@hopeful33250 Teresa, my knee surgery is not doing well at all. I am in incredible pain 24/7. I get some relief from taking the narcotic but I do not want to become dependent on them so I put off until the pain is unbearable. I have two different types, one is obviously not as much of a threat when it comes to addiction because they can FAX the prescription to the pharmacy. The other needs a paper scrip that they send to me to get filled. It’s that one that I really hold off on. I managed to get through to about 3:30 today before I took it. It really does help to dull the pain. It is wearing off now but my goal is if to get through the rest of the night without taking another. My PT felt my physical progress was pretty good but he was concerned about my level of pain. I’ve had him two times before so he knows I am not a wimp and usually very resilient. I think they are concerned at the ortho’s office too since they booked me into Thursday. I can’t drive until I am off the narcotics but I have no desire to go out of the house or anything. If I don’t keep my leg up it hurts more. The pain has taken my appetite away so I am losing weight too, more than I want to at this point.
I will let you know how things turn out after I see the doctor. I wish I could see him before then but he’s out of the country. I know I am not going to be in good shape for my daughter’s wedding ceremony this month and her reception next month. I am really upset at myself about that. If I had any indication that I might not be I would have put the surgery off but they assured me that by then I would be great.
JK

@contentandwell, I'm so sorry to hear about your knee pain. I hope you can make it to your daughter's wedding and reception. Is it possible that taking the pain medications on a regular basis, keeping a constant level in your system, will allow your pain to be relieved enough that you can attend the wedding and enjoy this special time? I'm sure you can withdraw when the reception is over. Just a thought. I know that when the pain is unbearable before you take the medications, it is more difficult to get it under control.

I certainly hope they figure out what is causing this level of pain. I appreciate all the responses you give people on various Connect areas. Your experiences are so very helpful. Thanks, Gail B

@contentandwell

I am so sorry that you are having so much pain. As I recall, you had knee surgery previously and you did OK. I hope that the doctor is able to come up with a reason for the pain and plan to take care of it before your daughter's wedding.

Take it easy on yourself - there is no way you could have known that is experience would be so difficult to recover from.

Praying for you and hoping for the best!

Teresa

@contentandwell, I am sorry to learn that you are experiencing this sort of pain. I hope that the issue can be resolved for you.
Are you keeping your Transplant team informed of this situation? If you have not done so, I encourage you to do it. They need to know what is going on so they can an eye on that beautiful liver.
Rosemary

@hopeful33250 things are very gradually improving. I spoke to the nurse at the beginning of the week and she told me to increase my narcotics, which I then did. That has helped. Today I saw the doctor and he thinks I am doing too much, causing the pain. My physical recovery is good, range of motion is better than typical, and that whole thing is good, it’s just the pain. Of course that is complicated by my having to be careful of what I take due to being post-transplant. No ibuprofen, just acetaminophen, max 2000 mg a day.
So life goes on. I think I will manage at my daughter’s events if iI take the max allowable meds. Of course I am very anxious to get off of them so I can have my independence back. My husband has been very good but shopping with him is no fun, he’s very impatient.
I did lose weight because I was in so much pain that I had no appetite but now I have gained a few back.
JK

@gailb Thank you Gail for your words of encouragement. I really was getting very discouraged because I usually bounce back so well. I really do not think I have been doing too much but then I am not the doctor. Whatever.
I would not miss my daughter’s events no matter how much pain I was in. I thought I may end up in a wheel chair there but I think I will manage OK, with max pain relief. The ortho definitely too seems a bit surprised by what I am going through because he wants to see me again in two weeks. That’s fine but it’s generally five hours round trip of driving for. 20 minute appointment!! That’s due to very heavy traffic. With no traffic it would be just about an hour, but I don’t think I will ever trust a doctor in my area again for anything serious.
A little aside about my daughter — as you may recall her ceremony is here on November 25, thankfully I arranged for a caterer. I generally enjoy doing food prep. The reception is in NYC on December 9. She HAS NOT YET BOUGHT A DRESS FOR EITHER EVENT!!! Crazy. She is fortunate in being petite so almost everything looks good on her.
JK

@hopeful33250 Thanks Teresa. As I mentioned previously the doctor thinks I am doing too much. He says I am healed enough to return to the pool but only for about 15 minutes at a time. It’s just not worth that for me. It’s about 20 - 25 minutes round trip, and getting in an out of a bathing suit, plus having to have my husband drive me makes it not worth it. For now I will just try to be active at home. He is a huge advocate of pool exercises though. I will hold off on reinstating my memebership until just before Christmas probably. My son made a last minute decision to come home and he always enjoys going there with me. We do head in different directions, he goes to the heavy duty gym, I go to the one for wimps,
JK

JK, @contentandwell

It is good to hear from you. I'm glad that you are experiencing "gradual" improvement. It is so frustrating when things don't go as quickly as you want!!

I'm glad that your daughter's wedding plans are under control - getting a caterer was a great idea.

I know that you will take care of yourself - you are a good advocate for yourself.

Teresa

@Thanks Rosemary @rosemarya. Yes my transplant is aware, I have been in touch with them but there is no more need to now, unless something else develops. They know what I am taking and approve it. I even wondered if some of my post-transplant drugs could be a cause at all and they said no.
JK

@contentandwell It is hard to understand why men don't enjoy shopping! Hang in there - you will get back your independence before long.

Teresa