Celebration | Arthritis Information

 

   After weeks of only being able to take sponge baths, I took my first shower by myself.
   My shower is very old. It's a tub with a shower placed in it. The bathroom is narrow and there's only just so much room. Couldn't raise nor swing my right leg into the shower.
   After taking my sponge bath, I felt like I had soap scumb on me. I couldn't rinse like I wanted to. Washing my hair in the sink wasn't fun. Several times, I would hit my head on something.
   Every day, I would try to get in to the shower but would soon find that I would lack a few inches from getting my right foot/leg over the rim of the tub. Then I would have to drag my good left foot/leg out of the shower and I would either hit the shower door or scrape the top of the shower door tub track with my foot.
   One day I broke down into tears as I had tried so hard to get in and I had those grab bars installed. Felt as I had wasted my money and started to feel as if I had made the wrong choice about getting my knee done.
Then, yesterday, I got into the shower. I was so happy and I was like a little kid as I played in the water. After I turned off the shower, I thought to myself,"oh God, what happens if I can't get out?" I had to think about it but I got out. I was so excited and felt clean.
So I did a cheer for me and celebrated with a piece of strawberry short cake, cake slice.

   MarisaHooRay for you. Nothing like being clean.

There's nothing like getting back such a simple privilege as a shower. It's not so simple once you've lost it, and it's not at all a small thing when you get it back. I say have another slice of cake on my behalf...

Applause and congrats, Marisa Sue!

the few inches of clearance may make it lots easier, and  far safer.. (I'd hate to fall into a shower door.John Glenn, the astronaut, was nearly killed in a shower door accident.)

Great Marissa.  You have me motivated.  It has been 3, no 4, no 5 days since last shower.  It hurts so much to comb out hair and no I am not going to cut it off.  I have long thick hair too and I am not going to cut it off either.  My daughter or husband brushes and braids my hair for me when I can't do it.  I am thinking about setting money aside and going and getting braids done when I have my knee replaced.  I am also going to get a shower chair.  I wonder if my landlord will let hubby put in a rail in the shower me.  Hmmmm.  They are very nice people and know my health situation.

 

How soon after your knee surgery did the doctors let you go back on your RA meds?

I have not had my Remicade since the last infusion - Sept 6 - only taking Plaquinel and pain meds (mild ones at that - Ultram and Tylenol) I am still on Coumidin for a couple more weeks but I think I am going to tell them that I need to get my Remicade next week - I think I could sit there for my infusion now that I am feeling a bit better - but the flaring is not helping my recovery.

Every doctor is different and mine wanted me off all anti-inflammatory meds 2 weeks before surgery, surgery was scheduled just at my 6 weeks mark for getting my Remicade and then he wants me to wait 4 weeks after surgery before starting up again.  He did say I could go 3 weeks if I couldn't stand it - well I cannot stand it - I need my drugs .......

Chris

   Katie, thank-you for the cute card.

   Liz, about the grab bar. Tell the landlord that you need it for safety reasons. I've got three of them, two in shower and one outside the shower. My neighbor installed them for me. He had me reach into the shower to see where my hand was on the opposite wall. Measure to see where to place the bars. One other thing, if you don't have a shower/bath mat get one. Plus don't forget to get a elevated toilet seat with handlebars. The knee will be weak and stiff after surgery. We don't want you to fall in the bathroom.

   Chris, since I wasn't taking any RA meds before my surgery,(I'm in remission), it was a non-issue. However, I'm taking Advil for my OA as I'm not on coumidin. Just as soon as I could, I started to take my OA meds. So, if it's 3wks, go for it!!!!

   Just wanted to tell all of you that everytime that I take my shower, it gets easier to get in and out. I didn't want to remove the shower doors as that wouldn't solve the problem. The bathroom is the same lenght as the tub and there's a long counter that is at a 90 degree angle to the tub. Counter and tub touch each other and when cleaning the tub or reaching for the showerhead, from outside of the tub, you have to lean over the counter!!! Remember, I said that this was a old place. I don't even have a vent in the bathroom for the steam. The only thing that I do have is a window INSIDE the shower. A couple of times I've gotten somebody wet as they walked down the driveway while I was taking a shower with the window open.

MarisaMarissa...yea for you!!!! I was happy to take my first shower without a plastic wrap around my knee....and when the suture site healed...I took a long hot bath...it was great....

Marisa~

Thank you for the info on the grab bars.  I didn't even think about the elevated toilet seat or the bath mat.   Thanks for the info on those!

Any hints on sleeping positions?  I can't fall asleep unless I am on my left side.  How long before it was comfy to put a pillow between your knees?

   Liz, for the first few days, you will be sleeping on your back as it's going to be very painful to move that knee. I sleep on my back with a pillow under my legs or leg. It depends on how much pain I'm having.
   At this time, you should be sitting in a dining room chair with arms and practice getting up using only your arms and the good leg. Try to do this 10 times, once a day. Another thing to do is lay down, on your back, on the bed. Legs flat on the bed, push your knees down on the bed with out raising your thigh, 10 times. Then do the same thing with your buttom. Sounds funny, but these will help you perpare your muscles for recovery after surgery.
   After surgery, keep in mind that it will be baby steps back towards recovery.

   Marisaomg I can't imagine not sleeping on my side. O.o I sleep on my side or tummy. I need a new pillow I think though, my neck always hurts. So I'm not the only crazy one that HAS to have a pillow between their knees? I've been doing that since I was like 4. It's the only way my knees and my insides(my guts in mah belly!) are comfy. Gramma, when are you getting Knee surgery? Did I miss that? O.O Knee replaced after the 1st of the year because of the holidays.  I contemplated doing it sooner...but now have important baby shower to go to.  I am going to be a great aunt in January and I can't miss this.  Me and hubby are very close to our niece.  I have to travel for the shower (2 hours in the car) and I won't be able to do it if I go now for the surgery.
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