Back from Ortho-Surgery

[Guest guest]

Well,

Just made my last trip to the OR. He reopened the incision where it was

hemorrhaging and drained a huge hematoma. It drained for several minutes.

Once it was drained, the swelling was gone and the knee looked normal. He

then put some xerofoam on it and put several stitches in it and then bandaged

it.

We have been home for a little while now and I have already removed the one

ACE bandage because the pressure was so severe and the swelling is back as

bad as it was last night. I have ice on it right now and haven't had this

much pain since I had the surgery last Thursday. He is not sure if the

entire problem is the hematoma or if it is an artery that needs to be

stitched. At least he saw the hemorrhaging in action and was able to try to

get it while it was in action. As he was stitching it, Ron said that it

continued to bleed. Maybe it is just the local wearing off right now, but

the pain is almost unbearable. He had given me dilaudid which has had

absolutely no effect on it at all. He says that he will see me again on

Monday unless I have problems, then it is back on Friday. The bleeding has

subsided a little bit from the outside, but the swelling is what has me in a

concern.

I spent most of the morning crying because of the pain, the sleep deprivation

and some from just frustration. Something inside me tells me that this is

not the whole problem. I am starting to have some chest pains so I will sign

off for now. I am supposed to have my Remicade and iron IV infusions

tomorrow. I hope that I will be up to it.

Gentle, tender, angel hugs,

Deb in FL