| 4/13/01 |
| This is it! He is in surgery as I type this. He went in around noon and I don't expect to hear anything for *at least* a couple of hours. Yes, I'm nervous but also glad to get it over with and get on with the healing and rehab. The orthodogs group has been a great encouragement. It means so much to have supportive people who understand what we are going through. I hate having to withhold food and water. The poor guy comes in after doing his potty thing and looks at me and runs to his food dish, then runs to his water dish. Well, at least he didn't have to wait too long today. He didn't want to leave us this morning. The girl who took him from us said, boy, he sure loves his family. She had me walk her to the door so she could get him in the back. I have a lot of questions for the surgeon when we pick him up, probably tomorrow. Magnum is out of surgery. The surgeon said the procedure went well. There was a lot of swelling in the knee so he sent out some of the fluid in the knee to be biopsied to make sure there are no other inflammatory diseases going on besides the arthritis. Because it is his second surgery they had to put a pin in to hold the ligament? can't remember exactly what he said now, but the pin will stay in along with the screws and plate. Because there was so much swelling, they did bandage the leg and it can stay bandaged until the stitches come out provided the bandage stays there that long. :-) He will be on IV narcotics while at the clinic and will be given an opportunity to eat something tonight. He still has IV fluids going too. He will come home with a pain patch on which should last for 3 - 5 days, I believe he said. He will also have Rimadyl and antibiotics. I asked about the sling and he said if Magnum refuses to use it then we are better off just being careful and walking slowly than trying to force it. Forcing the sling use could do more damage than good. It is there mostly as a precaution. That makes me feel a little better. Last time I called he wasn't fully awake yet, he was still waking up. I just called again but the Dr. is in surgery again so I don't know anything more. He may or may not come home tomorrow. It all depends on him. If he is doing good enough he can come home tomorrow. Otherwise, we'll pick him up Sunday. Now the hard work begins. Keeping him quiet for the next 2 months so he doesn't damage the repair. The slope of the tibia was 23 degrees, it is now 5. |