Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

8 days since surgery...

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • 8 days since surgery...

    Hey guys,
    ive been out of hospital since saturday, so i thought id write a little blog.
    I left hospital with my bag of meds which include- Tramadol, Oxcycontin, Endone, Diazapam and Temazapam. I had 2 tramadol as we hopped into the car, hoping to prevent the onset of pain early in the trip. However the drive home was very difficult. We had to drive through the city for half an hour- I had my seat right back with pillows under me and my head propped up but i could feel every single bump, turn, acceleration and brake... Tram tracks were the worst... out of the city we stopped and i readjusted and had an endone which is a fast acting strong pain killer. The road was a bit smoother and it wasn't quite so bad until my boyfriend forgot for a second and accellerated too quickly. It felt like my body split in half... i lost it then and had a panick attack. So i popped two diazapams which really did the trick, for about half an hour i think i fell asleep and when i woke, we were so close to home that i got excited... The drive was about 1hr 45 mins. If anyone is thinking of doing a trip like that after hospital I would recommend dosing up and knocking yourself out for it.

    Since being home i have been doing really well. The pain is constant, and about 4 or 5 most of the time, but watching movies, reading magazines and using the internet are taking my mind off it. I have been going for my two walks (which is the only exercise Doc gave me) but i do get tired very easily. So ive been up for an hour or 2 then back to bed for an hour or two and I religiously take meds every 4 hours- alternating between panadol and tramadol and having and endone or oxcycontin if i get strong pain in between.

    ive also still been constipated, but mum made a curry last night and it actually worked! It has been about 9 days since I have been able to clear my bowels, so it was very relieving... my tummy is much less bloated now, thank goodness!

    I have been sleeping quite well, it is difficult to get into a comfortable position, but once i get it, i don't move and I sleep for about 3 or 4 hours at time.

    hmmm.. it's time for a rest now...
    Kellie 25yrs
    Melbourne, Aus
    Diagnosed 1998- brace for 3 years
    2006 curves showed progression
    Before surgery T45* L43*
    25/5/10 posterior fusion T4-T11
    Post surgery T<20* L27*
    Fingers crossed for more improvement on lumbar before 12 months!

  • #2
    Kassie,
    I'm sure it's nice to be home. It sounds like you're doing really well.
    Karen

    Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
    Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
    70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
    Rib Hump-GONE!
    Age-60 at the time of surgery
    Now 66
    Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
    Retired Kdgn. Teacher

    See photobucket link for:
    Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
    Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
    tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
    http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

    Comment


    • #3
      Kassie - glad you're home. Sounds like you have lots of people taking good care of you . Keep resting and healing for a quick recovery!
      Lynette - 44 years old.

      Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
      Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees

      Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
      Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees

      Surgery April 1st 2010.

      Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
      Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Kassie - you sound like you are doing well this early on. It all sounds so familiar to my experience. I had to drive 1 hour and 10 minutes to my surgeon and the hospital. Due to complications I have had to make the drive 4 or 5 times already. Some trips are miserable, others go smoothly. I am so glad you are home and able to keep your mind busy. That is half the battle.
        Good for you!
        Hope your recovery continues smoothly!
        Shari - 55 years old
        Pre-Surgery 62 degree thorasic curve with shifting.
        Post op 13 degree curve.
        Successful surgery 4/15/10, T3-L2 fused.
        2nd surgery to reopen incision 10" to diagnose infection, 5/18/10
        Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI - the late Dr. Harry Herkowitz
        www.scoliosisthejourney.com

        Comment


        • #5
          Congratulations! Keep up the smooth recovery!
          36 year young cardiac RN
          old curve C 29, T 70, L 50
          new curve C 7, T 23, L 20
          Surgery June 11, UCH, Dr. Cronen T2-L5, posterior
          Revision December 20 L5-S1 with pelvic fixation
          and Osteotomy to L3 at Tampa General Hospital

          Comment


          • #6
            Hi Kassie-

            So glad to hear you are doing so well! Congrats on making it to the other side! My surgery is in 7 days so I am enjoying reading your posts. Thanks for the update.

            Best of luck to you,
            JenM
            Surgery date: June 8, 2010 with Dr. Boachie
            Thoracic curve: 55 degrees, corrected to 25 degrees
            Lumbar curve: 58 degrees, corrected to 27 degrees
            Posterior-only surgery, Levels T3-L3
            31 year old mother of 2 young kids

            Comment


            • #7
              Kellie,

              Great post and congrats on your good news....

              Hey, I'm thinking this forum needs your mom's curry recipe!

              Get lots of rest and we look forward to hearing more.

              Amy
              Amy
              58 yrs old, diagnosed at 31, never braced
              Measured T-64, L-65 in 2009
              Measured T-57, L-56 in 2010, different doc
              2 lumbar levels spondylolisthesis
              Exercising to correct

              Comment


              • #8
                I never thought of curry!

                Sounds like you're doing great Kassie.
                Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                Comment


                • #9
                  Welcome home Kassie. Sounds like your doing well. Wow, i can't get over how many pain meds you came home with. Please - keep a pain med diary and be careful (must be the mum/nan in me). I only came home on Endone 5mg and Panadeine Forte. Best wishes for a continued smooth and uncomplicated recovery.
                  Vali
                  44 years young! now 45
                  Surgery - June 1st, 2009
                  Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
                  St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
                  Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
                  Post -op - 5 degrees
                  T11 - S1 Posterior
                  L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    So happy that you are home and doing well at this early stage. I can definitely relate to the car ride home although I didn't make it for about 14 days and then 7 hours divided over two days. Not fun. Meds were an absolute! Janet
                    Janet

                    61 years old--57 for surgery

                    Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
                    Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
                    Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
                    Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
                    T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

                    All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Vali View Post
                      lWow, i can't get over how many pain meds you came home with. Please - keep a pain med diary and be careful (must be the mum/nan in me). I only came home on Endone 5mg and Panadeine Forte. Best wishes for a continued smooth and uncomplicated recovery.
                      thanks Vali, I have been keeping a diary on my phone writing the time and dose of meds I've been having every day since hospital. I'm nearly all out, but have an appointment with GP tomorrow to get a little top up. I'm mainly taking regular panadol with a strong fast acting booster when I get bad pain, now and then.. It's definately a good idea to keep note to make sure you don't over do it..
                      Kellie 25yrs
                      Melbourne, Aus
                      Diagnosed 1998- brace for 3 years
                      2006 curves showed progression
                      Before surgery T45* L43*
                      25/5/10 posterior fusion T4-T11
                      Post surgery T<20* L27*
                      Fingers crossed for more improvement on lumbar before 12 months!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by JenniferG View Post
                        I never thought of curry!

                        Sounds like you're doing great Kassie.
                        I've also discovered some herbal tea from the health food shop. I think it's a dieters tea which really gets the bowels moving.. But be careful not to over do it.. I got carried away and paid for it... The toilet is definately not the most comfortable chair post surgery... Oops!
                        Kellie 25yrs
                        Melbourne, Aus
                        Diagnosed 1998- brace for 3 years
                        2006 curves showed progression
                        Before surgery T45* L43*
                        25/5/10 posterior fusion T4-T11
                        Post surgery T<20* L27*
                        Fingers crossed for more improvement on lumbar before 12 months!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Yep - i know this tea. I used it two nights before surgery, however, as i had anterior surgery as well, i was not game enough to take it post-surgery!
                          Vali
                          44 years young! now 45
                          Surgery - June 1st, 2009
                          Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
                          St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
                          Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
                          Post -op - 5 degrees
                          T11 - S1 Posterior
                          L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion

                          Comment

                          Working...
                          X