So today is (was) exactly 3 weeks post-op. I truly can not believe that I actually went through with the surgery and am lying in bed at home recovering. When I woke up in recovery I thought I was about to go into surgery and was telling the nurse about my latex allergy and she said, "Honey, you're in recovery. You're done. It's over." And I was like, "What?!? It's over? I'm not paralyzed? No complications? I really did it?" And she told me yes and I started yelling, "I did it I did it it's finally over!" A part of me never thought the day would come or that I would have the strength and courage to go through with it.
But here I am, making a miraculous recovery. Physically, I am healing very well. My scar looks amazing. My hips are so much straighter and even and my shoulder blade doesn't protrude as much as it used to. My shoulders are more level. Dr. Moreno couldn't do as much cosmetic tweaking as he wanted because I started bleeding badly during the surgery and they couldn't stop it or get it under control so he had to rush to finish my reconstruction/instrumentation implant/fusion and close me up. I only needed two blood transfusions, but I also needed a unit of platelets. I guess from all the loss during surgery. It only took a little less than 8 hours, but he wanted to spend longer had it not been for the hemorrhaging they couldn't control.
Surprisingly, I was very lucid and coherent from the moment I woke up in recovery. Which was quite a double edged sword. I was totally aware of all of my pain, the ICU nurse having no idea how to put in an IV and stabbing me about 9 times before my mother insisted on another nurse putting it in. Then on day three of recovery in the ICU came the constipation from the dilaudid (similar to morphine I guess, pain medicine through IV). So they shoved a giant tube, the circumference of my pinky finger, through my sinuses, down my throat, and into my stomach to suck out any food/anesthesia and release built up gas. My stomach was so swollen I looked like I was going to give birth to triplets.
The tube insertion was SO painful and uncomfortable. The tube was notched and I had to try to swallow it down while also gagging and dry heaving, bleeding profusely from my nose, and drooling everywhere. They had to toss and change my sheets and blankets from the blood. It was so traumatic my step-mom started crying and had to leave the room, my dad was holding my hand and started tearing up and had to look away, Kevin said it was hard for him to watch me in so much pain and so uncomfortable with nothing to do to stop it. THEN came the 5 day ice chip only diet! Oh, AND all of my oral medications had to be crushed up, mixed with water, and flushed through my nose hose! NGT Tube is the correct terminology according to my father. Miserable. So miserable. Any time I spoke, swallowed, took a breath, coughed, sneezed, moved, I could feel it in my throat and moving in my stomach. We'll get into the trainee nurse turning the pressure up too high and it suctioning to the side of my stomach and my blood pressure and heart beat sky rocketing another time.
I couldn't wear my abdominal brace (Abdominal Orthosis Donning Brace) because of the stomach distention so I was bed ridden about 90% of the day other than when I would get up once or twice and walk around the unit. I did 350 feet day two and three and 700 feet on day four. With no brace! It hurt, was done with very small baby steps and of course the assistance of my featherlight walker, but most patients struggle with taking 100-150 steps. I was in the hospital 9 days. I was actually becoming comfortable towards the end. I had a very nice private room at TGH with a view of the bay. A little cot/bed for my guests. Kevin stayed with me most of the time but my mom and dad each stayed a couple times as well. My father still comforts and eases my fears more than anyone in the world, other than Kevin of course. There is something about your dad, a man that raised and protected you at a very young age that transcends into a woman's adulthood and I'm really luck to have that.
I had lots of visitors and many flower and plant deliveries. All of which I was and am extremely grateful for. I was never alone. Not for one moment. There was always someone around helping to monitor and take care of me and make sure the nurses didn't mess up my medications, physical therapy, etc. You would be surprised, if we had not kept a log and asked every two hours when they came in the room they would have forgotten and or over medicated me multiple times. I spent either 4 or 5 nights in the ICU and the rest in critical care on the neurological and trauma floor. There were some very seriously injured and sick people and it made me feel like my surgery was insignificant and nothing too large to conquer at all. Compared to the woman across the hall having tumors in her brain removed and screaming and moaning in pain at all hours of the day and night, I felt thankful.
A lot of my dead nerves are starting to wake up a little. My friend Monique that is 4-5 months post-op said that it is a marathon, not a sprint. I have to keep reminding myself of that. I saw Dr. Moreno on Valentine's Day and I see him again next Wednesday. I will upload some pictures from my journey. From the IVC Filter implant, rejection, all the way through my surgery, recovery, and even my knew straight x-rays and my terminator back full of metal.
I was not prepared for how much metal was going to be in my back, forever. When I think about it I start to sweat and my heart races. I have 26 screws longer than my middle finger going through the side of each vertebra in 13 discs. Then there are two 14 in rods going length wise down either side of my entire spine. They harvested bone marrow from my spine and the remainder from a cadaver to fuse it all together. Luckily he didn't harvest it from my thigh like most surgeons. He says there's no reason since you're already tearing about the entire spine to cause me the pain of a bone marrow transplant from my thigh before a major back surgery. I agree lol!
I have been bed ridden for the last 5 weeks. It is boring, frustrating, and excruciatingly painful. But it's nothing compared to standing up. The weight and the pressure of all the metal, I can feel it where my top curve used to be and in my lower back. It's very uncomfortable and it hurts like nothing I could ever explain.
Luckily, my body hates narcotic pain medication so I can't take much. Addiction and all that garbage that come with it will never be a problem for this gal. I have really been trying to keep up my appetite because I can't stand to lose any more weight. I am now 5'4 and weigh 110 pounds. We are going to measure this Wednesday but we're pretty sure I am two inches taller! I busted my butt to get down to that size and maintain it after a brief but large weight gain between 2006-2008. I lost it all and have maintained it for 4 years. It's not easy. I will NEVER get large again though. I don't think it will be much of a problem with the extra stress on my stomach, thighs, arms, and especially my knees. I can't do much of anything for myself. I can only bend forward about two inches and the metal catches me and that's it. I have just started to be able to turn my head a little to the left and the right and I can reach very very slightly to the right to get medicines out of my nightstand drawer. I can only squat and it's very hard and painful if I want to get lower. I still can't handle even sitting up on the couch or in the recliner even with pillows propped up. For the most part I can't lean, twist, turn, bend, in any direction for any reason. CAN'T. Not won't or choose not to because of the pain. I don't think I can ever ride rollercoasters or fair rides again. Didn't think about that before. There are a few large con's, but the pro's so vastly outweigh them it makes no difference.
I am so thankful to Dr. Anthony Moreno for saving my life. For giving me back my quality of life and boosting my self esteem and self image. My scar is so small and hardly noticeable. He actually sewed up my back where my tattoo is himself to make sure it was perfect so I don't have to get it redone. You get what you pay for. I won't give an exact number because it's not appropriate. But this surgery cost over a half a million dollars to my insurance company. I got the Maserati version of spine surgeries. I have only found Kia's and Hyundai's, maybe a Toyota or two in the last 13 years, but Dr. Moreno is the Maserati of Spine Surgeons and Bone Grafting Specialists.
I look amazing for only being 5 weeks post-op. I can walk really far now and have pushed my canister vacuum and shark steam mop a few times. Kevin told on my to my at home nurse that came every other day and she really got onto me. They said that's still off limits. So are the dishes and all other housework. I still can't go to my office because I can't climb the stairs. I'm really lucky I have such an understanding employer. He bought me a brand new Lenovo right before Christmas because my old one had a bad battery because I work from home a lot. Of course Kevin has been the most amazing at home nurse, I couldn't ask for better. The kitchen could use a cleaning, but I can't really go in there so oh well lol! My family and friends have all been so supportive and wonderful. I just wish the time would go by quicker and I could be mostly better and starting my normal life again.
I will finish tonight with my most recent inspiration quote, "I've been motivated by overcoming challenge and overcoming the hurdles and obstacles that face me. There still is plenty out there to get motivated by." ~ Andre Agassi
As Always With Karma,
Amanda
But here I am, making a miraculous recovery. Physically, I am healing very well. My scar looks amazing. My hips are so much straighter and even and my shoulder blade doesn't protrude as much as it used to. My shoulders are more level. Dr. Moreno couldn't do as much cosmetic tweaking as he wanted because I started bleeding badly during the surgery and they couldn't stop it or get it under control so he had to rush to finish my reconstruction/instrumentation implant/fusion and close me up. I only needed two blood transfusions, but I also needed a unit of platelets. I guess from all the loss during surgery. It only took a little less than 8 hours, but he wanted to spend longer had it not been for the hemorrhaging they couldn't control.
Surprisingly, I was very lucid and coherent from the moment I woke up in recovery. Which was quite a double edged sword. I was totally aware of all of my pain, the ICU nurse having no idea how to put in an IV and stabbing me about 9 times before my mother insisted on another nurse putting it in. Then on day three of recovery in the ICU came the constipation from the dilaudid (similar to morphine I guess, pain medicine through IV). So they shoved a giant tube, the circumference of my pinky finger, through my sinuses, down my throat, and into my stomach to suck out any food/anesthesia and release built up gas. My stomach was so swollen I looked like I was going to give birth to triplets.
The tube insertion was SO painful and uncomfortable. The tube was notched and I had to try to swallow it down while also gagging and dry heaving, bleeding profusely from my nose, and drooling everywhere. They had to toss and change my sheets and blankets from the blood. It was so traumatic my step-mom started crying and had to leave the room, my dad was holding my hand and started tearing up and had to look away, Kevin said it was hard for him to watch me in so much pain and so uncomfortable with nothing to do to stop it. THEN came the 5 day ice chip only diet! Oh, AND all of my oral medications had to be crushed up, mixed with water, and flushed through my nose hose! NGT Tube is the correct terminology according to my father. Miserable. So miserable. Any time I spoke, swallowed, took a breath, coughed, sneezed, moved, I could feel it in my throat and moving in my stomach. We'll get into the trainee nurse turning the pressure up too high and it suctioning to the side of my stomach and my blood pressure and heart beat sky rocketing another time.
I couldn't wear my abdominal brace (Abdominal Orthosis Donning Brace) because of the stomach distention so I was bed ridden about 90% of the day other than when I would get up once or twice and walk around the unit. I did 350 feet day two and three and 700 feet on day four. With no brace! It hurt, was done with very small baby steps and of course the assistance of my featherlight walker, but most patients struggle with taking 100-150 steps. I was in the hospital 9 days. I was actually becoming comfortable towards the end. I had a very nice private room at TGH with a view of the bay. A little cot/bed for my guests. Kevin stayed with me most of the time but my mom and dad each stayed a couple times as well. My father still comforts and eases my fears more than anyone in the world, other than Kevin of course. There is something about your dad, a man that raised and protected you at a very young age that transcends into a woman's adulthood and I'm really luck to have that.
I had lots of visitors and many flower and plant deliveries. All of which I was and am extremely grateful for. I was never alone. Not for one moment. There was always someone around helping to monitor and take care of me and make sure the nurses didn't mess up my medications, physical therapy, etc. You would be surprised, if we had not kept a log and asked every two hours when they came in the room they would have forgotten and or over medicated me multiple times. I spent either 4 or 5 nights in the ICU and the rest in critical care on the neurological and trauma floor. There were some very seriously injured and sick people and it made me feel like my surgery was insignificant and nothing too large to conquer at all. Compared to the woman across the hall having tumors in her brain removed and screaming and moaning in pain at all hours of the day and night, I felt thankful.
A lot of my dead nerves are starting to wake up a little. My friend Monique that is 4-5 months post-op said that it is a marathon, not a sprint. I have to keep reminding myself of that. I saw Dr. Moreno on Valentine's Day and I see him again next Wednesday. I will upload some pictures from my journey. From the IVC Filter implant, rejection, all the way through my surgery, recovery, and even my knew straight x-rays and my terminator back full of metal.
I was not prepared for how much metal was going to be in my back, forever. When I think about it I start to sweat and my heart races. I have 26 screws longer than my middle finger going through the side of each vertebra in 13 discs. Then there are two 14 in rods going length wise down either side of my entire spine. They harvested bone marrow from my spine and the remainder from a cadaver to fuse it all together. Luckily he didn't harvest it from my thigh like most surgeons. He says there's no reason since you're already tearing about the entire spine to cause me the pain of a bone marrow transplant from my thigh before a major back surgery. I agree lol!
I have been bed ridden for the last 5 weeks. It is boring, frustrating, and excruciatingly painful. But it's nothing compared to standing up. The weight and the pressure of all the metal, I can feel it where my top curve used to be and in my lower back. It's very uncomfortable and it hurts like nothing I could ever explain.
Luckily, my body hates narcotic pain medication so I can't take much. Addiction and all that garbage that come with it will never be a problem for this gal. I have really been trying to keep up my appetite because I can't stand to lose any more weight. I am now 5'4 and weigh 110 pounds. We are going to measure this Wednesday but we're pretty sure I am two inches taller! I busted my butt to get down to that size and maintain it after a brief but large weight gain between 2006-2008. I lost it all and have maintained it for 4 years. It's not easy. I will NEVER get large again though. I don't think it will be much of a problem with the extra stress on my stomach, thighs, arms, and especially my knees. I can't do much of anything for myself. I can only bend forward about two inches and the metal catches me and that's it. I have just started to be able to turn my head a little to the left and the right and I can reach very very slightly to the right to get medicines out of my nightstand drawer. I can only squat and it's very hard and painful if I want to get lower. I still can't handle even sitting up on the couch or in the recliner even with pillows propped up. For the most part I can't lean, twist, turn, bend, in any direction for any reason. CAN'T. Not won't or choose not to because of the pain. I don't think I can ever ride rollercoasters or fair rides again. Didn't think about that before. There are a few large con's, but the pro's so vastly outweigh them it makes no difference.
I am so thankful to Dr. Anthony Moreno for saving my life. For giving me back my quality of life and boosting my self esteem and self image. My scar is so small and hardly noticeable. He actually sewed up my back where my tattoo is himself to make sure it was perfect so I don't have to get it redone. You get what you pay for. I won't give an exact number because it's not appropriate. But this surgery cost over a half a million dollars to my insurance company. I got the Maserati version of spine surgeries. I have only found Kia's and Hyundai's, maybe a Toyota or two in the last 13 years, but Dr. Moreno is the Maserati of Spine Surgeons and Bone Grafting Specialists.
I look amazing for only being 5 weeks post-op. I can walk really far now and have pushed my canister vacuum and shark steam mop a few times. Kevin told on my to my at home nurse that came every other day and she really got onto me. They said that's still off limits. So are the dishes and all other housework. I still can't go to my office because I can't climb the stairs. I'm really lucky I have such an understanding employer. He bought me a brand new Lenovo right before Christmas because my old one had a bad battery because I work from home a lot. Of course Kevin has been the most amazing at home nurse, I couldn't ask for better. The kitchen could use a cleaning, but I can't really go in there so oh well lol! My family and friends have all been so supportive and wonderful. I just wish the time would go by quicker and I could be mostly better and starting my normal life again.
I will finish tonight with my most recent inspiration quote, "I've been motivated by overcoming challenge and overcoming the hurdles and obstacles that face me. There still is plenty out there to get motivated by." ~ Andre Agassi
As Always With Karma,
Amanda
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