Really anxious about upcoming surgery...

[Hurt&Hopeful]

Sounds like my husband. He was in the military too. lol That's good. Ice helps.

Ha! It's handy at times like these, huh? My husband is actually in law enforcement, but he spent several years in a sort of 'special ops' group that was very military-esque. These days he has more of a desk job, but his training seeps through, and his personality. I always joke that he was basically born a 40-year-old cop and now has almost caught up with himself. Lol He's not a very emotional person, so his 'love language's is very much acts of service. In other words, we struggle to communicate at times, but when there is some kind of actual task like this he can do, he shines. We are learning to appreciate our differences, though it's not always easy. But I love and admire the guy...

Back to sleep I go.

 

[Rosy]

He sounds like a very handy guy. My husband isn't in law enforcement. He was a banker and later in life worked at the unemployment office. He is not very emotional. More so now since he is older. But I know what you mean about the love stuff. lol Mine is the same way. But I wouldn't trade him for anything. lol We never fought much. He would just let me rant and wait til I calmed down then would say, "Okay what is this all about?" lol And like you I love and admire him.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

He sounds like a very handy guy. My husband isn't in law enforcement. He was a banker and later in life worked at the unemployment office. He is not very emotional. More so now since he is older. But I know what you mean about the love stuff. lol Mine is the same way. But I wouldn't trade him for anything. lol We never fought much. He would just let me rant and wait til I calmed down then would say, "Okay what is this all about?" lol And like you I love and admire him.

Sounds like us! I wouldn't trade him (though I sometimes wanna kill him lol). He's taking good care of me. I'm in a lot of pain today - these first few days are going to be really tough. But we're getting through it, one hour at a time.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

By the way, finding that pain and especially SWELLING are making me really anxious. The nerve block hasn't worn off yet, either, so my leg muscles are stills fairly numb, which is funky and scary feeling, while the knee just throbs. Again, this is nothing serious in the long run, but I guess I didn't realize how much pain affected anxiety. Having trouble relaxing the rest of my body and turning off my brain...I will quit whining now!!! Lol

 

[Rosy]

By the way, finding that pain and especially SWELLING are making me really anxious. The nerve block hasn't worn off yet, either, so my leg muscles are stills fairly numb, which is funky and scary feeling, while the knee just throbs. Again, this is nothing serious in the long run, but I guess I didn't realize how much pain affected anxiety. Having trouble relaxing the rest of my body and turning off my brain...I will quit whining now!!! Lol

You can whine all you want. You went through a lot. I know pain makes anxiety worse. You still have hurdles to overcome but you have the spunk to do it. The weather will have a lot to do with pain and healing. I don't know where you live but if it is cold and wet you wont feel as good. I'm in Arizona and it is cold here.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

You can whine all you want. You went through a lot. I know pain makes anxiety worse. You still have hurdles to overcome but you have the spunk to do it. The weather will have a lot to do with pain and healing. I don't know where you live but if it is cold and wet you wont feel as good. I'm in Arizona and it is cold here.

I'm in Arkansas! Arizona is beautiful.... And yes, it's been in the 20's some this week, and it's raining now. I haven't been out, though - not sure what the actual temp is now. Tonight the swelling is just extreme and I don't know how I'm going to sleep in this much pain. I'm on strong meds, but they can't keep up with this. I'm just going to have to ride it out and trust that it will start to get better if I can hang on another day or two. I expected this...the day wasn't too bad and I was even able to work, so just have to keep going. It WILL end.

How has your day been, @Rosy ? Better?

 

[triceps]

I'm in Arkansas! Arizona is beautiful.... And yes, it's been in the 20's some this week, and it's raining now. I haven't been out, though - not sure what the actual temp is now. Tonight the swelling is just extreme and I don't know how I'm going to sleep in this much pain. I'm on strong meds, but they can't keep up with this. I'm just going to have to ride it out and trust that it will start to get better if I can hang on another day or two. I expected this...the day wasn't too bad and I was even able to work, so just have to keep going. It WILL end.

How has your day been, @Rosy ? Better?

Isn't it nice that all that pain is from an operation that eventually takes away your previous pain, you whiner? I am just so glad you're past the hospital stuff.
You gals are barking up the wrong tree with this temperature stuff. I'm sitting in Northwest Wisconsin where tomorrow night it's gonna be -19 degrees. Rosy, I've got a house in Sun City West AZ that I used to go to each winter but my anxiety has kept me from being able to get there the last couple years. Arkansas has always struck me as a nice place to live climate wise.
Hurt, you just keep pluggin' as each day will get better.

 

[Rosy]

Triceps -19 is brrrrrr cold. I spent most of my life in Pennsylvania so I do know cold weather. lol Hurt, I've never been to Arkansas or Wisconsin. I do have a grandson who lives in Michigan which is near you Triceps and his fiance's sister lives in Louisiana which is near you Hurt. What a small world. I hope you get to come back to Sun City some time Triceps where it is nice and warm most of the time. Sometimes I get too hot our here but I hate the cold. Hurt you are going to feel much better once that pain starts to let up. You keep hanging in there.
we think you are doing great. I hope you can get some good sleep tonight. Thinking of you.








what a

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

Isn't it nice that all that pain is from an operation that eventually takes away your previous pain, you whiner? I am just so glad you're past the hospital stuff.
You gals are barking up the wrong tree with this temperature stuff. I'm sitting in Northwest Wisconsin where tomorrow night it's gonna be -19 degrees. Rosy, I've got a house in Sun City West AZ that I used to go to each winter but my anxiety has kept me from being able to get there the last couple years. Arkansas has always struck me as a nice place to live climate wise.
Hurt, you just keep pluggin' as each day will get better.

Yeah, tonight is just unbearable. Like, I don't know how I'm going to get through the night kind of pain. I called the hospital and they said it was safe to take muscle relaxers on top of the pain killers, so I'm trying that to see if the muscle cramps will let up. I'm ready for this to be over.....I know it will be soon. Couple more days and the worst should be past.....

-19 is a NOPE for me. I dated a guy from Minnesota in college and once went to visit his family over New Years. I thought I was in some kind of ice hell hahahaha. I just don't like winter. I lived in South America for many years, so I lost any taste I had for cold weather. Arkansas winter is reasonable, though - we get some ice, maybe a snow drift or two...lasts 3 months tops. Summers are hot, spring and fall are gorgeous.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

Triceps -19 is brrrrrr cold. I spent most of my life in Pennsylvania so I do know cold weather. lol Hurt, I've never been to Arkansas or Wisconsin. I do have a grandson who lives in Michigan which is near you Triceps and his fiance's sister lives in Louisiana which is near you Hurt. What a small world. I hope you get to come back to Sun City some time Triceps where it is nice and warm most of the time. Sometimes I get too hot our here but I hate the cold. Hurt you are going to feel much better once that pain starts to let up. You keep hanging in there.
we think you are doing great. I hope you can get some good sleep tonight. Thinking of you.

Thank you. Just counting the hours.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

So the post-op anxiety is starting to settle in, now. I feel trapped tonight - like this leg will remain forever locked in this one position. I feel this urge to run away (which of course I can't), and it feels very panicky and hopeless. I'm also still in a lot of pain - each day is a little worse right now, and I'm seeing that I have a long recovery ahead of me. I have to keep breathing through this, but this is definitely testing my skills. Could use some positive vibes...just need to feel like everything is eventually going to be ok here.

 

[triceps]

So the post-op anxiety is starting to settle in, now. I feel trapped tonight - like this leg will remain forever locked in this one position. I feel this urge to run away (which of course I can't), and it feels very panicky and hopeless. I'm also still in a lot of pain - each day is a little worse right now, and I'm seeing that I have a long recovery ahead of me. I have to keep breathing through this, but this is definitely testing my skills. Could use some positive vibes...just need to feel like everything is eventually going to be ok here.

Hi Hurt&Hopeful. Sounds like you're only living up to half of your name tonight. Remember all of the pain and anxiety leading up to the surgery? That's all behind you now. I predict that this is the last day where things are worse than the day before. Tomorrow you'll be able to focus on the upside direction of your recovery. So all you've got to do is make it through tonight and things get better. As far as the swelling, is there something you can do to your other knee so that the bad knees' swelling doesn't appear so bad, so noticeable?

 

[Rosy]

So the post-op anxiety is starting to settle in, now. I feel trapped tonight - like this leg will remain forever locked in this one position. I feel this urge to run away (which of course I can't), and it feels very panicky and hopeless. I'm also still in a lot of pain - each day is a little worse right now, and I'm seeing that I have a long recovery ahead of me. I have to keep breathing through this, but this is definitely testing my skills. Could use some positive vibes...just need to feel like everything is eventually going to be ok here.

They say the third day after surgery is the worst. So you should start getting some relief soon. I sure hope so. As for mobility, once that swelling goes down you are going to feel a lot better. We are rooting for you.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

So I'm PANICKING now about blood clots. Because of all the cramping and pain, and the increased swelling tonight, I've got it stuck in my head that I will have a blood clot and die. I don't think I actually have a blood clot....but trying to figure out what to do...

 

[triceps]

So I'm PANICKING now about blood clots. Because of all the cramping and pain, and the increased swelling tonight, I've got it stuck in my head that I will have a blood clot and die. I don't think I actually have a blood clot....but trying to figure out what to do...

Hi Hurt. I sure hope you wake up this morning and see some progress. Always wishing you only the best. -21 degrees when I got up this morning.

 

[Rosy]

So I'm PANICKING now about blood clots. Because of all the cramping and pain, and the increased swelling tonight, I've got it stuck in my head that I will have a blood clot and die. I don't think I actually have a blood clot....but trying to figure out what to do...

How is it today? Hoping some of that swelling goes down. Is the pain as bad? It should be lessening up. Hope you are feeling better.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

Today was a little better than yesterday. Went back to the surgeon's office, and they wrapped my leg from ankle to thigh with an ace bandage - like a compression wrap. It feels miserable, but it supposed to help with swelling. They also showed me how to better adjust my brace to get the leg straightened out the way it's supposed to be whenever I stand up. So it's not fun, but I think it's progress because I'm taking steps (pun intended) in the right direction. I'm also a little more comfortable in the bed tonight....one day at a time, right? Just ready for this inital healing to be over so I can move on to rehab.

 

[Rosy]

Today was a little better than yesterday. Went back to the surgeon's office, and they wrapped my leg from ankle to thigh with an ace bandage - like a compression wrap. It feels miserable, but it supposed to help with swelling. They also showed me how to better adjust my brace to get the leg straightened out the way it's supposed to be whenever I stand up. So it's not fun, but I think it's progress because I'm taking steps (pun intended) in the right direction. I'm also a little more comfortable in the bed tonight....one day at a time, right? Just ready for this inital healing to be over so I can move on to rehab.

So glad you feel some better. Hope the wrapping helps.. Triceps and I was wondering how you were doing.. I hope he sees this. Take it easy One day at a time. It will start healing and then you can start getting it limbered up. Rooting for you.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

So glad you feel some better. Hope the wrapping helps.. Triceps and I was wondering how you were doing.. I hope he sees this. Take it easy One day at a time. It will start healing and then you can start getting it limbered up. Rooting for you.

Thank you!! Triceps sent me a message to check on me - so very kind. Yes, the wrapping has helped, and the swelling has gone down quite a bit. The pain is much more manageable. I'm feeling very trapped since I can't walk - it's just a weird anxiety, and all the "what ifs" run through my mind. What if my son needs me and I can't get to him...what if I need to pee in the night and can't get up...what if I never walk again...what if I walk but it never bends all the way or the pain never stops....it just gets more and more dramatic the longer I think about it. So I have to constantly police those thoughts and turn them into positive affirmations...you WILL walk again, but even if you didn't, there are thousands of people that don't walk and lead good lives.... Just have to get out of my head, and not be completely self-centered. Because I feel pretty self-centered right now. hahaha

 

[Rosy]

Those thoughts are normal with anxiety. At least you know that and will turn them off. lol So glad the swelling is down. The pain should start to ease up now. You sound so much better. No water again. Something must have happened to that main again. I'm glad you're doing better and hope we both have a good night.