My mother is in ICU! After 10 weeks of total knee replacement
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Hey all!
My mother had bilateral knee replacement on 18th Dec 2015, her age is 68. Surgery went well, but after 24 hours of it, due to poor pain management, stomach bloated and she went into icu for 8 days, all her values BP, PR, etc went bad, counting long story short we brought her back home at 20th day after surgery. She started walking few steps, but after 4 weeks, she started falling down during her walk. We went to doctors they said its due to weakness you need to increase her diet. She refused to eat, her electrolytes went down sodium is at 111. Every other report like heart/stool/etc are all fine. Doctors said its due to loose motions of 8 weeks. They have her vancomycin capsules yesterday.
Please anyone out there could help in guiding any further solution. Is this normal?
0 likes, 33 replies
Oldfatguy1 baqir73414
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baqir73414 Oldfatguy1
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Thank you for your reply n kind words. According to doctors she is having multiple infections in urine and in stomach (may be, it's till have to figure out somehow). Her upset stomach is the main cause after the mishandling of pain management. Morphine was given in very high dosage within first 24hours. Which causes body to bloat.
baqir73414 Oldfatguy1
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Oldfatguy1 baqir73414
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cheryl90571 baqir73414
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Welcome to the Knee Forum of patient.info!
I am very sorry to hear that your mother has had such a rough time following her bilateral knee replacement in December.
When anyone of any age undergoes surgery of any kind it is trauma to the body. Although most surgery is successful with minimal issues in recovery, many people DO suffer setbacks. The knee surgery is very complex. When both knees are done at the same time there's two knees to deal with and double the trauma to the body.
Your mother was stable then took a turn for the worse. It's a good thing that they placed her in ICU. There is around the clock care in ICU. We have had several members in UCU and were very impressed with the careful monitoring.
Since your mother WAS sent home, she apparently WAS stable. Something went wrong after the fourth week. I'm guessing Vancomycin is an antibiotic. Is that correct? Infections can set in at any time and cause further trauma to the body that is trying to heal.
How is her blood pressure? Low blood pressure can cause you to feel weak and faint. I experienced this my first day after surgery.
It is hard to eat when you are feeling sick. Nausea is, unfortunately, all too common with knee surgery, use of PAIN meds, etc. I was nauseated with my first knee replacement but not with my second four months later.
If your mother has an infection, it is VERY IMPORTANT to get it under control. If she continues to be weak and unable to eat, it makes it harder for her to get up and moving. That brings MORE possibilities of blood clots forming which can be life-threatening. If she is falling, that, too, is quite serious.
If she was my mother I would take her to the emergency room right away. Sounds like she is suffering more complications.
I hope that things will be better for your mother very soon!
Please let us know how she is doing tomorrow.
baqir73414 cheryl90571
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We took her to emergency two days back and they admitted her in ICU. Vancomycin is an antibiotic. She is having very low BP. 95/65. And it varies. From past 14 days she was complete bed ridden. She was unable to stand on her own. We thought she might be having depression attack. So we took her to psychariest. Dr. Explains completely and gave her anti depressants but in that return she kept on sleeping and unable to stand.
One 10 days ago we went for the cardiac specialist to roll out blood clot possibility. All tests where clear with the grace of God.
Now she is on medicinal help. They have checked her stool, her urine her. Her TLC was 15. I'm unable to attach the reports. Sodium 111.
elaine90714 baqir73414
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You mentioned she has stomach pain- does she have any kind of mesh inside her from a previous op? Anything foreign, other than tkr?
Thinking something , like a mesh, could be infected and docs may be unaware she has it from prev op years ago.
Have a sit down with the docs involved and have them be upfront with you on what they have ruled out and what game plan. Let us know how she's doing.
Elaine
baqir73414 elaine90714
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No she doesn't have anything before operation in her stomach.
Now doctors are only trying to maintain electrolytes.
I'm regretting why I made her do this operation.
Please pray for her.
sarah87162 baqir73414
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Sarah xx
baqir73414 sarah87162
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Her vitamin D is < 3> 3>
cheryl90571 baqir73414
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Many on this site have experienced complications following knee replacement surgery.
I'm glad she is being monitored and cared for at the ICU.
Sending prayers of strength and healing for her today!
Keep us posted on her progress, OK?
baqir73414 cheryl90571
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Her vitamin d is < 3. now they asked for ggt lab and test. they fiona check on liver i guess.
thank you for your prayers. 3.="" now="" they="" asked="" for="" ggt="" lab="" and="" test.="" they="" fiona="" check="" on="" liver="" i="" guess.="" thank="" you="" for="" your="" prayers.=""> 3. now they asked for ggt lab and test. they fiona check on liver i guess.
thank you for your prayers. >
Oldfatguy1 baqir73414
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Prayers for your mother
baqir73414 cheryl90571
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Oldfatguy1 baqir73414
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