jkitner's Right TTT-Fulkerson Post-Op Diary...

[jkitner]

Im not walking around alot without it, just to the couch or bathroom until i feel its time for bed or time to put it back on. Plus im constantly using the walls for support just incase something does happen to give out.
Ive been using the TED stockings 24/7 for about 2 weeks now, does wonders with the knee, but my ankles are so small to begin with it doesnt help them at all, plus i think i need more support when im walking, which could be causing my ankle to swell here and there.

[giege]

When you are walking without your brace you are putting pressure on the area that is healing - it is not about your leg giving out at this point it is about allowing your leg to heal.  Putting weight on your leg at the same time as bending your knee puts direct pressure in the weakest area and can cause a micro-fracture.  I know that it is easier to not put the brace back on but you do not want to have another surgery to fix your leg  or have to wear the brace even longer, do you?  Okay, I will stop being a mom now.   Sorry, I'm not trying to lecture you - I just don't want you to hurt yourself.

Take care.

Glinda

[jkitner]

No i understand, and i got a lecture lastnight about jumping too far ahead of myself, i knew this was going to be a very long healing process, but i thought i would be able to handle it and kinda concider it as a vacation, well i cant take it anymore as you all have read before. Its summer time, the boyfriend runs around all day and night without me, his exuse is that he is trying to meet new friends, and he's afraid i'll hurt myself if i go...yea what am i chopped liver??? Anyways...i have pt again today, i have alot of questions that i need answered before i go do things on my own. Work is really getting on me about when i can come back, well i cant come back until i can drive, so i really need a defienant answer on when i can drive, plus the mother in-law is going to take me down to the pool with her a few times this week so i want to see if there are exersizes i can do in the pool while im there that will help me. Ok so i will write again when i get back from therapy, until then everyone have a good day!

[jkitner]

PT today kicked my butt! Not really sore or in pain, but your body gets so used to sitting around or doing light activities & then going to doing a bike hardcore and other things is really tiring, i feel like i just ran a mile and swam 30 laps..
The therapist asked me if i tried driving yet, and of course i said no, he told me to go ahead and try driving around the parkking lot a few times, go fast, go slow and slam on the break, make sure to have someone with me and see how i do. He said if i do good without pain or problems to go ahead and drive locally only, which still means no work But maybe i can get out of this house for a while a few times a week, though my dad did take me car to fix it, but he left me his wish is much easier to drive then mine is. I also asked about being in the pool, he said its "ok", but to do only ROM stuff, not to stand too long or do any major swimming, which is cool with me. He also said he's going to ask my doctor when i can walk with my brace unlocked, or even without it all together! God that would be great, but i know i have awhile yet, but my PT can't go beyond 20 appointments or 6 weeks, and im already on week 2.

[jkitner]

So things were going really well, i went for my first drive yesterday, i did really well, i only had pain when i sat at a stop light too long.
So today i thought was going to be a good day again...my live-in boyfriend of 3 years decides he doesnt want to be with me anymore...why now?? Why when i cant do anything on my own?!? He still wants to be "roomates", aparently he feels as if he can't be the boyfriend he used to be, that he can't give me the things and attention he used to. He would rather be on his own to do what he wants. Ouch. I cant live with this guy, because everytime i see him its going to hurt more and more and more. Im 22 so i have my whole life ahead of me, but now i feel as if i've wasted 3 years of my life trying to prepare for the rest of my life. Now this set back makes me not even care when im fully recovered, dont have much to look forward to anymore. God this sucks, especially when im "handicapped", have no real money to find a new place to live, not moving back in with the rents because it would be a 2 hour drive to work everyday, i gave up all my friends for that boy, moved away from a place i called home, now im stuck with nothing.

[jkitner]

Another day of therapy, im sstarting to hate going more and more. Today they added the leg press and that was pure torture! But they did say that next week they are going to start wheening me off of the brace, hopefully in enough time for me to go back to work.

[giege]

Aren't you just now 3 weeks post-op?  WOW - walking without your brace at 4 weeks post-op is almost unheard of.  I hope they aren't trying to rush you because of work or insurance, etc.  Make sure that your OS is being thorough and making sure that you are healed enough to be walking without your brace.

Now the guy situation, do not let the sadness from the break-up affect your state of mind towards your knee.  After all, you have to get better in order to get the man of your dreams and make this other guy regret dumping you.  He will see that he has made the biggest mistake of his life if you show him that you  have the strength to get through this without him.  You can do this - you do not need a guy - you are a strong young lady and yes right now life sucks.  But you can and will pick yourself up and take care of yourself.  You deserve to be treated with respect and with love.  Hold your head high sweetheart - better days are coming.

Take Care.
I will check in again to see how you are doing.
Glinda

[jkitner]

I need help, ever since my surgery i have not been able to eat much at all! I went into this weighing 129, now im at 115! Soon im going to wither away to nothing. Is there something wrong with me or did other people go through this. I used to have such a huge appetite, each anything, anytime, now i actually force myself to eat atleast twice a day, im never hungry. At first i figured it was normal and i would get an appetite back once i got over the intial shock of surgery and things settled, but i think it's getting worse.

Should i be going to a doctor about this, or will it get better??

[giege]

Hey girl - it is not just you - I have lost about 15 pounds in five weeks and I haven't had boyfriend problems.  So I am not surprised that you are losing weight.  You need to make yourself eat three meals a day.  I realize that life is not going the way that you want it to but your body will not be able to heal very well without proper nutrition.  You need to call your parents and ask them to please do some grocery shopping for you once a week.  Find foods that will be easy for you to fix and that you will want to eat regardless of your appetite.  You may want to buy the protein drinks that are out - I know that you can add banana in the blender to them and they taste better or even add some ice cream to them.  I have started eating a lot of salads with chicken, fruit smoothies, raw vegies throughout the day, I keep crackers, raisins, and dried apples by me to munch on any time. 

You have to take care of yourself.

glinda

[jkitner]

I go back to work on the 25th!! Woo Hoo! I had to push for this at 6 weeks, but im driving fine, my strength is at 50%+ and hopefully i will be out of thatt brace in the next week or so! I hate that thing, it doesnt even fit anymore, and most the velcro is shot!
I just need to work on getting myself ready for next week, ive been walking everyday, and trying to stay active so its not a shock when i do go back to work. And yes i still get very tired, but it will just take time.

[jkitner]

so tomorrow will be my first day back to work in 6 weeks, im really excited but nervous too, im afraid working a full day will drain the s**t out of me, but my boss did tell me to work the hours i want right now until i can get used to things. Plus im still doing therapy since they keep pushing everything back on me. Every week they tell me they will wean me off my brace this week, but never seems to happen, i cant wait until i can get rid of this thing, i want to go back to wearing regular pants...lol

I am having some weird shin pain around the screws, it hurts to touch the area, and my foot has also been going numb at weird times, im going to ask tomorrow if thats norrmal.