I'm having knee surgery tomorrow.

[Catshrink]

I have a torn meniscus and the ortho said it will be a 20 minute procedure. I'm not so worried about that and am looking forward to rehabbing my knee and getting back to normal. I've got ice, motrin, a comfy chair, and pillows all ready. He said I'll be able to walk on it right away and that the pain is minimal.

What I'm worried about is the anesthesia. I don't do well and I begged him to do a local but he said no. Yeah, they say they'll use a kind that won't bother me but I heard that once before. (There was one nurse who got me through it the last time -- doc's orders were nothing to eat until the vomiting stopped and it seemed to go on and on and on. At 2am the second night, she came in and asked me if I'd had enough of it. Yeah... she said "Your doctor said no food but I'm going to get you some tea and crackers because the grandma in me knows that will take care of this." After that, things turned around and woohoo! I could eat jello. It was a victory of sorts.)

So, I have tea and saltines ready, and some chicken broth. No jello -- maybe I should?

So wish me well. I know this is a very minor procedure and the outcome will help me so much. It's the next few days that are going to be rough.

Thanks, DU.

[Bertha Venation]

1. You are in my thoughts today and will be tomorrow.

I'll especially think goodness about the anesthesia - you won't get sick. I have decreed it.

Good luck tomorrow. You will be fine. :hug:

[Catshrink]

2. Thanks, Bertha!

Now I know I'll be okay!

[Raffi Ella]

3. anesthesia hangovers suck.

But your knee will be better so it's worth it.

Good Luck, hope all goes well and you're back to feeling good again SOON. :7

[Catshrink]

5. That's a good term for it.

I hate the other kind and avoid them. Thanks for the good wishes. I just wish it was over NOW!!!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. Hope you will be back to normal in no time

best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

[Catshrink]

6. Thank you!

I'm committed to getting back to my old self - and better - ASAP!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Here's hoping for a successful operation...

...and a speedy recovery! :hug::hug::hug:

[Catshrink]

9. Thank you!

[backscatter712]

8. Tell the anesthesiologist you have nausea problems.

When I mentioned it to them the last time I had foot surgery, he gave me some sort of extra medication with the anesthesia that made the nausea go away.

[Catshrink]

I will...

They were supposed to do that last time but I still had problems. Maybe they would have been worse without it though. Thanks for the reminder!

[Catshrink]

10. I will...

They were supposed to do that last time but I still had problems. Maybe they would have been worse without it though. Thanks for the reminder!

[Catshrink]

11. ..

:kick:

[cwydro]

12. You'll be fine...

Think positive and it will be over before you know it.

My knee was ripped apart in a nasty car crash years ago; huge surgery followed and it was a long recovery.

No problems now. I can't take pain medication; it makes me sick - I wonder if that is what gets you?

[Catshrink]

15. I'm encouraged to hear your success story.

I know I'll be doing some PT and will be limited for a while but it will get better. I'm not sure about the pain meds -- I've never had that much aside from Motrin.

Thanks for the encouragement!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. My dear Catshrink!

May everything go smoothly and well, with no nausea!

I will keep you in my thoughts, sweetie...:hug:

[Catshrink]

16. Thank you, Peggy.

I'm feeling positive about it. I just wish it was over already.

[littlebit]

14. Good luck to you.

I stayed awake for mine. I refused to let them knock me out. I was a little sore for a few days after the surgery. But after that it felt a lot better.

[Catshrink]

17. Wow!

Mine emphatically said I couldn't stay awake. That would make everything so much smoother. I'll talk to him about it tomorrow morning.

Thanks!

[littlebit]

20. Talk to the anesthesiologist.

When mine came in to give me the meds I told him I didn't want a tube down my throat. So he gave me a nerve block in my thigh instead. It made things so much easier. I only had to stay in the recovery room for about 15 minutes.

[Catshrink]

21. Will do!

considering this surgery is only supposed to last 20 minutes they should be able to do that. (crossing my fingers!)

[Captain Hilts]

18. Don't forget to write a note on your knee so they get the correct one. nt

[Catshrink]

19. How about a big X marks the spot?

Funny!

[soleft]

22. Try to get an ice machine that compresses

doctor ordered one for me after my orthroscopic surgery - torn meniscus too - and recovery was awesome. Walking the next day. Really reduced swelling.

If you can't get a machine, try a cryo-cuff. It's a bucket that you fill with ice water that attaches by hose to a compression cuff.

I've had this done twice - once i had general, and once I had a local. The big problem I had with the general is that when you wake up the pain starts right away. It's not that bad, but you definitely need something to take the edge off and the nurse's took their time getting me pain meds. Plus general always makes me puke in the recovery room.

2nd time I had local, and basically, feeling like you're paralyzed, even tho it's temporary and not that long, is very strange.

Anyhow, like I said, I've had this done 2x and last April I went to a softball tournament and caught 7 games in two days. So do your rehab you should be fine!

Good luck!

[Catshrink]

23. Sounds like what they had at physica therapy.

It felt wonderful! I will work on that. I agree with the general anesthesia experience -- that's exactly it. I sure hope they can make it a local. The doc did say I could walk on it that day.

[applegrove]

24. Good luck.

[bigwillq]

25. Good Luck!

:hug:

[jeff30997]

26. Sending good vibes.

:hug:

[marzipanni]

27. I'm thinking you might ask the surgeon or anesthesiologist

about Ativan. It was given to my DH for anxiety and nausea during a course of chemotherapy. The little girl across the street had an asthma attack and the EMT gave Ativan to her to calm her down because she was able to take in air, but was sobbing and tensing up. It is usually only prescribed for a short time, because if you take it for a couple of weeks or more it can be addictive.
Edited to add- The Ativan I'm familiar with is a tiny pill that dissolves in your mouth like homeopathic medicine- no fluid intake necessary.

[csziggy]

28. Good luck - it's not so bad

When I got out of my shoulder surgery last Thursday, the nurse told me they don't give patients water anymore because it can cause nausea. So the tea might be good. I like ginger ale & fruit juice half & half or Gatorade - something with sugar for the digestive acids to work on. Those stayed down for me this time and I don't get along with the anesthesia usually.

I've had torn meniscus done on both knees and they've done OK. Do your therapy afterwards - I didn't with the second knee and it made a difference with the recovery.

I hope you surgery goes OK!