information, please.

[qe2]

As a fair number of y'all know, I'm scheduled for surgery very early in the morning this Thursday, 9 April, at which point I will be having my right knee joint totally replaced. Now, because I have led a ridiculously lucky life thus far in some significant ways, I have approximately NO prior experience with serious surgery. (Or even frivolous,

Comments

[reginagiraffe]

General anesthetic is very bad for me. It takes several days for my digestive system to come back on-line and I often have to have a dose of Compazine (anti-nausea) to get things started. If you keep throwing up, ask for a dose. It only would take one dose followed by a meal to get things going for me.

I would bring some comfort clothes, especially sweatshirts and t-shirts.

[ignazwisdom]

How long will you be in hospital?

[qe2]

Good question. Answer: I'm not sure. My doctor says 3-4 days/2-3 nights. The nurse said 2-3 days/1-2 nights. My rassafrickin' insurance company has informed me with great condescension that it authorizes 1 night/2 days. If I had to guess, I'd guess the doctor's right.

[ignazwisdom]

Bring sweats/PJs for maximum comfort/lazing around, any meds you might need, and some mindless reading/viewing material, because I'm guessing you'll be pretty out of it for a while. Mostly you'll probably sleep, but when you're awake, you'll be bored.

I mean, you're basically going to bed for however long you're there.

[qe2]

you're basically going to bed for however long you're there.

Is it wrong that right now that sounds better than almost anything else could sound? I think it might be wrong.

[ldthomps]

Yes, comfy clothes! Comfy PJs, devices to keep hair back (I was just admiring how pretty your hair is in a picture from this weekend!) even when your head is lolling about comically. More fun reading material than you can possibly go through in the allotted time, although laptops could totally help with that. Favorite tea or other drink, if you can have it (sadly red wine is probably out), favorite teddy bear... basically anything that can make your time better!

*snugs you and wishes you the Best Possible Experience and Recovery!*

[erjika]

Just about the only advice I can give you is, don't bring an iPod or something expensive with you, in case it gets stolen. D: But books are good to have. I second the comfortable clothing. And possibly earplugs, in case you're overnighting and have a noisy neighbor.

[twistedchick]

Bring things you don't care about, so that if something unspeakable gets spilled on them it doesn't matter. Paperbacks, not hardcovers. Leave the earrings and jewelry at home; they won't let you take it into surgery anyway.

I have no experience with knee surgery so I don't know what size of bandage/cast is involved, but it might be worthwhile to hack up a set of sweats to make it possible to get at your knee (for changing bandages, etc) without having to take them off. Such as (off the top of my head) cut down the side and add velcro tabs to hold them together more loosely?