Today is actually the day after my surgery. I wanted to post yesterday but I was a little too sleepy from pain meds and in a little bit of pain. If I posted yesterday, under the influence and all, it probably would have read like a transcript from a Rob Blagojevich phone call. I think you get the picture, so here’s the recap….
As soon as I got into the pre-op room, they hooked me up on the IV with “relaxing medicine.” A nurse and two anesthesiologists all asked me the same set of questions. (No, I don’t smoke. No, I don’t have asthma. But yes, I do enjoy more that four drinks a week.) The anesthesiologists adminstered a nerve block, which interupts how pain signals are sent to my brain. From the knee down, my right leg was numb. Once in the opearting room, I got the general anesthesia by way of a face mask. I remember two seconds of that. Enter: La-La land.
The surgery took two and a half hours and along the way, the surgeon stitched up some meniscus, as well. I was so sleepy that I felt no pain until about 12 hours later when I screamed out for pain killers. I woke up to a ginormous locking leg brace that covered up a three-inch thick wad of Ace bandages that wrapped around my knee. I also woke up to the sensation that a juiced-up Manny R. just had a homerun derby on the back of my knee. My hamstrings hurt the worst. But there’s hope…just one day after surgery, I’ve already lowered my dose of pain meds (just one pill every six hours, as opposed to two pills every four hours), started light excercises and have been doing four hours a day in a passive motion machine.
Congratulations Katie! on getting through surgery successfully and the blog–I’m so glad I just checked this out. LOVE Yes Knee Can – I sure wish such a great portal with your sense of humor existed when I had my surgery! Heal fast please–and best of luck w therapy.
B.
Thanks for checking the site out, Brooke. I hope it can help people like you have helped and encouraged me.
1. I never heard so much whining in my life. You must live near Wrigley Field.
2. Co-ed soccer? Do you think maybe God was trying to tell you something?
3. If Amy really were a friend, she’d BRING you magazines, not tell you to put them next to you. Consider finding new friends.
4. Not me.
Oh, Gary! You’re so funny. Thanks for not plugging your book on my blog.
Which book?
Katie,
Mary & I are glad to hear that you are doing well after your ACL. Your teenie tiny scar will forever remind you of the pain you’ve already encountered & your future rehab headaches, soreness, severe pain, swelling, constant discomfort, bad TV shows, boredom, reading old newspapers, begging people to come visit you, and,, drinking while taking painkillers!!!!!
I have the big boy ACL scar, the kind that was done with a dull butterknife, chewing on a bullet, and whiskey. It was done in an open field, mid-combat, with a midwife present.
Good luck in your rehab. Drink heavily. Better check your pain medication dosage– your mom likes her wine.
Gary! I LOVE your advice. You have been through it all, too, and I’m thankful to have such inspiration in my life
Katie,
Glad to hear you are doing good. I wish I could be there for you more like you were for me when I broke my foot in 5th grade… tear…
Hope you are enjoying your drugs. Holla if you have any questions. I second Gary’s advice…much better with a drink.
Love the blog.
Love ya!
LS
Hey Laura! Thanks for checking the blog out! When you are up in August, I’ll find something odd and sympathetic you can do for me
just about to go through this whole process (soccer injury too). Thanks for writing this all down, it makes the anticipation easier.