My mom is having her knee replaced

[gja1000]

She's having it done tomorrow (June 25th). She's 86 and has been having severe pain for the last couple of months. The docs all say she is walking bone on bone and there is nothing else to do. If she doesn't have it done she will be in a wheel chair soon. She is in good health, but of course, at 86 there is always the possibility of complications.

In addition, the rehabilitation is pretty intense and I hope she can do it - I think she can. She had the other knee replaced about 15 years ago, so she knows what she is in for.

It is very painful for the first 2-3 days, and she'll be in the hospital. Then she will go to a rehab hospital for a week or so.

Please keep her in your thoughts. I'll be staying with her during the day, my daughter during the evenings, and I'll go back at night, if she needs someone to stay overnight. The hospital has wireless so I'll have my computer and will probably be on it ALL the time.

Anyway, I'll check in and let you know how things go.

[lynne b]

OMG, your mom must be so much braver then i am. I will be praying that everything goes well and that she has a quick recovery.
My mom has the same thing with her knee,she complained about it before her back surgery but haven't heard her say to much about it since. Please keep us updated...Lynne

[Marilyn]

Gayle, sooo hope that all goes very well and that she makes a speedy recovery!!!!! You are so fortunate to still have your mother around!!

[gja1000]

Yes, I really am lucky to have her and am lucky that she is in good enough health to take care of this painful knee. I just hope that she does well enough in therapy to be able to walk well for the next few years. I think she will do fine - but still I seem to be holding my breath.

My daughter is very anxious and that makes me anxious too.

[gja1000]

It's 10:30AM in Austin and it's 94 degrees already - just thought you'd enjoy that little tidbit - glad I'm INSIDE! They took mom back to surgery about an hour ago, it was supposed to start at 10:00 and they said they were running on time.

She should be finished about noon, and then in recovery for a couple more hours. My sil is coming home about noon to stay with the two year old so that my daughter can come up to the hospital. It'll be nice to have company.

[DianaB]

Gayle, I'll keep your Mom in my prayers this morning. No matter how old they are we still worry about them. When it gets to be bone-on-bone there's not much more than can be done, except surgery. Keep us posted on how she's doing.

[gja1000]

She's out of surgery and the surgeon said everything went very well. I'm waiting to find out her room number, it will be good to get into a room and out of surgery waiting room.

[Janet]

I am so sorry Gayle that I didn't see this until now. I'm glad the surgery went well and that she's in recovery. I pray she has a quick recovery with as little as pain as possible. They make us worry don't they?

[lynne b]

I am glad to hear she is out of surgery and in recovery. I hope she has a quick recovery and not much pain. please keep us updated

[gja1000]

she is much more awake now and sat on the bedpan for about an hour but only passed a little urine - but she says she feels better. She is still sleeping between sips of water, position changes, etc. so I think she is doing well.

[gja1000]

Mom had a pretty good night. They had to get her up on the bedside commode in order to pee - but she did OK, peed, and then rested pretty well for the rest of the night.

She looks better than I expected this morning, she's eating a little breakfast, and is beginning to complain about a few things, so I think she is OK :)

She's watching Wimbeldon!

[Janet]

What great news Gayle. I always know Mom is feeling back to normal when she starts complaining a bit too....lol. Sounds like she has a great spirit!

[gja1000]

Mom passed out for a few seconds when she was transferring from bed to chair. She went completely limp and the aid and I had to get her to the chair - not a pretty sight.

Then the physical therapist was getting her back to bed and while she didn't pass out - she was very weak and unsteady. He noted that she was holding her breath, so I know that is what happened when she got up. Her blood pressure dropped (which is normal upon standing) and then she held her breath and wham! she lost consciousness briefly. We'll make sure she breathes next time!!! I can't take any more of that kind of excitement

[DianaB]

I was going to say how glad I was that your Mom was doing alright but it sounds like she gave you a big scare. I hope she has a speedy recovery and no more incidents like this one. She's been in my prayers.

[Janet]

That kind of excitement is not needed is it? Did you tell her not to do that anymore??? LOLOL

I really hope it doesn't happen again and that she recovers quickly.

[judy]

I just saw this Gayle. I hope she is recovering without the excitement of passing out. She might have held her breath because she was afraid of what it would feel like when she was upright.

I will be praying for her. She deserves to have an easy time.

[2tiredmom]

I hope she's doing better to. I will keep her in my prayers also. She sounds like a strong women. Hope she's up and walking with little or no pain soon.

[Blueyes]

Hey Gayle! I hope your mom has a good night tonight:)

[Gina]

Gayle I hope your mother is feeling better tonight.. She will be in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

[lynne b]

Oh Gayle, that had to be scary, i hope your mom is doing much better. I hope the pain isn't to unbearable for her and that she makes a speedy recovery.

[gja1000]

Mom looks great this morning and after taking in lots of fluids yesterday, she hasn't had any more "fainting" spells. Hopefully, we are over that hump.

Today will be even more rigorous with physical therapy. She walked about 6 steps yesterday and they will be shooting for more than that today. She's got to keep making progress if she wants to get back to full walking capability. She can do it - she's a tough old bird (when she wants to be :))

She's not having much pain at all - only taking extra strength tylenol at this point. Amazing!

[Marilyn]

Gayle, so glad that she is doing so well!!!!! Wishes for a speedy recover going her way!!!!

[gja1000]

I just saw this Gayle. I hope she is recovering without the excitement of passing out. She might have held her breath because she was afraid of what it would feel like when she was upright.

I will be praying for her. She deserves to have an easy time.

You are right Judy - I think we all hold our breath somewhat when we are doing something that takes lots of effort or that we think will be painful - or is painful. I think it is somewhat of a normal response.

[judy]

It's good to hear that she is recovering. I'll keep praying!

[gja1000]

Mom was transferred to the rehab facility today. It is brand new and really nice! She'll be very busy with rehab for the next couple of weeks. She can already stand on her own and walk a little way with the walker. She's making great progress!!!

GO MOM! :)

[AngieDoogles]

YAY! Glad everything is going well. I hope she has a very speedy recovery.

[Tiramisu]

She'll be dancing before you know it.

[DianaB]

It sounds like your Mom is doing great!!! They really get them working out as soon as they've had a day or two to recouperate. It's painful but really gets them back in shape quickly. Give her a few weeks and she'll be back probably running circles around you, Gayle!!!!!

[Janet]

So glad to read things are going great with your Mom. She'll be teaching the therapist in a day or so...lol.

[Blueyes]

I'm glad she's settled and working hard!! I wish her the best:thumbup:

[gja1000]

they really worked her out today at rehab!!! They are not playing games there, I tell ya. They had her walk to the bathroom (not the bedside commode) with the walker, do her business by herself, and then walk back to the bed. Of course, she was supervised, but not assisted. She did it, but I know it was hard. She was completely tired out when she finished, but she did it. It will get easier every day, I know it and so does she.

[lynne b]

So glad to hear your mom is doing better, i know it must be so painful for her but hopefully the end result will be little to no pain at all....Lynne

[Tiramisu]

She's a Champion

[DianaB]

I'm cheering your Mom on.......:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

[gja1000]

Thanks everyone!

[judy]

She is great! She has such a strong will. Bless her heart.

[lynne b]

Gayle, hows your mom doing with the rehab? i hope she's doing good, she'll be dancing out there before you know it.

[gja1000]

Hi Lynne and All,
My daughter felt that mom was getting a little depressed and she was not eating well - and the food was not all that appealing either. We were basically taking her 3 meals a day - it was quite a chore running back and forth. So, Brooke decided to bring her home.

She had a doc appt yesterday morning, so Brooke went up and checked her out before the appt. They said she had made great progress (and she had) and that it was fine for her to go home. In fact, we had the choice of inpatient or out patient rehab, so she could have been home the full time - but going to rehab for a week was really good for her mobility.

Things went great yesterday during the day, she is getting around very well. But toward the evening she started to show some confusion. I thought she was probably dehydrated and we started getting her to drink and the confusion cleared up, pretty much.

But during the night, she was up and down all night and sometimes she would use the bedside commode and sometimes she walked into the bathroom (which she was not supposed to do at night because she has to go up and down a small step to and from the bathroom.

My daughter tends to over dramatize things so when she called me this morning, you would have though the world was coming to the end. And in fact, mom was pretty confused this morning - again, some dehydration from overnight - and just from changing environments - even though it was changing to home. I know that older people have increased confusion when their enviornment changes - so I wasn't too surprised, although I did think her mental confusion would probably be pretty mild. She's very clear and sharp normally.

Today during the day Brooke kept telling me about how she was saying odd things. She wanted to take a shower and Brooke wanted me there when she got her in the shower (she is able to shower herself sitting in her shower chair). Brooke said she asked her a dozen times if she could get into the shower and didn't seem to remember that Brooke said they had to wait for me. Again, Brooke dramatizes things, so not sure how many times she actually asked.

We got her in and out of the shower with no problems and she was absolutely fine and clear as a bell the whole time I was there (go figure). Brooke knows that she can do it herself now - but will always wait till her husband is in the house, just in case.

Home health will come tomorrow - not sure what all they will be doing beside physical therapy. I told Brooke if mom is up and down all night again tonight, to ask for a sitter for a night or two. I think her mental status will clear up in a day or two, but a nighttime sitter would give Brooke lots of peace of mind!

Anyway, it sounds worse that it really is - I think things will be fine in a day or so. Mom's mobility is great and she says her knee feels better than it did before surgery - so we are making progress on that end, at least!

[DianaB]

I know that with you being a nurse that you'll make sure that your Mom has the best of care. I think that it's great that you understand all that's going on with her. I'd probably be the same way that Brooke is!! I'm glad to hear that your Mom's home. She'll be back to herself in a day or two, I'm sure.

[gja1000]

Thanks for the encouraging words Diana! She's been better late this afternoon and is still clear and doing well here at 10:30PM. I just talked to Brooke and she said he helped her get dressed for bed and into bed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she sleeps better tonight than last night!

[Marilyn]

So hope that the confusion is a thing of the past now. It's great that you do have an understanding of what is going on. I, too, would probably be like Brooke and be overly concerned.

[lynne b]

Gayle, I am glad to hear that your mom is home and i know she will get the best care possible from both you & your daughter. I wish i had had that option with my mom. Hopefully she will be back to herself in a very short time, and it great that you being a nurse, you know what to look for and what to do. I know you helped me so much with my mom and i am forever greatful to you. Thank you and keep us updated on your mom's progress.

[gja1000]

Mom had a really good night - she used the bedside commode like she was supposed to and she is very clear this morning so I think we are past the troublesome times.

Home health is doing her intake assessment this morning and she qualifies for nursing care (for a little while at least). They will monitor her blood pressure - it has been fluctuating - low one day and high the next. We have an automatic cuff and have been monitoring it and holding her blood pressure meds when it was low. Now, the nurses will be responsible for doing that. Mom also has a bladder infection (just before she left rehab) and the home health nurses will do the repeat urinalysis and call the docs. YAY - we won't have to take her to the doc for that followup. They will also help her with a shower every other day and then physical therapy will work with her too.

YAY YAY YAY!! Things are looking up up up!!!

My daughter is much calmer today. They are planning to go to Luby's (a cafeteria) for lunch. Mom needs to walk some and it's too hot to walk outside, so they decided walking from the car to the cafeteria line, through the line and to the table and then back to the car would be good for her. Plus, both Brooke and mom will be able to get out of the house. Brooke has not been able to leave the house since mom got home and she gets really antsy when she can't get out. She'll be able to leave mom for short periods of time, in a day or so, when we are confident that the cobwebs have cleared from her brain!

Lynne, I know we are very lucky to be able to have mom at home and I know you would too, if you could. If not for my daughter, who is not working right now (well she is working at home - taking care of her two year old!), we couldn't do this. I work and could not take off enough time to do all this for mom. We are very very lucky!!!

[DianaB]

Good news!!!

[gja1000]

I was over there this evening, Gary and I went over for a good old cornbread, pinto beans & ham, and fried tater supper (yes, I said supper, not dinner :D) Mom was really tired, but I think that is good because hopefully, she will sleep better tonight! She continues to improve and my daughter is feeling that she can handle all of this!

[lynne b]

so glad to hear things are looking up for you and your mom. It's hard to imagine how hard these surgeries are on older people, i know it has taken almost a year (hard to believe it's been that long) for mom to get to where she is now and she is still not a 100% back to where she was but so much better. I think if the Dr would have handeled it differently she would not have gotten as bad as she did, luckily you know more of the medical aspect of things, i on the other hand trusted the Dr and i really should have questioned the meds that he put mom on. Thanks to you i did take control of mom's care and things turned out better then i ever thought they would.
Thank goodness for your daughter also, i hope they both have a nice lunch together.

[gja1000]

Lynne, I'm so glad your mom is doing better. I just knew she would - I remember saying over and over to you - this is not right - things just do not sound right. Fortunately, you were able to get things changed and look at your mom now - so much better!

Mom was still a bit "off" early this morning - she asked my daughter when she brought her a new chair (it was the same chair she's had in her room for the last 2 years! :eek:). I reassured my daughter that it was dehydration from overnight and sure enough after a big glass of water and another of juice, mom was clear as a bell.

Brooke took her to get her hair fixed at the beauty shop and she did great!

[judy]

Gayle and Lynne,

It is wonderful that both of your Moms are doing well!