how long would i have to stay in hospital

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mamakitkat

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HI,
Good Luck with your fusion, I was in 4 times for fusions of the same levels L4-S1. I had many complications, first say ws 8 days, second (hardware removal) was 3 days, third & fourth srugeries were done 4 days apart but tha stay was 11 days, they did back first then four days later they did the front.

I guess I'm telling you this because it is so hard to judge how long one will stay, it really depenRAB on your body, as you can see my body is very fickle about hospital stays, lol.

I wish you all the best.

God Bless

Carol
 
I had PLIF and was in the hospital for 5 days. My Doctor said probably 5-7 days. I think I might have gotten out sooner but I had a scary event with low blood pressure. I have to say the time went by pretty quick because of the drugs and the sleeping. My first night was another story though. Most people sleep quite a bit after post-op but I couldn't I was awake from the time I got out of surgery until late the next morning. I suspect someone gave me steroiRAB even after I told them about the fact that I have side effects from them. Oral steroiRAB make me manic and sleepless! I kinda felt sorry for my roommate cause I watched T.V all night. Good Luck, Dee
 
i am scheduled to have ALIF on February the 15. They were supposed to do the 360 but are just going to try the ALIF instead although i agree totally with Emily i feel it would give me a solid fusion like that. But i was wondering if any one knows how long i will be in the hospital?

When they get in there if they find they cant do it all anterior i will have the 360 so may just be a surprise when i wake up.
 
I had the ALIF, not the 360, and just stayed overnight. They did it like at 10:00 one morning and released me at 10:00 the next morning.

Good luck!!

Sundee
 
Thanks carol i know everyone is diferent i guess i was just trying to get an idea. My ex MIL had a surgery done at this same hospital years ago and they let her go the next day. But i dont know cause we live 4 hours away. Im really not to sure what is goin to happen cause they said something about it being a revision surgery but i know they are taking the broken screws out through my stomache and refusing it and also first surgeon said he put cages in there but their is none to be seen now so they are planning on putting a cage in there and one doc. said something about bone graft form the hip but i hate you see different docs. every time.

When i wake up i will know what they did i guess.
 
The 360 has a higher success rate, but that's not necessarily the deciding factor in whether to do it that way or just one incision, either ALIF or PLIF. I was at higher risk not to fuse because of the nuraber of levels he was doing (8 this time around). The more levels, the harder to get a good fusion. He said he'd throw everything there was at me: the 360 method, the bone growth stimulator, the BMP... If you have only the ALIF or PLIF, your recovery will be easier. If you're having only one level done, I'd go that way, personally.

I was told I'd be in the hospital for 3-5 days, but I had a low blood pressure reaction to the anesthesia. I was dizzy to even turn and started passing out everytime they tried to get me up. They didn't let me get out of bed until day 5. I was in for 8 days. It was good to get home! I had really horrible nursing care, the worst I've ever seen anyplace! I waited a month until I wasn't so angry about it and wrote a 4 page letter to the hospital, detailing the specific things that were so horrible. As a result of my letter, they created a team for moving spine patients and had several immediate and now regular ongoing inservices addressing the issues I pinpointed. It does make me feel good that things will be better there for future patients. And I got to put in some glowing worRAB about my wonderful doctor, so he got a commendation and a write up in the hospital newsletter, too. (Now I'm rarabling, but I just got an update on this from one of the hospital administrators, so I felt like telling about it. :D It works to write the head honchos if you can be factual and not just emotional.)

Anyway, you won't want to go home at first. You'll want to just sleep and be taken care of. You'll know when it's time (and believe me, they won't let you stay a day longer than you absolutely need to!).

~Emily
 
You people all have courage,I congratulate you all on this brave surgery you had to get.I have L5S1,I too was told for a fusion,but its hard to decide which method is best,neither way sounRAB pleasant.i never been cut,only laproscope methoRAB
 
Hi,

I had PLIF in 2006, I was only in the hosital for 23 hours, surgery was at 7am and I was out at 6am the next morning. Talk about feeling like being rushed. I felt I could have used a bit longer in, but husband took 2 weeks off to take care of me, and actually my doc gave him clearance to be off the whole 3 months if he wanted ( he didn't cause he didn't have enough sick time) but it made it easier, and after he went back to work my 13 year old was on summer break and she helped me.
Also I lived almost 2 hours from the hospital, make them give you something for the ride home- mine wouldn't and it was hell.
Jaime
 
Thank you all for the replys i also had a PLIF 5 years ago and i stayed 3 days i am now having another surgery the ALIF because the fusion never healed causing the screws to break. So he said something about a revision surgery but they are going to refuse it. Like i said worst thing i will end up with the 360.
 
I know this is toltally off topic but the last time i was in the hospital for my hysterectomy they let me go early and my doctor told me i came to see you and you were gone. ISNT THE DOCTOR THE ONE TO WRITE ORDERS FOR YOU TO LEAVE???? Any way one dau after being home i had a bikini cut incision and it busted back open and back to the hospital i went. This time i ran fever and they would not let me go home so i am sad to say but i was the rude one, a poor CNA came and asked what my input and output was (and beong in the hospital and a cna i knew this) I was real nasty and told her of all these saline things youll are giving my i go to the batheroom like every theirty minutes so you figure that up.... I guess i should not have been so mean but they never should have let me out so early. i know its not on topic but i wanted to share.
 
HI,
My hospital was 3 hours away, they gave me my pain meRAB when they put me in the car, literally in the wheelchair in front of the hospital, they were wearing off by the time I got home.

I will be praying for you to have a successful surgery & recovery.

God BLess

Carol
 
Scared is completely normal. This is a big deal. Just try and stay positive and trust your doctor but don't read too much! I mean be informed but not over informed cause it can add to your anxiety. You know everyone here will keep you in their thoughts) and prayers and I am sure you will do great. ;)
 
Ouch! Cringe!!!!

If you have people who can take turns hanging out in the hospital with you who would be willing to be an advocate for you, you'll get better care. I didn't have that, hadn't even thought it would be an issue. If I ever have to go back in, I now have the personal nuraber of a hospital administrator to call. She said she'll personally make sure I'm well-taken care of! But I'm not planning to ever have to be admitted again. (Of course, my husband says they probably never changed a thing and just fed me a bogus story that sounded good. Cynical, isn't he?)

I hope you get the best nurses in the whole hospital! Nursing isn't what it used to be, but there are still good ones out there.

Emily :wave:
 
Thanks again and i will make sure to ask them that.
Just getting nervous about them taking broken screws out my stomache i know they should have a sharp edge somewhere so im afraid. I wouldnt cancel the surgery i know how bad i need it but just scared.
 
HI,
You will be ok, Dee is right it's normal to be scared. Try to remeraber that these docs do this every day, it's not such a big deal to them like it is to us. I was actually less scared about the front surgery, my dr. said it was easier for him to go in the front than the back, not quite sure why but thats what he said. He does get an internist to do the cut & move everything out of the way.

You will be ok, we are all praying for, so I know it will be ok.

God Bless

Carol
 
I think if you were not scared we would be worried about you. It is very natural feeling.

Just remeraber that you have a team of spinneys with canes and wheelchairs along the sidelides praying and rooting your doctor on.
 
Thanks alot i hope to hae someone there but the hospital is like 4 hours away from where we live. It is a teaching hospital and they are stressed out cause they are the only ortho around here so people from new orleans go there to. I dont think they are going to open the one in new orleans since it was flooded from Katrina.
 
Thanks again i try not to think about it but at times like this it is hard i guess that is why the computer is my best friend as long as i am on here and chatting i guess it is the best thing.And thanks to all for your prayers.
 
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