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Written Thurs., July 21
Hi, everyone, and thanks for all your good wishes. My surgery was Tuesday, July 5th and I came home on the 10th.
The surgery was three hours long and went smoothly. I'm fused T2-T12. I found the Hospital for Special Surgery to be a tightly-run ship, full of very professional, kind people. My first night was in the PACU, and my second night I was in a shared room but had no roommate. I had a roommate for the next two nights, and after she checked out, another one for my last night. Although I found the night nurses to be prompt, I was glad I had hired a private duty nurse's aide for the night shifts. It was great having her there to help me turn over, reach things, get water, get me cleaned up in the mornings and evenings, etc. Having roommates was helpful, too, because it seemed there were always nurses around tending to my roommates (both in for knee surgery) and I could get their attention easily. Strangely, the second day after the surgery was my easiest, most pain-free day. The next two days and nights I was in a lot more discomfort. I think Thursday morning was when I had my last dose of the PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) pump before they took it away. (I hated to see that thing go.)
On Saturday, I think, (it's all sort of a foggy memory now) I got the oxycodone amount increased. Sunday afternoon I went home to NJ. The potholes on the drive back didn't bother me but sitting up straight for over an hour was hard. After a meal of take-out sushi (in retrospect, not the smartest idea), I started to feel more and more abdominal discomfort. This went on through the next day until I called the doctor's office in the evening. The doctor on call said to reduce the oxycodone or I would get more constipated. That night, and the next day and night were pretty painful (from back pain--the abdominal pain was gone) so on Wednesday morning I called the doctor's office and Lindy increased the oxycodone back up to what it originally was when I got home. I'm also taking Tylenol, which helps a lot. (Sorry to go into so much detail--I see this post is getting very long even though my surgery was very simple and straightforward. I am absolutely in awe of all you who've gone through longer fusions and much more complicated surgeries.) I'm not sure why I'm writing in such detail except that it helps me remember everything better. So far my main advice is: don't hesitate to call and ask for more pain relief if you're suffering. (Also, don't eat sushi when you come home from the hospital.) The funny thing is: I don't think it was really constipation I had after that dinner--it was a huge amount of bloating and gas build-up. Luckily, I remembered what sarahcant had written about such matters and had my husband go out and buy several boxes of Gas-X. It helped tremendously. Ever since I got the oxycodone increased I've been doing much better. Also, I started taking Valium Tuesday night for muscle relaxation, and last night I slept pretty well for a change. My main problem now is that I find it very uncomfortable to sit in a chair or sofa for more than a few minutes. I also can't lie on my back for very long. Maybe that's par for the course. My first six days home I took all my meals in bed and pretty much stayed there all day except for walks inside and outside. In desperation, I had my husband go out and buy a petite-sized recliner, which was delivered my seventh day home. I sit in it (almost upright) for meals and for brief periods throughout the day. I'm trying to walk a lot--I took three 15-minute walks outside today.
Written Fri., July 22
Had a terrible night's sleep last night; maybe I overdid it with the walking yesterday. Overall, though, I am in very good spirits. I feel extremely lucky to have Dr. Boachie as my doctor, and Lindy, his nurse, is just great. I've had four visits from the Visiting Nurse Assoc. of NJ, and they are a big morale-booster, too. My first post-op visit is Aug. 15th and I'm really excited to hear what Dr. Boachie has to say about everything.
I can't imagine how I could have gone through this without all the information, advice and camaraderie of this forum. Thank you, everyone, so much.
Mary, 54 years old
T57, L43
surgery - 7/05/11 - Dr. Boachie , Hospital for Special Surgery, NYC
T2-T12, posterior
Hi, everyone, and thanks for all your good wishes. My surgery was Tuesday, July 5th and I came home on the 10th.
The surgery was three hours long and went smoothly. I'm fused T2-T12. I found the Hospital for Special Surgery to be a tightly-run ship, full of very professional, kind people. My first night was in the PACU, and my second night I was in a shared room but had no roommate. I had a roommate for the next two nights, and after she checked out, another one for my last night. Although I found the night nurses to be prompt, I was glad I had hired a private duty nurse's aide for the night shifts. It was great having her there to help me turn over, reach things, get water, get me cleaned up in the mornings and evenings, etc. Having roommates was helpful, too, because it seemed there were always nurses around tending to my roommates (both in for knee surgery) and I could get their attention easily. Strangely, the second day after the surgery was my easiest, most pain-free day. The next two days and nights I was in a lot more discomfort. I think Thursday morning was when I had my last dose of the PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) pump before they took it away. (I hated to see that thing go.)
On Saturday, I think, (it's all sort of a foggy memory now) I got the oxycodone amount increased. Sunday afternoon I went home to NJ. The potholes on the drive back didn't bother me but sitting up straight for over an hour was hard. After a meal of take-out sushi (in retrospect, not the smartest idea), I started to feel more and more abdominal discomfort. This went on through the next day until I called the doctor's office in the evening. The doctor on call said to reduce the oxycodone or I would get more constipated. That night, and the next day and night were pretty painful (from back pain--the abdominal pain was gone) so on Wednesday morning I called the doctor's office and Lindy increased the oxycodone back up to what it originally was when I got home. I'm also taking Tylenol, which helps a lot. (Sorry to go into so much detail--I see this post is getting very long even though my surgery was very simple and straightforward. I am absolutely in awe of all you who've gone through longer fusions and much more complicated surgeries.) I'm not sure why I'm writing in such detail except that it helps me remember everything better. So far my main advice is: don't hesitate to call and ask for more pain relief if you're suffering. (Also, don't eat sushi when you come home from the hospital.) The funny thing is: I don't think it was really constipation I had after that dinner--it was a huge amount of bloating and gas build-up. Luckily, I remembered what sarahcant had written about such matters and had my husband go out and buy several boxes of Gas-X. It helped tremendously. Ever since I got the oxycodone increased I've been doing much better. Also, I started taking Valium Tuesday night for muscle relaxation, and last night I slept pretty well for a change. My main problem now is that I find it very uncomfortable to sit in a chair or sofa for more than a few minutes. I also can't lie on my back for very long. Maybe that's par for the course. My first six days home I took all my meals in bed and pretty much stayed there all day except for walks inside and outside. In desperation, I had my husband go out and buy a petite-sized recliner, which was delivered my seventh day home. I sit in it (almost upright) for meals and for brief periods throughout the day. I'm trying to walk a lot--I took three 15-minute walks outside today.
Written Fri., July 22
Had a terrible night's sleep last night; maybe I overdid it with the walking yesterday. Overall, though, I am in very good spirits. I feel extremely lucky to have Dr. Boachie as my doctor, and Lindy, his nurse, is just great. I've had four visits from the Visiting Nurse Assoc. of NJ, and they are a big morale-booster, too. My first post-op visit is Aug. 15th and I'm really excited to hear what Dr. Boachie has to say about everything.
I can't imagine how I could have gone through this without all the information, advice and camaraderie of this forum. Thank you, everyone, so much.
Mary, 54 years old
T57, L43
surgery - 7/05/11 - Dr. Boachie , Hospital for Special Surgery, NYC
T2-T12, posterior
49 years old (yikes)
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