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FINALLY home!
Hi Everyone!
I wanted to let you know I just got home, after just about a full week in the hospital (surgery was Monday). I'll write a day-by-day of it as soon as I have the energy, but the highlights....
ILLIUS- as many of you have said, my stomach actually caused me more trouble than my back. After they started me on a clear liquid diet, all the food just sat in my stomach, causing it to become really painful and distended. They put me back on IV fluids for a few days. They listed to it with a stethoscope often, and today finally heard noises significant enough to let me go home!
Day 2 - They decided (clearly without much thought..) to take me for xrays the day after surgery. After moving me from my hospital bed to the gurney, through the hospital (lots of bumps), and from the gurney to the xray table (where they left me by myself for a LONG time), they realized the xrays were supposed to be STANDING, which was obviously out of the question... As soon as I got back to my hospital bed, I starting throwing up a color not found in nature..gee, thanks. ugh.
The magic disappearing Blood Pressure - Days 2-4, every time the PT would come to help me learn to sit, stand, and walk, he'd first take my blood pressure laying in bed, where it was fairly close to normal ( anywhere between 90/50 and 110/70). Then, I'd logroll, sit up, and he'd take it again. It dropped scary low each time (like, 50/40 at worst)... The result was it took me a couple extra days to start moving around...
Brace - I don't need a post-op brace!!! Apparently the surgery went so well that the surgeon decided it was unnecessary because the hardware was so secure, and all but one fused vertebrae was protected by my rib cage. What a nice surprise!
All in all, I'm feeling good at the moment. My back feels like a giant bruise, and my tummy is gurgling. I feel proud. Thank you again and again for all your advice, prayers, well-wishes and support!
I wanted to let you know I just got home, after just about a full week in the hospital (surgery was Monday). I'll write a day-by-day of it as soon as I have the energy, but the highlights....
ILLIUS- as many of you have said, my stomach actually caused me more trouble than my back. After they started me on a clear liquid diet, all the food just sat in my stomach, causing it to become really painful and distended. They put me back on IV fluids for a few days. They listed to it with a stethoscope often, and today finally heard noises significant enough to let me go home!
Day 2 - They decided (clearly without much thought..) to take me for xrays the day after surgery. After moving me from my hospital bed to the gurney, through the hospital (lots of bumps), and from the gurney to the xray table (where they left me by myself for a LONG time), they realized the xrays were supposed to be STANDING, which was obviously out of the question... As soon as I got back to my hospital bed, I starting throwing up a color not found in nature..gee, thanks. ugh.
The magic disappearing Blood Pressure - Days 2-4, every time the PT would come to help me learn to sit, stand, and walk, he'd first take my blood pressure laying in bed, where it was fairly close to normal ( anywhere between 90/50 and 110/70). Then, I'd logroll, sit up, and he'd take it again. It dropped scary low each time (like, 50/40 at worst)... The result was it took me a couple extra days to start moving around...
Brace - I don't need a post-op brace!!! Apparently the surgery went so well that the surgeon decided it was unnecessary because the hardware was so secure, and all but one fused vertebrae was protected by my rib cage. What a nice surprise!
All in all, I'm feeling good at the moment. My back feels like a giant bruise, and my tummy is gurgling. I feel proud. Thank you again and again for all your advice, prayers, well-wishes and support!
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