Part Three in the series Jill’s knee replacement journey
Table of Contents
- Checking in and settling on the ward
- Final preparations before surgery
- What to bring with you
- The anaesthetic and operation itself
- First 24 hours after surgery
What happens when you arrive at the hospital?
On the morning of the op, you check in at reception. Then a ward assistant takes you up to the ward. They make sure you’re comfortable and show you where everything is. My operation was at the Nuffield Wessex hospital, so I was lucky enough to have my own room. It comes with an ensuite bathroom. You have a lockable wardrobe for your valuables, and there’s a buzzer, too, so you can the nurses call if you need something. Then one of the medical team arrived and went through all my details. I have an intolerance to a particular painkiller, so they note that on a wristband that you wear to the operating theatre. They also give you your hospital gown and Mr Bailey popped in to say hello and to give me a consent form to sign before he started his operation list.
Mr Bailey popped in to say hello before my operation
Jill
How else did they prepare you for surgery?
Once I’d settled in, the nurse checked my blood pressure again. She also gave me a pair of compression stockings to wear; they stretch from your toes to your knees and just help to improve blood flow and encourage swelling to go down and reduce the risk of (DVT) deep vein thrombosis after surgery. I wore one on my right leg (the one that wasn’t being operated on). The other one goes on after your operation, and you’ll carry on wearing the stockings for about the next six weeks. They also put a mark on your leg, to make sure the surgery happens to the correct limb.
Do you recommend bringing anything to the hospital with you?
You might like to bring a book to read or an electronic device to use while you’re waiting. My operation was later in the afternoon, so I had a few hours to wait. But there’s a TV in the room. And you can have a friend or loved one in the room to sit with you. So there was plenty to do. They also ask you to bring a pair of slippers or comfortable shoes to wear on the ward. I brought an overnight bag with me, but there are toiletries in the ensuite so you don’t necessarily need to bring a washbag. They have crutches (or a walking frame) ready for you when you arrive. The other thing to remember is your regular medication, if you’re taking any. They’ll ask you about those at the Pre-Op Assessment. And they’ll give you a little zip bag to put your medicines in when you come back for your surgery.
The nurses come in and out to check on you throughout the night
Jill
What happens next?
At the Nuffield, the ward is on the same level as the operating theatre so you don’t have to take any stairs or lifts. When they called me for the operation, a nurse walked me down to the theatre. Initially, you go into the Anaesthetic Room, which adjoins the theatre. The team goes through some more questions with you, and then the anaesthetist administers the anaesthetic. You can have that via a cannula on the back of your hand. But I was having a spinal anaesthetic, where you lie on your side and they administer it low down your back, either side of the spine. So I had that and then very quickly drifted off!
And what happens immediately after the operation?
Things are quite hazy at first, as they always are after general anaesthesia. You wake up in the recovery room, where nurses keep checking your health and vital signs until they are certain you are fit to go back to your room. They helped me to sit up in bed, and made sure I was drinking plenty of liquids. If you feel able to, you can order something to eat as well. Some people stay in hospital for one night after their knee replacement, but I was booked in for two nights. During those first 24 hours, one of their goals is to get you up and moving again. That’s important for your rehabilitation…
Read on
You can read the next part of Jill’s story in this article: Part 4: Recovering after the Knee Replacement
Useful resources
When can I go home after my knee replacement?
How to get better sleep after a knee replacement
What range of motion should I be getting after my knee replacement?
