HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

post op update

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/26/2009 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,everyone. I had my surgery Wednesday. And I got home yesterday. Guess what? The pain in my buttock,back,hip and leg is gone!!! I am so glad. I can walk without limping and looking like my left foot is broken. It is a relief.

My aunt stayed with me the entire time. She got there Wed. am and didn't leave until my husband got there yesterday morning. She was such a wonderful help to me. She did so much. And did it with what I call a happy heart. Today she came over and brought b-bque sandwiches,potato salad and baked beans for my family. She also brought over a potty seat that fits over mine, so I don't have so far to go down. It has made a difference. My niece came over and took my kids for the day. That was sweet too,considering she has triplets!!!

I had the pain pump after surgery. I have never used one before. It didn't take me long to learn. They even had to refill it!! I also had percocet 10. The doctor sent me home with 40 percocet 10. I go next Thurs or Fri for the staples to be removed.

I am walking better,just slow. It is a completely diffferent kind of pain. And it hurts,but the pain meds do help.  I finally felt the pain level of 10 when I got home yesterday. I live in a mobile home and I had to go up the steps. And getting out of the car was horrible. By the time I made it to my room I was crying hard. And I hurt too bad to sit. I have been in the bed alot today. It is hard to move. It hurts to sit.I can't seem to get comfortable in the bed.I know this will get better. Just all the things I used to do is such a struggle right now. Although I know it will get better. I am sitting in my recliner now with a couch pillow behind my back. I took a pain pill about 30  min ago. It hurts too bad to reposition myself.

I was told to keep the site dry,no baths or showers. I will go in a few minutes and do the wash rag and soap thing. I have never done that. I don't know what to do about my hair. I guess I'll just keep it back. I've never gone a week without a bath or washing my hair!! Silly and petty I guess.

I am not sure about how much to be up. I know I can't stay in the bed and I don't want to. I have been in my recliner several times today. They said not to be up longer than 2 hours at a time. I know not to bend or twist or reach above my head,not to lift anything or pick anything off the floor. I don't see that being a problem!! I am walking to the bathroom and to the living room-that is about it. I know healing will just take time.

My stomach is extremely swollen. I look pregnant. I am constipated. I am taking stool softners,just hasn't helped yet. Sorry to give that info! My stomach honestly looks like a blown up balloon. They didn't ask me in the hosp. and I didn't tell them. I know it too will be better.

My mom is at my sisters house. She is suposed to come back over tomorrow. She has COPD and our AC is out. She doesn't need to be in the heat.My husband is putting a window unit in our room right now. So I guess I'll go to the couch for a little while. We have a window unit in the kitchen/living room area so it is ok in here for now. He did get the big unit over here today, just don't know when it will be all hooked up.

My husband is doing okay with this. He told me he isn't sleeping(he was asleep everytime I woke up last night) and that he is tired... I am trying not to bother him too much. Longer story I won't go into right now. If I ask for something he does it. I think I am just emotional from hurting and maybe take things wrong. And maybe he is stressed and not taking things right either. He didn't work last week. So we are financially broke. And my account is overdrawn pretty significantly. I don't know how but it will all work out. I won't worry too much about it,today. I have a RX for Leviquin 500mg to be filled. My wbc doubled and they want me on it. It'll all be worked out. My finances aren't my doing. I told my husband how much was in the account beforehand. Anyway he knows what is expected of him and he WILL do it. I think things will work out.

I read the posts that were written the day of my surgery. Thank you all for your thoughts and words of encouragement. I means alot to me. You all are worderful!!! I know I write way too much.sorry. I'll post again soon.

Anice

Posted 4/26/2009 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
That is great news!! Having the pain that was nagging at you go away means they got to the right site. Now you have to do your part with healing, and it sounds like you're trying. One thing I didn't learn until I had been home awhile was that sitting is one of the worst things you can do for your spine right now. It puts pressure on it all, so do try not to do too much sitting at once. It sounds silly to most people...to say sitting is a problem, but if you heal right you will be on your way to a succesful recovery!

Keep an eye on that constipation, too. I was in the hospital for 6 days and they let me go home without things having well, um, moved, and I was so bloated. Thankfully, the community nurses here were great and got me sepositories. Don't know if you have community nurses available. I didn't call them at first, but was so glad I did. They helped check the incision, and helped with things like constipation.

I think there are some products for "dry cleaning" your hair. I know it's not the same, but may feel a bit better than nothing right now. It will soon pass! One thing I also had (and still use) is a shower chair. I'd see about getting one and that way you don't have to worry about any falls. My insurance covered some things, but it was a bit of a pain to work with them to do it. I also had the high hat toilet seat and it really helps!

Thanks for posting and I'm glad things are going so well!

Take care of yourself!

PaLady
Posted 4/26/2009 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
anice
I am so glad to see your post I was wondering how your surgery went! I don't know what I can add, PALady covered things pretty well. You definitely want to take care of the constipation, as you do not want to strain yourself at all, in way that can negatively affect your surgery. That is one area that is often over looked by nursing staff in hospitals, and it is actually very important! I don't know if Doctors and nurses are embarrassed about asking their patient about it or what. But patients should not be allowed to go home without that area being discussed! .
Anyway anice PLEASE don't over do it!, just be good to yourself everything will work out for you! Your job right now is to just heal up and get better! Keep us posted on your progress as you are able!

You continue to be in my prayers!

White Beard
Posted 4/26/2009 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Anice, I had back surgery once upon a time too and PaLady is right , not too much sitting please. Take your pain pills and lie down. It's important that you get proper rest and that you heal in the right way.

As for the finances, all will take care of itself. The constipation, I took several stool softeners every day. They gave them to me before the surgery and every day after the surgery. Get that taken care of.

I also used to run a home health agency. See if you qualify for a home health nurse under your insurance plan. Take advantage of everything that you can. It's time to pamper yourself a little, ok??

And give hubby a kiss just for the heck of it. I'm sure he is doing the best that he can.

God's blessings to you and your family.

Lindaloo
Posted 4/26/2009 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Anice:

What type of surgery did you have?

I am also recovering from surgery but am now 3 months post-op (spinal cord stimulator with surgical leads and paddle in T9-T10 region with battery in my abdomen).

As for the big belly thing...I can totally understand. I have that right now! Try Miralax..which you can get at the drug store and also try Colace..that's basically mineral oil. 2-3x a day will surely help you out!!

Hope you continue to heal!

Danimal

Author of Chronic Stimulation- a blog about chronic pain and living with a neurostimulator

Please visit me! http://chronicstimulation.blogspot.com/
Posted 4/26/2009 4:40 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Anice:

I am so happy to hear of your excellent results!  You have been on my mind constantly, and I appreciate you letting us know how your doing even though you are dealing with a lot of surgical pain.  I know how hard it is to just to get from the bed to the bathroom or from the couch to the chair, but moving around within reason will help you to heal faster, but you must balance it with not overdoing it, so you don't undo the good that has been done (that was a toungue twister, try saying that 10 times fast tongue ).

I also know how hard it is to have to sit and look and think about all the things that need to be done.  Please allow or ask your family & friends for the help you need, I'm sure most of them will be happy to do it (and if they're not, too bad).  If the shoe were on the other foot, I know you would be there for them! so if they say "let me know if there is anything I can do" tell them where the vacuum is, and ask them to put a load of laundry in the washing machine! and give them a grocery list while your at it. yeah    

I know you have a lot of issues that you need to address down the road, once you have recovered, but as you well know, you can't do anything about them right now, and the stress of thinking about it is only going to slow the healing process, so try to push that stuff out of your mind for now and just concentrate on getting well. 

You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!

Lorie

Posted 4/26/2009 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Anice,
Sorry I wasn't able to get on the pc yesterday and didn't see your post till this morning! I'm so happy that all is OK but it sounds like you had a tough time when you got home w/ the stairs. I bet you're doing much better now being home. Those hospitals are a nice place to visit and be pampered when you're in bad shape but there's no place like home Dorithy! Like everyone said, take your time and heal up well, please don't do like I did and start doing things too early. If I hadn''t a beed a dumby and listened to my friends here maybe I would not be in pain right now! Live and learn. Hang in there and get well soon!
Your buddy,
Pete
Posted 4/27/2009 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,

Congratulations! I am so happy to hear that the surgery has already improved your pain! Please continue to take it easy & let yourself heal, especially as you start to feel less post-op pain. It can be tempting to overexert yourself, so listen to both you body and your mind! Sounds like you are through the worst! I hope that each day brings you less and less pain!

Skeye
Posted 5/9/2009 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
hi this is my first time posting...so glad your surgery went well.I had back surgery about five years ago.I also had a pain pump in the hospital,but went i got home was i in pain.It is true sitting for to long wont help.Sleep with a pillow between your legs ,i still do.dont do anything that will add stress to your back.It took me a good month for that intense pain to go away.At that time when your feeling better dont over do things because it slows down the healing process.good luck to you.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply