New Knee -- Day 5

We got about three hours of sleep last night.
He hurts.
Can't find a comfortable place for that new knee.
Pain pills every four hours -- I set my alarm, and wake up to make sure He gets what He needs.
He was getting valium, too.  It makes Him "stupid," and so groggy.  Time to stop that I think.  And then I wish I could ask Him about it, but He's been taking valium... It makes Him "stupid..."
He is grumpy, demanding, frustrated, grumpy, demanding, frustrated, ...
Can't get up from a chair without help.
Can't shower without help.
Can't dress without help.

Needs a walker to move around.  Not at all steady on His feet.
He worries about His weight, and can't stand on the scale yet.
A low grade fever.
Needs to use His Incentive-spirometer.
We do not need pneumonia.
PT at 8:45 tomorrow morning.
Nurse never called back about what dose of coumadin He should be getting.  We had to call them.
So... tired.
Wash out the compression stockings and set them to dry over night.
Make sure the ice bottles are frozen for use in the chiller machine.
Bags of frozen peas make great ice bags.  Twenty minutes on.  Forty minutes off.
Make sure He gets His laxative, and His iron...
Take His temperature.
Cold drink.
Fresh coffee.
Popsicle.
Chicken soup.
Wash the towels.
Make notes about the medicine, and the PT, and the nurse visit.
Call the surgeon to reschedule the follow up appointment.
Frozen peas, coffee, tea, cold drink, popsicle, pain pills...

Day five.  Almost done.  The knee is coming along fine.

swan