Part Deux

Where was I?  Oh yes, it had won the battle...

But I have not yet conceded the war!

Basically, I have having ACDF for C4 through C6.  That would be Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion.

I have done so much reading and research on this I think my eyeballs  are ready to revolt on me.  It was really nice to know, somewhat, what the doctor was talking about.  It made the words a lot less scary. Let's just say that my surgeon is a man of few words.  After he outlined everything to me, he said..."so, you want to think about it or what?"

One thing I have noticed is the entire lack of real information as to the recovery time.  Possibly because while the surgery is really very common, it is a solution to a multitude of problems.  Your recovery depends on a lot of stuff...one being what exactly was your problem to start with.

For instance, if you have a tiny boo boo- a bandaid will work effectively and timely.  If you have a big cut, a bandaid will work, just not very quickly and not very effectively.  It all depends on where you start....not the fact that everyone will be getting there in the same type of vehicle. Some will get there sooner than others....

So, in my own feeble attempt to document my own strange journey, this blog was born.  Or hatched.  Or begun.  Or something like that.

(Did I forget to warn you about my strange sense of humor?  Sorry!)

Today was my pre-op testing.  They found out I do have a heart and it is beating nicely, thank you very much! (even if SOME people disagree!) They also found out that I should have stopped taking ALL my medication last week.  Hmm....you'd think that between two different doctors looking at my meds they would have figured out that... anyway, they also figured out I do have blood in my veins; no matter how many x-rays they took I still didn't glow; and oh yeah...we all found out that the parking attendant DOES take debit and credit!

So, here are the particulars of my up coming surgery.  It will be on September 20, 2010 at 11:00am.  I have to be there at 9:30, and the surgeon has the room reserved for 3 whole hours!  (yes, that one was a shock to me.  He told me the surgery would take an hour or less.) I can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight (no COFFEE!!!); the kids can not come up to visit me in the hospital; and the ONLY meds I can take from now on are my heartburn meds! (well, I guess I can technically still take my Lunesta to get to sleep prior to the surgery).

Oh yeah...one more tidbit.  Tomorrow I get to go and sit at the rheumatologist office ALL DAY! My surgeon put that my RH doc would clear me for surgery...and he was out of town.  So tomorrow is the ONLY time he can fit me in.(and this man is NOT known for his timely appointments.  I joke that appointments in his office are a 'suggestion' only.  He has morning or evening...take your pick.  It don't matter what time your appointment says!


Nini