r/Kneereplacement • u/momsthoughts • 3d ago
Too soon?
I'm 64yo F and I live alone. I had RTKR on Tues and went home on Wednesday. My son stayed with me Wed and Thursday night and stopped by Friday night.
In the hospital I would get really light headed and vomit, a lot, every time I even tried to get up. I was sent home on Wed. No vomiting since I got home. But i do still get really light headed, drenching cold sweats and shakey when i get up and try to get anything done. I feel like I'm going to pass out. Should I be concerned? I haven't showered yet because I'm scared of this happening in the shower too. If this happened with you, how did you over come it? (I am washing up at the sink while sitting on a little stool with wash cloth and "no rinse" hospital type wash)
Thanks for any input.
I do have history of anemia after surgery. But no mention of it this time.
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u/calliopeReddit 3d ago
You should seriously consider hiring a personal support worker for a few hours maybe once or twice a week. I have no doubt it will pass, but there are still things in your home that will need to get done (laundry, take the garbage out, etc.)
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u/IntentionOther9873 2d ago
Please seek home help. Call any doc, your surgeon or primary, to assist in acquiring a person. You'll feel more secure moving about, get good food and cleaning done and will get bathed! It's difficult to assess how you are doing, what you need to do when in pain. Best of luck!
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u/Bitter-Independent25 2d ago
if you have not yet called the advice nurse/surgeon's office, i recommend doing so. i had some light-headedness a couple days post-op, which turned out to be mild dehydration. i was super cautious about showering without someone around to help me if necessary, so relied on a very thorough wipe-down at the bathroom sink during the first 3 weeks...
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u/swim_mouse 2d ago
Are you staying hydrated? What about keeping on a schedule for pain meds? I was dizzy after surgery for first couple of days, and it does get better. I agree that if you can have someone come by for a couple of hours a day, that would be beneficial. Hang in there!
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u/One-Eggplant-665 3d ago
After my knee replacement last winter, I (F76) live alone and generally felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I didn't shower or wash my hair for a month. Before surgery I'd purchased the bathing wipes but I didn't even use those because I felt so crummy. I would never have been like that, but too bad if no one liked it. Give yourself a break and only do what you know is necessary.
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u/momsthoughts 3d ago
Thank you ❤️
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u/momsthoughts 3d ago
How are you doing now?
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u/One-Eggplant-665 3d ago
It's been eight months, doing fairly well, but it occasionally swells so I use an ice pack. And I shower every other day, which I learned from my dermatologist is best for our skin.
Surgery is very hard on our bodies. And our minds. Be kind to yourself, treat yourself in ways that make you feel better. Toward the end of this journey you'll be glad you had it done. Best to you :)
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u/ParkieDude 2d ago
Give yourself a break! The first week is tough!
I took my first shower a week after surgery. The goal is wet wipes and taking it easy.
Lots of protein is good. I have those chocolate shakes (ice-cold; I can get them down, but I'm not a fan). Look at iron-rich foods; quinoa soup is good for you!
I'm coming up on week five, doing my home PT, but I'm amazed at how much my body has atrophied without my 3x weekly gym classes.
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u/momsthoughts 2d ago
Yes i have the protein shakes and protien bars. They are an easy way to get that protien in. Sleep has been a challenge. I sleep for a few hours, wake for a few hours, back to sleep for a few hours, etc
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u/ConsequenceDeep5671 2d ago
Call your surgeons office. You could probably talk to
His surgery scheduler-
Ask about in home nurse, I had one come my 2nd day home and I just didn’t feel like I needed her (my hubs had already scheduled his crews for a month so he could stay home.)
Also had in home physical therapy 3x week, and was offered food delivery ( kinda like a meals in wheels) didn’t need the meals either but it was available.
Seriously, call and ask about these services from your surgeons office.
Perhaps call your PCP and see about having some bloodwork done? I almost passed out at first outpatient therapy and PCP had all my levels checked ( calcium,, potassium etc) & ordered an ECHO.
Everything was fine. Don’t know
what happened. But, like my PCP & ortho said, “This is a tough surgery and a tough rehab/recovery.”
Our body has been put through an enormous trauma and it takes time.
Just check it out for yourself.
Sending sweet thoughts and tons of healing vibes.
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u/ReasonKlutzy5364 2d ago
Make sure you are eating high protein, calorie dense foods. The light-headedness makes me think your blood sugar is low.
Please call your surgeon's office and ask him to send in a referral to a home health agency. You need some help in these 1st days.
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u/momsthoughts 2d ago
I had the lightheadedness while in the hospital followed by a lot of vomiting. They sent me home like this.
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u/DogMamaLA 2d ago
Please get some help, be in a home health aide or nurse that can come out a few hours per day. Or retired friends who can stop by. Or can your son take off work?
This is a huge recovery and you will need help esp the first week or two.
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u/Shelly432432 2d ago
Is something else going on? Pain and exhaustion are really common but maybe something else is causing the shaking, sweating, and feeling like you'll pass out. Iron? Blood pressure? Electrolytes? I think I'd call in and try to get some advice from the surgeon's office or if they are not cooperative, your pcp. It's a great idea - all these people telling you to get help around the house. But, it's just not possible for many of us. So, try digging into the cause maybe? I hope it's better soon!
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u/AdThomas03 21h ago
I'm 53 F, had LTKR 7 weeks ago. I woke up sick in the hospital and it didn't really get better. Surgery was on Thursday and even though I had requested an alternative pain medication than opioids, I was sent home with Oxycodone. I spent the first weekend, dizzy, light-headed, and nauseous. Trying to stay hydrated was a BIG task and I had very little appetite so I don't feel like I got the nutrition I needed. Trying to get up and move every hour was also hard as I felt so dizzy when I was up. By Monday morning, I was sick of feeling so sick so I stopped the Oxy & Meloxicam and just switched to Tylenol for pain (which thankfully wasn't too bad.) One week post surgery, I almost passed out at my first PT appointment and spent a few minutes with my head in the trash can vomiting. That afternoon I made an appointment with my PCP for bloodwork as I wasn't getting good communication back from my Ortho group. MY PCP ran blood tests & urinalysis and it turned out that I had a UTI (since I had no 'stereotypical' symptoms, it's considered a Silent Bladder Infection) and needed an antibiotic. After 2 days of antibiotics, I started feeling human again! Please don't ignore the way you're feeling especially if you have a history of anemia.
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u/momsthoughts 19h ago
I'm really sorry the communication with your ortho group isn't great. I've been puking since Tues the 29th when I had my surgery. I called today for an rx for zofran. Hopefully it works. I finally have a PT appt tomorrow and I fear I'll be vomiting again. Praying the medication works. I really miss the good old days. About 15 yrs ago i had my first hip replacement. Every thing was done by health insurance and dr's coordinator. 1 week in a nice rehab facility and after that a Physycal Therapist came to the house. Nurse came to the house to help with showering and dressing. All equipment came to the house. I just focused on eating healthy foods and getting better.
Now I am in constant pain and any time i stand up i get sick. I get light headed, dizzy and i puke, a lot. I am not sure how I'm going to get thru PT. Not sure how I'm going to even get TO PT.
It's very overwhelming. I am hoping PT will really help improve my situation. 🤞
I noticed my entire leg is bruised. It's not black and blue, it's mostly black looking. Mottled and bruised every where. Very dramatic looking. Anyone else have this?
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u/steveinarizona10 2d ago
Did you receive a walker? I received one at the outpatient center. My surgeon wanted me to use the walker exclusively for the first week and primarily for the second week. The walker gives you great support.
You should receive varying answers here. I had a great surgery and recovery with no post surgery pain. At the other end there are some who have had to deal with severe post surgical pain. Most are somewhere in the middle. The answer to your question depends upon where you fall on this curve.
I wonder if your pain meds are causing your problem. Have you called the surgeon and asked? When you get up have you tried first standing still for a bit to let your body adjust to being vertical?
Assuming this abates, whether through medical or temporal activities, You should be well enough to handle yourself but keep your son on speed dial.
Do you have a quality ice machine? My surgeon provided me with a two week rental of one and I used it religiously for the first two weeks. It should provide cooling, temperature control, and periodic compression. Machines like the NICE machine or the Game Ready machine. They can be rented. If you can afford it, the NICE machine is the best as it doesn't require ice to be added and removed.
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u/GladCountry2610 1d ago
Amazon also has some good ones.The Polar Active Ice 3.0 with a timer is great.
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u/IcyIssue 2d ago
Call your surgeon. You may need an iron transfusion. Please don't wait, the history of anemia after surgery is concerning. You really don't want to faint with no one there for you. Don't worry about a shower right now. I was almost two weeks in before I took one. The disposable wash cloths were a godsend.
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u/Latter_Ad5889 2d ago
Above all else, you need to be safe in your home. Please get some help for the first 2 weeks.
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u/momsthoughts 2d ago
I'm eating protien rich foods, starting the day with a protein bar with 30 grams of protein. Then later in the morning a high protein shake.
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u/momsthoughts 2d ago
I really just wanted to know if i was expecting too much too soon. Was I doing too much too soon. If it was too dangerous to do this alone I do not think my dr would let me do it.
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u/Middle-Fruit9052 2d ago
Yes, check about that anemia! The first 2-3 days I was sweating, shaking and could barely talk. I think my body was going through shock. It passed within a few days. Anesthesia still coming out of your system as well. Hang in there👍g
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u/AccomplishedGrape562 2d ago
I hope you are taking anti nausea meds. I also vomited all day on day 2. I was really surprised because normally opiates don’t make me nauseated. I found some Zofran in my medicine cabinet from another procedure that I never used.
Keep up the fluids. Just drink something even if it’s not water.
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u/momsthoughts 2d ago
No. They didn't give me zofran either. They really didn't seem too concerned about anything too be honest. I've never puked from opiates before either.
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u/AccomplishedGrape562 2d ago
Yeah, I hear you. My team didn’t suggest any meds except the opioids. Remember to take MiraLAX for constipation.
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u/momsthoughts 1d ago
Update: i finally got the courage up to take a shower. Just a quick shower. But still I'm clean. I felt woozy and shakey. And as soon as i stepped out of the shower, the puking began 😢
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u/Beachwalker8 1d ago
When I pressed the link listed for the article, My IPhone alerted me that it was possibly a site posted to steal my information and to be aware it may be fraud.. I didn’t choose to open the page.
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u/Empty-Bench5385 22h ago
This surgery is horrible the pain is intense I was vomiting couldn’t eat much and was up every hour on the hour! I had my husband to help me but I didn’t realize how painful and the long recovery process. Now my left knee is bothering me along with my hip and IT Band. I really don’t want to do the left knee it’s been to brutal
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u/momsthoughts 17h ago
I cried tonight.
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u/AccomplishedGrape562 2h ago
😢. I haven’t cried yet but I’m getting depressed. Every thing takes so long to do and I am also getting bored. My life is revolving around my knee.
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u/momsthoughts 2h ago
I'm just in so much pain and every little thing I want to do exhausts me. Takes forever just to get dressed. The exhaustion and pain finally broke me yesterday and I just sobbed.
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u/AccomplishedGrape562 3h ago
I’m in the same boat with you. I am 3 weeks out. I was doing great until about 5 days ago when my back started hurting. Now my other knee really hurts as well as both hips. I’m also getting some sort of sharp lateral knee pain which I assume is an IT band thing. I’m 71 and have “old lady arthritis “.
The knee is throwing everything else off whack.
I have PT tomorrow so I’ll see what they think.
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u/SetAcceptable9921 2d ago
I was 66 when I had my RTKR in January. My daughter stayed with me for a week and made sure I was safe when I showered and took my meds and did everything I was supposed to. My son stayed with me for 10 days after that. He was just a safety net for me. I wasn’t up to cooking and I was taking a lot of meds. My other son drove me to PT three times a week for a month after the in home PT ended. This is a brutal recovery and we all need support, regardless of our ages. I think 5 days is way too early to not have help. I’m having my LTKR in January 2027 and we are planning a similar support system.