One year ago I had this surgery. (actually one year ago tomorrow, but it was on a Monday so I will count it as a year. LOL)
I am getting ready to go back to Disney in a few days, and I am really hoping to be able to ride some rides I didn't get to last time...we'll see.
In the past few months I have been experiencing some more pain and discomfort in my neck. There is a possibility that the bone spurs have grown back, or that the other vertebrae that was bad (but not bad enough for the insurance to pay for ) has gotten worse. My doctor wants me to go in for some more tests to see if another surgery is needed, but I am stalling.
Sound familiar, right?
Of course, I still have my ORIGINAL bottle of pain pills from the recovery process. I was offered a refill a few weeks into the recovery time, but since I rarely took them I declined it. I am guessing once these are gone, I will consider getting it looked at again. If I can make the pain meds last a little over a year when they were designed to last only 2 weeks, I think I am doing pretty well!
When quilting, or embroidering, or really any sewing, I have to wear the soft collar. It helps me to remember to hold my neck right and not slouch! The slouching is what causes my neck to hurt the most!
Of course today, while attempting to clean the house, I got a catch in my neck that caused shooting pain down to my hands. Probably not a good sign especially since it is still hurting a little over an hour later. Probably a good thing that I have a doctor's appointment right after we get back from Disney!
nini
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Approaching the six month mark
I have a few observations I would like to make.
I have had some good days and some bad days. The bad days have not been as bad as the days before surgery, but they are more numerous than I expected. Having a few pieces of metal in your neck is a bit strange. I knew there was a chance of being able to feel the difference, but was really hoping it wouldn't be too severe. It isn't enough to drive me crazy, but I do know it was there.
Seems having metal in your neck makes the cold seem more.....COLD. When you include the fact that Georgia has had a very cold and strange weather pattern this season. We have had snow 3 times since Christmas...One of those storms kept the kids out of school for a solid week! Having a cold receptor in your neck has been crazy cold.
It has taken me almost the whole six months to be able to get back to some of my usual routines. Sewing has been especially hard. I find that wearing my brace makes it easier to sew. Another odd thing is sitting at the computer is a bit uncomfortable after a while. So my computer time is a bit more sporadic than I would like.
For my one year surgery anniversary...I am going to Disney. My last trip to Disney was just 10 weeks after surgery. I was the official babysitter of all things you didn't want to take on the ride! While I had fun, it wasn't the most magical trip we've ever taken! This time I will be in a better position to enjoy myself, and it won't be so cold!
In the past 6 months, I've had to take a bit more 'discomfort' pills than I thought I would. I found that if I over did, taking one of the pills would help to keep it from turning to an actual pain. As long as I remembered to take it a bit more easy than I wanted to ...I was fine.
Having the flu was interesting to say the least. Since I can 'feel' the metal plate a bit, it made a sore throat a bit strange to deal with.
Over all, I am very happy that I decided to go with the surgery. There have just been a bit more 'strange' things that I didn't plan on. Not really the type of things you can plan for, since not everyone will experience them. But still were a bit disconcerting, until I found out they were not really out of the ordinary...just not common enough 'side effects' to mention.
Nini
I have had some good days and some bad days. The bad days have not been as bad as the days before surgery, but they are more numerous than I expected. Having a few pieces of metal in your neck is a bit strange. I knew there was a chance of being able to feel the difference, but was really hoping it wouldn't be too severe. It isn't enough to drive me crazy, but I do know it was there.
Seems having metal in your neck makes the cold seem more.....COLD. When you include the fact that Georgia has had a very cold and strange weather pattern this season. We have had snow 3 times since Christmas...One of those storms kept the kids out of school for a solid week! Having a cold receptor in your neck has been crazy cold.
It has taken me almost the whole six months to be able to get back to some of my usual routines. Sewing has been especially hard. I find that wearing my brace makes it easier to sew. Another odd thing is sitting at the computer is a bit uncomfortable after a while. So my computer time is a bit more sporadic than I would like.
For my one year surgery anniversary...I am going to Disney. My last trip to Disney was just 10 weeks after surgery. I was the official babysitter of all things you didn't want to take on the ride! While I had fun, it wasn't the most magical trip we've ever taken! This time I will be in a better position to enjoy myself, and it won't be so cold!
In the past 6 months, I've had to take a bit more 'discomfort' pills than I thought I would. I found that if I over did, taking one of the pills would help to keep it from turning to an actual pain. As long as I remembered to take it a bit more easy than I wanted to ...I was fine.
Having the flu was interesting to say the least. Since I can 'feel' the metal plate a bit, it made a sore throat a bit strange to deal with.
Over all, I am very happy that I decided to go with the surgery. There have just been a bit more 'strange' things that I didn't plan on. Not really the type of things you can plan for, since not everyone will experience them. But still were a bit disconcerting, until I found out they were not really out of the ordinary...just not common enough 'side effects' to mention.
Nini
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Two Weeks have passed...
...since the last time I blogged here. The past two weeks have been sort of uneventful. On Tuesday the 26th I had another appointment with the surgeon. It was at the 5 weeks mark, and he had told me I would be wearing the brace for 8 weeks. Imagine my surprise when he told me I could take the brace off after only 5 weeks.
Evidently he felt I had healed better than he thought I would. I was excited and scared all at the same time. I managed to ride all the way home without the brace, but shortly afterwards, my neck and shoulders were so tired I could barely hold them up!
He said to give it 2 days before I started driving, a couple weeks more of lots and lots of rest and then gradually going back to normal routines. I have to take it easy for another 2 months (and I did not ask what difference between things I could do and couldn't do at the two week and two month mark. At the time I didn't think about it! LOL) He said it would be probably 6 months to 18 months before I could be said to be healed, but unless I had any problems I didn't need to come back.
He was very concerned about my scar...one item I had not given a single thought to! I am not allowed to go out in the sun without sunscreen on, and I am supposed to massage the scar several times a day. He told me since I am so fair skinned, it would take the scar several years to heal all the way and would always be at risk of sun burn.
Since the scar is well hidden in a crease (most people call them wrinkles) of my neck, I don't think of it as being noticeable. Although my family tells me it looks like someone wrote on my neck with a brown marker. So I am guessing it is more noticeable than I thought it was! LOL! Since I always thought of my self as having vain tendancies, this revelation has surprised me. I would have thought this would have been the most worrisome aspect...but it is not bothering me at all.
I know some people wear scarves so thescar won't show, but I have no plans on that any time soon.
So, other than being tired, and a bit sore, I think it is safe to say I am well on my way to being healed. I probably won't be making any more posts on here unless something new comes up.
If you are thinking of having this surgery, I think the key is to have confidence in your surgeon, and do your own research. Knowing what he was planning on doing and therefore knowing somewhat ehat to expect, made the whole process a bit easier. The actual pain was surprisingly non exsistent after leaving the hospital. A few periods of some discomfort, but no real pain. Overall it was MUCH easier than I thought it would be.
Nini
Evidently he felt I had healed better than he thought I would. I was excited and scared all at the same time. I managed to ride all the way home without the brace, but shortly afterwards, my neck and shoulders were so tired I could barely hold them up!
He said to give it 2 days before I started driving, a couple weeks more of lots and lots of rest and then gradually going back to normal routines. I have to take it easy for another 2 months (and I did not ask what difference between things I could do and couldn't do at the two week and two month mark. At the time I didn't think about it! LOL) He said it would be probably 6 months to 18 months before I could be said to be healed, but unless I had any problems I didn't need to come back.
He was very concerned about my scar...one item I had not given a single thought to! I am not allowed to go out in the sun without sunscreen on, and I am supposed to massage the scar several times a day. He told me since I am so fair skinned, it would take the scar several years to heal all the way and would always be at risk of sun burn.
Since the scar is well hidden in a crease (most people call them wrinkles) of my neck, I don't think of it as being noticeable. Although my family tells me it looks like someone wrote on my neck with a brown marker. So I am guessing it is more noticeable than I thought it was! LOL! Since I always thought of my self as having vain tendancies, this revelation has surprised me. I would have thought this would have been the most worrisome aspect...but it is not bothering me at all.
I know some people wear scarves so thescar won't show, but I have no plans on that any time soon.
So, other than being tired, and a bit sore, I think it is safe to say I am well on my way to being healed. I probably won't be making any more posts on here unless something new comes up.
If you are thinking of having this surgery, I think the key is to have confidence in your surgeon, and do your own research. Knowing what he was planning on doing and therefore knowing somewhat ehat to expect, made the whole process a bit easier. The actual pain was surprisingly non exsistent after leaving the hospital. A few periods of some discomfort, but no real pain. Overall it was MUCH easier than I thought it would be.
Nini
Thursday, October 14, 2010
My daughter's observations
My daughter stayed with me while I was in the hospital. She took notes on things that happened after I came out of surgery...and my younger kids got a kick out of reading them, so I decided to add them to this blog.
So here is her observations from Monday, September 20:
7:45 Breathing Exercise Intro – Every two hours 10x Unless sleeping then every four hours ten times.
7:51 Swallowing Pills for the first time with CranGrape Juice (yummy) This included a pill for a severe headache. Doctor Parris said that this is normal about the surgery.
8:30 Attempting to pee! Hee Hee! --- Did not work
8:45 Set up in bed and felt nauseous – Bring on the blue crinkly bag
9:10 Decided to go ahead and do a breathing exercise --- 20 min early...
9:13 beginning to think that the nurse has forgotten about you needing to get up to pee. Hmmm.... Love the CranGrape Juice.
9:50 I am certain that the nurse has forgotten about you.
9:59 You are feeling nauseous again
10:14 Sitting up in bed for the first time to get to go to the bathroom.
10:19 And you are up!
10:22 Peed like a Russian race horse and you are headed back to bed. Woo Hoo!!
11:34 You did you breathing exercise and are ready to go to sleep for a couple of hours.
Morning-- During the night you felt like the neck braces was too tight. The nurse came in and loosened the collar but it wasn't the collar that was the problem, it is swelling from the surgery. The initial surgery medication has worn off and the pain pump is not doing much for you. You were given throat spray but that only works for a little while. They gave you a regular breakfast tray since you ate dinner so well. You tried to eat it but it was just too hard to swallow.
8:46 Bye Bye pain pump and here comes the loratab 10 – Every four hours. Crushing the tablets cause you can not swallow the pills. They also said they would order you an soft diet tray.
8:57 Enjoying the milk... something that is not water or cranapple juice.
9:03 Just ate you loratab 10 laced applesauce. But we think he forgot to get the pain pump and the drainage tube.
9:20 You are back in bed as the medication has made you sleepy. Since you are sleepy you turned away your soft food plate.
11:48 Sitting up and eating lunch!
12:19 Taking out the iv fluid
2:30 Discharge papers are being worked on. Dad decided not to order dinner and he is trying to see if
3:51 Taking a walk around the unit with out a drain in
4:19 we are all ready to go and are waiting for them to tell us when we can leave.
5:08 Going to get the wheelchair to take you down.
So...there it is from another perspective!
Nini
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Day 19
Well, it has been an eventful week. Not really!
I consider myself to be healed...just tired. I have had to take a couple of the 'discomfort' pills this week. I have discovered that sitting at church is a bit more than just uncomfortable, but less than painful. The seats do not have a high enough back to support my back and shoulders, so sitting there more than a few minutes is uncomfortable.
I managed to go both up and down a flight of stairs unassisted this week. It wasn't by design or choice...I just did it without thinking. Afterwards..I thought about it and decided it probably wasn't the smartest thing I ever did, considering I was at home alone, but it is over with and done so I am no longer afraid of it.
My precious Grand daughter (age 3) has finally gotten over the sight of the brace and will talk to me and look at me! I got to spend the whole day with her yesterday, so we had a moment to talk. I even took the brace off so she could see my boo boo, and then put it back on. SHe touched the brace and declared that the padding on it is 'soft' so it became OK.
She actually decided she likes me to wear it. She is a little stinker when it comes to playing Hide and Seek. She doesn't understand the rules to the game yet, so we play a version that she makes up the rules for! She discovered that if she stands really close to me I can't see her. Then she runs to bas and yells "I WON!!!" When I told her that was not fair, she giggled!
If I could just drive, I think I would get over my boredom quicker. Of course, having to depend on someone else to load and unload the dishwasher is really old! I am used to getting up in the morning with clean dishes in the dishwasher...or at least with it being ready to turn on! Now I get up with it....well, you never know!
Bending down is still difficult. I'm not sure it is the brace or the healing that makes it a problem. Vacuuming and sweeping is still impossible. Part of that is stamina issues. Watching tv in an upright position is still next to impossible. So hard to find a position that supports by shoulders and back without lulling me to sleep!
I have managed to get to the studio and sew a bit, but unfortunately, I am still having some issues with stamina. So watching the embroidery machine go back and forth and back and forth...makes for a very sleepy girl! I can't get as much done as I would like!
Over all I will say this surgery has been a resounding success.
Nini
I consider myself to be healed...just tired. I have had to take a couple of the 'discomfort' pills this week. I have discovered that sitting at church is a bit more than just uncomfortable, but less than painful. The seats do not have a high enough back to support my back and shoulders, so sitting there more than a few minutes is uncomfortable.
I managed to go both up and down a flight of stairs unassisted this week. It wasn't by design or choice...I just did it without thinking. Afterwards..I thought about it and decided it probably wasn't the smartest thing I ever did, considering I was at home alone, but it is over with and done so I am no longer afraid of it.
My precious Grand daughter (age 3) has finally gotten over the sight of the brace and will talk to me and look at me! I got to spend the whole day with her yesterday, so we had a moment to talk. I even took the brace off so she could see my boo boo, and then put it back on. SHe touched the brace and declared that the padding on it is 'soft' so it became OK.
She actually decided she likes me to wear it. She is a little stinker when it comes to playing Hide and Seek. She doesn't understand the rules to the game yet, so we play a version that she makes up the rules for! She discovered that if she stands really close to me I can't see her. Then she runs to bas and yells "I WON!!!" When I told her that was not fair, she giggled!
If I could just drive, I think I would get over my boredom quicker. Of course, having to depend on someone else to load and unload the dishwasher is really old! I am used to getting up in the morning with clean dishes in the dishwasher...or at least with it being ready to turn on! Now I get up with it....well, you never know!
Bending down is still difficult. I'm not sure it is the brace or the healing that makes it a problem. Vacuuming and sweeping is still impossible. Part of that is stamina issues. Watching tv in an upright position is still next to impossible. So hard to find a position that supports by shoulders and back without lulling me to sleep!
I have managed to get to the studio and sew a bit, but unfortunately, I am still having some issues with stamina. So watching the embroidery machine go back and forth and back and forth...makes for a very sleepy girl! I can't get as much done as I would like!
Over all I will say this surgery has been a resounding success.
Nini
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Day 13
Let's see. What can I say that I have not already said?
Boredom...oh wait, I already talked about that! Sleeplessness...nope I think I have already spoke about that. Painfree...nope I already went into that. I know...loss of stamina and concentration!
Seems like I actually have covered it all. I guess I have been very lucky so far. No real pain to speak of, and no real need for pain pills ... which is great because I don't think they are actually doing anything. I've actually gotten used to the swallowing issues, so they are really not a problem. Having to cut my food into tiny pieces and chew forever is actually helping me to loose weight.
The strange thing is that ever since he told me I don't have to wear the brace when I sleep, I have become paranoid to sleep! I just KNOW I am going to do something to my neck when I am laying in bed with no protection on my poor pitiful neck! I know silly.
...but I HAVE been sleeping better since the brace came off at night!
Nini
Boredom...oh wait, I already talked about that! Sleeplessness...nope I think I have already spoke about that. Painfree...nope I already went into that. I know...loss of stamina and concentration!
Seems like I actually have covered it all. I guess I have been very lucky so far. No real pain to speak of, and no real need for pain pills ... which is great because I don't think they are actually doing anything. I've actually gotten used to the swallowing issues, so they are really not a problem. Having to cut my food into tiny pieces and chew forever is actually helping me to loose weight.
The strange thing is that ever since he told me I don't have to wear the brace when I sleep, I have become paranoid to sleep! I just KNOW I am going to do something to my neck when I am laying in bed with no protection on my poor pitiful neck! I know silly.
...but I HAVE been sleeping better since the brace came off at night!
Nini
Friday, October 1, 2010
Day 11
OK...I went for my 10 day check up yesterday. So far so good. He removed 2 stitches (I didn't think I had ANY!), and told me I can sleep without any brace on!
Now, we were told at the hospital on discharge that it would take only about 30 minutes to get the x rays....try an hour and 30 minutes! New lesson learned!
I have to go back in 4 weeks...so I still have to wear the brace when I am not sleeping...4 weeks can not come fast enough!
Yesterday was a very loooong day! Started by getting the kids off to school and then heading off to get the x ray, doctor's appointment, then a quick lunch and then it was time to pick up Mr D for his therapy. After therapy, we had to go pick up Miss Bri and head to Wal Mart to get me a new pillow (one of those type that are made of memory foam...you know that is made of a shaped piece in stead of a square block!), a quick dinner and then I was so ready for bed!
I slept all night!
I slept in my own bed!
I woke up in more pain than I have felt this whole time!!! Seriously, I am not sure if it is from over doing yesterday, or from sleeping without the brace on. Maybe it was a combination of both.
On today's agenda is to try and get downstairs to the studio for a short visit. I am still a bit scared of the stairs! (might have something to do with not being able to see the stairs....) So, I will go through the yard to get to the outside door, and I might try to go upstairs...not sure yet!
So, everyone wish me luck!
Nini
Now, we were told at the hospital on discharge that it would take only about 30 minutes to get the x rays....try an hour and 30 minutes! New lesson learned!
I have to go back in 4 weeks...so I still have to wear the brace when I am not sleeping...4 weeks can not come fast enough!
Yesterday was a very loooong day! Started by getting the kids off to school and then heading off to get the x ray, doctor's appointment, then a quick lunch and then it was time to pick up Mr D for his therapy. After therapy, we had to go pick up Miss Bri and head to Wal Mart to get me a new pillow (one of those type that are made of memory foam...you know that is made of a shaped piece in stead of a square block!), a quick dinner and then I was so ready for bed!
I slept all night!
I slept in my own bed!
I woke up in more pain than I have felt this whole time!!! Seriously, I am not sure if it is from over doing yesterday, or from sleeping without the brace on. Maybe it was a combination of both.
On today's agenda is to try and get downstairs to the studio for a short visit. I am still a bit scared of the stairs! (might have something to do with not being able to see the stairs....) So, I will go through the yard to get to the outside door, and I might try to go upstairs...not sure yet!
So, everyone wish me luck!
Nini
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