One of the tests I took in preparation for surgery was to measure my levels of Staphylococcus aureus. In this case, they tested the nasal area, a common area for this serious pathogen. The test came back at zero. I was pleased because for the past three years I’ve been taking a Bacillus probiotic called Bacillus coagulans. You can check out the research by reading this Memo from 2018. It doesn’t mean I couldn’t get an infection, but zero is a good starting point.

Now on to Surgery

I’ve stretched and strengthened my legs about as much as I can in preparation for my knee replacement. My core is as strong as it ever has been. I’ve gotten as fit as I can within the limitations my knee has given me. As I said a while ago, the more pain you put in before the surgery, the less you’ll have after the surgery.

We’ll put that to the test beginning Monday afternoon. Many, many surgeries have been cancelled here in Grand Rapids because the hospitals are overrun with COVID patients; if I had not prepared by being a regular exerciser and doing the prehab, I might have had to spend the night rather than having outpatient surgery, and then my surgery might have been cancelled, too, but we got confirmation Friday that it’s on.

I’m really eager to get this done and get on with life; I’m ready for rehabilitation. My goal is to walk into the hospital and then to walk out. The medical staff probably won’t allow that but as long as I know I could, that’s fine with me.

Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes—keep them coming. I won’t write Tuesday’s Memo until I’ve recovered from the anesthesia and taken the first steps. I still plan on doing the Insider Conference call on Wednesday night so all Insiders will get the first-hand Dr. Chet version of the knee replacement experience.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet