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Two weeks post op for TKR. Nausea, fatigue, depression.

Posted by mick2007 @mick2007, May 5, 2023

Hi. I’m a 69, almost 70 year old woman, and I’ve overcome numerous illnesses including breast cancer. I’m basically a healthy person, but this TKR has me down. Down not just with pain, but anxiety, gastric issues, depression, and incredible fatigue. I spent two years battling osteoarthritis arthritis in my knee, until I could no longer function. Now my surgeon is sending me to an endocrinologist because my bones are soft. I’m truly more afraid of how I feel now than I did when I was diagnosed with cancer. I need help, and I pray that I’ve found a forum here at Mayo who can help to ease my mind. I’m seriously not wanting to face tomorrow.

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mick2007 | @mick2007 | May 6, 2023
In reply to @vgen "Mick, i had same symptoms at 2 weeks as you. At about 4 weeks when i..." + (show)
@vgen

Mick, i had same symptoms at 2 weeks as you. At about 4 weeks when i could lift my surgery leg i started feeling better because i could move it on my own.
I had nausea fatigue and pain. I did lots of napping. Sleep heals. Do exercises, take a nap. My pain meds were adjusted and ate lots of toast because my stomach couldn’t handle anything more. Talk to your surgeons team to adjust or change pain meds. They have experience with these problems and have heard it before. Mine were very helpful.

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Vgen,
I probably need to nap more and be more patient with myself. I have a tendency to overdo, thinking that I can speed up the process, but that’s not helpful and has just caused more pain and swelling. I told my surgeon that I couldn’t take oxycodone anymore because I felt overcome with weakness and fatigue, and he told me that my body has been through a brutal surgery and it’s expected to feel this way. The doc switched my meds to hydrocodone, and I took that for my neck fusion, but it constipated me and gave me nightmares. But, he said that I must take something for pain bc the pt is going to be very difficult. So, maybe I will take as needed…
I appreciate your responding. Thank you.

REPLY
1 reply
mick2007 | @mick2007 | May 6, 2023
In reply to @janeenk001 "Hi I had a TKR on 5/4/23 the pain is awful the nausea and vomiting due..." + (show)
@janeenk001

Hi I had a TKR on 5/4/23 the pain is awful the nausea and vomiting due to anesthesia and pain meds have not been kind. I used my ice machine today it helped with the pain. I also used my machine that help me bend my knee 40 degrees. How many time do you do it a day?

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Janeeek,
I know, the nausea and vomiting is awful from the anesthesia, so I would take some Phayzyme to help with the gut. Still very nauseated from the pain pills. Seems that most everyone feels this way. I have an ice machine and that really helps! Keep pumping your feet to keep the blood clots away…very important! My knee got to 90 degrees before the home health care left. I do exercises 3x a day, walk 10 minutes a day with my walker, and ice in between. Good luck!! Be patient…I wasn’t and tried to do too much too fast.

REPLY
vgen | @vgen | May 6, 2023
In reply to @mick2007 "Vgen, I probably need to nap more and be more patient with myself. I have a..." + (show)
@mick2007

Vgen,
I probably need to nap more and be more patient with myself. I have a tendency to overdo, thinking that I can speed up the process, but that’s not helpful and has just caused more pain and swelling. I told my surgeon that I couldn’t take oxycodone anymore because I felt overcome with weakness and fatigue, and he told me that my body has been through a brutal surgery and it’s expected to feel this way. The doc switched my meds to hydrocodone, and I took that for my neck fusion, but it constipated me and gave me nightmares. But, he said that I must take something for pain bc the pt is going to be very difficult. So, maybe I will take as needed…
I appreciate your responding. Thank you.

Jump to this post

Oxy was the only thing that worked for me. Made me tired and i napped, then exercised, ate lightly and napped again. Don’t overdue it only sets you back.
Patience is key!

REPLY
1 reply
mick2007 | @mick2007 | May 6, 2023
In reply to @vgen "Oxy was the only thing that worked for me. Made me tired and i napped, then..." + (show)
@vgen

Oxy was the only thing that worked for me. Made me tired and i napped, then exercised, ate lightly and napped again. Don’t overdue it only sets you back.
Patience is key!

Jump to this post

I still have oxy. Made me zombie like, but I’m not crazy about the hydrocodone. I’m overdoing. Thanks for the reminder. Too much too little too late. More isn’t better.

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