Dearest Angels,
I got an appointment so early because there was a cancellation.
Of course every day in pain or flat on back seems like a week....and this has only been going on since July 10, but it seems like years and years.
So the fabulous Duke neurosurgeon will determine what surgery I need: Minimally invasive or 'the big incision'.
Minimally invasive surgery can sometimes be an outpatient procedure and has about a month of recovery. The big incision require a hospital stay and 9 months to a year of recovery time.
When the cardiology surgeon informed me that I had severe arterial blockages, as I lay on the table with angiogram tube still in place as he showed me the pictures of my heart, with 'the widow maker' LAD artery 95% blocked, he asked me if I wanted by-pass surgery or angioplasties (3) with stents (2).
I said I preferred the less invasive angioplasties with stents, but I asked him what he recommended.
He said, "Do angioplasties and stents now, SAVE THE BY-PASS FOR LATER".
17 years later I wonder when the By-Pass will be needed.
And so with this surgery I hope Dr. Hayes wants to do minimally invasive surgery now, and 'save the big incision for later'.
It is amazing how easily I have adapted to things that seemed unthinkable. IVIG every month, for example. And now back surgery which I always said I would never do. Never say never, I've learned.
So this is where I am........listening to Vivaldi, looking out at a beautiful day (lots of floor to ceiling windows in my bedroom.) I play Bridge Baron, Spider Solitaire, Words with Friends, read books, watch TV shows. When I'm flat on my back, dosed with Medrol and Gabapentin, I feel fine. and confined.
I never realized how hard is to be fixed to one place, no matter how pleasant. And not to be able to do things MY WAY,
Another lesson in Patience, Persistence and Acceptance.
Hugs, Elaine
Well, that is really great that you got in early. Those cancellations do happen on occasion and they are great! I hope you can tough it out through your "incarceration" in your bedroom. It is tough to have to be in one place much of the time. Also hope and pray that the minimally invasive procedure will do the job and things will improve for you. Always something to keep us on our toes.
Chronic illness is the pits and the autoimmune diseases sure keep us busy trying to keep us with those things that keep popping up. Han in there. Irish
I'll wish you the best on Friday and cross my fingers for the minimal surgery as well. Hugs back to you - Carla
I hope things get better for you soon. You have had a time of it. Please, get better soon.
Wishing you positive results and a short recovery time, Elaine.
Wishing you the very best Elaine and praying for minimally invasive.
Anna
Good luck Elaine. I've had 2 lumbar back fusions. My last was 3 years ago when I had 3 levels fused. The doctor first went through my stomach to do the fusion and then flipped me over and went through my back to do a Lamenectomy. I was in the hospital for 3 days and came home to recuperate. I made myself walk outside every day. First to the mailbox and after a week or so I started walking on the street, adding a house every day. First I used a walker, then a cane. I was able to go on a cruise 2 months after surgery. I had to wear a brace for four months. I still have pain but I have a fairly normal life.
Thanks Jenny, Joe, Carebear, Anna, Irish, CarlaJ,
The Good News is that with Medrol and Gabapentin and complete bedrest, the worst of the pain is gone, and if I get up to go to the bathroom, the resulting pain subsides within minutes if I lie down again.
I had 'overdone' thing while the spinal cortisone injection was working, and had terrible pain as soon as it wore off. And I had forgotten about the marvel of Medrol and Gabapentin and lying flat.
The Bad News is that when I got up yesterday and took hold of my walker, I just crashed to the floor, no warning. sigh.
I don't think I fainted, and I can't remember any 'shaking', I just don't know why I went down. But I think it's the Gabapentin maybe? Any way the GOOD NEWS is that I wasn't hurt a bit, and the only thing that suffered was the ramp my husband made out of plywood for the cats to climb on the bed. I sort of broke the lower end of it at a join.
It is interesting to me that we use the word 'pain' quite easily. On a different forum we are discussing the use of 'some discomfort' versus ' some pain' by medical professionals. Interesting.
Jenny your surgery sounds so brutal! Sorry but it does...however, I'm absorbing everything since that is the way to get accustomed to new ideas, even brutal sounding ones. And you know that living a 'fairly normal life' is a great accomplishment for most of us.
Everyone's words of encouragement are a tonic to my heart and soul right now.
Blessing on everyone and hugs, Elaine
I'm glad you are working with a top notch Duke surgeon.
Also that you are getting some relief with the meds and listening to Vilvaldi!
How perfect!
You are on a great path!
Blessings! :)
ciao carolina, i hope that your pain, or how u prefer to call it.. will soon diminish. TANTI AUGURI! FROM ITALY
Elaine.. wishing you a solid solution to the cyst.
Yes, being limited is very disconcerting.
Needed to be off my knee for more than 2 months and got to a point where tail bone hurt from sitting so much.. lost 5 lbs as well even more muscle.
Alot of laying on my side. Gets really old, very fast.
Hoping it will be the less invasive procedure for you.
Keeping you in my thoughts...
Keeping you in my thoughts and hoping you have a speedy recovery.
Good luck today, Elaine. I hope you get good news.
HI Elaine, I hope you get some good news today and some relief very soon! No matter how bad it gets, you do keep good spirits and always find a positive way to look at things!!! Keep us posted!
(Late) Friday evening already in Finland - waiting for your very good news :)
Dearest Angels,
I saw the surgeon. He's marvelous. It turns out that my lumbar spine is pretty messy. Surprise, surprise.
He thinks that the sudden pain, and discovery of the cyst on the MRI, may not be as related as I thought.
There is a serious area of pressure on the nerve of my Spine at L3, above the cyst, that may have suddenly 'crossed the threshold' of pressure and is causing the pain.
So he wants to relieve that pressure point on L3, and remove the cyst at the same time. So that means a medium sized incision. Not 'minimally invasive' but not the larger incision that fusion would require.
If and when I have a fusion,, it will have to involve three levels. That would be major surgery, for sure. So many of you have been down this road, but I never ever thought I would even contemplate such a thing.
But, for now, we're getting all the 'ducks in a row' for this smaller incision and trying to relieve my current pain crisis. About 4 doctors have to consult with the surgeon, especially my Cardiologist and my Immunologist. He plans to use Fentanyl for pain control.
Because I have multiple health issues the surgery will be done at the Duke Medical Center Hospital in Durham. There are more resources at that hospital if a problem develops. I go there for several doctors and every four weeks for my IVIG so it's at the top of my GPS!
An overnight stay should be adequate, and a two or three month recovery of activity. Surgery will probably be mid October
I took all afternoon to recover from the back pain the visit this morning produced.
I simply have to lie flat on my back to relieve my pain.
For some reason I am facing dryness worse that ever. My eyes burn and 'water' and my mouth is like a desert. Is this stress or an increase in the damage to my system? Who knows. I just treat the symptoms as best I can. We've been running the AC full time with the constant 95 degree weather, so the air in the house is probably too dry.
It's always something!
I'm doing OK, and always here.
Hugs, Elaine
Praying that this will alleviate your pain, at least enough for you to be mobile.
At least it wasn't the worst option. I think that sounds promising - let's pray your everything goes smoothly :)
Elaine,
How was your appointment with the Doctor? Thinking about you and wishing you the very best!
Kathy
Oh Carolina, you have been through so much and are such a trooper. You are an inspiration!
My ex husband had open heart last year, it really was very difficult and as I understand it to be avoided if at all possible. What I have heard is that it not only affects you physically, but emotionally as well.
Best wishes for success with the procedure, whatever you choose!!
You are in great hands by the sound of things, Elaine. And in the perfect facility too. I wish you weren't in need of their expertise, of course...
So about five weeks to wait for the first and hopefully only procedure. Fingers crossed and a prayer that this is a complete success.
The dryness could be thanks to all the things you stated, unfortunately. But darn! You are having 95 degree weather? We are experiencing frost warnings up here. Sorry. Didn't mean to complain out loud.
Keep doing what you're doing. Lying flat on your back, you still run circles around me.
Elaine,
Well..... I guess this wasn't the worst news you could have received and it should get you out of pain in a few weeks. It sounds like you are in really good hands. It's hard to beat Duke U. for health care! I am happy that you have that. Hang in there!!! Keep us posted!