Re: Round #2 at the hospital prior to operation

Dear Jroma,

I wouldn't worry too much about cleaning out, as that is usually your only
ticket to freedom. They need a B.M. (bowel memento) in most cases before
they let you go.
I'm not going to say a thing either way on the specific surgery, but being
out of bed the day after, at least for a walk to the can should not be too
painful for you. Making it to the elevator and escaping for a smoke (or a
fast getaway) might be a bit much, but this is an endurance test, not a
sprint. And of course be ready for the anti smoking lectures and they'll be
happy to send a councilor to talk to you about your "tobacco addiction". Ask
to be counseled to the easiest place to get to and smoke a butt.
Just remember, what you are having done is no small thing, don't get
disappointed if recovery doesn't move as fast as you want it to. Some folks
pop out of bed and do a dance right afterwards, some are in a wheel chair
for 6 months. Healing is a constant process. Just like life, some day's are
great, others you could have done without. Just never give up or give in and
when you have the occasional bad day, we're always here and we have a better
idea than most other folks as to what you're feeling. And do not be afraid
to ask to see your anesthesiologist if the pain relief is inadequate. You'll
probably get a chance to meet him, just before he knocks you out. Tell him
your concerns and warn him you'll be having him paged at 4am unless you're
sleeping then too. And you can't pay too much attention to the amount of
morphine they might say. I.V. makes it much (3-6 x) stronger. So 10mg orally
comes out to 30mg through their pump. Even so, the squeaky wheel gets the
grease, so do not be shy about how and what you feel.
I know your anxiety is cranking up and you wish the whole damn business was
over and done already. If you can lose yourself here or elsewhere (The
Superman movie started today) keep as busy as you can to get your mind off
it. The more distracted the better. This is the hard part, the waiting, the
uncertainty. The surgery is easy compared to this.

Hang in there and keep posting--og




"jroma" <plrfdaq@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u4Uog.57$cD1.35@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
LOL thanks og & everyone.

I still am considering doing the marking with the sharpy the night before.
Was
thinking I'll draw a HUGE arrow straight down my back then put a bullseye
right
where they need to go so theres no cause for missing. LOL

I'm going in for a fusion and lamectomy. He said he would be cleaning out
the
old scar tissue from L4/L5, then put in a cage, pack it with bone and then
attach
a small rod on each side from L3 to L5 and check L3 & S1, because they
both
have
a small .4mm bulge and fix it if it looks too bad while he's in there. Or
so
this is
what he tells me.

He said the first day if I want to get up I can which he prefers but wont
push, but
I definately have to get up by day two. Said I'd be in there for 3-4 days.
Then I go
back to see him in 10 days to get stitches removed then not again for 6
weeks.

I called over the hospital the other day to talk to the dietician prior,
but
they said
my doctor will give them a diet for me to eat. I was like, um NO I will
give
you a
diet for me to eat. So, I think I'm going to be having a fight there too
before this
is all over with.

So guess we'll see how it all goes :)

Just to keep ya posted, I'm still working on getting completely
unconsitpated before
I go in. I can only imagine the pain afterwards. UG! Natural nor chemical
have helped
so far. Only thing that has, is for me to cut back on the morphine.

Thanks again.

-j


"OldGoat" <oldgoatmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:LZHog.11073$Wl.10318@xxxxxxxxxxx
: Dear Jroma,
:
: I wish you nothing but the best. You know your cardio is going to be in
: great shape if nothing else happens. I'd still use the sharpie and make
sure
: they don't accidentally give you a transplant since they check your
heart
: out so well : )
: What are they going in for fusion or lammenectomy and how many levels?
Maybe
: it's time to talk about the nitty gritties of what you can expect. You
can't
: cover everything, of course. I was ready to kill my roomie. Loud TV all
: night and day and I might get some rest from the kiddies dose of
morphine
if
: the clown would ever shut up. When I told em to crank the dose a bit,
they
: said I always looked comfortable.That's why the pillow was wrapped
around
my
: head, and I probably did nod off a little, not sleeping for both nights
: before the surgery, and then my Rodeo roommate post op. If you get a guy
: like that don't be polite, the squeaky wheel really does get greased.
The
: nurses will see you make it to "don't ring the bell land" as fast as
they
: can.
: Regardless of all that, you will come through this with flying colors,
: little need for rehab, and up dancing and feeling great in a couple
weeks.
:
: Bottoms Up ; )--og
:
: "jroma" <plrfdaq@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
: news:YLyog.2796$NP4.707@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
: >
: > Well, nice to report today was a WEE bit better! Other then LOL
: > losing half the hair on my arm from all the freakin' tape from all
: > the sticks they did.
: >
: > My appt was at 8:15am, I was there at 8:00am on the dot! I finally
: > get taken into the back at 8:40am and told that the IV nurse
specialist
: > HAS been called but she won't arrive until 9am-ish.. So, I tell um I'm
: > heading out for a smoke then instead of just waiting around. No prob,
: > they cut me loose. Go out have a half of smoke to calm my nerves, then
: > back upstairs. The one nurse puts the leads all over my chest and
belly.
: > Then the IV nurse comes in and tells me, "theres NO lidocaine!"
Apparently
: > gee, I'm not surprised, I was LIED TO! ONLY the ER doctors are allowed
to
: > give that shot. (holy phuck!) so she promises me it wont hurt, lol
yeah
: > right!
: > well OMG!!! I barely felt the stick! HOT DAMN! So then I get changed
into
: > this weeks fashion statement open backed gown and I was given a robe
too.
: > Then they take me out and get me on the table. LOL the tech tells me I
: > HAVE
: > to lay on my left side. Um HELLO? my left side? thats the PHUCKING
SIDE
: > THAT
: > HURTS LIKE HELL IN MY HIP PEOPLE! So, after a round or two of arguing
: > with
: > the tech she allows me to "try" to lay on my back. Claims it's harder
to
: > see
: > the
: > heart. Well she said it was good to go and can see mine just fine. My
BP
: > starts
: > off at 110/62 and pulse at 75. They inject the meds to make my heart
: > race ---
: > up, up and awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy we go. My pulse starts to climb, my BP
: > starts
: > to climb and we finally finish at pulse 153 and BP NEVER went over
160/80!
: > LOL
: > yeah, I really have heart issues eh? The tech started laughing saying
my
: > EKG
: > was
: > one of the best she's seen in about 10yrs of doing this. So, they get
all
: > finished,
: > take my IV out, tape up my arms, hands me 5 Reeses PB cups lol (cuz I
was
: > a
: > good gurl) and out the door I go to the reg Lab to get another blood
draw
: > because
: > my Potatsium was SLIGHTLY elevated and they wanted it checked again.
: > Geeze!
: > So, get that cared for and then off to the Neuro's office to be fitted
for
: > my back
: > brace for after surgery. Got that all cared for and NOW i'm ready to
but
: > hacked
: > and sliced come next thursday.
: >
: > I'm still VERY stressed/overwhelmed/confused over this whole thing.
: > Praying
: > it's
: > the right thing to do. Hoping nothing else turns up in the mean time.
Or
: > that it's
: > not going to be a HUGE mistake in the end.
: >
: > Thanks for letting me bitch, moan and cry guys. I really appreciate
it.
: >
: > Btw... now while I'm gone next week, ya'll are gonna play nicely
right?
NO
: > FIGHTING?
: > NO insulting? NO shit flinging? Cuz I don't wanna come back to about
: > 450000000 posts
: > of nothing but pure sheet. LOL
: >
: > Hugs everyone
: >
: > -j
: >
: >
:
:




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