths and cough to clear your lungs.
You’ll stay in the recovery room until you’re fully awake and all your medical signs, like blood pressure and heart rate, are stable. How much time you spend there depends on what kind of surgery you had.
After that, depending on the type of operation you had, you’ll get sent to a hospital room or back home. Either way, you’ll be ready to be greeted by your loved ones and begin the road to recovery.
This post is officially done…for now. Next stop, Total Knee Replacement.
