Venturing out... (Post Op Day 6)

Well today is Day 6 Post op (And first day to wear makeup. :) ). I decided to venture out with my hubby to his orthopedic appt. Somehow he has ripped his bicep tendon and is going to need surgery next week. This is getting down right comical.  Over all the trip out went great although I did deal with some nausea, which I think may have been from my pain pills.

In other news. Something people may not talk about much with back surgery is constipation. Please let me urge you, if you are going to be having spinal surgery or any surgery involving anesthesia and strong pain pills (& in my case them moving my intestinal sac over to the side to reach my spine), please talk to your Dr about steps you can take in the days leading up to and the days after your surgery to help limit your discomfort and any possible traffic jams. ;-)  I assure you will be glad you did.

And last of all for today, my pain has significantly improved. Yay! I have been able to decrease my pain pills by half, so each dose instead of two pills I only take one, and I have completely stopped the muscle relaxers

A better day.... (Post Op Day 5)

Whew. Last night was another rough night. I guess there is something about the dark, barely being able to move on your own (although once I am up and walking I do pretty good), that brings in the dark thoughts. Of course me stumbling on a spine website with a forum I had never seen before the surgery was probably not helping me much. Some of the horror stories were pretty frightful! Just helped bring in all the panic I had experienced the night before (which I mentioned in my previous post).  I think I will wait a month or three before I go check out that site again.

Overall today is better than the other. Still soooo far from normal. Still hurts, so so cautious, but the pain is becoming a little less intense each day, so that is a huge relief. 

I still don't feel well enough to get out besides a sort walk down the street. Hubby was wanting to take the kids and I out to Braums, but honestly I don't think I can handle an hr out yet. Just not quite there yet. But it does feel like each day get's me a little closer.

Little Miss Bella seems quite happy with herself today for making it to sit on my shoulder since she is still not allowed on my stomach.

Oh! My bandages got changed for the first time today on day 5. Well most of the bandage. There is still a small bandage that still covers the incision itself so I can't see how big the scar is yet. 

Oh, and I got to have my second shower today. That felt really refreshing! Being one that likes my daily showers, taking one every other day has been weird. But honestly it takes alot of work to take a shower. But it's getting easier. :) 

This brace has to be worn ALL day, no matter what I am doing aside from when I am in bed or taking a shower,  It's not so fun but it's super important I don't bend or twist at all!  I didn't get a very good picture of it, I'll try to another time.

Looking forward to tomorrow and a little less pain, and a little more movement! 

I don't think I have ever been so in love with my husband as I am now while he so lovingly takes care of me at every little thing I need (and believe me it's a lot, I can't do for myself). He's such a great man! 

Just maybe (Post Op Day 4)

So last night was the first time since last Wed when I went in for surgery that I felt the least bit of pain relief.  I took the full dose of pain pills (2 pills)  plus I put an ice pack on my back incision and another ice pack on my stomach incision.  Between the two I was actually able to get some relief and was able to bring the pain level down to something tolerable where I could actually focus on something else.  Unfortunately it was night time so all I really had planned to do was sleep.  But it felt nice to get some relief.  

Ice, ice, ice.  That is my best friend right now.  I would barely be able to handle the pain without it!  So thankful for ice packs!

Last night shortly before the pain relief episode, I had a bit of a panic episode, where my brain started running away with the idea of what if this surgery doesn't work.  What if I stay in constant pain? Or what if my screws cause me issues? I'm stuck if that happens and the only option would be to do surgery again.  Right now I'm traumatized by those first 4 days of post surgery.  I don't say that to scare anyone who is faced with with going through it.  You can get through it,  but there is no way I want to ever have to go through that again! Once is enough. Honestly I think the scariest part for me is I don't know what will happen. I know I should remain calm and trust that it is out of my hands and all will work out. But I guess that's where my control freak part comes in. I don't like not being in control of myself or my future. And right now I am in control of nothing! 

This morning two great things happened. A very sweet neighbor brought my family donuts for breakfast  the kids loved it,  and I'll admit I have a weakness for donuts from time to time too. 

The other awesome thing that happened was my hip kit arrived from Amazon! It has a reacher pole,  a shoe horn, sock aid, bath sponge stick and dressing stick.  I'm most excited about the reacher!  I'm been so useless when it comes story picking up something below my reach since I can't vend over! If I drop something,  I don't have to call my family to come help me.  I hate asking for help!  So yes this is a great day! I can reduce the amount of help I have to call on.  

In other news our sweet Bella kitty is still mad at me and is mystified as to why I won't let her come walk or lay on my belly.  She stalked away from me in  a huff this morning and went to lay my hubby.  Lol.

No kitty kitty... (Post Op Day 3)

The kitty here is insistent and determined to come lay on my (cut open) tummy, like she usually did when I laid on the couch before my surgery. She's highly offended I am blocking her. But even the slightest touch by anyone or anything to my abdomen (that was cut open and spread open and organs pushed aside for the surgeons to work on my spine 3 days ago) is breathtaking (not in a good way!).

Her favorite thing? Jumping from Gabe's body to mine, on separate recliners. I cannot imagine the pain if this 15# cat was able to use my cut up belly as a spring board to get to her favorite sitting spot! Um, no Thank you!

In other news I am incredibly thankful to a local woman who I only know through name that responded to my fb garage sale post and offered to let me borrow their walker. It will help getting up from the couch, and bed, toilet etc so much easier! I doubt I should need it more than another week but we will see.


This is another thing that is going to come in handy the next few weeks. This kit I found on Amazon. It should be here by tomorrow, Very excited for it, as it is I can not pickup anything that is barely below waist level. Do  you realize what all is below waist level?? Yeah I didn't either until that area became off limits to me. Even bending over to lift the toilet seat up! Who would have ever though that involved much of a bend!?

Ah, another thing I found out when I was released. I am not allowed to drive a car for the next couple weeks while I am on these heavy pain killers (what heavy pain killers?? I'm still feeling heavy pain!?)  That's gonna be weird. I am not use to not being able to drive myself places.

Well tomorrow is a new day. Hoping it leads to less pain and a little more mobility!

Oh Boy..... (Post-Op Day 2)

Me, my back brace and my couch have become one.
Being the stubborn, ocd, perfectionist one that I am, who also is the one that one of the kids obviously got their sensory issues from its probably better I stay here cause any of the aforementioned might just drive my poor husband crazy trying to take care of me for the next couple weeks since I can't bend or twist at all.
So far so good.... So far I only broke down in tears once and he only threw his hands up once. Three hrs down and two weeks to go.... Lo

I wasn't warned about this... (Post Op Day 1)

Man why is it when you don't want to fart you can't hold them back but when you need to you can go for days without it!? 

This hospital won't let me eat till I pass gas! And of course now my body won't. 😣 I haven't eaten since 10pm Tue night. I had some broth and jello yesterday afternoon but that got promptly thrown up, then tried some ginger ale and broth and that got thrown up too! Later in the evening last night I convinced them to give me a couple of saltine crackers and a pudding but goodness.... Man cannot live on a couple of saltines and pudding alone! Lol 

Well this will jump start my diet plan I guess. I had planned to really focus on my diet over the next 3 months since I can't workout during that time. But for now it would be really nice if I could fart so I can eat!

In other news, my blood pressure is still crazy low, this past time about an hr ago was 83/49. Now I'm use to having kinda low blood pressure, it it usually runs about 112/85. But this super low blood pressure is causing me a problem because I can't use my Dilantin pain pump very much cause it might make my heart rate drop further. 😣

And wow, the pain in my stomach is way more than my back. I was told it would be that way, it just feels weird. Very hard to sit up or even move. Each day is suppose to get better though. ✌

It's like a resort... (Post Op Day 1)

Wow! I may be in a ton of pain from surgery but the food and fresh flowers they bring at each meal is so pleasant and helps get my mind off the pain for a bit! And the staff here are all crazy nice! ‪#‎besthospitalever‬ ‪#‎starmedicalcenter‬ ‪#‎nohospitallikeit‬