2 Weeks Post Op

Hospital Day 1 Rick and I met Heather at Clearview Medical Center.  at 6:30 am.  I was called back pretty quick.  Dr came in and informed me that he had prayed for me and was very encouraging. I went to Operating room at 7:30 and when they put the oxygen mask on that's all I remember..

Woke up from anesthesia with oxygen and CPS machine on.  Moving my leg up and down.  I had a button I could push as often as needed to get .25 of Dalotted.


Dr said there was allot of Synovitis which is inflammation caused from Lupus. They had to do a lot of cutting that out, as well as the arthritis and trimming bone and fitting knee.

I had some Ginger ale and was taken up to my room about noon....I think...

I was able to remove the oxygen and settled in.  I never thought the pain would be this intense...horrible.. In the first hour I hit that button 160 times but only 11 of them actually gave me meds.. Ha... The nurse said she had never seen that high of number in all her years....ha....


I had a major panic attack a little later in the day..I was hot but cold...I was breathing fine but felt like I couldn't  breathe. My head was roaring and I couldn't hear good. The pain was horrible.... It was a night mare...Rick helped me through it...

I found when the grand-babies showed up I felt so much better.  We shared dinner and that was nice.  They stayed an hour or more and I was getting sleepy so they left.  Rick got me all settled in I went to sleep and he went home.

When they did my vitals during the 9:00 pm hour my oxygen level was 82 it's suppose to be over 95. My blood pressure was 57/48.  They put me back on the oxygen and I have to suck that ball thingy 10 times every hour.

It's 9:30 pm now. First evening.  My leg is going up and down on the machine.  I'm watching The Voice.  And I'm very tired.  Praying for a good nights sleep.


I haven't felt like blogging until today. 1week later.  1 week of endless pain, helplessness and unbelievable that this has been so painful.

2 weeks out....better but been basically doped up with Percocet and Valium round the clock since surgery..

Last Friday started in home  PT and yesterday I got my 20 Staples out.  I am doing in home PT 3 times a week for the next 3 weeks then out of home PT not sure....according to Dr. I can get in the pool on 4 the of July weekend...we will see...Right now still using my walker to get around.  The  trip to the Dr sucked out all my energy.  I did get back on all my Lupus meds and I slept better last night than I have since surgery.

That's all I've got now.  With intentions of writing everyday this is all I have for 2 weeks...who knew????

Isaiah 40:31

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

Countdown to Knee Replacement

Countdown to complete right knee replacement. On June 10th Clearview Regional Hospital at 7:30 am with Dr. Michael Smith, Orthopedic Dr.


Memorial Friday knee horrible and Saturday morning. Iced it

 Sat night swollen glands under left arm. Hurt all day Sunday 26th but did go to church .

 Wednesday 29th headache all day.  Good knee day.

7 Days till surgery Monday Pre op at Clearview  took 2 1/2 hours.

Had a pretty good week prior to surgery.  Tried to do a chore each day to have my house clean when I get home.

Wednesday swollen glands and hurt under right arm.

Thursday night itching all night, ugh!!! Vaseline spray lotion in the can really helps.

This is Sunday the day before my surgery.  Had to rush out of Sunday School class due to upset stomach.  Had to leave and come home....Hope to feel better because we are suppose to be having lunch with friends....

To avoid infection I have to sleep on clean sheets right out of the dryer tonight. They gave me special cleansing stuff for shower tonight then another shower again in morning.  Then put on fresh clothes out of dryer.  All in efforts to NOT get an infection.

Nerves are on edge... Fear of the unknown mostly but I know God is in control.
He knows.  He holds my hand.  He is in control.

My Orthopedic Dr is suppose to come in and pray with me before my surgery.  Is that awesome or what?!?!?

Will update when I start feeling better after surgery. Until then I appreciate all of your prayers. Thanks friends.

World Lupus Awareness Day/ Avise test results

Today is Lupus Awareness Day.  I wore my Lupus Fighter T-Shirt, got my toenails painted purple and got the results of my Avise test results.  I positively for sure have Lupus. It took 2 weeks to get the results.  I am not a patient person as I have probably mentioned more than once in my blog. I am sure my Rheumy was so happy to get the results...even though I thought we knew I had it she felt like she wanted  to test me because I just did not seem to feel much better no matter what she did or what meds I was taking.  We decided to continue all meds but one.  Put me back on Cymbalta and rest up for my knee surgery.  More info on that when I see my Ortho on the 21st.

Knee Replacement

Well my Orthopedic Doc says I have to have a knee replacement. He gave me info to read and I have to get all the Pre-op stuff done then see him again on the 21st for the surgery date....I imagine it will be the 1st of June. He won't know for sure if its partial or full replacement untill he gets in there but he said be prepaired for full replacement......

Avise Blood Test

Has anyone heard of this NEW blood test to find out for SURE if you have Lupus? It was just approved. I had the test today....anxiously awaiting because I really didn't know there was an "IF" Diagnoses on 10/11. She is doing it because of all the medication I am on and I'm not getting better...I sure hope I haven't been on all this for nothing.  But I would love to not have Lupus....that's mind boggling.....

Here is the link for the test. Results in 3-5 workdays.

 http://avisetest.com/

The girl in the lab said she has done 7 test since it came out.

I Now Talk in my Sleep!!!!

What a week.  Seems every night was sleepless.  I now talk in my sleep !! Never have done this in 58 years!!  Now I start talking out loud in my sleep!!! Neither of us are getting a good nights sleep because i am waking us both up!!!I'm think its my newest med...so I will talk to Rheumy today.

I have been going to PT 3 times a week and working 1 hour minimum.  When I went Wednesday it was the worst day for pain and when you hurt they hurt you more...I dread today but I leave there and go straight to Rhuemy so hopefully I can talk to her and see what she thinks....

This week was my mom and dads birthdays.  Dads been dead 10 years and Mom almost 2 years.  I miss them so much it's just been a weepy week...

I'm am trying to work on my future because of my Lupus....  Things like work, insurance, Short Term Disability, Family Medical Leave Act, and a few other thighs just bring me to tears.  It's overwhelming...  My poor hubby, he is working longer and harder to compensate but he is never to tired to listen, give and encouraging word or just let me cry.  I don't know what the future holds but God does.  I give it to HIM and take it back everyday!! How crazy am I?  I know what Jesus says:

Matthew
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?
26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they are?
27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?
28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin.
Thank you Jesus!!

A Quick Get Away and Update.

I can't believe it's been over a month since I blogged !! It's not like I have been doing anything!  Just sitting in the recliner!  Or maybe that IS WHY because I have just been sitting in a recliner!! Ha!!

We did have a quick getaway! We took off in our camper with Marley to our camping spot in North Carolina Mountains. Went Tuesday, April 2nd through Sunday the 7th. Jason Rose, Junior, Jarrett, Josh, Jonah and Heather, Matt, Hope, Isabella, and Ben all went.  The kids ran and played and hiked and climbed rocks and rode the T-Rex and we had and egg hunt and snowball fights.  Lots of family fun times.

 Of course Teena and Gary were already there.We had cold weather, warm weather, rain and it even snowed and had icy roads.  Many campfires and meals together.  We did a little shopping in the little town that were easy in and out for me.  One of my favorites is a little coffee shop that has the best Chai Tea. It was a great time.


Lupus update: Both Knee pain everyday but I took it easy and it went fine.
Used cane when needed but didn't do a lot of walking and stayed pretty closed to camp unless we drove the T-Rex.  Most of this last month I have been under Dr Smiths care since my knee surgery.  I am still in allot of pain. I am shocked at how long the recovery is and how bad the pain has been.  I saw Dr Smith and he insisted I start PT so I Started PT April 10th. So far it's painful but I intend to have a positive attitude.  I told my daughter I was looking at it like I have a personal trainer.


So I continue the PT for 4-6 weeks and see my Ortho Dr May 23rd. FMLA ends on May 28th at work.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. -- Isaiah 58:11