I'm Home!

[Geish]

Well, it looks like it was only a 5 day stay after all. For the most part the hospital was great. I had a few mishaps with the X Ray guy being a bit rough and I did have one nurse that decided I didn't really need help for over an hour. But other than that everything went pretty well. I have all shades of the rainbow up and down my forearms from all of the IV's and blood draws. I was up and walking by late on day 2, only 3-4 steps at first but by day 4 I could go the whole length of the hall as well as climb stairs. When I got home late Tuesday I was able to go up the 9 stairs leading into my house with no problem. And that was after a 4 hour car ride through heavy fog and snow! I have taken before pictures of my back and my stomach. As soon as I can stand without the brace I will take after pictures and get them posted. Right now it looks like I have had a tummy tuck and breast lift! And I have a beautiful waist on both sides for the first time in my life! I am able to sit up/stand for up to an hour at a time. Right now I am able to do quite a lot without help. I need help getting my brace on and having things brought to me that I can't carry while using the walker. But I can feed and dress my self for the most part. Just a little help needed. I will post more the next time I am on, need to go lie down for now.

[vndy]

Congratulations! I'm excited to watch you recover as it sounds like you're doing wonderfully. I had similar bruises on my forearms, that have now faded to a lovely shade of yellow/green.

Welcome to "the other side!"

[CHRIS WBS]

HOORAY! And only a five-day hospital stay. You are blessed.

Enjoy your holidays in your new figure, even if it's just laying around and being waited on.

Chris

[rosie1108]

hooray!

I am glad you are doing well! I'll be thinking of you and your so far so good recovery as I go in tomorrow!

Roseann

[Singer]

I am impressed! You are doing VERY well! Congratulations and welcome back.

[geo]

Wow, you sound so great and enthusiastic so soon after surgery! The drugs are working for you....?

Having my waist back was a big thing for me too; for whatever reason, I didn't think about love handles being another result of scoliosis, and when they disappeared after surgery I was ecstatic!

Feeling so independent after all this is a real morale-booster, and I'm happy for you. Looking forward to hearing more!

[Geish]

Pictures included!

I am adding before pictures and the only after picture I so far. I took both front and back shots to see the difference in my tummy. I still can't believe I used to look like that and now I am tall and straight! When I get a "real" after picture I will post it, right now you will have to settle for one of the incision 4 days post op. Sorry for the "yuckiness" of the wound, but what can I say, it was a long incision! 15 vertebrae! The before pictures were taken the night before surgery at the hotel.
before from the front
before from the back
look at the height difference of my shoulders
incision 4 days post op, my head is to the right

[txmarinemom]

Can't wait to see more after pics, Geish, and I doubt few in this section of the forum find your incision "yucky".

My guess is those who've earned their own "badge of courage", and those who'll follow (and can hopefully be as brave) find that mark nothing short of beautiful, miraculous, and the start of your new life! ;-)

Best regards,
Pam

[nzgirl]

Welcome home! You did well! Were you quite fit beforehand? 5 days seems quick to be facing a 4 hour car journey. I went home on day 6 and was glad it was only 20min to get home! I'm impressed.

[Geish]

It was only supposed to take 2 - 21/2 hours to drive home. I was supposed to be discharged by 1 so I could miss all of the rush our traffic leaving L.A. but instead we finally got on the freeway at 4 PM. It then took 2 hours just to get past Pasadena, normally a 30-40 minute drive. When we go to the bottom of the mountain we live on it should have been 45 minutes more but we hit very thick, heavy fog for the first 15-20 miles and then we hit snow and had to chain up to make it the last 18 or so miles home! Its a drive my 19 year old daughter will never forget. She had never driven in fog and then snow. Needless to say she was a bit stressed by the time we walked in the door. She has been such a trooper, changing my dressings, giving me my meds (so I don't screw it up) and even helping with the bathroom unpleasantness. She wakes up every 2 hours to make sure I have my breakthrough meds and don't start hurting too much.
My fitness level was decent before surgery. I had been going to the gym since mid September to make sure I was as strong and healthy as I could be. So I was doing cardio and some weight lifting to give this poor old body something to rebuild on after the surgery.

[CHRIS WBS]

Geish

I see my body in your pictures, except I don’t have the ample chest. I have the right hip extension like you had. Just add another 10 years and further progression and my deformity has become even uglier. My progression really took off following menopause. Apparently you required only posterior surgery. That is what my surgeon has now recommended after reviewing my bending film. I will see him again in March to set a surgery date for summer. Thanks so much for posting your pictures. It gives many of us hope. All the best to you with your recovery.

Chris

[Shari]

Welcome home and have a nice holiday!!!

Shari

[crepehanger]

Amazing!

I am always humbled by the amazing results this surgery gives us. Your incision is so straight! You will not believe how good you will look in a few weeks. I am so happy you did well in surgery. It sure encourages the people getting ready for surgery to see results like that! Remember to rest and eat well...