Post-Op Day 2 & 3: Discharged

Stapel closure

Approximately 3 A.M. on day 2 they had to switch me to injectable Dilaudid which finally got the pain under control, pain scale 8. I only had to take a couple doses of Dilaudid. The fluid flowing from my knee from the Jackson-Pratt drain was beginning to slow down. This drain removes excess fluid from the surgical site... if removed too early a hematoma could form that may necessitate reopening the surgical site. During the evening I have been using the commode that is next to my bed making things much easier.  

I'm in a lot of discomfort pain scale 6-8 and now experiencing a lot of nausea from the narcotics so they have added Reglan and Zofran to help decrease the nausea.. Note to self: eat crackers to settle tummy prior to taking narcotics I was able to take a sponge bath but I feel very weak and not well at all. I just want this day to be over.

Post-Op day 2 late afternoon,  pain level is at a 4 and it's time to get the Johnson Pratt Drain pulled. I highly recommend taking your pain medication at least a half hour before the procedure primarily to help you relax. Melissa the PA explained to me that the drain has a flat end and that is what I will feel as it exits my skin. She took off the tape that was holding the drain in place and had me look away and concentrate on a good thought. I went to my happy place that I have created in my mind. It's located in a jungle with waterfalls, beautiful foliage and butterflies (Don't laugh a famous surgical hypnotist taught me to create this place and it works well when you need to refocus). I focused on my breathing and I felt the tube sliding out which wasn't painful just weird feeling and then a a one second momentary catch of the drainage end as it was exiting the skin. It was all done within 2-3 seconds. The catch is rather intense but it's over with almost before you can process the pain. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.


Post-Op day 3 and I'm so excited because I'm able to go home today and I feel well prepared to do so. I have missed my husband this week. I haven't seen him since Wednesday, the day of surgery because I didn't want him to spend 1 1/2-2 hrs in rush hour traffic in order to visit me after work, and that is one way. We talked on the phone a lot and it was kind of fun because it reminded me of when we were dating and would spend hours on the phone talking about everything and nothing. I haven't been away from him this long since we started dating over three years ago. He is literally my best friend and we have done nothing but laugh for three years.

We had planned to spend the rest of our lives together and were totally committed and didn't feel the need for marriage. My health began to decline and I was unable to get health insurance so he brought up the idea of marriage. After much discussion and time we were married on September 31 of this year and have never been happier. People get married for many different reasons, but his decision to marry me knowing that I wasn't healthy holds a very special place in my heart. He is such a happy, upbeat person who I draw so much strength from. We have been through a lot in our short time together. We don't take each other for granted and the challenges that we have faced only bring us closer. I'm not more committed being married but I do feel a closer bond with him and he with I.

Time to see my husband again and go home. I took my medication shortly before my departure. Steve placed the seat as far back as possible and adjusted the back to my comfort. I slowly put my bad leg in the car first and then slowly slid the rest of my body onto the seat. I placed a pillow behind my knee for support and used a small blanket for cushioning. I filled my ice bag just before leaving and placed it on my knee. I would also recommend a large zip lock bag in case you become nauseated on the way home. I was very grateful to have these provisions in the car with me. I was taken directly home and by the time I was getting set up in bed I was totally exhausted and wanted nothing more than to lay down.

Post-Op Day 1

My journey began as an out-patient, however, once the PVNS was confirmed they had to switch to an open synovectomy which required an in-patient hospital stay. 

First post-op day I found myself in a very quiet, comfortable room filled with state of the art equipment, fully equipped with all of the amenities that a VIP would expect, however, I wasn’t a VIP. It has interactive TV which provides my personally assigned education videos, relaxation videos, cable, movies, games, internet access.  The view out the window was amazing where I could see the snow capped mountains, palms and even the fall colors of the trees. My view overlooked the entrance of the hospital displaying beautifully chiseled fountains in a zen like healing garden, a life sized metal tree and overflowing elevated ponds. At night it was beautifully illuminated. Most important was the exceptional care that I received from every member of the staff...doctors, nurses, CNA’s, laboratory personnel, dietary, PT, OT and the housekeeping staff. Everyone represented their profession in the best way possible.

After breakfast I I went with physical and occupational therapy to get cleared using crutches on the stairs, toilet, shower and such. It was a good time to do this before the block wore off. I was feeling great and wanted my surgeon to release me to home, however, she was much wiser than myself and said she couldn't discharge me with my leg still draining at 180 cc and they couldn't send me home with the drain due to the high rate of infection. I checked on the PVNS is Pants site and others where saying that they stayed at least three days when they had this procedure. The phrase that caught my attention was "wait until the block wears off." I reevaluated my status and decided to stay thank God because at about the 36 hour mark I was in excruciating pain.

I was taking Tylenol, 10 mg Oxycontin ER every 12 hrs, Oxycodone 5 mg for break thorough pain, and injectable morphine every half hour and I was still crying like a baby. My knee throbbed and burned and I would have given anything for just one minute to be pain free.  

PVNS Open Synovectomy Surgery Day

Metal Tree in Zen Healing Garden

Day One Post Surgery:  I was diagnosed with PVNS on November 7th 2011 and will have surgery 5 weeks later on December 14th. I’m scheduled to have an arthroscopic meniscal repair and biopsy of possible pvns and an open anterior synovectomy.

I was very impressed upon our arrival at the hospital for it felt like we were walking into a five star health spa. The hospital was serving a holiday meal for employees and visitors and the aroma of home cooked food filled the spacious multilevel golden domed entry. Who cares if I haven't been able to eat for the last 14 hours. The hospital is carpeted and beautifully decorated with garland and colorful decorations wrapped around the handrails of each level.

We  journeyed up to the second floor and checked into the Out Patient Surgery Unit. We arrived two hours early... which is the customary time to enroll in the hurry up and wait to get sliced and diced game.  As I looked around the elaborately decorated waiting room...I noticed some of the amenities that I was gladly paying extra for. They have a dedicated flat screen that is updated every minute to notify the families where the surgical patients are at all times in the process (pt is identified by a number).

"I'm going to be your nurse please follow me and we'll get you all set up for your surgery." My eyes kept darting around pre-op in amazement, We need to start an IV, however you look like a difficult stick so I'm going to call a technician in to use the ultrasound machine to visualize our vein, no worries she will inject an anesthetic to decrease the amount of discomfort that you may feel while we start the IV.  Man I was just thinking "I love any place that cares about how much pain I may feel from a needle stick. They must be really good in managing surgical pain." If you'd like we can give you a femoral nerve block so you don't feel the surgical pain for 24-48 hours. "Oh hell yes I want that too."  I was definitely being pampered by all who crossed my path.

I was even given a pretty purple marker to keep as a souvenir after my surgeon and I marked my surgical site together. Oops, I guess no funny stuff is supposed to be written on your surgical sight.  The surgeon showed me a pain scale chart and asked what level of pain would be acceptable after surgery. I may be blond but I can spot a trick question. "Zero!! would be the most acceptable. I just figured if this place was giving me an option, I didn't want to feel any pain. Hells yes, I'll pay extra for that.

My husband was given a pager with a read out in the center that would say for example "surgery is going well, surgery is almost over, patient is in recovery" allowing them to explore the the healing gardens and fountains on the hospital campus while I was having surgery. Time to say good bye to my sweetheart and be ushered off to the O.R.  Just when I thought every possible comfort was being given I suddenly feel a warm fuzzy surge of happy juice flowing through my body...whoosh nightie night.

"Hey when are you guys going to get started?" "Surgery is all done." But I feel great!!. Dang is that my leg. It looks like it should hurt.  Hmm? Oh I remember being given the compassion block so I wouldn't be in any more discomfort than necessary. Do you think they could make it last a week? Time to take a picture for my blog.  Just when I start thinking this has been the best surgery that I've ever experienced, I'm told I have diffuse PVNS and they had to open up my knee which is going to require me to stay the night.

I didn't realize it at the time but I am very fortunate to be in a country where the doctor can still choose what is best for their patient and It's not solely based on economics. That luxury is quickly coming to an end with the new health care bill that has been shoved up our asses. The majority of Americans said no and Obama ignored our pleas and said I'm going to do this whether you want to do this or not. Isn't that called rape?