What to expect . . .

I didn't sleep very well last night. We went to Phil's for dinner to celebrate my last day of school and we were greeted by Charlie, the host. Charlie is a robust guy that has something in common with Gabe and he never fails to discuss it with him when we eat there---a total knee replacement. So, of course, I had to tell Charlie that I, too, would become part of the club soon. I almost wish I hadn't. I didn't realize that Charlie had also had a double knee replacement so he is uniquely qualified to "fill me in" on what to expect.

This is where is gets hairy. If Charlie said "it's rough" once, he said it a dozen times. He said the hardest part for him was that he had to sleep on his back for 6 weeks (my BIGGEST fear) but that he found ways to cheat by propping up his legs. Since Charlie tops the scales at at least 300 pounds, this was a somewhat scary  reference. Then he told me that I HAD to go to Bryn Mawr Rehab for my rehab or, as he put it, "The Cadillac of Rehab Hospitals". "Whatever you do, don't go to Magee." OK, so now if I can't get into Bryn Mawr I am having nightmares about what to expect at the dreaded Magee.

Finally, he told me that the first week home was the hardest and to expect to have "crying jags". So, this is new?? For the past 6 months I have cried at watching Mary Poppins, let alone double knee replacement. Again, the picture of Charlie with his legs propped up in the air having a crying jag was just too much to bear.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep well last night. I kept having visions of myself at the wrong rehab center with nurses that torture you, where they never feed you, with my legs up in the air like I am giving birth to the knee replacements. Not a pretty picture. I don't think we will eat at Phil's for a while.

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