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I have a date!

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No, I haven’t been scrolling Bumble or eHarmony…

But the orthopedist scheduler finally called and it looks like my crunchy pain riddled knee will be on the table by the end of October.

I’m happy to finally have a date, but still immensely frustrated with the process and our healthcare system in general.

I started this journey in January. Which means a nine month wait.

I waited 3 weeks for an appointment with my primary.

Waited 6 months for an appointment with the orthopedic PA.

Waited another month to see the orthopedist.

Waited almost another month to be scheduled.

Then two appointments at the dentist… so I could be ripped off to the tune of $3,500 …. for a clearance letter.

Followed by an appointment at the hospital for an EKG, MRSA swab and multiple blood tests.

Still to come?

A 2 1/2 hour pre op class.

An hour long pre op phone call with the surgical nurse.

An appointment with my primary… again… for another clearance letter.

A pre op appointment with the PA and an orthopedic nurse.

Then, finally… the surgery.

10 appointments in nine months for a partial knee replacement. When I had my full abdominal hysterectomy in 2015? It went like this – primary sent me to a gynecologist, gynecologist said you need a hysterectomy, 3 weeks later I had a hysterectomy. To my mind that was a major surgery and I zipped through it with ease.

This has been a nightmare in comparison. Though I’ve had friends tell me it’s taken them upwards of a year.

That’s just wrong.

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It damn well better be.

😉

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86 thoughts on “I have a date!”

  1. Now, is your hubbie ready for this, that is the real question? I thought I was when Gail had her so far only first knee replacement. We were told she would need to be attended like a queen for three months. I thought I was ready for that. By the end odf two months i was grasping at straws. When she wasn’t gettilļng better after four months I was dragging my ass around the house doing as little as I could, as best I could. I ran out of things to cook, the kouse was becoming a mess, only the cats were being treated like royaty. Two years later and I have still not recovered from the domestic burnout. Gail’s right knee is better, but that exposes how bad off her left knee is! Can I get through another ordeal like that? Time will tell. I doubt it.

    Live every minute of every day to create a memory you will never forget, or regret.

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    1. My guy isn’t the greatest nurse. Oh, he’ll do dishes and run errands but I imagine we’ll be eating take out and living in a dusty house until I’m able to get around again. This is why my fingers are crossed they’ll only do a partial.
      🥴

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      1. For reference, even with my nerve block causing me to stay in hospital, after my full replacement I was walking on day 2. Most people walk the sane day. But that is with a walker frame… invaluable in the beginning! Make sure you get instruction on walking up & down steps… that was the hardest to deal with, even just 2 steps (mine have no railing).

        Look into “cold therapy machine for knee”. Ice will be your best friend for awhile! Also, silicone scar tape.

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      2. I was told they’ll send me home with an ice therapy machine. And thankfully our house is a one level ranch, only three steps to enter. I can deal with pain, what I hate is being helpless.

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      8. I hope you won’t either, but bear in mind that it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. That’s my guitar center mantra.
        The VA set me up with an ice buddy for my shoulder, it really helped.
        Remember: It’s pain meds OR margaritas. 😵‍💫

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      10. I got a scrip for oxy with the shoulder. I took a couple the first day but I was so confused it wasn’t worth it. Tylenol helped and now the pain is pretty well gone, unless I’m pushing a little too hard.
        I’ll be checking out for a couple weeks but I hope to have a tale to tell when I return. Behave yourself.

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      12. We did not take home the ice therapy machine as it was like 50 lbs but ordered some ice packs on Amazon which did the trick. Set up bath or shower table but did not really use it. Did use the toilet seat remolded and we have a ranch style home which is invaluable. No steps!

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      15. Suddenly my husband found a lot of things that needed doing like repainting the outside doors, staining, going to Ace. I think he is getting tired of handling his things and my things but on the other hand, I can do a golf bend on my good leg and pick up things and can do light cooking. He was pretty good with helping, mostly although…well, stories are for another time.

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      17. Yeah, Mike is very perceptive. I ask during a few strange times usually when he is in the middle of something as his energy is back in the morning which is great. I hate to be dependent on anyone just like you, so I get up and do it myself as much as I can. I walk with the walker on our sidewalk a lot and have met a few new people. People in our area are really great! I am learning a whole other perspective.

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      20. It is actually been good that we get out and about so often now that he is feeling good and in a way my needing him has made him stronger but he still has his medical appts. You can’t keep him down for long, thank the God!

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      21. What dies a partial entail? Gail only had one knee done So far. she loves having one good knee, but would have hated doing two knees at the same time. No way I could carry her to the toilet! LOL.

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      22. The inside of my knee has collapsed on itself due to my old deep root meniscal tear. The cartilage on the outer side is still intact so unless he gets in there and finds unseen damage, a partial is all that’s needed. It allows you to have a bit more natural stability.

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  5. Well, good luck with everything! I can send you some of my PT exercises with strap like “Hooklying hamstring stretch” 10 x twice a day but that will be another day. Ha ha. Best wishes. And mine was the posterior hip surgery!

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  6. October? Hell, that leaves a month for your insurance to reconsider, run it through 5 panels of folks that ARE NOT Doctors, have the accountants take a gander at the cost benefits (for the insurance company, of course). and then tell the Surgeon to pause til they decide. Again.

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  10. What a relief to finally have an official date on the calendar, Rivergirl—even if getting there felt like running an endless bureaucratic obstacle course! Nine months and ten appointments just to get cleared is mind-boggling compared to your past experiences. Rooting for a smooth run-up to October! 🗓️ knees

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      1. That clean bill of health is truly the most important win! 🩺✨ Navigating all those tests must have been exhausting, but it’s wonderful to have that peace of mind moving forward. Wishing you all the best as the date approaches!

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  12. Wow only surgery I had any wait on was my shoulder I fell on 3 times. They let me fall through the cracks for my MRI that never happened again I call and call until after 3 days they put me on their calendar. I have Medicare and great doctors here in NH for which I am grateful.

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  17. At long last, this will come to pass. My wife’s mother was up and walking fairly quickly thereafter, and the good news is from the sounds of things any reasonable improvement you achieve is gonna be welcome relief from the current state. Here’s hoping the recovery is way less stressful than arranging the surgery in the first place.

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    1. Nope.
      Obama was president when I had my hysterectomy and it was smooth sailing. A nurse told me all this ridiculousness is being forced on them by the insurance companies….

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      1. Because of the lack of monies (reimbursements) Drs. and hospitals are doing this to make up for their losses. They sure are not going to admit to that. I used to be an insurance specialist, back in the day, I have seen so many things it’s sad.

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  22. I’m so happy that you are getting closer!!

    What a nightmare for you to go through this year, though. I’ve never heard of something taking so long with so many appointments.

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