Tamena's Surgery 10-22

[Confusedmom]

Tamena was up walking twice today and pain is better controlled!

[Emma Plum]

Great news! Aunt M.

[JenniferG]

Glad to hear it!

[king14]

Fantastic!!!! keep it up girl!!

[Emma Plum]

How is Tamena doing? Haven't heard for a few days. Should I be following a different thread for updates?

Hope all is going well, Aunt M.

[Confusedmom]

Tamena is home! She has been walking quite a bit. The first night home was rough, but she got through. She has a big scar on the side of her abdomen where they removed a rib. Overall, sounds like she's doing well.

Evelyn

[golfnut]

Evelyn,
Thanks for being such a good "scoli sister" to everyone and keeping us updated. We really do care about each other.

[Confusedmom]

Thanks, Karen.

My pleasure. I'm checking on them every day, anyway.

Best,
Evelyn

[tae_tap]

Hey guys! Thanks for praying, keep it up. Evelyn, thanks for the help with updates. I am home and it has been rough,but I'm making it through. I'm not ready to enter the 90 year old walker race anytime soon. I find myself crying all the time, out of shampoo, the water works flow. I know my husband probably feels like he's in the twilight zone because the only time he's seen me cry is the loss of a loved one.

I decided to change my surgery right before going in. I did a bone on bone fusion to part of the bottom curve and straightend it, the lower part should move on its own. The top curve never caused me any pain so if this works I will retain all range of motion. In the hospital I had an epidural catherdur which made me feel like wonder woman, in fact I walked almost 200 feet with it in. I felt little pain until the two chest tubes and the epidural came out then I wondered what the heck I got myself into, lol.

The doctor originally wanted me in the hospital 10-14 days but I was determined to make it out in 7, which I now regret. I think pain management might have been better if I had not rushed things, but that's a lesson learned for them rest of you. Take your time.

The surgery went tremendous until the heart/lung surgeon went to close and nicked my diaphragm which caused my lung to collapse, the reason for two chest tubes. The majority of my pain is coming from the rib they removed, the inability to breathe without my rib cage feeling like its going to explode and a spot on my hip which feels like a piece is missing. But I tell myself that pain is temporary and I will be winning the walker race in no time!

Again, thanks for the prayers and concerns!
Love in Christ,
Tamens

[JenniferG]

Oooh, ouch! That hurt to read.

But you're home and every day brings you closer to healing. I've read that rib pain is the worst, but it too, will heal.

I also had epidurals (2) which I woke up with. They were there for three days. That's some very powerful stuff they use! "Premium drugs" my surgeon called them. I expected pain within minutes of removal, but it was a day and a half later that I felt any pain.

Keep that goal in mind...a life without pain.

[tae_tap]

Okay guys, I slept through my midnight pills, but at 4:30 I feel like I have been hit by a Mac truck! Isit better to sleep or set an alarm to keep the meds schedule?

Tamena

[titaniumed]

Tamena

I also ran home too early, and that’s rough.

This is a time that you have to be tough and always remember that things will get better in time. Do the best you can.

I don’t really know how to answer your question since sleeping is so hard. I would say sleep when you can get it, then take meds when you wake up. I could barely sleep at all after I came home that’s why I say this. Sleep is important.

Hang in there
Ed

[Confusedmom]

I would try to schedule it so I took meds right when I went to sleep, then I could get 6-8 hours before I needed meds again. I would set my alarm 30 min before I had to get out of bed in the morning and take meds so they had time to kick in before I had to get up. Good luck--this phase will pass soon!

Evelyn

[tae_tap]

Ed & Evelyn,
I know sleep is important especially when it seems like I'm only getting it at night. I don't know a polite way to tell people not to stop by for a few weeks especially since they are bringing food, but I am up all day visiting. I fall asleep at 8:00 when I take my bed medS and sleep till 4:30-5:00, but when I wake I am in excruciating pain. It's not even my back that hurts. It's my side, where I'm assuming the rib is missing and my left leg is so tender. Oping it passes quickly. Thanks for responding earlier, I'm so emotional att his stage.
Tamena

[Emma Plum]

Tamena--just lost a similar reply to you somewhere in cyber-space.

I know exactly what you mean about visits from kind people who bring food, but stay too long. Been there, done that. Someone must be co-ordinating the visits, so you don't have seven days of food all arriving on Monday. Can you contact this person, and let him or her know that you are grateful for the food, but you simply aren't ready for visits yet? If you don't know who is co-ordinating, speak to whomever seems sensitive to your needs. (I always welcomed "Anything I can do for you before I leave?") If it's through church, any person who knows you well could pass on the word.

You can emphasize that you are sleeping irregularly, you have to nap when your body is ready, and you never know when that will be. Or that some days you are grateful for company, but other days, you are just too tired. Or that you like company, but need to stick to a 10-minute limit. Think to yourself, "What would be my ideal vision of a team of food-bearing visitors," and try to get that message out. Also, of course, what you need will be different at different stages in your recovery.

Take care, and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself.

With prayers and blessings, Aunt M.