Thank you all so much for your meal-replacement drink suggestions. Every time I ask a question like that, I think this time I am asking TOO NICHE a question and will not be able to get information—and then it turns out that not only do LOTS of people have LOTS of good suggestions, but SOMEONE has just done a NINETY-PAGE COMPARATIVE REPORT ON THE TOPIC!!
I went partly on group opinions, partly on ease/speed of acquisition, partly on price per serving, partly on variety, and partly on vibes, and this time I bought a tub of Orgain meal-replacement powder, a single bottle of FairLife (our grocery store had singles), and a 12-pack of OWYN complete-nutrition shakes on sale. If he is still interested in this idea at the next gift-giving occasion, I have the comments section ready to revisit. I was very keen on the Oats Overnight idea, and will almost certainly get that next time; I would have gotten it this time, but stalled out over the big discount / free bottle they offered for subscribing (when I don’t WANT to subscribe). How to make myself pay $60, plus $9 for a mixing bottle, when they are offering the same bundle for $45 total if I subscribe?? I need 11 months to get over that hurdle.
My knee-replacement surgery is this coming Tuesday, and I am pretty nervous. I have not been sleeping well. I am nervous (as usual with all such things, including for example driving to an unfamiliar location an hour away) that I will die. I am nervous that this will turn out to have been The Wrong Decision, and that I am embarking on a long process of getting an infection, needing to remove and replace the replacement knee, and then of course eventually losing the leg. I am nervous there will be numerous health insurance complications and struggles, and bills suddenly arriving 18 months later, and the provider and the insurance company sending me back and forth between them when truly the only way to solve it (if they wanted to solve it) is for them to talk to each other. I’m nervous about not being able to shower for two weeks.
I am nervous because the instructions in my tidy folder from the hospital are clearly pieced together from multiple surgeons and offices over the last decade, and no one has ever made sure they make sense together. I am instructed on three separate pieces of paperwork to stop drinking alcohol two weeks before surgery, to stop drinking alcohol one week before surgery, and to reduce alcohol two days before surgery. (I cut out alcohol one week before surgery.) I am instructed that I MUST bring a walker to the hospital with me so that Physical Therapy can show me how to use it, or else I will not be discharged; I am instructed to acquire a walker but PLEASE DON’T bring it to the hospital; I am instructed that a walker is an optional but highly-encouraged purchase. (I have acquired a walker and will leave it in the car. Paul can fetch it if needed.) I am instructed that two weeks before my appointment I will be required to present myself at the hospital for a covid test, and that after that I must quarantine completely and be re-tested on the day of surgery; this no longer seems to be the case, but here is the paperwork in my folder. One set of instructions says that there will be a mandatory Joint Replacement class at the hospital taught by a nurse, and that I will be getting a call to set that up; another set says that this mandatory class will be held over Zoom, and that I will receive an email with a link. I have not heard anything else about any class, nor did they mention it during the pre-surgical assessment; there is a stapled print-out in the folder that looks like exactly like a print-out of slides from such a class. One set of instructions says I’ll be going home the same day as the surgery, and that’s what the pre-surgical nurse said; most of the other sets of paperwork assume I will stay at least one night, more likely two or three; I am instructed to bring at least two changes of clothing. (I will bring a bag with spare clothing, and will leave it in the car with the walker.)
I am nervous because I don’t know what the next six weeks after the surgery will be like, and of course it goes differently for different people. I don’t know how much pain to brace for, and of course it’s different for different people. I don’t know when I can go back to work, and of course it’s different for different people/jobs. I don’t know if I’ll be bored and restless, or if I’ll be contented and napping and reading and feeling pretty busy with physical therapy. I don’t even know how often I’ll be going to physical therapy: the paperwork says 1-3 times a week, and I don’t know who decides that, or how. It’s a $30 co-pay each time, so I’m pretty interested.
Thinking of you. I have not ever had a knee replacement but everyone I know who has, has said they wish they had done it earlier and it was one of the best decisions they’d ever made.
Sending best wishes for the easiest time possible.
I’ve helped my mom through 2 knee replacements and have a write up about what she experienced the first 10-days post-op that I’m happy to email to you. I wrote it for other friends either getting the surgery or helping someone after a knee replacement
One thing to consider is how much has changed in the replacement space in the last decade. It used to be that people would be in hospitals for a few days. I know a nurse who worked on a project to do hip replacement surgeries in a major hospital setting about 5 years ago. The project was to make the hip replacement an out-patient surgery. It was so successful that when the hospital called to follow-up with the first patient the next day, they couldn’t find him. That’s because he had gone out to lunch with some friends! (About 24 – 26 hours after surgery).
So in the case of conflicting information, I would rely more heavily on the most recent data because so much has changed in a decade. I hope things go well for you!
I am getting ACL reconstruction surgery on my knee this Thursday so I am right there with you on all the worries!
I had an ACL and meniscus repair several years ago if you have questions!
Here is some unsolicited advice: if you are anxious on surgery day, tell them and they can medicate you. There is no need to suffer about this. Also, if you are in pain, tell them and they can medicate you. There is no need to suffer about this either. For you, this is a once (or maybe twice) in a lifetime event, but for your medical care team it’s routine, something they do every day. The anesthesiologist is the actual boss in the OR, and it’s their job to monitor you ALL THE TIME. All your friends, the ones you know and the ones you don’t, are pulling for you.
Two anesthesia-related anecdotes from my-sister-the-doctor:
When my sister was in training, a patient was having a procedure that could be performed while the patient was conscious. Patient, during surgery:
“What’s the anesthesiologist’s name?”
“Steve.”
“Steve, you are the stingiest anesthesiologist I’ve ever encountered.”
My sister practices in an area with a lot of farmers of Finnish descent (Finns have evidently cornered the market on stoicism, and farmers . . . well, go watch some Dr Glaucomaflecken videos about rural medicine). “So before the procedure starts, I tell him that if at any point he feels any discomfort, he should let us know. He responds, ‘I can handle it.’ And I’m sure that’s true, but it’s a novel approach to anesthesia.”
Your adoring fans will be thinking of you tomorrow!
I wanted to share that my mom had both knees replaced last year and highly recommends borrowing or renting an ice machine which circulates the cold water. It is very convenient and totally worth it. She has experienced a massive quality of life improvement since her replacements. Sending best wishes!!!!
Waiting for surgery is so stressful! It’s easy to get into a panic imagining all the various scenarios that “could” happen. I know several people who have had knee replacements, and they’re all extremely happy with the results. I hope you will be too and I wish you all the best! You got this!
I’ve had both knees and a hip replaced. All of mine were outpatient. Not going to lie, it hurts. They’ll discharge you with a nerve block in there and you won’t feel any pain at all for several days. Do not take this as permission to go crazy. Rest as much as you can. When the block wears off, take your pain pills on a schedule (I did one every two hours, combined with extra strength Tylenol and Advil). Strongly recommend the ice machine, set it on a timer so you can have it on 24 hours a day. I went from barely able to walk to no pain at all most days. I do wish I’d done it sooner. Best to you, I’m sending you healing thoughts!
Yes…staying ahead of the pain with meds and very frequent use of the ice pump machine were key to the recovery for my mom! (We bought ice daily to keep up but then used frozen water bottles with a bit of ice after the first few days)
Yes this is all great advice!
One more day!
Thinking of you Swistle!
The main thing I know from having surgery is to take your pain medication as scheduled/recommended, even if you feel like maaaybe you can handle skipping it. It’s so much easier if you stay ahead of the pain than to try to get back to being comfortable again.
Good luck! I bet it will be just fine. <3
I have a PA friend who works at an orthopedic practice. He says that his favorite surgery is knee replacement because it makes such a huge difference in quality of life for people. The recovery is “brutal” because (for his patients, at least) they need to get up and walking on the knee ASAP. But once the initial healing is done then it’ll be wonderful! I’ll be hoping all the very best for you!
What. What. What. Where are the people who put together these files? GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE. Like, I can see maybe one piece of paper having MORE info than another, but all that conflicting info? WHAT EVEN.
Good luck!!! Everyone I know who has had this surgery has been SO happy they had it – wishing you all the best.
My colonoscopy prep paperwork was MUCH like this. you can eat until the evening. absolutely DO NOT EAT for at least 24 hours before! No red or purple drinks/foods/etc — but what about orange jello? something said beets were a good idea. Be on a low fiber diet! no mention of any sort of fiber or lack thereof. (except in the preceding 24 hours)
In the end, I just did what I wanted – ate b’fast and early lunch the day before, then switched to the not as bad as some of the stuff I drank in college beverage :-) It was fine. I was like, everyone must do fine. but in recovery, someone was being told they DID NOT prep well. DUDE! How much did you try to fake that?
They sent me staggered instructions on a website that I could read, check I understand, and then it would blow away with the wind, never to be found again. So, I went with the instructions on the actual box. The nurses were like NEVER BELIEVE THE BOX!!! How the hell would I know that? Plus I cannot find the instructions from you in the place I originally found them. Anyway, it was fine. Colonoscopies are a stupid amount of prep for very little return on investment (30 minute procedure? It’s like cooking for a holiday) but otherwise, fine. Mammograms are way more uncomfortable but are refreshingly short on prep.
Hahahaha @ “cooking for a holiday”!
My wife’s gastroenterologist once said her prep was “excellent,” and I was weirdly proud of our performance. (I did very little except cheerlead and make Jell-O.)
I know many people who have had knee replacements -it can be tough for a few days but ditto on “so happy I had it done”. My friend just had the surgery a few months ago. She rented the ice machine and said it was the best thing she could have done for recovery.
No advice, just sending you all the good healing vibes.
Ask for anti anxiety medication day off and beforehand. Would also suggest staying ahead of the pain!
I don’t have any experience or advice to add but just wanted to send my love and best wishes. As others have said (and I think I picked this up from you in a post many years ago), for you this is a new and rare thing; for the teams of medical and admin people that will be taking you through this, they all do this day in, day out.
It sounds super frustrating (but very normal) about the conflicting advice but it sounds like you are making very sensible decisions.
Sending positive thoughts!
Swistle, I will be thinking of you over the next few days and sending you all the healing vibes.
I sometimes want to offer to redo the instructions when I get something like this. SOMEONE has to make this better, might as well be me. I just need someone to tell me which ones are right and then I will happily type it up for them and format it nicely and then NO ONE ELSE has to suffer through this unknowingness.
I hope it goes very smoothly. My mom’s went great and she did fine and she doesn’t regret anything.
Just chiming in to wish you luck!
Sending soothing thoughts and wishes for a quick recovery.
My goodness, that’s a lot of conflicting instructions. It reminds me of elementary school field trips when I’d volunteer to chaperone and they would send three different times I should arrive, except more high stakes.
(I would choose the middle time, in general.)
I’m having surgery on my ankle tomorrow. I’m with you on the fretting. There’s conflicting information on the amount insurance will cover. I’ve made significant progress on my health journey in the past few months and am worried about the setback of being nonweight bearing for two months. Not happy about the burden this puts on the members of my family to cover my contributions. Also, done with the pain. Running around today doing as much laundry and meal prep as I can. Despite the fact that the medical team can see I’ve had a tubal ligation and an endrometrial ablation and I can not drink anything after midnight- I am still required to take a pregnancy test when I get there- bonkers!!
My husband is having knee surgery tomorrow to fix a “pothole” in his cartilage. His equipment is a brace, crutches, and then today the ice machine was delivered (his surgeon instructed him to bring the sleeve with him because they’ll put it on him after they’re finished), a continuous passive motion machine (sounds like he has it for 3 weeks and the goal is to get to 120*) and a pair of calf things that talk to each other to make sure blood isn’t pooling so he doesn’t get blood clots.
He also hasn’t heard from his PT and so we have no idea how often or how long he’ll be doing PT. It’s annoying since he can’t drive (R knee) so I’m going to have to take him to all his appointments around two kids worth of activities which is more challenging scheduling-wise since I homeschool one of them.
Make sure you diligently do all your PT exercises (once you get the homework from your PT), the more you do them, the better your results.