Another knew knee, here we go again.

I’m not angry that you’re in hospital for so long Felice. Just rather bemused as to why. I supposed that if one can do shopping, cooking, meeting friends, etc sleeping in one’s own bed makes sense too. If it works for you, as it obviously does, why not do it. You are fortunate to live in a country with a government which can afford such a wonderful health service.

Thanks, Jane. Ma-in-law was appalled that I “only” stayed in 5 days after my first was born. What she’d make of the modern maternity ward I dread to think!

I took your comment in the spirit it was offered Maggiemaybe. I find the situation reminiscent of an older time too.

My comment was merely a light hearted anecdote, felice. I’m sorry you felt it warranted the rude response I got.

Jaxie, I have sent you a P M.

Last post, I have friends here who went back to work the day after leaving Hospital as the intensive treatment they had meant they were back in the workforce assisting in the economy immediatly.

I just want to reply to kathyd's post on page 3 about hospitals in France.
I was in hospital 3 times there and always found the nurses and doctors very kind. You need to be able to speak french though - my french improved dramatically while I was an in patient.
The last time, a year ago, I was in hospital for tests for a stomach ulcer. It was like a restful holiday.
There are no big wards in France, 2 to a room. I met some interesting people .

Maggie;;; Go back and read my posts,,,,, NOWHERE did I say I would be in bed,,, last time I was up and about in 3 days revieveing excellent help.
The emphasis is on preparing you to get back to normal for going home.
I will be going out and about, shoppping and even cooking. Can go out for lunch with family and friends.
Visiting hours are from 12 noon to 20.30 every day.
And no points made about treatments when visitors are there they just work round it.
I am talking from EXPERIENCE here, second knee being done.
You get a programme every week a bit like the old school ones where each hour is mentioned, 10.00am to 11.00 Physio, 15.00 to 16.00 rehab.
The last hospital I was in had a team of 50 physios catering for everything from knees to strokes.
The was even a young man with rickets getting specialist care.
I think I have said all I want to now on this subject it seems every time I say something someone has to contradict me or having not read all my posts make comments in the opposite of what I have already said.

I’m torn between sheer envy at the care you’re being offered, felice, and surprise that you’re not encouraged to get back to normal as soon as possible. The 4 to 6 weeks reminds me of how my MIL described her “lying-in” period after she had her children - “and on day 2 we could sit on the edge of the bed and swing our legs for two minutes”. That was back in the 40s. I must say I’d rather have that though than the couple of hours and out you go that new mums have now, which I find quite shocking.

Enjoy your recuperation.

Oops sorry that should say
Jaxie

My response was to Jamie.
I have no problem with the treatment you have or how long you are in hospital. If you are happy about it that’s fine. I don’t think there is any vitriol towards you , just amazement.as it is so different.Personally , that long as a ‘patient’ would drive me mad. I hope all goes as well for you as it did for me.

Ginny, I do not understand your comment about my Doctor being a 'scaremonger', I will leave Hospital fully fit and functioning, I did last time after a 6 week stay.
Everyone I know stays at least 4 weeks after Knee replacement surgery.

It very much depends on you too. How quickly you recover and as I said in previous posts are able to care for yourself properly.

You are not always in Hospital for so long it depends on your problem, I was 2 weeks for a Heart Valve replacement, same Hospital.

I cannot believe how many people seem to be angry about my future treatment, If you have read my posts you will see that for all the vitriol which has been aimed at me I have never once critisised the NHS. I have plenty of experiences of it too, some good some bad.
Almost everyday there is someone posting on here with some critisism or complaint about the NHS, yet when we are talking about another, European countries health care system you start being rude and nasty.

Not everyone of course and I have some lovely messages of support so thank you for those.

Thanks, Ginny. How do you recommend I conduct myself before and after the operation?

Felice I’m really surprised at all the negative comments. I have no experience of healthcare in Belgium, despite having lived there for a while, but it sounds excellent. Some of the language used by posters is amusingly emotive, e.g. “incarcerated”. I’m sure you are not kept in a locked room. Lovely to be able to recover under close guidance and i do hope it all all goes really well for you.

Of course there will be some pain but worth it to get rid of the constant pain of a knee that urgently needs replacing. In hospital they can do a lot to alliviate pain. I was fully mobile within six weeks with both of my replacements. Your doctor seems like a bit of a scaremonger.

I need a replacement knee urgently but my own doctor told me to hold off for as long as possible as it was often a year before full mobility could be achieved and the pain was terrible. As a consequence I'm full of dread. Can any Gransnetters reassure me please?

Felice I hope all goes well with your knee op and am personally very impressed with how your treatment and recovery will go. Good luck

It does sound idyllic!
Belgium is a small country compared with the UK, and France, but we could still take some lessons from them.

I've been reading Felice's descriptions of health care with interest and now have visions of Belgium as one vast convalescence home, with beds wheeled out onto verandas every morning and devoted staff wearing long white uniforms and those massive caps, like veils, administering to their flock of wan-faced patients.

Good luck with the op, Felice!

pat1949 my surgeon told me my knee was 'well knackered'! So professional! He did a great job though. I know that because he told he had.
Yes nfk it's wonderful even just to stand in a queue and not be in pain. It's the little things like that that I'm really appreciating.

Incidentally, I didn’t mention that I’d actually gained an inch in height, which I’d lost over the years. I’m hoping the next new knee will rid me of my slight limp. Good luck with yours Felice. You can fill some of your time by letting is know how things are going.

Sounds horrific to me, 4 to 6 weeks incarcerated in hospital. I was in 5 days after having a child and I was threatening to discharge myself. I had a TKR 28th November last year, came home on 2nd December. Two days later was so fed up with people fussing round me, I began to get back to normal life, cooking, cleaning, shopping etc. The only thing I didn’t do for 6 weeks was drive just in case I caused an accident. I won’t say it wasn’t painful, but to anyone on here who is worried about having a TKR (I was terrified) take heart, the pain diminishes, is soon forgotten and is well worth it. I’m now looking forward to my next in a few weeks. My leg is bent like a banana was the ‘professional’ opinion of the consultant, so hopefully it’ll come out nice and straight. ?

I’m afraid the opioids agreed with me and I can understand completely how people get addicted!!

I did however, come off all medication and pain killers a month or so before the second op and it increased my pain threshold so this time I didn’t actually need much pain relief at all. I did for the first op though.

Isn’t it great, this walking without pain? We went to Dover Castle last week and I did the lot. Up hills, down steep sloops, hundreds of steps, all the way up the Great Tower and down again, with no ill effects. Wonderful! Four months ago I couldn’t even manage a slight slope.

Next spring Felice you’ll be playing football with your DGS.

Nfk I refused all the opioid meds last time and insisted on only paracetamol (and swearing). I felt so much the better for that. Those strong painkillers made me feel so sick and made me feel absolutely awful mentally: sort of panicky and hyperanxious. I can't understand how anyone could become addicted to them but they do. I'm sure that not taking them really helped my speedy recovery this time. The anaesthetist was surprised at my refusal but said that he'd find a way of avoiding opioid medication and he did.
No meds, no physio - the way ahead!

The main advantage of a longer stay in hospital is that you’ll have longer access to strong pain killers! Here we’re sent home with only Paracetamol! (Although that does stop you overdoing it.)