Knee replacement surgery

[adhb]

Next Tuesday, July 9, I'm going into hospital to have my right knee removed and replaced with a mechanical one. Provided that there are no complications, they tell me to expect to be in hospital about 5 days, plus possibly another week in a rehabilitation hospital if becoming able to walk and climb stairs doesn't progress fast enough to allow me to go home after 5 days.

The prospect of surgery is scary. My incontinence is the result of a surgical misadventure when I was 14 years old. So I'm naturally pretty apprehensive about what might go wrong this time. This will also be my first extended hospital stay in more than 30 years. Thirty-five years ago, the hospital kept me in cloth diapers after I wet the bed a couple if time. This time, of course I'll be in disposables. I hope that they will let me wear my Abenas that I will bring in from home. But if they insist that I wear whatever the hospital provides, I'll have to go along with it.

Wish me luck! And if you're religious, I would also appreciate a prayer.

[Baby_Steffi]

Good luck! Having been through something similar, I hope you all the best.

[dlover49]

I have several friends who have had knee replacements. After a few weeks, all of them told me their pain was less than before the surgery and within months had no pain at all. So look forward to the good side of the surgery.

[Bettypooh]

We're with you adhb

[DiapermanAl]

Hello when I had my hip done I wore my abena. They want'd to have me cathed at 1st. I told them no I get UTI'S caths and I have diapers that are extended wear and it was fine with them. I only was cathed during surgery , resulted in a UTI that landed me back in the hospital a week later.

[redneck diaper boy]

I have experienced knee surgery. I have not had my knee replaced but nobody bothered me about the diaper

[MOLEABE]

If its any help I just recently died in the hospital and was brought back,and after coming out of my Coma they removed my Foley and did not worry about my diaper (or should i say there cheap diaper) until I told the nurse that i was not enjoying the "waterbed" I was in. Then she would quickly change me and the bed (because there cheap diaper could not handle even a small wetting let alone a flood) and i would say to her "You created more work for yourself by taking out that Foley,why don't you just put one back in ?" and she said Hospital policy any conscious or newly conscious incontinent person has to have there Foley removed due to risk of infection, and i said "that would be fine if the patient was strong enough to take care of themselves but i am so weak i need you to even put the pillow under my head right now,your getting a raw deal,and why don't you have some peon CNA to do it" she said

[Baby Brian]

Though not total replacements I've had knee surgery on both knees- twice (4 total). Make sure the surgeon doing your surgery has done a lot of them. Knees are quite common so chances are good that he/she has. Even after rehab you'll be sore but you'll probably still be better off for it, and the soreness will only go away.

[adhb]

Many thanks for your good wishes.

I spoke to one of the nurses about my incontinence when I went in for my pre-operative exams. I have seen a urologist at the same hospital about it. So the fact that I'm incontinent was already in my records. The nurse said that I may have a catheter while in surgery, but probably not. They'll keep me in a tape-on style diaper. Pull-ups won't go on and off over the dressing only knee. I asked whether I would be able to use my own diapers and was told to speak to the nurses on the floor after my surgery.

I'll let you know how things go.

[Billiardnut]

I have had 2 arthroscopic surgeries on my left and 1 arthroscopic on my left. The left was a birth defect and seemed to do the trick however, my left knee is a real problem child. I have been told twice that I need knee replacement however I am to young to have the surgery (I am in early 40s) so essentially I just have to live with my left knee pain and it giving out on me all the time.

[adhb]

I started this topic shortly before I had my right knee replaced in 2013. I’m scheduled to have my left knee replaced on April 2. After I have had an anesthetic, I am often unable to pee for 18 to 24 hours. Following my first knee replacement, they catheterized me for that reason and left the catheter in place until the night before I went home. I hope that this time if I need a catheter, they’ll take it out after 24 hours and let me wear a diaper for the rest of my hospital stay. 

[rusty pins]

When I had my knee replaced 1-1/2 years ago we had informative pre-surgery meetings about what to expect.  We (all who were having knee replacement surgery, about 12) were told we would have a catheter in for the surgery and it would be removed the following morning so we would be assured of having a good nights sleep.  That was great for me because I typically get up 6 times a night to pee!  I was not thrilled about the catheter but hardly even realized it was there until they took it out the next morning.  After that, I used the portable urinal the second night.  I was released the third day to go home.  I never would have wanted to wear a diaper but I thought with all the posts about crappy hospital diapers, if I did have to wear them and they leaked in the middle of the night, how would I tell them when I pushed the button for assistance?  They always come over the speaker by your bed first asking what you need.  Would I have said, "I'm leaking all over the bed!  I need fresh bedding and someone needs to change my diaper!"

[adhb]

This Thursday, I have a pre-operative appointment at the hospital. That will include a meeting with the anesthesiologist and whomever else the hospital thinks that I should see. I’ll discuss my incontinence with them at that time, and I am prepared to do whatever they think is the best way to deal with it. I prefer using a diaper to using a catheter (including both internal and especially external catheters). But I believe it’s always important to follow reasonable medical advice.

[deewet]

When I had my last knee done, I told staff that I did not want to use a cath, as the first experience about 10 mos. prior was not good.  My wishes were followed and shortly after surgery, a few hours in recovery, I was given a disposable brief to use to avoid getting up and down during the night.  (during the day they made me get up several times even on first day so that was not an issue)

 

[dlinmsp]

I'm 6 weeks from my total replacement.  I mentioned several times to the admitting nurses that I wore diapers 24/7.  I even wore a diaper to the hospital.  My hospital stay was right at 24 hours and the use of diapers was never mentioned.

[adhb]

My knee replacement surgery has been postponed. My surgeon insists that I see and get clearance from a couple of other specialists beforehand. I’ve sometimes had excessive bleeding following surgery. So the surgeon wants to do everything possible to prevent or minimize that. I think he’s being overly cautious since the bleeding problem appears to have corrected itself as I’ve aged. But I’m grateful that the surgeon is being cautious. 

[dlinmsp]

Best of luck to you, I need to decide if I want to do the other one.