Second knee replacement on Wednesday...need advice

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Cricket

Guest
I had a rough time with the pain meds on my first replacement, which has made it miserable for me the past 3 weeks. I so far have tried 4 different kinds and they make me throw up. Any suggestions on making the meds stay down that might be a home remedy thing? I quit all pain meds and just have taken Tylenol extra strength, but I tell you that doesn't do much at all. When I can't take it anymore I do take one Tylenol with codeine and it stays down with food but I am still nauseated. I have been against going back for the other operation so much so that I really want to cancel going in the hospital, but hubby keeps pushing me to get it over with. He just doesn't understand the absolute pain involved. The doctor has run out of options as to what to give me that I could handle. In the hospital the pain meds were put in the IV, so I had no nausea due to it going into my blood system, but the stomach is something else.
 
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Rubysky

Guest
Can't they give you an anti-nausea pill? Something like they give, or used to give pregnant women?
 
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ShipMaven

Guest
Cricket - perhaps I'm reading your note incorrectly, but is your second knee replacement (Wednesday) FOUR WEEKS after the first one? If yes, and unless your first knee's surgery was a breeze, I DO NOT recommend the second procedure so soon - voice of experience here. I know all surgeons are different, but mine absolutely will not do two knees at one time (too much stress on a person's system), and certainly wouldn't do two knees within 4 weeks of each other either!
 
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Cricket

Guest
Mary Ann...yes it is less than 4 weeks between the 2 operations but there is a reason why we decided to do this. I have been seeing this knee specialist for over 5 years and depend on and trust him totally. Our insurance is being forced to change as of December 1st and he will not be on our doctors availablity list. I do not want to be forced to go to another doctor at this point and he feels I can handle this next replacement. We would not be covered at all if we chose to stay with him after December, and by the time all the bills come in for the 2 operations, we see it will cost us over $50,000! No lie, no exaggeration. Our insurance is covering 90% if we go through their doctors, so you see why we need to do this now. This is definitely not the situation i prefer to be in, but I am scared to have gone to another surgeon I am not at all familiar with. He has operated on me a couple other times due to knee problems, and I have always been very happy with his results. In fact, he is considered one of the best knee surgeons around where I live.

I understand completely what you are saying and he was against my having both knees done at the same time and insisted that it be at least a month apart, and even then felt he was stretching the situation somewhat.
 
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ShipMaven

Guest
My heart goes out to you, Cricket. I'm sure you know several of us @ddicts have had the procedure, so we know what you're going through. I'm sorry I can't help with anti-nausea suggestions, but know you'll be in my prayers.

Some have had easier recuperations than others - I pray you'll be one of the "easy" ones!
 
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debowah

Guest
Cricket, I had hand surgery in June, joint replacement and tendon transplant. I too am very sensitive to all pain meds and general anesthesia. What worked for me was....one 200 mg. ibuprofen, then one quarter of a prescricption pain pill alternated every hour. For example; Advil at 9AM then 1/4 Percoset at 10AM, Advil at 11AM and so on. This kept the pain under control and I did not have any nausea. If the pain was bad and I tried to take half a prescription pain pill, I would be throwing up within fifteen minutes. Of course, you must also keep something in your stomach, even if it is a small amount, such as baked potato, yogurt, scrambled egg, cottage cheese, soup etc... Small meals and small amounts of medication work best for me. Best of luck trying to find what works for you. Regards.....
 
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Cricket

Guest
debbie...it does sound like you experimented like I have with the pain meds! It isn't easy, no matter what we do, but if I can just get more pain relief I can handle the operation and therapy!
 
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conniecat

Guest
Wish I could help you. I chug darvocet all day, with additional aspirin or ibuprofen when it gets really bad. They don't bother me at all, but Excedrin makes me sick.

Isn't is strange how differently we all react? My son had a violent allergic reaction to Tordol, which is an injected pain killer. The PDR said reactios were rare, but it put him in the hospital.

Can't the doctor recommend something? Maybe a nerve block? I had one when I had part of my elbow joint removed, and it was wonderful, no pain at all for days.
 
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elliottsmama

Guest
I know that when Elliott comes out of the hospital we will have to give him some of his IV's. Can't you get a home health nurse to your home to give you IV meds? Worth a shot. Also he takes Zofran for throwing up from chemo and that stuff usually works. Might ask for that.
 
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bostongal

Guest
Cricket - Have you tried all the anti-nausea meds to find one that will help you keep the pain meds? I have alot of problems with nausea and vomiting due to my condition and take the maximum doseage of prochlorperazine (Compazine) which is an old school anti-nausea medication that works wonders for me most of the time. My doctors tried Zofran and another one that I can't think of right now but the hospital loves to give me and neither of them work at all for me so it is important to try them all (and there are many more of them than the doctors try initially so make sure you continue to push them to find an appropriate medication) so that you can take the pain medications. It's important to your healing that your pain be under control.

For other remedies - have you worn an acupressure bracelet? I wear one every time I have surgery and it helps with the nausea/vomiting that I get from the anesthesia. Mine I got at a health food store and it is adjustable. I wear it pretty tightly. Also recommend ginger tea or ginger pills. Last but not least for some people lemon helps with nausea and a good thing that may work for you is San Pellegrino's Limonata.

Hope this procedure goes smoothly and you can get your pain under control.

=hugs

Meg
 
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Gayle V

Guest
I agree that Zofran is best. Talk to your doctor about it.

We use the IV form at work for the Chemo patients and it works better than any of the other anti-emetics that we have (Phenergan, Tigan, Compazine, Vistaril, etc.) Even better than Marinol (contains Marijuana)

Over the counter, you can try Emetrol, even Benedryl has some anti-emetic effect.

Natural remedies: ginger and peppermint candies (although peppermint is better for bowel vs stomach upset.)

Good luck.
 
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debowah

Guest
When I had my surgery, they loaded me up on Zofran, yet I was still quite nauseated and did get sick on the car ride home. For me "tincture of time" is the only thing that reverses the effects of anesthesia, that and my begging for sedation, not general. But sometimes, you must be completely out, not just sedated. Best wishes for a successful surgery and pain management. Please keep us updated.
 
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defritz

Guest
With migraines, I take Reglan to help ease my nausea.

Good luck with the surgery!
 
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seamom

Guest
Wow...sure don't like to read about the knee thing the way mine feel these days. Sorry you have so much pain and nausea!
 
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