Re: Home 5 weeks from hospital... 5 1/2 weeks post op...my story

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Now I have a much

clearer picture of what things will be like. Who was your surgeon

and what hospital were you in?

I'm glad you're doing so well.

from Long Island

> Hello Feisty Friends,

> My surgery was August 5, 2004. I have been home for 5 weeks now.

> While it is still fresh in my head, I want to share my experience.

> Learn from it what you will and just ignore whatever you may

disagree

> with as this is just my own experience.

> One week prior to surgery I went in to the hospital to donate my

own

> blood. I drove home afterwards, no problem. I was also given a

card

> with a number on it. That number matched the number on my bag of

> donated blood.

> The morning of surgery hubby and I drove in to the hospital. I

truly

> wanted to jump out of my skin and be somebody else. Approximately

one

> hour went by and the neurosurgeon shows up to explain to me he was

> going to start the surgery and my OS would be scrubbing while he

was

> opening me up and moving nerves out of the way. Well, the visual I

> gathered from this explanation started me shaking uncontrollably.

> 5 minutes later in comes the anesthesiologist. He saw me shaking,

> walked away and came back with some 'calming' meds for me. He gave

> them to me himself. I was truly impressed with that. By the time

he

> was done explaining his deal to me I was calm. LOL

> 5 minutes later, in comes a volunteer to escort me to

the 'gernie'

> and once again I started to shake. The anesthesiologist had to

strap

> my arm to my side to get the first IV in. Then the sensors were

put

> on. My forhead, my head, my chest, my legs, and my arms. After the

> surgery I had little scabs all over my body from these sensors.

> Perfectly normal.

> The anesthesiologist introduced me to the pain management doc who

> was to be present during my surgery as well as other docs/etc.

whom

> were present to witness the expertise of my neurosurgeon as well

as

> my OS. That was cool. However, I was still shaking. Maybe my

nerves

> as well as how cold the OR is. Either way, the Anesthesiologist

gave

> me more happy meds. Then he asked if I would like to tell him

about

> my children. Well, I did. Apparently I finished telling him about

all

> 4 of them and he then chuckled and asked me to tell him about my

> hubby. Well, that was when I fell asleep. Too funny!

> The surgery lasted 1 1/2 hours longer than expected...5 1/2 hours

> total. Posterior surgery only, no anterior approach since hte NS

was

> present. The OS was unable to get the screws in on the right side

of

> L/3-L/4. So I'm only instrumented on the left side. This was due

to

> my spine being so twisted at the bottom as well as me being small

> boned. My old fusion was cracked in 4 areas and the fusion was

> extended down to L-4 with a nice lumbar curve put in to place.

Along

> with a ton of that BMP. I have a cage in between L/2-L/3.

> It was absolutley amazing once I was wheeled in to the ICU. I

spent

> 3 hours there, which is 2 hours longer than normal. I started

crying

> lots due to the anesthesia meds as well as the morphine. Some

people

> react that way to that combo of meds. My hospital preferred

Morphine

> since the big acetaminophen scare.

> I am finally wheeled to my room where they gathered the sheet and

> transferred me to my bed. BRUTAL!!!!!!!!!! I had a self medicating

> pump full of a Morphine drip. It allowed me a dose every 6

minutes.

> It worked.

> Keep in mind, I was on narcotics a few months before surgery

> therefore, the pain meds I was given didn't work as well as they

> should have. My pain management docs were VERY aware of my

tolerance

> to narcotics due to having taken them up to surgery.

> Every morning the docs came in to check my dressing. It really

> doesn't hurt too badly to have them pull that tape off to check

the

> incision. It felt like a much needed back scratch. Also, I was

given

> a drainage hole above my left butt-cheek/extreme lower back. This

> allowed the blood to drain as well as whatever excesses came out.

The

> drainage tube was attached to an air tight 'container'. I still

have

> that scar. It's like a huge dot. The nurses had to change the

> container every so often. It was taken out 48 hours after surgery

b/c

> the drainage had subsided substantially.

> I had staples in place and my incision was put right on top of

the

> old one. About a 9 inch opening. No problem.

> During my stay I was visited by the P/T, Neurosurgeons, OS and

his

> assistant as well as his covering docs, the Pain Management docs,

as

> well as the Anesthesiologist to just check on me. I gave strict

> orders for all Interns to steer clear of me. They obliged. KEWL!

> The second evening I had to have my own blood transfused. No

> problem, I felt better. My pulse rate was up to 177, they feared I

> was going to rocket off to the moon. Apparently that is what

happens

> when the body gets low on blood, pulse rate sky rockets. Normal is

> around 100...I think? Once the transfusion was complete, I no

longer

> had the shakes or a fever.

> One nursing staff left lots to be desired. The night shift

obviously

> hid somewhere to sleep soundly while I ran out of my pain meds and

> threw up all over myself. I called my hubby so he could document

> eveything I told him. I actually paged my OS from my hospital bed.

My

> hubby also paged my OS that evening. This was the first night.

That

> was the night I fired 1 nurse and an aid. The next morning when

the

> NS came in I told him all about it and he sent in a hospital

> administrator. The same nursing crew worked the following evening

> shift, my second night there. They knew I would only allow one

nurse

> in my room b/c the NS, the OS, and the hospital administrator

heard

> my story. That was the night I fired 1 nurse and an aid. My point

> here is this...even though you are medicated there are ways for

you

> to document " things " as they transpire.

> 24 hours after surgery the P/T came by, I walked. 48 hours after

> surgery I walked by myself around the halls and was busted by the

P/T

> as she was walking with my OS & NS. They were surprised, but after

my

> experience of throwing up on myself and then having it dry on me

b/c

> the nurses were so neglectful, I wanted the hec outta there. So I

was

> sent home 72 hours after surgery. KEWL!

> I am 5 1/2 weeks post op and I walk 1/2 mile in the morning and a

> half mile in the evening. I do get tired and must rest mid day. I

> also am able to get by on just 4 pain meds per day. My bed is

brutal!

> So once we get a new bed I can cut out the middle of the night med

as

> well as the waking up med. Then hopefully the going to sleep

evening

> med. Once I do that it will be no problem to eliminate the mid day

> med. PHEW! I'm on Percs 7.5-325mg. It works well. They wanted me

on

> 10-325mg but I didn't want to b/c my kids were going back to

school

> and I wanted to remember things. So...no need for anybody to be a

> hero. Take what they give you and don't feel ashamed.

> Well, about week 4 my health insurance must have paid the bill

b/c

> my OS decided he couldn't fill my RX anymore. So I went a full 24

> hours no pain meds. BRUTAL!!! And yes I experienced withdrawals,

it

> happened to be raining mad that day too. OH MAN IT WAS AWFUL! So I

> went in to my GP and he had me sign the form stating I wouldn't

get

> narcotics from anybody else. It is comforting for me to know he

isn't

> in another town...1/2 hour away...and he understands my situation.

> Also, the hospital is about 35 minutes away. After the ride it

took

> me 15 minutes to walk in to the house and get in to my own bed.

> HEAVEN!!! I could get up by myself to go pee right away. The

second

> day I could sit at the dinner table and eat with the family. The

> third day I weeded the tomato patch. The 4th day I walked once

around

> the cul-de-sac. KEWL! I used to experience one good day 2 bad

days.

> Now it is the other way around. I feel great and am totally amazed

I

> no longer have that lower back pain from not having a lumbar

curve. I

> just have the surgical tightness and pain.

> I was told to straddle the chair I sit in and this would make my

> lower back arch. I was told to never ever sit with my legs

together

> as this causes the lower back to stress out. Hmmm...not what momma

> tells me. LOL

> I still am having my friends come over every day of the week to

help

> me out. Weekends, my hubby takes over the domestics. I truly don't

> want to over do it with the baby and the other kidlettes. I still

> don't drive but must attend band events, tennis lessons, etc...

and

> as usual being a parent expected to be in 2 places at the same

time.

> I keep busy and cry only once per week now.

> I hope I've not left anything out. I just wanted to post my

> experience/factsheet so others prepping for revision might know of

a

> question they'd like to ask a doc or me if I can help.

> OK...it is time for me to get out of my bed and walk some.

Walking

> truly eases pain. AMAZING!

> xoxo's

>

>

> OH! I have a Spine Stim belt thingie. I place a pillow in between

my

> back and the belt thingie, this seems to help with the adverse

> reactions from the belt.

> Pics on a later date.

[Guest guest]

,

Even though your family will be far away, they're just a telephone call away.

Don't hesitate to call them at 2am or whatever for whatever reason. I called

once at 4am just to tell hubby " I can't sleep so...good morning. " Needless to

say, I demanded to be babied/understood.

I left out one pre-op idea. I had my legs waxed before surgery and still have

yet to have it grow back. You may want to consider this b/c the last thing you

need is to learn how to shave your legs the first few weeks after surgery.

Also, my hair is long and it was in some serious knots. I had a really nice day

time nurse from Aruba (or some other island type country like that) comb my hair

and braid it after surgery.

The anticipation is the TOUGHEST!

Today is a brutal day for me. I had my quilt guild meeting yesterday. Hubby

drove me to it, 1/2 hour drive. Man oh man...if only we didn't live in the

boonies.

You keep your chin up, you're braver than you know. We all are!

xoxo's

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

My surgeon is Dr. Girasole, in Trumbull, CT. He's very skilled and

knowledgable, however, some may view him as having bad bedside manner. He

operates out of St. 's Hospital in Bridgeport, CT. That's a Catholic

Hospital, so I preferred that also.

Let me stress this point, even though a surgeon may seem abrasive, check out

his tactics and track record. I truly believed in my doc's " team " he had in

play. The surgery went quicker than if he did it solo and my hospital stay was

shorter. All this without jeopardizing the success of it all.

Tell me...where are you in the arena of revision? Have you decided where? who?

or when?

xoxo's

[Guest guest]

Hi !

sorry to cut in on this message, but I have been looking for second

or third opinions. I have been looking for revision Dr's in Ct.

How many yrs experience does he have? I'm going to try and find his

number on the web because I can't find him in the yellow pages.

Dr Rand said I need post/ant/post. I have an apt with Dr Farcy in

NY Oct 7th.

I'm glad you're getting stronger every day.

> Hey ,

> My surgeon is Dr. Girasole, in Trumbull, CT. He's very skilled and

knowledgable, however, some may view him as having bad bedside

manner. He operates out of St. 's Hospital in Bridgeport, CT.

That's a Catholic Hospital, so I preferred that also.

> Let me stress this point, even though a surgeon may seem abrasive,

check out his tactics and track record. I truly believed in my

doc's " team " he had in play. The surgery went quicker than if he did

it solo and my hospital stay was shorter. All this without

jeopardizing the success of it all.

> Tell me...where are you in the arena of revision? Have you decided

where? who? or when?

> xoxo's

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks so much for posting this. Learning of other

people's experiences really helps. I am amazed how

much you can do at 5-1/2 weeks and hope that each day

for you is better than the day before. -Kathi in NJ

--- curvedlady <USNAWIFE@...> wrote:

> Hello Feisty Friends,

> My surgery was August 5, 2004. I have been home for

> 5 weeks now.

> While it is still fresh in my head, I want to share

> my experience.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

For calling home, it was a long distance call from the hospital, so I had my

cell phone with me.

Any beauty salon can wax your legs for you, but remember, no manicures b/c they

don't like nail polish on operating patients.

I try to do too many things in a day, that's why it gets brutal some days. I'm

at the point where I have 2 good days and 1 bad day. However, if I go for a long

car ride, I'm down for the next 2 days.

Tomorrow I see the NS. So I won't bounce back from that 'til mid week.

As far as driving, I'm not supposed to until I get " coordination " back. I just

don't feel like I'm there yet, especially since I'm still on narcotics.

More later...

xoxo's

[Guest guest]

Dr. Girasole Trumbull office (this is where the x-ray machine is...the other

office doesn't house the x-ray machine)

203-268-2882

Be VERY prepared when you visit him. I have found if I don't write things down I

forget EVRYTHING. I feel this is due to how fast-paced he is.

But he's great! He studied under Farcy. Ask Dr. Farcy what he thinks of him.

I forget how many years he'sbeen in practice. I do know it's appr. 10 years.

However, he did have a spine internship which is what one wants if having spine

surgery. I'm sure others are capable, but if a surgeon has the spine internship

in his/her background, that's really good for the spine patient.

If Dr. Farcy accepts your isnurance, GO FOR IT! Girasole also was trained with

Neuwirth.

Good luck sweetie!

xoxo's

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kathi,

I find lots of my recovery has to dow ith the support system I have in play.

Plus my hubby plays tennis at professional level, so he's a GREAT trainer. If he

had his way, I'd be walking right after surgery. LOL

I'm more than happy to share my story. We can all help each other that way.

xoxo's

[Guest guest]

Hi,

How are you feeling? What are you now- 7 weeks post-op?

Sorry I've taken so long to reply. Computer problems.

Anyway, I finally made my decision and am scheduled for revision

Nov. 3rd with Dr. Farcy at Hosp. for Joint Diseases in NYC. I'm

getting really nervous. The next month will be busy with all the

pre-op stuff. I hope I do as well as you're doing! You're my hero!

> Hey ,

> My surgeon is Dr. Girasole, in Trumbull, CT. He's very skilled

and knowledgable, however, some may view him as having bad bedside

manner. He operates out of St. 's Hospital in Bridgeport, CT.

That's a Catholic Hospital, so I preferred that also.

> Let me stress this point, even though a surgeon may seem

abrasive, check out his tactics and track record. I truly believed

in my doc's " team " he had in play. The surgery went quicker than if

he did it solo and my hospital stay was shorter. All this without

jeopardizing the success of it all.

> Tell me...where are you in the arena of revision? Have you

decided where? who? or when?

> xoxo's

>

[Guest guest]

Wow!!! , you are unbelievable! I'm so amazed and inspired by

everything you're accomplishing! Thank you for your words of

encouragement. Your letter was exactly what I needed today.

Yesterday I received a big packet in the mail from my doctor with

all the paperwork to sign before surgery. You know...all that scary

legal stuff that lists all the horrible possible risks of surgery.

I was so freaked out that I didn't sleep a wink last night! Now

today I'm in ridiculous pain. I guess the pain's just a gentle

little reminder that I'm doing the right thing and really do need

this surgery.

Anyway, your letter was very encouraging. Thank you!!!

from Long Island

> Awww!!! Thanks .

> I'm doing GREAT! Don't tell my hubby but I'm doing laundry,

dishes, and vacuuming with no problems. I've even made a couple of

quilts and am working on my other project in 10 minute increments.

> Today I even cleaned the big middle bathroom. That's the one my 4

kidlettes use and abuse.

> I'm walking about 1 1/2 miles in a day and can tolerate it all in

broken segments. MOrning 3/4 mile, then evening 3/4 mile. However, I

cahse after my baby like crazy. Although I do have friends visiting

me daily to give me a break for a couple hours.

> On weekends, we take the kids to the high school and we put

kidlette #4 in the jogger stroller and I WALK (no joggin' honey!) 1

straight mile while hubby and the bigger kids play tennis. Then we

return in the evening and I can do another mile. Now I am putting on

ankle weights...2 pounders for each ankle...and I walk with them on

as much as I can tolerate.

> All this with my doctor's approval and knowledge. I tend to call

the NS and let him know what I'm doing/want to do. He calls me back

quicker than the OS does. LOL So then the NS will call the OS and

tell him " GUess what that patient of ours is doing now? " There's no

stopping me because I feel like my life is my own now...or well on

its way to being my own and not totally controlled by pain.

> , you'll do fine! Dr. Farcy is a great surgeon. Just make

sure you know whom to contact after the surgery be it for meds or

for questions or for updates.

> But...walk...walk...and walk some more. You will be amazed out

how energized it makes you feel. Even if you walk to the mail box 5

times in one day or the end of your drive way 4 times in a day. Them

neighbors will be peeking out of their blinds at you, but what the

hay? Who cares. I had the neighbor across the street start

walking with me around the culdesac 5 times because he's on the

South Beach diet. It's good to walk no matter what you are going

through.

> I've turned in to some kind of nature chick too...LOL I put out 5

bird feeders and fed a chickadee from my hand the other day. Talk

about a wild experience. I told the hubby and he said " What meds did

you take today. " But seriously, your state of mind will feed your

soul and then you can do ANYTHING! I take maybe 2 pain

meds/percocets per day 1 pm and 1 am. I must take more on days I've

been in a car or overdid things the day prior. I take muscle

relaxers 3x per day which help LOTS! I take SOMA and cut them in

half so I'm not feeling drowsy.

> It also helps to keep a daily journal of feelings as well as

accomplishments. Because you'll read back and see where you've been

and think of all you've accomplished.

> And...something tells me you'll accomplish LOTS!!!

> xoxo's

>