The Hardest Thing I Ever Did-Knee Replacement

My date for surgery was August 26th. I was at my doctor's (orthopedic) at Standford on May 10th. I was hoping for another cortisone shot to the ligaments in my legs and more physical therapy but I was sorely mistaken. I was limping yet again because my left knee had moved and was causing me a lot of pain.

Dr. A (everyone calls him that because no one can pronounce his name) wasn't having it, "It's time we replace those troublesome knees. Let's set a date for the surgery."

What could I say? I had waited decades for my "windswept knees" to get better and it wasn't happening. I had one terribly bent leg that caved in because of the pressure of supporting the other damaged knee. People always noticed it when they saw me. I sighed a big sigh.

"When I do surgery I can straighten your legs and you'll be better than ever," Dr. A offered with a smile.

So the day before my 65th birthday I said yes to having both knees replaced at once. Dr. A felt that I was in great shape for my age and would do well after surgery.

The week before surgery I got a call from Dr. A's assistant. He said if I came in for a special scan that they could use robotics during my surgery. I felt lucky to be picked and agreed.

The scan was nothing special they taped a bar to each leg and scanned them. The bar was part of the reference that the robot would use. It was really space-age cool stuff. Of course, I would be asleep and that was fine with me.

It was only May and I had plenty of time to ride my bike before surgery but time passes quickly as we know. Tick tock.

You can see in this photo how bent my left leg was before surgery. The other leg isn't great either. They call it "Windswept Knees" but there's no beauty in it. This was a ride early August.

My knees got better from bike riding for years and hardly ever hurt when I was peddling but when I got off of the bike or stopped the bike I never knew what was going to happen. I had a lot of falls when stopping and putting my foot down. My knee would give out and over I would go. I never had any other kind of fall while riding.

I was going to celebrate riding 20-30 miles every other day for 4 years Feb. 20th! Now I had to postpone that date.

Tick tock....time flew by and I got the call to be at Standford Hospital for check-in at 6am with surgery at 8:15am. It was
Go Time.

Everything went smoothly, I was under for 3 hours, (it took a little longer with the robot) and I woke up to a world of WTF!

I had nerve blocks in both legs in my thighs and pressure cuffs on my lower legs for swelling. Those are pressure bandages too. I was glad for the nerve blocks when they worked.

When they removed the pressure bandage this was what I saw. Later they got me up with a walker and make me take a few steps. I barely remember it now. Those bandages are waterproof and protect the stitches keeping them dry and together while they heal.

 With all of the drugs, I was trying to keep it together but little did I know. 

While my doctor did well, the hospital let me down big time. They left my catheter in for 2 days (until I left for the rehab hospital) and quit giving me IV fluids for a whole day which messed my kidneys up sending my potassium levels way up. My kidneys are still tweaked from the experience but my primary doctor said no worries it's slight.

One of the nerve block boxes wouldn't stay together (I had one in each leg) and would stop working putting me in great pain. They wouldn't give me a new one so I had to put up with it. They even had a technician look at it. He put the battery door back on it and deemed that it would now stay put and work. It did not and when I pushed the bottom nothing happened. Each time a hapless nurse would fumble with it so I could finally get some rest.

They were very stingy with the pain meds and kept me in more pain than I should have had to put up with. When I asked for pain meds they acted controlling and secretive. I didn't get a lot of information out of them. I'm the person who should know what I'm taking it's my body! 

I was in a room with a woman who couldn't hear, never shut the light out and had alarms going off constantly. People came in constantly and I had the window side of the room! I was very unhappy with Standford's hospital and the way I was treated.

It's time to mention that I get food stamps and insurance through Medi-Cal which is for people who can't afford to get it on their own. I had a roommate at the rehab place that had Dr. A and the same surgery as me (one replacement, one partial replacement) but paid for her insurance. 

She had her catheter pulled right after surgery and they had her up and peeing before she left. She got shots in her stomach to guard against clotting. That is how they're supposed to treat someone after surgery! I never got the shots! She didn't have the problems I did and I am positive it's because I'm on assistance.

Horrible aren't they? I am very hard to IV.

Now that I'm older I'm hard to IV. Standford put 2 of them on one side and they hurt constantly. I'm glad I was out when they damaged my hands!

By the time I got to El Camino Rehab Hospital in Los Gatos, they had to IV me again and give me liquids to save my life. The high potassium levels were damaging my kidneys and they were afraid I'd have a heart attack. Luckily, they got another IV in but they had to call their best person from the hospital to do it. I still cried because my veins hurt badly even in my arms. 

I was thankful but my kidneys were still not happy. Before this, I never had problems and now I was retaining pee after I would go. The potassium levels went back to normal and I was relieved.

I got taken to the rehab hospital in a medical van on a gurney. They guys taking me were very young and good looking. At the rehab they put these ice cuffs on me that felt really great! I slept with these almost every night and got to take them home with me.

Look at me go! 

The rehab hospital I was in was excellent! We got 2 hours of physical therapy and 2 hours of Occupational therapy each day except on Sunday. They let me ride the stationary bike 15 minutes a day. They worked us hard and it helped me reach my true potential. The therapists and nurses really did a good job of preparing us to do our best when we go home.

This photo is a wide-angle shot. When we had visitors we could sit out here. This is my roommate James.

Looking a little beaten up and tired but I preserved and soon was feeling better without the wheelchair.

Getting this meant I could go anywhere with my walker without a nurse or assistance. It also meant I was going home soon.

I even took an art class and made this! The hospital had many ways to keep us busy and focused. Everyone I came in contact with was professional and focused. They came up with a program for every patient and made it fun. We all joked PT stood for Pain And Torture.  

Soon my waterproof bandages were wrinkled and peeling off from me exercising and showering. The marks above and below were where the sensors went for the robot. It could feel where my bones were while following the bars on the scan for reference. At least that's what I think since I wasn't in on the operation. Lol!

I will say it now. This was the hardest thing I ever did.

 Finally, I went home with a walker. I ordered the equipment OT told me to get. I could bend my knees and use them very well.

Flowers on my walk with the walker.

I walked my neighborhood and our sidewalks too many times. Lol! I did some PT around my apartment so I didn't lose what I already gained. I guess scar tissues grow quickly now so I have to keep my flexibility.

Now I could walk around my apartment on my own. I never needed the extra equipment I got for the toilet and shower stool because our apartment is that small. It worked out though.

On Sept. 13th I had an appointment with Dr. A's assistant to have my bandages taken off. I felt shaky about it. At this time I didn't know what to expect under the bandages. She was gentle with me.

There you have it! The scar on the right is shaped like that because I had an old surgery scar there and Dr. A used the same scar so I wouldn't have 2 scars. He did a great job on my knees.

My new knees work well, my legs are straight and I'm taller. Both legs are the same length (which doesn't always happen) and I bent them 144 degrees or something like that. Now I just have to start PT at Standford's Clinic and use their stationary bikes so I can get back on mine confidently.

She covered those stitches about with a tape that helps the wound stay together and heal while the stitches melt. She also told me I could walk without the walker and use a cane if I wished. She also gave me the ok to ride my bicycle again something I want so much.

Once this tape comes off it's safe to gently wash the area and let it heal. I'm going to use vitamin E when the scar is healed fully.

She also showed me pictures of the robot working on my knees with Dr. A and other doctors. I could see what the robot saw. I only saw 2 pictures but they were amazing.

Ninja has no need for new knees a stuffed mouse will do.

So today I'm sitting at home in my writing chair ignoring the pain that's remaining. It makes me tired to the bone and I'm not sleeping well. I think that's to be expected as I'm still in a transition until things heal.

I have pain pills and still need them. The pain I have almost never stops but I can't describe it. I think it's nerve pain. Lots of cramps from unhappy hamstrings or tendons. It's going to get better as I go.

I'm anemic because I lost blood during surgery and my kidneys aren't back to normal yet. Some of this was to be expected. My clinic doctor and I will be addressing all that. I want to get back to my peak health.

I am walking around carrying my cane and being careful I don't have a fall. I impressed Dr. A, the PTs, and OTs with my progress while I was there. At week 3, (tomorrow) I'm at the week 6 level. When I look in the mirror I can't believe what I see. I can't wait to put on my cycling gear!

My bicycle calls to me from the corner.

I'm in the process of fixing my bicycle the seat post broke. I ordered another it's coming tomorrow. It makes it easier to wait until I spin in PT this Wednesday at Stanford Clinic. I want to be smooth when I take to my bike. It might just be this week.

For anyone who's going to have this surgery, I say do both at once. Get it done and you won't have to do it again. It helps to be in shape. Make sure you have a doctor that you trust that talks to you. Anything worth doing is hard work. Good luck with the hospital stay!

Do your PT the more you give the more you'll get back.

I hope I didn't gross anyone out telling my story. Got any advice? Stories about your experience? Questions?

600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the US.

Happy 4th Of July and Start Of Summer

Today it's the 4th and we like to celebrate it. Fireworks, water, alcohol, food on the grill, and being outside is the idea for the day.

My roommate and I are going to dine-in with burgers and such from Red Robin because we live in an apartment without room to grill. We are thinking of riding our bikes down to Coyote Point and spying on the fireworks across the Bay around the area by the Harbor around 8pm.

Are you going? Where do you go to watch?

Remember to keep your pets indoors and comfort them if the fireworks are too much. They shouldn't be outdoors for any reason! They won't understand our celebration but can pick up on our excitement.

As you can see I do love my GIF files. Lol!

I hope you have the best 4th with friends and family! Since it's a long weekend cycling will be in our plans quite a bit. 

I am going to have both of my knees replaced on August 26th so I only have so many days to ride until I'm laid up recovering. I look forward to it because I have a deformity in my knees called "Windswept Knees" which will be fixed along with the replacements. Just as I'm social online about my biking and life so will I be about the surgery. More later, this is a holiday.

Have a great weekend!

Older Than Dirt!

That pretty much sums up how I felt at turning 65 in May. Dirt can be pretty darn old.

We all deal with getting older differently as we are unique individuals but one thing stays true, it surprises us all. One day you look in the mirror and all is changed. When that happens we become a senior citizen almost overnight.

Of course, it doesn't really start overnight but time (which used to be on our side) is fickle. We realize it's moving at an alarming rate. Soon there's no time for anything! Time starts to pass us by.

That's not all! If single, (like me) love and romance get put on the sidelines as time feels like it's running out. One day the men who used to look at me with interest in their eyes start to ignore me. They stop looking and I'm confused. Where are all the men I ask myself? They can't all be married and needing Viagra!

While I'm trying to figure out where the men are and how to sign up for Medicare I become aware that people are putting me into a niche. That's when I start hearing the term, "for your age," added to sentences where it wasn't before.

When you start hearing this term added to everything people say about you, then you've become older than dirt. 

"You have great hair, for your age!" (My hair is my greatest asset it runs in the family and has been there my whole life.)

"You're in great shape, for your age." (Not the fact that I workout and exercise daily, eat the right foods, and get 8 hours of sleep a night.)

"You have a great memory, for your age." And so on and so forth.

No one knows this but when I find the right phone booth on a night when I've had way too many drinks I become Super Sanchez, a female Hulk/Superman mixture. When Super Sanchez shows up you better look out!

  

It really starts to grate at me. That, and being called, "ma'am" everywhere I go. Is there a rule that when you get grey hair you must be called ma'am? I still have a name last time I checked.

You better be careful what you say around us seniors some of us have super-powers.

Hell yeah!

Keep On Bloggin'!

Sorry For All Of The Missing Photos

Time Has Not Been Good To My Blogger Blog

For me, pictures are worth a thousand words and today it's meaning has never been clearer when I see the blank place-keepers where my hard work used to be.

Through the years a few things happened that made my old Blogger blogs a nightmare to behold:

• changing code
• discontinued software
• changing platforms
• accidental deletion for space
• greed

Photobucket, although the worst offender, is not the only one. Windows Live Writer and Live Spaces started it all. When Live Spaces was shut down I moved my blog to Blogger. I had already been using Windows Live Writer to write my posts it was an awesome word processor which I felt was ahead of its time.

I used Windows Live Writer for everything it was versatile, by Microsoft, and could be used for Blogger blogs. I connected it to Bekkie In Wonderland which allowed me to write my posts in an environment that looked like a preview of BIW so before publishing a post I knew how it would look.

Any Blogger blog could be connected in the same way and Windows Live Writer was everything Blogger's word processor should have been. (Making a note here that Blogger's word processor is still the same to this day with no improvements!) I used Windows Live Writer for all of my Blogger sites.

Even with Live Spaces discontinued Windows Live Writer was around for decades! As a word processor, it was one of the first to give you coding control using (the then new,) HTML code. It gave you total control over the size of images letting you drag whatever size you wished. That and other little things made it a great word processor.

As time went on it started to become obsolete as I started to see grumblings from Microsoft about pulling support. One day it didn't look like my website anymore when I wrote new posts and a year or so later it was pulled. Actually, it quit working (I was that hard-core.)

In the meantime, I found a site called Photobucket and not only could I store unlimited images for free I could do so like an image library. I could store animated GIF files (then new) and get the codes to post them anywhere including my blogs.

I tried to look at my account to see how long I've had it but can't find anything. It's a very old account maybe started in the 80's? The amount of ads around and on top of my images is bad and it takes forever to load. It wasn't always like this but as the years went on the ads grew.

I used to pay for Photobucket yearly. I did this for 2 years (I don't remember how much) it was a long time ago. I stopped paying and more years went by. My account was very buggy to use taking up precious time but it was easy and I used it for all of my sites.

Losing Windows Live Writer was bad because the HTML was a little different so switching to Blogger's processor gave me problems. Some of the posts were a different font, spaced wrong, etc. and it just made them look bad. I had to do a lot of work and delete a lot of work just to keep my content. It was terrible and time-consuming redoing old posts.

Just a year or so ago, I noticed the majority of the images on my websites were pulled along with a message from Photobucket telling me they were now charging for hosting. It was then I realized how much I had relied on Photobucket, a free service, and it was devastating. Nothing was for free anymore.

No way was I paying them again and now I could write my own code. I had to rework so many of my websites I gave up, deleting 3 of my older Blogger sites.

My WordPress blogs weren't as bad because I was already writing my own code on them. They use an easier HTML code than Blogger does meaning transferring one post in HTML from Blogger to WordPress doesn't work smoothly. So what else is new? Lol!

After deciding to keep Bekkie In Wonderland (my oldest blog) and already doing all the work to keep the posts I did keep I ran out of space on my Google Drive. I knew I wasn't going to get away without paying this time it was just a matter of who to pay.

It took me forever to go through my Google Drive and delete Gigs of images. I was very careful but not careful enough because some of the storage wasn't old files like I thought. When I saw BIW was missing most of its images AGAIN my heart sank. I still have the images elsewhere but didn't remember those particular pictures were linked to BIW.

I couldn't delete enough images on my Google Drive so I had to pay for a year of storage and still lost all of that work on BIW, some of it (image replacement) had been done once already.

Exhausted I'm done for now. My posts are fine without the pictures although I'm very unhappy about it this time. I'm not sure what to do. Some posts are ok but BIW is pretty much wiped out. All of the contributing factors have helped but I made the final boo-boo that brought me to this point.

Sorry for the missing photos. If you blog, I know some of you had Photobucket and maybe Windows Live accounts (in the past) too. I feel for you! What have you done about your missing images?

There's no need to pay for hosting images in this day and age! You can do it on your blogs word processor. Just make what you want (using images, words, and links) under Compose, when finished, use the HTML button, copy and paste it into an HTML box from your website.

My newer posts are ok so please read around the missing images until I can get to them. New posts will be more important. Life outside of my websites hasn't been much easier recently everything is getting too expensive in my state of California.

 Keep On Bloggin'!