Things I wish I had known ahead of time.

In no particular order, this page is for sharing the bits of information the professionals missed. There isn't a lot, and I am sure I won't think of it all at once, so check back for additions.

1. Bandaids! I wish I had been told to buy a box of 100 one-inch bandaids..the kinds that don't stick very hard. I have had to send people to the store repeatedly to try to get the one-inch size. (three-quarter would be OK)

2. Figure out a way to cover the stitches so they don't get wet in the shower. They gave me two little patches at the hospital, I wish they had given me more! They mentioned using saran wrap or seal n' stick -- total failure! If you are going to have stitches that have to be kept dry...experiment ahead of time!
   (Note: if you use the plastic wrap with an ace bandage to hold it on, it works fine..figured this out with second knee replacement, when I wanted a shower before the incision was ready for water. I just wrapped my whole leg from thigh to shin.it took 2 ace bandages to hold it in place, but everything stayed dry and I got a shower!)
  I finally found something to cover the stitches in the shower: click here for a link. (You may be able to purchase these locally--I did.)
  

3. The femoral catheter is a tiny little thing, and goes at the top of the leg, not in the groin.

4. You may wake up in the operating room, and that's OK. Don't worry that the anesthesia is wearing off too soon.

5."Elevating" the leg means getting your leg above your heart. So you need to be prepared to spend a lot of time lying down the first week.

6. Find a great ice pack! I got lucky, I happen to have a gel-filled 10 x 14 pack. It is flexible when frozen, and soft. I am able to wrap it across the entire knee, and it covers a good 3 inches above and below at the same time. Feels terrific!

7. You will be on crutches when you come home. Remove all throw rugs, clear all paths..a cloth bag with a handle is nice if you want to carry something from one room to another.

8. Brain fog is natural following anesthesia. For the first 2 weeks, that's a nice thing. After that your brain starts to clear, but your body still needs lots and lots of rest to heal.

9. Purchase a good vitamin D or vitamin E cream to rub into your incision when you are told you can start doing so. It will help to soften and "desensitize" the scar so it is easier to bend your knee. I used the oil from a vitamin E capsule and Pure Valley Vitamin D Cream . 

10. If you don't already have it on hand, buy some antibacterial cream, like Neosporin. It may be needed on the spots where the stitches are removed.

11. Be prepared with things to do while resting..you may still want to sit or lie down a lot for 4 or more weeks. Fortunately, I love needle-work, and had plenty of projects to work on.

12. The area around the incision will feel hot to the touch. That's not anything to worry about, unless it is also red or puffy. Your therapist or home nurse can help you evaluate. If in doubt, call your doctor! 

13. Water aerobics (once you are cleared to go in a pool) is awesome for recovery. Unfortunately, all the classes seem pretty expensive, but it's well worth the cost. I took a class after my 3-month point, and it improved my flexibility significantly.

14. Expect to spend 3 months in recovery: mostly resting the first; partly active the second; and starting to feel your energy return in the third. 

15. Coconut oil is awesome for softening the incision scar, AFTER you can apply lotions to it!

16. Your leg is covered with reddish betadine solution. It stains. So DON'T use a light colored washcloth to cleanse your leg!! I ruined one of my nice white washcloths this way. Even soaking in alcohol didn't clean it off. 

17. I had sticky residue on my skin from the IV tape. Body oil and a Q-Tip helped to remove it.

18. Did you know that rubbing alcohol applied along the edge of a bandaid when removing it eases the pulling and protects the skin?