168 Hours Left {7 Days} Till The Big Dance..

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deviphish

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HELLO EVRYBODY ::jester:
I have a week left till my surgery , and i just wanted to thank you all for helping me out threw all of this !!!!! thank god i found this web site , i got SO much use full information - tips & ideas from lots of different people.. sorry for starting a million threaRAB , it just makes my day go by a little faster..

I really do think that i am ready for this surgery " BRING IT ON "..... mentally and physically i'm ready , i purchased all the things that i think i will need.. now it's just a waiting game and i am anxious to get this over with , and move on to the next chapter of my life !!! i'm only 31 - got a lot of GOOD YEARS AHEAD OF ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOD- BLESS TO EVRYONE , BE PATIENT AND STAY STRONG
:angel: BILLY BOY :jester:
 
Billy, don't ever feel bad about the questions. Lord knows I have asked my fair share of them and I still ask and post all the time. (Sorry moderators!!). Between now and your surgery date and even after your surgery remeraber we got your back :D and are here for you 24/7. So feel free to ask away anything that comes to your mind and we will try to answer those questions. Just keep in mind that we are ordinary patients just like you and not M.D.'s

I have added you to my calendar and will be lifting you, your family and most importantly of all your surgeon up in prayer on your surgery day.

Take care and God Bless.
 
Hi Billy ~

One thing I wanted to mention to you is about the time of your surgery. Sometimes the time gets changed and sometimes things run late in the operating rooms, and you end up having to wait. I had requested the first time of the day which was 7:30 on a Monday. The Friday before, they called to tell me my surgery had been changed and I was to come at 1:30 for a 3:30 surgery. What ended up happening was that I was taken into the holding area at 3:30, but I was still lying there at 5:30. I asked the nurse to find my husband and tell him because he and my son would be assuming that I was half-way through the surgery by then; instead they hadn't even started!!

They finally took me in around 5:45 and I didn't get to my room until 11:00p.m. I too had low blood pressure so things ended up taking longer than planned. My surgery was scheduled to be 3 1/2 hours (Remeraber that my surgery was a one level fusion)

It does seem like your surgery is going to be quite long. Good thing is you'll be out and won't have any idea how long it's taking.
 
Remeraber to eat nutritiously this week. Think of it as being in training for a big event in your life. Also try to exercise as you are able. Don't do anything you haven't been doing...but do what you can to keep the muscle tone up. Work on your relaxation techniques. If you don't have any skills in this regard, it's not to late to buy a CD of healing/relaxation techniques that might be of help to you. And then, relax.... You'll do fine and it will be over before you know it and you'll be on the the side of the surgery...and back here writing with a whole new batch of questions!! :dizzy:
 
Hey Billy it looks like you will have your surgery before me but I will start another post.

Have you ever taken Oxycodone before? This is a hard question to answer because I am sure a lot of us have tried other people's medicine before and there was never a problem. One time at the place that I worked an employee was given someone else's medicine for back pain and that person ended up in the infirmary because of the reaction. The employee who gave the person the medicine almost got fired so everyone was scared to even hand out Advil or Tylenol. What kind of medication are you on now? You could call your pharmacist and ask if Roxicodone would be okay with your other medications. None of us know how we are going to react when we are started on new medication but like MM said it would be hard to explain if you did have a bad reaction. I noticed that it can lower blood pressure and I had a terrible reaction to Zanaflex for muscle relaxer that lowered my blood pressure to a very dangerous low level. I am on Soma 350 mg 4 times a day and have been on for several years. They switched me to the Zanaflex because they said Soma was an older drug. It took me several months to figure out what it was doing to me and it almost killed me. My daughter called and talked to a nurse in the ER and told her my BP which was 54/46 and they said that was dangerously low and I needed to be taken to the hospital immediately. Luckily I worked it out but I don't take it anymore. That was taking a pill prescribed by my doctor.

I didn't mean to preach on this but it really is a personal decision and I know how we need to have relief. My pain medication doesn't really keep my pain under control either but they didn't want to increase it before I had these surgeries because they were afraid I wouldn't get the relief that I needed. Sorry I can't give you a yes or no. Hope you can get some relief on your pain.

Linda
 
There are a few people on here who have had the internal bone stimulator. I'm trying to remeraber who. I'm thinking Moldova? Not sure. Hopefully they'll see your post and chime in.

I had the external kind. It was two sticky paRAB placed on either side of my back incision with electrical leaRAB connected to a little box that I kept in my pocket. I wore it 24/7 except in the shower. There's another kind that is kind of like two picture frames strapped together, one on the front and one on the back, and they wear it for a couple of hours a day.

I was showing bone growth at only 6 weeks, quite early. It doesn't usually even start showing on x-ray until 3 months. My doctor said he wanted to throw everything possible at me, as I had a higher risk of not fusing. The 360 approach, the BMP, the bone growth stimulator, and a lot of people praying did it for me.

My understanding of the internal kind is that the leaRAB just stay inside you once you don't need it anymore.

Were you happy with your appt? Did you feel like your questions were answered and you know what to expect?

Hope you're hanging in there!
Emily
 
::LINDA:: HEY you , hope your spasms get under control , an your feeling a little bit better.. what do they give you for spasms ? hopefully when you see your neurosurgent he will give you good news about your infection , and will be able to schedule your surgery for the 18th - i pray he will !! my surgery is scheduled for 2.20 at 7:30am , i have to report at the hosp. at 5:30am..
i have a question for you : my friend recently had a big shoulder surgery , and the doctors have him on a medication called roxicodone (never heard of this).. he said it works really well for pain and suggested that i try it , because he nos my medication does not work well for me.. i do not like taking medication that is not prescribed to me.. he gave me one to try it's 30mgs , do you think i should try it ?
god bless you linda , i will praying for you as well.. have a good day !!
billy
 
I had my second surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery at NYC. 10 days before surgery they put everybody on Iron supplements (350mg a day) and you have to stop 2 days before surgery.
This is a must. Did you DR tell you same thing?
I hope he did since I was told there how important this is since we may loose a lot of blood and anemia is very common thing after fusion surgeries.
I had this done as they recommended, had both times blood transfusions and still ended up treating anemia....

Good luck to you. We will be praying for you.:angel:
 
Billy Boy I will find out tomorrow if I am still on the schedule for Monday the 18th. When is your surgery scheduled? Do you know what time yet? I go back to the neurosurgeon tomorrow in Nashville to check my infection and see if they think I am ready for them to do my PLIF. (The ALIF was done Jan.29th). I really want to go on and get this over with but I also want to make sure the infection is cleared up, too. I have started having more spasms this week in my lower back and hips and I guess this is from the ALIF but I will ask the doctor tomorrow.

You are in my prayers and thoughts and if I can help anyone I will be glad to answer questions also because this board has sure helped me a lot.

I am sure we will talking more and more in the next few days.

Linda
 
yeah music maked the world buzz , i love listening to good music - the kind that makes the hairs on the back of your neck rise !!! thats awsome that your husband and son share that same passion for music , thats amazing.. Most of my familly plays music , i've ben playing guitar for about 16 years and it's my true passion and dezire.. i write alot of original music , mostly jazz and blues.. music does relax me , and after my surgery while i'm recovering in my bed - i will be listening to my I-POD 24/7..
HOPE YOUR having a good pain free day today , i'm debating on taking this roxicodone my friend have gaven me ? he had a shoulder surgery 2 weeks ago and gave me one to try , don't no if i should take it or not - never have before..
take care sunshine b ill y boy
 
Ah, the big dance, coming up at last! Just remeraber, no tangos, no disco, no salsa. Just real slow dancing. The BLT kind: no bending, lifting, or twisting! That'll be your dance for the next few months.

May your surgeon's rythm and timing be perfect!

;) Emily
 
ha ha - {LOL} very funny !! i am not that great of a dancer any how , but i do have rythem.. i'm a blues/jazz guitar player - so rythem comes naturally to me .. i hope my doctor is in a GOOD mood that day and brings his A GAME , with lots of rythem !!!! i woke up this morning with a sore throat , i CAN NOT get sick before my surgery.. i went to cvs and bought some vit. C and cough drops , i'll kick this right out of me !!
thank you emilly - - hope your pain is under control today
billy boy
 
Marlosmom - - You Really Are A Great Person , I Thank You For All Your Advice.. I've Read Your Posts And Responses That You Have Made & Your A Gentle Soul.. I'm Doing My Best To Just Chill And Relax , I Try To Go For As Many Short Walks As Possible.. Like I Said The Count Down Is On , And You No After My Surgery I Will Be Back On Line Asking More Questions.. I Also Want To Post What Its Like After Surgery For Those Who Need Advice And Want To No What Fusion Surgery Is All About.. You All Helped Me Now I Want To Help As Many People As Possible !!!
I Will Talk With Ya Before My Surgery -- I'm Sure Lol...
Take It E Z Billy Boy
 
hello - i never have an appatite after surgerys either.. your surgery was 6 1/2 hours long - what did you have done again ,, i'm sorry i forgot.. ah and mcdonalRAB french fries are good , i put salt on evrything - along with ketchup !!! 8 EIGHT days in the hosp. WOW. i hate hospitals they give me the WILLYS!!!!!!
 
Hello, Billy...Although I have no good advice at the moment about any types of back surgery (since I haven't reached that point yet), I wanted to let you know that you will be in my prayers! I pray that you have a successful surgery and a quick, "pain-free" recovery. Please allow us all to help you with your countdown!
 
1978 - - Thank You , That Was Sweet Of You To Say !! My Name Is Billy And As You See The Count Down Has Started , This Time Next Week I'll Be Lieing In My Bed At The Hospital.. Thank You For Keeping Me In Your Prayers , If You Need Any Advice About Upcoming Surgerys That You May Need - Please Just Ask.. I Still Cant Beleave The Kindness That Complete Strangers Share TowarRAB One Another On This Site !!
Thanks So Much Billy
 
I had 8 levels fused and had 5 screws, 4 hooks, seven roRAB, and 2 cages put in. I'm a Home Depot special! :D They haven't given me any discounts, though.

MM is right, it'll seem like a little nap.

:wave: Emily
 
Ahhh, then there's something you can look forward to enjoying during your recovery. Just put some headphones on, close your eyes, and let the music relax you.

My husband and sons are very musical. They're getting ready to play in the church talent show, a song my husband wrote, with guitar, mandolin, and dobro. My 17 year old can pick up anything and play it. He was making noises with his mouth on the kitchen table the other night (don't all 17 year olRAB do that) and we told him he should do an act asking for items from the audience. Give him anything, and he would come up with a way to make "music" with it!

Music hath charms to soothe the wild beasts! It ministers to our souls!

Take care,
Emily
 
EMILLY - YEAH I WAS happy with my apt. my doctor is very to the point and professional.. he said that the bone stimulator can either be taken out or it can stay in , he said after about 9 or 10 months we will make that call.. he answered all my questions , told me that he will be taking bone from my pelvis (ouch) , surgery will take about 7 hours ,and my hosp. stay will 4 or 5 days.. how long was your surgery ?
god bless emily , hope your having a good day billy boy
 
MOLDOVA{} hello there how are you ? hope your having a pain free day !! my doctor did not tell me to take iron supplements at all , i'm going to ask him though.. i heard the hospitals in N Y C are exceptional , how was your experiance with your stay ?
 
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