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marshrose

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When you goto your moms in the car recline the seat back, and bring a pillow for your neck, and just make sure hubby is easy on the bumps in the road, take a pain pill before you go, cuz it just stirrs things up and if you're like me you'll want to lay down when you get to your moms.-pack your pain pills- ALL of them so you got all your kinRAB there.

My bad leg is my right leg- my driving leg :( even thou my left leg gets alot its not as bad as the right leg. Hate that. That's why I can't drive and plus I'm unsure if I can push on a brake petal.

Staying on the neurontins good, could you imagine how much pain you'd be in if you weren't on it??!?!?! When I was on that, when they didn't know I reherniated, I had switched off from lycria, and the days with nothing in me was KILLER totally aweful, so for me it DID work, and knocked out alot of nerve pains even thou I got them. That neurontin costs like 250 a month I read!! Can you believe it? I was on 600mg a day, then I started getting insomnia, and had to go back down to 300mg. Didn't work as good.

Florida will do you good, it's just what you need. As long as you keep walking and fuse, you shouldn't haveto worry about more surgeries- for a long time- if ever. Now we know how important it is to make EVERYONE ELSE pick up stuff and move heavy stuff for us. FOR SURE. I will always worry about another surgery but, what ya gonna do. After this I would never let it get as bad as it did to do it! LOL!! Recovery bites!

I know about it taking your life away, it's awful, if I was a baby I'd already have a dent in my head from laying the same exact way for a total of 9 months, I really hope he lets me try aquatherpy. I'm going to beg lolol I need SOMETHING, heck even a massage! I am so stiff its ridiculous, and always in freakin bed, I hate my bed and my bedroom now, I am going to haveto redecorate when I'm better, I've stared at everything in here for WAY TOO LONGGGG. I goto dr tomorrow, in the late afternoon so I'll try and post tomorrow nite how it went! Better be a good dr visit. If there is such a thing lmao!

Happy bday again enjoy your nite, eat some cake and scarf a banana! :)
 
Hey 10sox!

Sorry we posted at practically the same time so I didn't see your post until just now.

I just had an MRI and CT scan which showed no impingement. No EMG was ever done. I don't know why they didn't show it. I had all the symptoms though. I feel for you going through a back surgery while pregnant. I can't even imagine. OMG I can't imagine. I want to get pregnant again so badly, but not until I feel better!

Rose-

I survived the car ride, but it was painful. I took pillows and actually sat very upright. I also took a barf bag but didn't need it.

I know what you mean about hating your bed and bedroom. I am the same way. Even though I walk evdery day, I am in bed mostly.

I am actually on 900mg of nuerontin a day. They are 300mg tabs that I take 3 a day.

Write when you can. I want to hear all about your appointment.
 
Ohh I've had CRAZZZYY dreams on the pain meRAB it's ridiculous I wake up like WHAT IN THE HE double hockey sticks was that?! LOL!!! I did on the neurontin too- especially.

Maybe because the rain is coming you're starting to feel it then again them stretching the pain meRAB is SO not helping that situation- I was AWEFUL with the rain, completely set me back and could NOT get atop of the pain AT ALL pain meRAB did squat for me- I took double of them as there's not much tylenol in them when it rained and thats the only thing that would help, and I still remained IN BED till it was long gone, It was like I too was hit by a truck when the rain came, EVERYTHING hurt and ALOT. Hope you fare better with the rain, but don't get discouraged if you're worse, it's really the rain, once the rain goes and the sun comes out the worse pains go too. It was really cool and damn here, was aweful.

No pain no gain, LOL easy coming from someone not suffering from a pinched nerve or severe back pain over a period of time lol They should have all neuros, spine specialists and orthos go through a type of epidural to inflict true back pain, then we'll see how often they'd be so impossible with pain meRAB and lack of understanding I read so much about! My drs pretty good, we'll see when I go this week whats my next feat to accomplish.

I don't know if I got donor bone, I don't think so, I think they just used the enRAB of my vertabrae and some of that bone protien (BMP) stuff that helps you fuse faster. It does make you wonder who's bone you got ehh? They don't put that much in there tho, you'll see when you go on the x-ray, it looks like dough on the sides of your spine, as it's not fused yet-well, I wasn't starting. We'll see this week what he says when I get an x-ray.

Well thankfully you haven't been throwing up anymore, I couldn't fathom that with this surgery, heck going poo was hard enough! Hopefully your days of throwing up are over.

As for the energy, daily wise- it is getting better, but me ATTEMPTING to do something- like go for a walk, or like when my SO brought me to the grociery store- I was out cold for 2 hrs when I got home. And actually the next day I slept til 1pm!

So it has gotten alittle better, but now that I'm trying to upp what I do in a day, its kinda balancing out to being just as tired and sleeping just as much with naps, but I get 1-2 things more done in a day. I've been out of commission for 9 months, so doing anything besides going to the bathroom or cooking a quick dinner or lunch is more than I've done in a VERY long time. I sweat like a pig just to get to the dr and walk (gimp) that far heck my deoderent wasn't even cutting it- now that was gross, and around the block with my daughter I was sweating everywhere imaginable, and sucking wind out of shape and ridiculous and dizzy like crazy. I couldn't believe how hard it was just to walk around the block, it exhausted me.

I'm hoping to see if dr will put me into aquatherapy or something to get my stamina up and my muscles USED. They're SHOT, I'm a fluffball with no muscle tone now.

SO whats in those pills? Calcium, Viamin D and maybe some shark cartilage or maybe some of that chondra something?? Does it say? Then again why would it then the secret would be out!!! Hmm. My moms a health nut, I'm sure she could find me something like that at her healthfood stores. I'll haveto ask her. I'll take what I can get to help that fusion that's for sure. I'm going to get some Vitamin D and Calcium, your body will only absorb calcium if it gets some vitamin D I've read, so maybe that will help me.

Alright I'm off, I'm still beat to heck from that walk, can't hardly keep my eyes open.
I am glad you did FOUR blocks, to get a fire under my but to really push for around the block lol the nerve pains are here but, at this point they're here no matter what it seems, just alittle worse when I push myself. Even thou it stinks we both got this surgery, it's good that we went around the same time, makes this alittle easier talking to someone else about it that's for sure. :)
 
Hello-

Emily I did not bring the breathy thing home, but the cough is getting better. Thanks for explaining it out to me, I was confused about it.

Rose my nausea has not improved. I only throw up about once a day, and it is not the same time each day so I can't figure out the trigger. I asked today for some anti nausea meRAB and they said NO! She said the doctor wants me on as little meRAB as possible. I thought that was mean.

Still no Poop.. My mom got me suppositories today and I have yet to try it. As for right now I am doing Citracel, stool softeners, and lots of fluiRAB.

I am sad because my little girl has started to prefer other people over me, and she is hesitant to come near me. I know its because I scared her in the hospital and everyone is telling her to be gentle with me. (Twice now she has kicked me in the stomach right near my incision). She is with my mom or hubby's mom a lot, and she isn't excited to see me anymore. I haaaven't been able to take care of her very well or really play with her for a long time.

My incisions are very swollen. The front one is REALLY swollen. I am afraid ice will hurt. When is it that we can try advil?

Tami post about your appointment tomorrow! Good luck!
 
Hope your feeling better today! My pains from over doing it only once carried through to the next day, the rest the next day I wasn't feeling it but was very careful. Its to be nice out today, I will go for a walk, I havent walked, just gone to the store and my haircut.

My hair finally looks GOOD! They did highlights too. Driving is hard, it's getting alittle better, but, I can only go so far or do so much whereever my destination is, or I'm really hurting to get home.

I'm still not talking to my SO, we're still in a major fight, so I am bummed. There's too much going on, and his attitude and temper over the durabest things is really getting to me, besides hes had my vehicle the WHOLE time, 9 months, its brand new, and he never got an oil change or washed it, or vaccumed it and there's a ding in the winRABhield from a rock. So I've been trying to get it back to like new for the past few days. I'm livid.

I can't believe you walked so FAR! Actually, even thou it hurt, you'll see the next time you walk you can do the same, if not farther. It's weird this recovery, you pay for it to be able to do it it seems.

Hope you're doing better! Sorry I missed you yesterday, alot going on - check your PMs. :(
 
Yes, like Roses said, don't let up on the pain meRAB yet. If the pain gets ahead of you, it's harder to get back under control, as you discovered. You're very early in this.

I hope you and hubby get a chance to talk when you're not in so much pain. That just compounRAB it. You're not pushing work off onto him. You have no choice, unless you want to go through this surgery all over again! I imagine he's feeling pretty stressed, too. Major surgery is hard on the whole family. Wish I could write more right now, but mother-in-law just went to lay down, so I need to take advantage of the opportunity and do the same.

Hang in there, sweetie!
Emily
 
Everyone!

I am going to keep this short. All went well on Tuesday. I didn't loose much blood and the surgery lasted 3 hours. There was indeed a nerve compression, which all my imaging showed there was none. So I was like "TOLD YOU SO!" LOL!.
As for the pain? Holy Moly OUCH. I didn't expect it to be this bad. I woke up from anesthia in horrific pain, and tried yelling for help but couldn't from the tube that had been in my throat. I was on diaudid, and after the first day they took out my Iv and switched me to oral meRAB because the dilaudid was making me throw up all the time. It is true though, every day gets a little bit better. I am on Oxycontin 1 tab 2x day, Oxycodone 1-2 tabs every 3 hours, valium every 6 hours, and then I am still taking 3 nuerontin a day.
They made me do a full flight of stairs in the hospital before discharging me because I have to be abl e to do my stairs at home. I am still not eating much, I just have no appetite.
Thats all I can wirte for now, Being up makes me feel sick. But I will check in again when I can!
 
Awe mommas sick how cute, she'll get around it and you too in the next few weeks. You're in the hardest stretch now, AND you can got for WALKS so you're ahead of the game for sure!

I have 2, my daughters 16 1/2, my son is 11. Son drives me nuts, he'll help depending on the day, and my daughter is mrs mom now, doing almost everything in the house except cooking. She's been doing all our laundry since last July, the dishwasher, vaccuming, you name it. Poor kid, no responsibility to TONS, we've had many a match over that. She doesn't have a job, just sports after school depending on the season.

I'm still not talking to my SO either.

I remeraber crying to him, how I hated this, never asked to get hurt, how I can't do anything at all, lol I did that alot before the 1st surgery and after. This surgery is so much better pain wise than the rehernation time immed after first surgery, so much easier to be honest. Even thou I'm still not mega mobile and get exhausted at the simplest things.

I want a massage desperately. I think I'm going to go get my hair DONE today, I haven't since before this 2nd surgery, and it was SHORT! lol I took off 2" then, I think it's all almost back thou. That'll be nice to do, get my hair done. I need some ME time OUTSIDE of this house. I am dying for a pedicure as I have trouble reaching my feet, for months I couldn't reach them at all and they got so dry and gross. They're alittle better now but I'd love a pedicure, I don't know I can get in those chairs they do them in yet though. We'll see.

Today is my first day since last JULY to drive the kiRAB to school this morning, so I must go and get ready!!! My mom had to rearrange her work schedule to NYC to drive the kiRAB every morning to school, I felt so bad, but could do absolutely nothing but lay.
It's good to be back sorta in the loop!
 
It's now a day later and-
I take it back the rain is being terribly mean and aweful to me and everything hurts from my arm and hand, my mid back, and my lower back and my legs! All I need is a headache and I got everything going on lol this is RIDICULOUS!

What ?s you got for the doc? I am writing mine today, the RAIN is #1 I think on my list LOL!!

How are you feeling? hows the nerve pains? how far you walking? Gimjme an overall update! Did it rain by you yet? Does it bother you??

Just think of it like this- the back surgery is going to increase your worRAB per minute typing LOLOL!!!
 
I feel like I'm behind you guys. I had a 360 done on 2/25 and 2/27. It seemed like my first weeks were better than what I am now. I got into a horrible depression. Went to the family dr. yesterday and he changed my antidepressent and put me on xanax temporarily. This was a revision from a surg 19 months ago. He said my depression and panic could be fighting against the pain meRAB, or its just that my pain isn't controlled. The surgeon doesnt' want to give me any more than what I'm on. I walked about 20 minutes this morning. I drove to the dr. yesterday. I really don't know how long I could stand on the ceramic in the kitchen to cook a meal. Tried going to Costco.......like a sames club and that was a disaster. I have to get in a different mind set. How far and how often are you trying to walk? It seems like whenever we venture out and try something it goes so badly that then I get into a depression and figure that the activity made me worse. Then I get afraid to do it again. And..............I know I have to walk. Unbelievable mess we've got ourselves into!!!!! ( Not really)
 
Hey!

How did driving them to school go? I hope well! Do you live by NYC? I used to. In high school we lived in Fairfield, CT. It's about 45 minutes from the city. My daRAB job brought us there, but we moved home to MN after a couple of years.

I am glad your daughter is so helpful. I don't know much about boys, but I assume his behavior is normal. I am one of 4 girls, no brothers, I have a girl, and all my frienRAB have girls. It is weird.

I am actually feeling pretty darn good today compared to the last few. I had my appointment. It went well He did an x-ray and OH MY GOD I can't believe what is in my back. There is so much metal! Not only are there the regular 2 huge screws through the vertebrae, but there is another one on the bottom that goes up. He said I might set off the metal detector at the airport on Monday but I just have to tell them I have screws in my back and they can scan my back. He also showed me the chunk of bone that is donor bone. I am still a little erked about that. He also put some protein stuff in there to help with bone growth. He showed me where he removed bone from my spine. He doesn't think I will have any problem with nerve damage, and he doesn't think I will need more surgeries. He said I could go in the pool and ocean as long as the waves don't bounce me around, but there aren't much waves on the gulf. He said my L5-S1 disc wasn't the worst he had ever seen, but also not the best he had ever seen. I wanted to know about my L4-L5 disc since the last surgeon saw it as a problem and was going to do a 2 level fusion, but he said he couldn't see it. I thought that was weird since my incision in the back is like 6 inches. He said my nerve pain should subside in about a month. So all in all it was a good appointment. My mom is worried about me because I have lost so much weight. Today was the first time she has seen me in clothes and not pj's. I just have no appetite, but to be honest, I am eating more now than before surgery. Oh and guess what! He said I don't have to come back until I am 3 months post op! That was weird to me.

So I am having a little massage today. Just my neigrabroador coming to work on my trigger points. I have a million in my back. You should get a massage. I got my hair cut a few days before surgery, but I have not been able to blow dry it or style it to make it look nice. I also haven't worn make up yet. Soon I will be ready.

So I was alone with Grace was an hour and a half this morning while I waited for my mom to come. It was hell, but I got through it. She pooped! I had to change her diaper on the floor and it was so painful to get down there and do it (can't lift her onto the changing table), but I had no choice. I couldn't let her walk around in poop for an hour. I also fed her breakfast, but she ate it at the coffee table since I can't lift her into her high chair. It worked out. Now she left with my mom so I can rest and take my walks. I am glad to have the house to myself.

Okay I am getting back into my pj's and crawling into bed. I am exhausted after a busy morning. Isn't that sad! I didn't even do that much!
 
OMG you can cook dinner! I feel like I am so far off from that.

I'm glad your appointment went well. I wouldn't expect fusing yet, but at least everything is in place. I squat to get to Grace's level, and yesterday I decided to stop because I can tell I am using improper body mechanics. The pain tells me so. I am also having a lot of muscle pain in my back in those muscles that run up the whole length of the back on either side of the spine. I'm sure from tensing up when the pain gets bad. I have been having DH rub my muscles. And I called my neigrabroador (chiro) today for a massage. She charges me $40 for 30 minutes which I think is a little steep for a friend.

I got my cane today, and it does help with balance and I am walking with less of a limp. It is a cool fashionable cane:).

I just took another suppository. I am going, but only a little. I know each time I can go more but it just wont come out! LOL! Sorry to be so graphic.

My stomach incision has really been bothering me the last couple of days. My back one seems to be okay, it is just the surrounding areas and deep inside that hurts.

Tomorrow is my appointment, and I am excited, yet dreading it because me mom is taking me. My mom thinks I am ready to be alone with Grace, only because she is sick of helping me. And my surgeon didn't give me any limits and told me I could lift her and be alone with her right away. So I am worried he will reinforce my moms opinion. My mom and I actually had a "fight" today where I cried alot. She is making me feel bad about needing help. Not that she has helped that much because DH has been home most of the time, all but 2 days so far. She made me say thank you even though I have thanked her a million times. She has issues and it is a long story. But anyway DH wont be home for the next 2 days. My mom is being such a jerk that I had to ask my mother in law to take off work on Thursday to help. I can't lift her, change her diaper, feed her because I can't reach most of whats in the fridge.

Grace neeRAB to go to bed, gotta go!
 
Hey guys,

I can't sleep from so much pain. I took pain meRAB. When I spoke with the nurse the other day about anti nausea meRAB, she asked how much pain meRAB I was taking. I told her I was allowed to take oxycodone (no tylenol in it) every 3 hours, but that I was trying to push it to every 4-5 hours. She said that was good. I get the feeling this clinic doesn't like meRAB, after all, my surgeon had told me he would like me off them at 4 weeks post op. Now I am scared, but I am pretty sure my regular doc would prescribe them for me if the surgeon stops and I still need them.

I pooped! Hurray! It was horrible and painful and I hope to never have to use a suppository again! The cramping was so bad I thought I was going to die.

Anyway, I hope you two are doing okay. I saw Mommev's post about her appointment today and it didnt go so well. I will post to her tomorrow when I can sit at the computer longer.
 
Thats GREAT for your appt and how you did with Grace!!! 3 months post op I've heard of that, I haveto go every month only cuz I am workmens comp- I have a nurse that monitors my progress etc. It's different than regular fusion dr appts. I KNOW about all the metal! I was like OMG all that is in there!! I'm bionic!! It does freak me out with all that in there for sure.

If Grace can clirab on the couch, maybe you can squat on the floor and change her while she lays on the couch, that would be easier for your back if she can get up there.

With all those meRAB, of course you got no appetite, once the meRAB die down you will, I lost alot of weight with the first surgery, and gained it being stuck in bed again after it. I gained 30lbs. :(

My mom lives in Wayne NJ, and travels to NYC for work. She takes the bus and it takes awhile, the schedules to get the kiRAB to school was hard for the past 9 months.

I did okay driving, hit a few curbs around the turns as I haven't driven in so long LOL! Hurt but if I can go to the store, come home lay down for an hr or 2, then go out again it's working for me. I went and got my prescriptions today too. But I made it, I got my hair cut today, FINALLY I was dying to, it looks and feels so much better. The next thing on my list is a massage, I am so stiff its ridiculous.

I too am EXHAUSTED just from the haircut, I gotta take a rest before I gotta try to make dinner, may be an order out nite I'm whooped.

TTYL!!
 
I go at 3pm I'm on the east coast, I can't wait either!

Even when you get an MRI, once time allots past and you're still trying to do things, and then you went to the ER with the agony, your back gets worse and changes, so even if a week passes, but you get worse, there is a chance they won't know til they get in there, if they MRI'd you after that ER visit I bet they would have seen it but, also- when you LAY in the MRI machine, there's no stress on your back, when you're upright with your upper body weight there is. They do make upright MRIs which more people should have. That's why when you lay down it feels better.

Thats what happened to me, I had a MRI done, 2 extruded discs, then I got WORSE and bedridden 3 weeks later, and no new MRI for 2 months, then they went in and there was the nerve impingement.

I tried driving today, hurt like heck, extra nerve pains from sitting and the bumps, I can't wait to hopefully go back on neurontin truly. Wish it kicked in faster than 2 weeks thou.

Write later! Wish me luck! X-ray here I come!
 
Hello-

Today is my birthday and it stinks so far. I am having bad leg cramps. I am not sure if they are cramps or nerve pains. It is raining again here too, and cold. The high is only 51. By the end of the week we might hit 80. I wish it were like that for my birthday.

I have a lot of questions for my doctor. Like, is there a possibility of perm nerve damage, what did L4-L5 look like, what was the condition of my L5-S1 disc that he removed, Is there a possibility of more surgeries... I have a whole page full but I can't think of any more right now. What are you goingt o ask?

When I walk it is just down the alley and back, which is about 2 blocks round trip. I try to do that 3x a day. I notice I feel really nauseas after each walk. I haven't thrown up in several days, so maybe that part is over.

Yeah the PT neigrabroador said to use the cane on the good side. My DH won't let me use one of his golf clubs as a cane, so I might send him out to buy one for me.

Aquatherapy sounRAB nice. maybe I should try it. Am I allowed to go in chlorine this soon after surgery? My parents have a pool at their FL house, so maybe next week I can go in the pool. Oh that was another ? for the surgeon, if I can go in chlorine or slat water. Their house is 2 blocks from the beach.

Okay back to bed.
 
Yea now is the time for the ups n downs, once the end of the week comes you'll get back on track, I'm telling you its the week it plain ol stinks. Have some soup if you can, get some nutrients in you, gotta be strong for healing, eat something good and sleep as much as you can.

Hope you're feeling better at your next trip to the computer :)

You never know about Florida yet, you gotta get past these few days before you decide, you'll know come Saturday if it lets up enough for you to see where you land. Those meRAB aren't helping though, nausea enRAB I mean, it's got to be the meRAB making you so sick.
How is your incision? Is it looking okay? Keep an eye on it too since you're not feeling well, if you get a fever you haveto call the doc. Hoping you're doing better than before.

Its only Wednesday, you got a few more days of ups and downs (more downs sorry to say if you are like me) BUT come this weekend it will let up for you, so just ride it out, you'll be on the upswing soon, just take your meRAB and sleep sleep sleep and getting upset or frustrated with hubby makes you hurt more, if I got aggervated at the kiRAB or my SO I'd be hurting more from the muscles tightening too- so just relax thru everything it'll get better
 
Hi!

My computer is upstairs, so thats why I am able to get on a little more often. I started my period (2 weeks early) and threw up last night so today I am feeling like I am in a set back. The pain is a little bit worse today.
Did you feel congestion in your chest for awhile after? I have been, although it is getting better. It hurts to cough so bad. They were making me do this breathing thing in the hospital to try to prevent pnemonia, and said the mucous was fromthe chest tube. I had just never heard anyone mention that before.
My back incision is about 6 inches long, and my front one is only 2-2.5. The one in front is also not directly in the middle, it is off to the left a little.
I am glad you made it to the store! I can;t even imagine doing that right now.
 
Hey do you think I will have an x-ray tomorrow? Or is it too soon?

Yes the bumps killed me in the car!

DH isn't going to be home all day tomorrow and Thursday, and I am having a hard time finding help with my daughter. I am not ready to be alone with her yet. My mom can help, but is being mean and saying I need to try being alone with her. I can't! I am so scared!

Write after your appointment!

10sox-

I thought of something else. Another friend of mine (REVISED) had emergency back surgery a couple of months ago. Her MRI's didn't show much, but she was in major pain. Once they got in there, they found a piece of bone laying on her sciatic nerve. The MRI's did not show it. She now has permanent nerve damage. All because the doctors didn't take her seriously. It happens I guess.
 
Oh you will get there! I can walk around my block (slowly with a gimp) it takes about 20 minutes, my tiime, if my daughter did it she'd be done in like 7 minutes.

You just gotta take it day by day. Walk just up to the end of the block and back, see how you feel, if okay, then extend it a few houses the next day, and do that for about a week until you feel like you can do a few houses more. IF you start off going to Costco of course you are going to be depressed. That is ALOT let alone trying to push a cart, EMPTY let alone with stuff in it!!! Driving itself is hard, especially the bumps and getting in and out. I am at the end of my 6th week. You haveto get in a better minRABet and beat the depression and TRY, and if it hurts, then you do alittle less, so you do what you CAN, not what you CANT. That's the difference :)
 
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