Hey everyone!
I am home and doing very well. I am not up to much typing yet so I'll keep this short. I just know how helpful it was for me to read posts like this when I was about to take the leap.
My fusion began Monday morning around 7 a.m. and ended around 4 p.m. No complications whatsoever. I was doing so well I didn't even have to go to ICU at all. I woke up in my private room in the hospital with my dear husband and mother by my side. I don't really remember much of that day except I was so happy to feel my legs move and be told I was doing very well. I am now fused from T4 to L4. My surgeon was very happily surprised with the flexibility in my spine and was able to get an amazing correction with less hardware, and without going all the way to the sacrum like he originally thought was necessary. I gained almost 2 full inches in height.
I am still a little worried about not being fused all the way to the S1, but I have to trust that if I needed it, he would have done it.
The days at the hospital are a blur of constipation, drugs, and pain. The pain wasn't as bad as I imagined it, but it is no joke. My nurses were great and didn't ever let it get out of control.
I was doing really well and by my 4th day the hospital I was walking, doing stairs, and able to sit up and finally go to the bathroom. My dr said I could go home because I was doing so well. Looking back, I think if my Mom was not a former PA, this would have been a terrible decision. But I knew she was here to take care of me, and is medically trained. So I went home after only 4 days in the hospital! I DO NOT recommend this to anyone who does not have 24 hours a day trained medical assistance at home.
I took my get out of jail free card and ran home as fast as I could (lol). That is when I started to notice severe pain when standing which soon turned into nausea and vomiting. Called the dr and turns out I had a spinal headache that didn't fully develop until I was at home and doing so well...of course.
This was a huge problem. I couldn't walk or sit up AT ALL for 72 hours. As we all know, walking is the biggest part of this recovery process, and all the progress I had made at the hospital got thrown in the garbage. I couldn't poop again...was absolute HELL for 5 days. I couldn't eat because of the constipation pain, and couldn't sleep either.
Anyway, there was nothing to be done but deal, and like I said, my mom is a PA and was with me 24 hours a day doing absolutely everything for me. I would've had to go back to the hospital if she wasn't here.
The headache is finally gone and I am already doing 100% better. I'm no longer "clogged" but it's such a fine balance between pain meds and constipation, a daily battle. Eating as much fiber, bananas, applesauce, gatoraide, fiberone cereal as possible. Also gas pills and 2-3 stool softeners a day, and prune juice, eggs, and chicken soup.
The pain is strong. I am on a lot of meds right now. But now that I can stand again and take hot showers PRAISE GOD...I am able to deal a little better. Taking little walks down the hallway and just sitting up for short periods of time really seem to help the stiffness. and HOT SHOWERS.
But, as you can see from how long this turned out, I am doing pretty well for only being a week and a day post op.
I am really excited about one thing I've noticed despite the pain I'm in. When I sit up, I never feel like I'm collapsing in on myself anymore. It is not so much work to stand up, or sit up. I LOVE that change. I'm adjusting to the new height. I have trouble reaching my sink's handles right now, not sure how I'll adjust to that, but am choosing not to worry about it yet. I can lift my arms without much pain now, and stand sooo straight. it's so strange!
Anyway....to all of you about to take that leap, here's some advice that I am repeating to myself: "it will not be this bad forever". The pain will get better, and I can't wait to start living my life without the crazy curves. I am glad I did this now, when I am young and don't have children to take care of yet. I can get a glimpse even in this state how hard it's been for me over the last 5 years, and I think this correction will actually help me.
Blessings,
Rebecca
I am home and doing very well. I am not up to much typing yet so I'll keep this short. I just know how helpful it was for me to read posts like this when I was about to take the leap.
My fusion began Monday morning around 7 a.m. and ended around 4 p.m. No complications whatsoever. I was doing so well I didn't even have to go to ICU at all. I woke up in my private room in the hospital with my dear husband and mother by my side. I don't really remember much of that day except I was so happy to feel my legs move and be told I was doing very well. I am now fused from T4 to L4. My surgeon was very happily surprised with the flexibility in my spine and was able to get an amazing correction with less hardware, and without going all the way to the sacrum like he originally thought was necessary. I gained almost 2 full inches in height.
I am still a little worried about not being fused all the way to the S1, but I have to trust that if I needed it, he would have done it.
The days at the hospital are a blur of constipation, drugs, and pain. The pain wasn't as bad as I imagined it, but it is no joke. My nurses were great and didn't ever let it get out of control.
I was doing really well and by my 4th day the hospital I was walking, doing stairs, and able to sit up and finally go to the bathroom. My dr said I could go home because I was doing so well. Looking back, I think if my Mom was not a former PA, this would have been a terrible decision. But I knew she was here to take care of me, and is medically trained. So I went home after only 4 days in the hospital! I DO NOT recommend this to anyone who does not have 24 hours a day trained medical assistance at home.
I took my get out of jail free card and ran home as fast as I could (lol). That is when I started to notice severe pain when standing which soon turned into nausea and vomiting. Called the dr and turns out I had a spinal headache that didn't fully develop until I was at home and doing so well...of course.
This was a huge problem. I couldn't walk or sit up AT ALL for 72 hours. As we all know, walking is the biggest part of this recovery process, and all the progress I had made at the hospital got thrown in the garbage. I couldn't poop again...was absolute HELL for 5 days. I couldn't eat because of the constipation pain, and couldn't sleep either.
Anyway, there was nothing to be done but deal, and like I said, my mom is a PA and was with me 24 hours a day doing absolutely everything for me. I would've had to go back to the hospital if she wasn't here.
The headache is finally gone and I am already doing 100% better. I'm no longer "clogged" but it's such a fine balance between pain meds and constipation, a daily battle. Eating as much fiber, bananas, applesauce, gatoraide, fiberone cereal as possible. Also gas pills and 2-3 stool softeners a day, and prune juice, eggs, and chicken soup.
The pain is strong. I am on a lot of meds right now. But now that I can stand again and take hot showers PRAISE GOD...I am able to deal a little better. Taking little walks down the hallway and just sitting up for short periods of time really seem to help the stiffness. and HOT SHOWERS.
But, as you can see from how long this turned out, I am doing pretty well for only being a week and a day post op.
I am really excited about one thing I've noticed despite the pain I'm in. When I sit up, I never feel like I'm collapsing in on myself anymore. It is not so much work to stand up, or sit up. I LOVE that change. I'm adjusting to the new height. I have trouble reaching my sink's handles right now, not sure how I'll adjust to that, but am choosing not to worry about it yet. I can lift my arms without much pain now, and stand sooo straight. it's so strange!
Anyway....to all of you about to take that leap, here's some advice that I am repeating to myself: "it will not be this bad forever". The pain will get better, and I can't wait to start living my life without the crazy curves. I am glad I did this now, when I am young and don't have children to take care of yet. I can get a glimpse even in this state how hard it's been for me over the last 5 years, and I think this correction will actually help me.
Blessings,
Rebecca
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