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My mother is in ICU! After 10 weeks of total knee replacement

Posted , 10 users are following.

baqir73414
baqir73414

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

33 Replies

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  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo baqir73414

    Posted

    Absolutely NOT normal!  Your mother, in the normal course of events, would be walking well by now, and should be over the first agonising weeks of this horrible operation.  she is not doing well obviously, and the doctors need to find the reason for this, which could of course be totally unrelated to the TKR.  Of course, the shock to the body with this op is enoirmous, and possibly your mother has had a really bad reaction to it and now with infections she needs a lot of medicinal help, urgently, to avoid these infections affecting the knee.  Not much into prayer, but certainly thinking about Yasmeed and hoping that the doctors get this sorted out and get her back on the road to recovery.  And don't go blaming yourself for encouraging her to have the operation.  it's not your fault.   
  • baqir73414
    baqir73414

    Posted

    Today dr shifted my mother to private room. Her sodium raised to 122 from 111. She is little more active today.

    Today her hb dropped to 5.9 from 10. All of a sudden with 24 hours. Dr recommend emergency bold transfusion. It's still going right at this moment.

    Still she is bed ridden. Her BP is now under control.

    Dear all can you guide me what should I make for her to eat, so that she recovers fast. I'll be grateful.

    • sarah87162
      sarah87162 baqir73414

      Posted

      I also had to have a blood transfusion 3 days after my TKR. Never really found out why.

      Ofcouse your mother has to eat in order to recover, but I remember I was really off my food for quite a while after TKR.

      A little and often would be my advice.

      Even if it is just a Cream Cracker it is better than nothing.

      Continuing to remember you and your mother in prayer

      Keep in touch

      Love Sarah xx

    • baqir73414
      baqir73414 sarah87162

      Posted

      Thank you. It's her third transfusion. Her arm is having weird blood like crackers. I wish I could have share pics here.
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 baqir73414

      Posted

      Chicken broth, poached egg, dry toast, tea with honey and lemon, roasted or baked chicken. Anything with protein that s easy to digest
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 baqir73414

      Posted

      Good to hear that your mom is able to be in her own room and no longer requires ICU.

      My husband's mother is 87 and needed blood transfusions twice within four months. It was suggested that she see a specialist in hemotology to find out what was causing her to need the TRANSFUSIONS.

      They discovered that she was anemic and started giving her B-12 shots. She has not required any more TRANSFUSIONS since last July, and her Hemoglobin has gone from 5.9 in July before transfusion to 10.9 in December. She goes for her next appointment in a few weeks.

      Apparently her body did not have enough IRON to make its own blood to replace old blood cells that the body discards. Also they found she was dehydrated. If a person is dehydrated the body ALSO has a hard time creating new blood as needed.

      I'd recommend you check with the doctor to see if B-12 shots might help your mother.

      Her regular family doctor SHOULD have caught this issue because back in 2007 following a stroke she needed two pints of blood as well. Apparently she had been anemic for some time.

    • baqir73414
      baqir73414 cheryl90571

      Posted

      This sounds like my mothers current situation. Okay will discuss this with doctor. Thank you.

      Any suggestions for the food?

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 baqir73414

      Posted

      Getting my mother-in-law to eat is often a challenge! ASK your mother what would taste good! The other day my mother-in-law REALLY ENJOYED this huge piece of birthday cake! She fed herself and really was liking it A LOT! We heard that she ate well for the next several days. Sometimes it just takes something YUMMY to spur someone to have a better appetite!
  • baqir73414
    baqir73414

    Posted

    Hey all!

    Today my mother had second blood transfusion. All went okay. After yesterday's transfusion her hb went up from 5.6 to 8.1. Hoping it will raise to 11 by tomorrow.

    As I told you guys earlier doc is giving her vancomycin capsules. That's the only medicine changed ever since I'm back In Hospital. Her hb drops drastically in last two days. Was wondering if these capsules was the reason. Any input from you guys may help.

    Also please guide me how I can reduce her loose motions (dyereah). Her stomach is very upset set ever since tkr.

    One more change today I've noticed that her stomach is Little bloated. Is this because of the blood transfusions?

    Today when I have her yogurt with muesli (oats,fig,nuts,dates mixture). She really liked it. But when I have her after transfusion yogurt and isapgol she complained a lot about stomach pain. Any specific reasons. Or it's just normal?

    I am very worried about the fact that my mother is on bed since 2.5 months. Almost 12 weeks.

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 baqir73414

      Posted

      Glad to hear that her Hemoglobin level is increasing and the TRANSFUSIONS are doing what they should be doing.

      I don't think the antibiotics should interfere with the iron levels.

      Antibiotics CAN cause diahrrrea. I have had that happen.

      She has been through A LOT recently, so her body is probably TRYING it's best to become stable again. Anesthesia, medications, antibiotics, TRANSFUSIONS of blood are all procedures that are strange to our bodies. Sometimes our bodies just rebel!

      Glad she liked the yogurt with Muesli! I like that, too!

      Are they giving your mother blood thinners? I had blood thinners for two weeks after surgery. They made me feel very cold, and I was wrapping up all the time in polar fleece throws even in the summer! Blood thinners are important to help prevent blood clots when you aren't moving as much as usual. Are they getting your mother up to stand? Have they put these little leg things on that squeeze the legs then release to help increase blood flow? You can check about these if your mother is in bed for anextended amount of time.

    • baqir73414
      baqir73414

      Posted

      Dear all

      My mother passed away last Friday. Please pray for her.

      Thank you

    • veronica91735
      veronica91735 baqir73414

      Posted

      So, so sorry to hear this dreadful news. Thinking of you, your mother & your family.
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 baqir73414

      Posted

      Your mom fought a great fight. She had MUCH to deal with following her surgery. She was very fortunate to have you looking out for her during all of her trials!

      She is now at peace, and God is with her. He never left her side.

      This is a difficult time for you. It is always very confusing when so much is done for a loved one yet they pass away from us. Sometimes the body just can't take any more. It is very hard to comprehend.

      Sending prayers for your mother and also for you and your family today. May you find peace in knowing that her fight is over and she is with God.

      Thank you for letting us know. We become like a little family here as we try to figure everything out along the way.

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 baqir73414

      Posted

      So sorry to hear of your loss. You did your very best and I'm sure she was thankful to have had you by her side. You were a real blessing and hope You find peace knowing that you were her strength. Blessings to your family
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