Jodie+and+her+recovery

Hi 6B, 6G, Mr. Graham and Ms. Davis! I've decided to get out of bed for a little while so I don't stiffen up too much! I went to the Bendigo Day surgery at 8am this morning and waited about 15 minutes before a nurse came and got me. They told my mum she could come with me but I was gettng nervous so I told mum "I'll be right, you can go!". I then went into the theatre area which is the operation section. I had to take my clothes and swap them for a blue guerney (not sure if that's what it called or how you spell it) but luckily it was one that had extra material at the back so my bottom wasn't showing!! I then had a visit from the anaethetist and my surgeon. My surgeon drew 2 arrows on both knees to show that they were being operated on. The nurse came back and wiped all over my knee area with betadine - the yellow stuff so now I have yellow legs. I then just had to lie there and wait. Finally one the theatre nurses came and wheeled me into the operating room - quite daunting because there was lots of equipment. I had a drip put in my hand ready for the anaesthetic and then an oxygen mask was held over my nose and mouth. I was still wide awake while all this was going on so I was quite nervous - lots of people getting instruments ready and putting on their special gloves and everything - I have to admit I was a bit scared! I don't remember falling asleep and woke up in recovery absolutely freezing. My teeth were chattering and I couldn't stop shivering. This is normal apparently because the operating rooms aren't exactly heated to a nice balmy 30! The nurses put a special blanket on me that is connected to something that looks like a vaccuum cleaner hose and it puts warm air into the blanket to warm me up. It took about 20 minutes for me to stop shivering. They also gave me some tablets to help with the pain, which made me drowsy so I had a little nap. I spent about 2 hours all up in recovery before they moved me to the last room - nice recliner to sit in, some lemonade and some sandwiches - I ate 3 of the 4 sandwiches, last one had pickles and I wasn't about to eat that! My mum was called and she came and picked me up - had to walk out with the crutches - it was quite painful but I did it! Mum went and got my prescriptions (some anti-inflammatory tablets and more pain killers). She then made me some toast and I had the tablets and had another nap - I kind of like this napping! I'm quite sore but in good spirits - I've lived with pain for the past 15 years so a bit more doesn't bother me! Mrs. Lowther and Mrs. Ancrum might be visiting me tomorrow so that will cheer me up seeing Ava and Tahlia! Hoping for a good nights sleep - although I don't normally sleep on my back so it might be a little tricky. Miss you all - can't believe it's only one day, feels like forever since I saw you last! Thanks again to Alyshia and Courtney for being the brainwaves behind my surprise lunch - got the card sitting near my tv too! Will write again soon, need a nap now after doing this, I'm going to tire easily I think for a litte while. Love Jodie xxx

Sunday 30th August Hi everyone! So. . .how are you all? Been a few days since I've been on here - actually had a busy week considering! I had a visit from Mrs. L and Mrs. A on Wednesday so got to see Tahlia and Ava (she's walking now - it was so cool to see!). My friend Erin also dropped in - her husband had made me a chai latte, I'm so spoilt! On Thursday my Aunty Denise came round - she brought photos from her recent trip to N.S.W and Queensland - it was kind of sad trip because last year when she took the trip with my Uncle Ray, they both knew it would be his last trip. So she had some hard times going back to some of their favourite places, but she also explore some new places, so she now has some wonderful new memories too. My Aunty Alison and Uncle Kevin visited Friday - we have the family joke that Alison should've been my mum because her and I are so similar. She brought photos of a recent quilting weekend - her and my mum had lots of fun sewing with their friends, plus alison made them all dress up and be silly on the Saturday night - my mum's outfit was so ridiculous! I also got a phone call from my brother Dale - he and his fiance became parents last Wednesday night - I have a new nephew, Mark. Would you believe he's named after Mark Webber, Formula 1 driver?? My brother is just a little obsessed with F1 cars!! Can't wait to get a photo! The knees are going okay - swelling has gone down a little bit, but they're still quite sore and stiff. When I sit on the edge of the bed, I can get both knees to nearly 90 degrees - but not for long! I'm still quite slow on the crutches, which is starting to annoy me. The brain is wanting to get moving, but the body isn't quite ready. I went to Mrs. L's place yesterday to watch the footy - go Bombers!!!!!!!!!! Riley you are soooooooooooo lucky I wasn't there to make a bet, ask Mr. Graham how he went!!?? I now have a bag of Chico lollies to eat all by myself! I'm hoping to sleep better tonight - I'm pretty much off the pain killers, but I still need them at night time. But all I want to do is sleep on my stomach and I can't! It's really frustrating. Hope the swimming started well for those who are doing it - and I can't wait to see photos of the costumes from Book Week! Hope to visit soon! Send me an email if you have time ( bates.jodie.k@edumail.vic.gov.au ) Love Jodie xxx

Hi Jodie, We have a few questions for you.  1. How long did the surgery go for?
 * The actual surgery went for about 1 hour - but I had to arrive there at 8am. I got home about 2pm - I was in recovery for over 3 hours. I woke up from the anaesthetic shaking, feeling very cold. This is common, but I've never woken up that cold before. The nurses put a special blanket on me that was connected to a hose (like a vacuum cleaner hose) and that had warm air coming out of it. That eventually warmed me up!

 2. Did you get stitches? If so, how many? And when are you getting them out?
 * I didn't really get any stitches because the incisions (cuts) were only about 1 cm long. The operation is done with an arthroscopic camera that goes into that incision and the surgeon uses a kind of computer screen to "see" inside my knee.

 3. Have you read all the Harry Potter books yet?
 * I haven't read any books - I haven't felt like reading. I get tired easily so the TV is about the only thing that I can concentrate on! Mrs. L is still threatening to make me watch all the DVDs though!

 4. Are you having any fun?
 * I'm having fun when my visitors come - they bring me treats! And I did get a bunch of pink tulips left on my front door, but I don't know who they were from! Apart from that, I'm bored with not much to do - but I also don't feel up to doing much anyway. Kind of wish I was still at work believe it or not!

 5. How are the violet crumbles going? And why don’t you like crunchies?
 * I actually haven't had ANY violet crumbles - I haven't felt like chocolate since the surger! Hoping that changes real soon! I prefer the flavour of violet crumbles, the inside is much better, not so airy and full of bubbles. . .and the chocolate is better too - it's all Mrs. L's fault, she convinced me - and she is SOOOOOO right :)

 6. How did the hospital treat you?


 * The hospital treated me VERY WELL! The staff were so friendly and caring. They couldn't do enough for me to make me feel better. The nurses that looked after me before the surgery were great at trying to get me to be not so nervous. The nurses after were very caring and treated me very kindly to make me feel better. Also he reception staff were great - very friendly when I first arrived and left. The operatin staff were also very professional - there were about 8 of them in there - lots of special jobs to do! They knew I was very nervous so they quickly put me to "sleep" so I wouldn't know what was going on!

7.What hospital food did they serve you?
 * After surgery you have to eat something before you are allowed to leave - to make sure you aren't sick and to see how you are going after anaesthetic. I was given some water, lemonade (needed some sugar!) and some sandwiches. I ate all of the sandwiches except the ham and pickle, because I don't like pickles.[[image:SDC10013.JPG width="363" height="270"]][[image:SDC10012.JPG width="363" height="270"]]
 * These photos were 1 week after surgery - still very swollen and not moving a lot. The surgeon put the arrows on to "remind" them which knees to do. It's rare to do both knees, normally they write a big "NO" on this knee and arrow on the other - but because I'm so special I needed 2 arrows!