Hi everyone!
Just wanted to update you on my surgery that I had last week, hard to believe it was only last Thursday (6 days ago). My surgery went very well, my surgeon was extremely pleased and thinks I will be as well once I see my x-rays in 4 weeks. He was able to correct my rotation more than he anticipated, I noticed a difference right away as my rib no longer sticks out of my chest as much, and from the front I look really straight.
My surgery was posterior approach with fusion of the T6-L3, including bone grafts from my left pelvic bone. I'll try and give you a summary of my last week of progress....
Thursday: Much anticipation, nerves as I enter the hospital for my checkin for an 11:30 am surgery. Did all necesary preparation work the evening before (let me just say I'm not a fan of the fleet enima). My family was expected that the surgery would take 4 hours with an additional hour of prep/closing time before they would see the doctor. The entire process was done an hour early. I was sent to post-op at 3:30. I don't remember anything from when I went into the surgery room until 7pm which is when I left post-op and went to my hospital room, that was the first time I saw my family. It was a much longer day for them.
Friday: With IV's and cathedar in, I was bed-ridden, waking up about every 2 hours and clicking the 'morphine' button anytime I needed pain killers. On a scale from 1-10, pain was at an 8 after a click or two of the morhphine button, it was down to a bearable 5, but I was still out of it. Since my surgery involved my lumbar, a support brace is necessary for the next 3 months, so the brace guy casted me friday morning so the brace was ready for me the next day. Also, Finally got my own private hospital room (makes a huge difference! I requested this when I made my operation appointment but they couldn't guarantee me anything)...I consistently asked for a private one and got one by the second day.
Saturday: Pain is still manageable, but at an '8'. Still on IV's and morhpine. Brace came and began wearing it right away. Now that I had a brace on I was able to get out of bed and sit for 20minutes in a chair. Big accomplishment. Getting myself of of bed is a challenge, probably the hardest part of the recovery.
Sunday: IV's came out, cathedar came out and started to eat a liquid diet. Some nauseausness, due to the light dinner. Also, now taking muscle relaxers and vicadin pills. Only took 1/2 the dosage available, pain was still manageable. Just waiting for the 'gas to pass' so I can start eating more solid foods. ;-) Also, took my first lap around the hospital wing, walking very well, feeling stronger every day.
Running out of time...will write more in a couple days. Just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing very well, and am extremely glad I had the surgery.
Thanks!
C-White
53 degree curve
Posterior correction of T6-L3
Surgery, Cincinnati Ohio
Just wanted to update you on my surgery that I had last week, hard to believe it was only last Thursday (6 days ago). My surgery went very well, my surgeon was extremely pleased and thinks I will be as well once I see my x-rays in 4 weeks. He was able to correct my rotation more than he anticipated, I noticed a difference right away as my rib no longer sticks out of my chest as much, and from the front I look really straight.
My surgery was posterior approach with fusion of the T6-L3, including bone grafts from my left pelvic bone. I'll try and give you a summary of my last week of progress....
Thursday: Much anticipation, nerves as I enter the hospital for my checkin for an 11:30 am surgery. Did all necesary preparation work the evening before (let me just say I'm not a fan of the fleet enima). My family was expected that the surgery would take 4 hours with an additional hour of prep/closing time before they would see the doctor. The entire process was done an hour early. I was sent to post-op at 3:30. I don't remember anything from when I went into the surgery room until 7pm which is when I left post-op and went to my hospital room, that was the first time I saw my family. It was a much longer day for them.
Friday: With IV's and cathedar in, I was bed-ridden, waking up about every 2 hours and clicking the 'morphine' button anytime I needed pain killers. On a scale from 1-10, pain was at an 8 after a click or two of the morhphine button, it was down to a bearable 5, but I was still out of it. Since my surgery involved my lumbar, a support brace is necessary for the next 3 months, so the brace guy casted me friday morning so the brace was ready for me the next day. Also, Finally got my own private hospital room (makes a huge difference! I requested this when I made my operation appointment but they couldn't guarantee me anything)...I consistently asked for a private one and got one by the second day.
Saturday: Pain is still manageable, but at an '8'. Still on IV's and morhpine. Brace came and began wearing it right away. Now that I had a brace on I was able to get out of bed and sit for 20minutes in a chair. Big accomplishment. Getting myself of of bed is a challenge, probably the hardest part of the recovery.
Sunday: IV's came out, cathedar came out and started to eat a liquid diet. Some nauseausness, due to the light dinner. Also, now taking muscle relaxers and vicadin pills. Only took 1/2 the dosage available, pain was still manageable. Just waiting for the 'gas to pass' so I can start eating more solid foods. ;-) Also, took my first lap around the hospital wing, walking very well, feeling stronger every day.
Running out of time...will write more in a couple days. Just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing very well, and am extremely glad I had the surgery.
Thanks!
C-White
53 degree curve
Posterior correction of T6-L3
Surgery, Cincinnati Ohio
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