Today I went on another outing, this one for an hour. I hopped into the car with Bryan, not exactly knowing where we were going... and suggested we head to Milford. We went to a cafe at the mall, and had to queue for a long time for a coffee in a small space. I was a bit nervous as the waitress kept sort of pushing past people to get through, and there wasn't really anywhere to go. Bryan stood quite close so that I would be sheilded from being bumped. After coffee, we headed to the stationary shop for some refil pages for my photo albums. I spent all of yesterday organising my photos from this year and last year, and ordered 160 photos. Weirdly, the photo album pages are going to be way more expensive than the photos.
Physically I'm feeling much better, I lasted an hour out today, and hadn't taken any pain relief today or yesterday (other than an anti-inflamitory). It's been feeling better than much of the time pre-op, which is something! If 3 weeks post op I'm in less pain than I had been, it's pretty telling of how bad it had been. I walked to the dairy yesterday unattended, after putting my foot down. I am finding it difficult being followed around everywhere like some fragile thing that might suddenly swoon. I guess that's a good thing! I have realised how independent I am.
The challenge is finding things to keep me occupied.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas Day
As anticipated, today was a big day! I woke up at 4.30am in a lot of pain, so after several attempts managed to get up and move into the lazyboy. Bryan came and slept on the couch next to me until morning. I wondered how many kiddies would be lying awake wondering if it was too early to go jump on their parents beds, hoping for early morning present opening! When I got up, I had a shower and put on a nice dress and make up. It was fun to put on some normal clothes, and I was reasonably comfortable. Bryan has turned into quite the hairdresser, and did an excellent job of straightening my hair for me.
Garry and Glenis came for breakfast, and made us blueberry pancakes. I managed to sit at the table long enough to eat them too which was nice. Then we opened a huge pile of presents, which was really fun. By the time we had finished presents and had a cup of tea- despite my best efforts, I was yawning and struggling to stay awake. Garry and Glenis left, and I attempted a small nap whilst Bryan prepared the ham for round two at Adele and Dom's with my side of the family. I had a little nap before mum and dad came around, returning my 'borrowed' car with a new paint job! The paint had been falling off the roof and boot, so dad treated it to a re-spray, and polished out the worst of the ding someone put on the side of it.
Mum had made a trifle that had wobbled it's way out of the dish and into the bag she'd put it in, so spent a while in our kitchen rescuing it! I did my best to entertain dad with some photo's from our recent yachting trip to Great Barrier. Shortly after mum and dad arrived, Yvette and Moz came over. Everyone had presented themselves early at Adele and Dom's over the road, and were sent away to wait at our house until they were ready! We headed over to Adeles at 2pm, and I set myself up on their couch with a pile of cushions. I did ok, and managed to eat lunch at the table before retiring to the couch again. We opened presents, and watched Nelson play Santa. Nelson was great at matching presents with the right person!
After desert I had a quick look at Adele's new basement, before deciding that despite my best efforts I was knackered. I wasn't too sore which was great, but exhausted. I came home at 4pm with a plateful of leftover turkey and ham, and then had a massive nap until 7pm. Lucky for me, when I woke there was still some turkey left!
It was a really fun day, and I enjoyed spending time with my family even though I was exhausted. It was so nice to do something other than lie around in the lounge, AND, I put on something other than a hippie skirt and singlet! I'm getting a little better each day, and this was definitly a big milestone even if it was only over the street.
Garry and Glenis came for breakfast, and made us blueberry pancakes. I managed to sit at the table long enough to eat them too which was nice. Then we opened a huge pile of presents, which was really fun. By the time we had finished presents and had a cup of tea- despite my best efforts, I was yawning and struggling to stay awake. Garry and Glenis left, and I attempted a small nap whilst Bryan prepared the ham for round two at Adele and Dom's with my side of the family. I had a little nap before mum and dad came around, returning my 'borrowed' car with a new paint job! The paint had been falling off the roof and boot, so dad treated it to a re-spray, and polished out the worst of the ding someone put on the side of it.
Mum had made a trifle that had wobbled it's way out of the dish and into the bag she'd put it in, so spent a while in our kitchen rescuing it! I did my best to entertain dad with some photo's from our recent yachting trip to Great Barrier. Shortly after mum and dad arrived, Yvette and Moz came over. Everyone had presented themselves early at Adele and Dom's over the road, and were sent away to wait at our house until they were ready! We headed over to Adeles at 2pm, and I set myself up on their couch with a pile of cushions. I did ok, and managed to eat lunch at the table before retiring to the couch again. We opened presents, and watched Nelson play Santa. Nelson was great at matching presents with the right person!
After desert I had a quick look at Adele's new basement, before deciding that despite my best efforts I was knackered. I wasn't too sore which was great, but exhausted. I came home at 4pm with a plateful of leftover turkey and ham, and then had a massive nap until 7pm. Lucky for me, when I woke there was still some turkey left!
It was a really fun day, and I enjoyed spending time with my family even though I was exhausted. It was so nice to do something other than lie around in the lounge, AND, I put on something other than a hippie skirt and singlet! I'm getting a little better each day, and this was definitly a big milestone even if it was only over the street.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve Present
It's the simple things that make all the difference when you're stuck inside on a hot summers day, climbing the walls. Today I got my wish and went for a ride in the car to Brown's bay! I had forgotten how much bedlam it would be as it is the last shopping day, but I wasn't worried. The abundance of disabled parks frustrated me, as we couldn't find any normal carparks and I'm not really up to walking far combined with a car trip. We had just finished a circut looking for a carpark when we found one, and I hopped out elated that I was able to have my first real outing.
We went and bought icecreams, and took them to the beach. It was really sunny and windy, and we sat on a picnic table and looked out to sea. I was so happy, and best of all I wasn't too sore to enjoy it. On the way back to the car we bought some bread for lunch, and then headed home. Once I got home I was really quite sore, I think just from being up such a long time using muscles that have been chopped through etc. Bryan was really worried when he saw that I was in pain when we got home, so I'm hoping he wasn't serious when he said he shouldn't have let me convince him to take me out. It really wasn't that bad, and it is a step in the right direction.
The girls that I talk to in America that have just had this surgery have had to face 4 hour car-rides home from the hospital in ice and snow. If they can do that, 30min or so up for an icecream is nothing!
We went and bought icecreams, and took them to the beach. It was really sunny and windy, and we sat on a picnic table and looked out to sea. I was so happy, and best of all I wasn't too sore to enjoy it. On the way back to the car we bought some bread for lunch, and then headed home. Once I got home I was really quite sore, I think just from being up such a long time using muscles that have been chopped through etc. Bryan was really worried when he saw that I was in pain when we got home, so I'm hoping he wasn't serious when he said he shouldn't have let me convince him to take me out. It really wasn't that bad, and it is a step in the right direction.
The girls that I talk to in America that have just had this surgery have had to face 4 hour car-rides home from the hospital in ice and snow. If they can do that, 30min or so up for an icecream is nothing!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Toughing it out
After feeling like taking the drugs made little difference, today I decided not to take any. I honestly can't tell any difference! I'll take them for overnight, because I wake up in a lot of pain from lying on my back all night (despite drugs), so I'm not ready to try without.
My new back feels weird, the stretching sensation at my waist (where most of the curve was centered) has gone now... that was a strange feeling! But I still have really sensitive skin in places, and numbness in others. The hypersensitivity is awful, because even my hair brushing against it feels like sharp nails. I had that last time too, and it all settled down after a few months. The numbness from the last surgery is still there now though (on my front lower ribs where they cut in), so I'm not expecting the sensation to return. It's just surface skin numbness, but I'm going to have to be careful in the sun cos I won't feel sunburn!
The technology that is involved in this surgery is amazing, and in many ways is in it's infancy. The physio at the hospital was telling me how when she started work in the 70's, the treatment at the time was to literally stretch the patient on a rack... for months on end, and then operate. The operation was a spinal fusion, like I've had but without the supporting metalware, followed by 6 months in a body cast. I have talked to a lot of people on the american forum that I visit that had this done. People still are treated regularly using braces, however my curve was too severe to consider bracing... thankfully. Being in a brace for your entire growing period would not be pleasant, especially because it is for 23 hours a day.
When I originally was scheduled to have surgery in my teens, the technology being used was still 'harrington' rods. These are only anchored on the spine at top and bottom, like a splint... and have many complications and frequently require revision. The method that I had is much newer, and time will tell whether or not it's going to hold. But hopefully I'll be able to keep fit and well, and that will help prolong the life of my rods.
Even though having two scoliosis surgeries is rare, I am grateful that I am in a position where I can have this done by a reputable surgeon. People often ask me if this is the last surgery that I will need. I can't honestly answer that question, because the first time I had it done I never imagined that I would need it again, especially not so soon. In researching this operation, I have found a lot more information, and realise that there is no certainty... stuff can go badly wrong. But I am choosing not to focus on those aspects, and instead work on rehabilitation and maintaining my health. I'm looking forward to starting pilates again, and building up those laps in the pool. Looking after myself hopefully will extend the life of my rods, but it can't stop progression of any curves that might be remaining.
It's only two day's until Christmas, and I'm feeling like I'll really enjoy the day. I'm going to try and eat dinner at the table, which will be another milestone. I've been sitting upright for longer periods now, so I think I'll manage. Maybe Bryan will take me for a ride in the car as a present.
My new back feels weird, the stretching sensation at my waist (where most of the curve was centered) has gone now... that was a strange feeling! But I still have really sensitive skin in places, and numbness in others. The hypersensitivity is awful, because even my hair brushing against it feels like sharp nails. I had that last time too, and it all settled down after a few months. The numbness from the last surgery is still there now though (on my front lower ribs where they cut in), so I'm not expecting the sensation to return. It's just surface skin numbness, but I'm going to have to be careful in the sun cos I won't feel sunburn!
The technology that is involved in this surgery is amazing, and in many ways is in it's infancy. The physio at the hospital was telling me how when she started work in the 70's, the treatment at the time was to literally stretch the patient on a rack... for months on end, and then operate. The operation was a spinal fusion, like I've had but without the supporting metalware, followed by 6 months in a body cast. I have talked to a lot of people on the american forum that I visit that had this done. People still are treated regularly using braces, however my curve was too severe to consider bracing... thankfully. Being in a brace for your entire growing period would not be pleasant, especially because it is for 23 hours a day.
When I originally was scheduled to have surgery in my teens, the technology being used was still 'harrington' rods. These are only anchored on the spine at top and bottom, like a splint... and have many complications and frequently require revision. The method that I had is much newer, and time will tell whether or not it's going to hold. But hopefully I'll be able to keep fit and well, and that will help prolong the life of my rods.
Even though having two scoliosis surgeries is rare, I am grateful that I am in a position where I can have this done by a reputable surgeon. People often ask me if this is the last surgery that I will need. I can't honestly answer that question, because the first time I had it done I never imagined that I would need it again, especially not so soon. In researching this operation, I have found a lot more information, and realise that there is no certainty... stuff can go badly wrong. But I am choosing not to focus on those aspects, and instead work on rehabilitation and maintaining my health. I'm looking forward to starting pilates again, and building up those laps in the pool. Looking after myself hopefully will extend the life of my rods, but it can't stop progression of any curves that might be remaining.
It's only two day's until Christmas, and I'm feeling like I'll really enjoy the day. I'm going to try and eat dinner at the table, which will be another milestone. I've been sitting upright for longer periods now, so I think I'll manage. Maybe Bryan will take me for a ride in the car as a present.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Two-weeks later
It's been two weeks now since my surgery, and it's gone quickly. My pain has been decreasing slowly, and my stamina has been increasing. I was able to sit at the table and wrap some christmas presents today, and also ate lunch at the table. Another milestone was getting myself out of my lazyboy. I have to be careful not to get over-confident though, I still feel fragile. I watched a movie from start to finish (not very heavy on plot though!) which was great.
The chair milestone is my favorite, although I can't do it repetitively because it's a bit of a strain, I can pull the lever on the chair. I can also scooch myself out over the end. No more strandings! At the moment I'm a bit sore so wouldn't attempt it right now, but it's nice to know I can do it. This newfound semi-independence means that Bryan has taken a trip to the supermarket. I'm hoping for a fruju to sneak it's way into his trolly cos it's roasting!
I have had a few visitors over the last few days which has been great, they save me from going mental! It's nice that they have all noticed how much taller and straighter I am, that's a good bonus. One of Glenis's friends (Jill) even turned up with a big batch of afgans. Her timing was excellent, the banana cake Nicole bought was nearly finished, and I'd just eaten the last anzac biscut. I've been really lucky with visitors this week.
The next big milestone I'm looking forward to, is going 'out' in the car. I'm itching to go anywhere, supermarket, wherever! I'm glad to be avoiding the malls though!
The chair milestone is my favorite, although I can't do it repetitively because it's a bit of a strain, I can pull the lever on the chair. I can also scooch myself out over the end. No more strandings! At the moment I'm a bit sore so wouldn't attempt it right now, but it's nice to know I can do it. This newfound semi-independence means that Bryan has taken a trip to the supermarket. I'm hoping for a fruju to sneak it's way into his trolly cos it's roasting!
I have had a few visitors over the last few days which has been great, they save me from going mental! It's nice that they have all noticed how much taller and straighter I am, that's a good bonus. One of Glenis's friends (Jill) even turned up with a big batch of afgans. Her timing was excellent, the banana cake Nicole bought was nearly finished, and I'd just eaten the last anzac biscut. I've been really lucky with visitors this week.
The next big milestone I'm looking forward to, is going 'out' in the car. I'm itching to go anywhere, supermarket, wherever! I'm glad to be avoiding the malls though!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Babysitters Club
It's a weird feeling being an adult woman and needing babysitters on a regular basis. Although Bryan made it to the shops the other day for a couple of groceries, we had to put me into bed so that I would be able to get up on my own if I needed to. I'm still totally helpless when I'm in the lazy-boy (I expect that to continue for a while). This means that I need someone at hand to eject me out at a moments notice should I need to get up... or to retrieve the remote if it should heaven forbid fall on the floor (completely lost), or pass me the laptop, make me a snack, or pour me a drink. Since Bryan is having the odd meeting at work or game of touch, we need to organise someone to come in.
The good news is that the babysitters bring with them a keeness to do whatever jobs I can throw at them, and often come armed with goodies. It is more challenging however to provide the sitter (or other visitor) with stimulating conversation, as the days excitment is delivered in half hour slots on the TV. My favorite programs are ones which don't involve a lot of thinking, and are of short duration. I am really into 'dirty jobs' at the moment, I enjoy watching him try and tackle an ostrich and put a hood over it's head whilst enjoying the witty dialouge along the way.
Physically today has been a reasonable day, I managed to sleep the night in my bed. I think that was in part because I went to bed really late and got up early though. The bed is certainly less comfortable than the chair. I'm a bit worried about whether the chair is a bad idea in terms of healing my bone in an unnatural position, but I didn't have any specific instructions regarding sleeping positions. When I got up this morning I didn't have terrible pain which was nice. I'm feeling pretty sore at the moment, I think I might have been over-keen with something. Bryan was right about the difficult part being keeping me from getting frustrated. My natural desire is to push myself and rehabilitate, but that has to be balanced with healing.
The good news is that the babysitters bring with them a keeness to do whatever jobs I can throw at them, and often come armed with goodies. It is more challenging however to provide the sitter (or other visitor) with stimulating conversation, as the days excitment is delivered in half hour slots on the TV. My favorite programs are ones which don't involve a lot of thinking, and are of short duration. I am really into 'dirty jobs' at the moment, I enjoy watching him try and tackle an ostrich and put a hood over it's head whilst enjoying the witty dialouge along the way.
Physically today has been a reasonable day, I managed to sleep the night in my bed. I think that was in part because I went to bed really late and got up early though. The bed is certainly less comfortable than the chair. I'm a bit worried about whether the chair is a bad idea in terms of healing my bone in an unnatural position, but I didn't have any specific instructions regarding sleeping positions. When I got up this morning I didn't have terrible pain which was nice. I'm feeling pretty sore at the moment, I think I might have been over-keen with something. Bryan was right about the difficult part being keeping me from getting frustrated. My natural desire is to push myself and rehabilitate, but that has to be balanced with healing.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Twelve Days of Surgery
Today is twelve days following my surgery, and I'm doing well. Yesterday's milestone was walking the distance to the Rothesay Bay shops (? 200m return) which was a decent challenge. I thought this point might be a good time to talk about what I am able to do.
The walking thing seems to be going well, much better than after my last surgery because my lungs didn't have to be collapsed to operate when going through the back. I'm not allowed to bend, twist, or lift... and none of those things sound appealing to me at all. It means that if I drop something, I have to leave it there for whoever happens past me. Bryan has given me 2 phones and a walkie-talkie for this reason, and it's necissary. Remotes also occasionally go overboard from the lazy-boy, which is ok unless there is something really bad on, and I then have to suffer through it (or holler for Bryan). I can reach my arms up over my head which is great, but I can't really lift objects that are placed a long distance away. I also can't lift my body off the lazy-boy to reach things on the other side of the coffee table. It's all a bit frustrating.
I rang my physio to try and get started on rehabilitation, but she rightly said I was probably pushing it. I don't like it that I had done all that work building muscle in my legs before surgery, and it's going to waste. There's not much else to do than snack and watch TV... I can't wait to start pilates again, and get back in the water.
Bryan has brought home his work computer so that he can be near me and help, whilst finishing off his jobs. He's still being very patient with me, even when I've become impatient and restless. I had a sneezing fit today which was particularly unpleasant, and have been sore for a few hours since. It's boiling hot and humid today, but I was sitting in a draught.
The walking thing seems to be going well, much better than after my last surgery because my lungs didn't have to be collapsed to operate when going through the back. I'm not allowed to bend, twist, or lift... and none of those things sound appealing to me at all. It means that if I drop something, I have to leave it there for whoever happens past me. Bryan has given me 2 phones and a walkie-talkie for this reason, and it's necissary. Remotes also occasionally go overboard from the lazy-boy, which is ok unless there is something really bad on, and I then have to suffer through it (or holler for Bryan). I can reach my arms up over my head which is great, but I can't really lift objects that are placed a long distance away. I also can't lift my body off the lazy-boy to reach things on the other side of the coffee table. It's all a bit frustrating.
I rang my physio to try and get started on rehabilitation, but she rightly said I was probably pushing it. I don't like it that I had done all that work building muscle in my legs before surgery, and it's going to waste. There's not much else to do than snack and watch TV... I can't wait to start pilates again, and get back in the water.
Bryan has brought home his work computer so that he can be near me and help, whilst finishing off his jobs. He's still being very patient with me, even when I've become impatient and restless. I had a sneezing fit today which was particularly unpleasant, and have been sore for a few hours since. It's boiling hot and humid today, but I was sitting in a draught.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Starting to think about Christmas
Yesterday was a bit of a more eventful day, my parents stopped by in a 2002 Toyota MRS that they had purchased seemingly on impulse that morning. Thanks to that, they were feeling particularly festive and helped Bryan decorate the bare christmas tree with the box of decorations Garry found left behind at an office he was moving. My tree is now groaning under the weight of the dozens of baubells (sp?) and lights, but made an impressive sight on walking outside this evening. We wandered down the street a fair way and could only see one other, but no-where near as fancy looking as ours. I can't see us turning into Franklin Road any time soon, but I love fairy lights.
I'm feeling much better today, my tummy has settled down a lot. I've been off all morphine since the day after I got home. Although I was adamant before surgery that Tramadol does nothing for me, it seems to have some effect- although I can't really tell when it wears off. I'm glad to be feeling comfortable most of the time, with my tummy being the worst part lately. I get breakthrough pain at times though, which usually comes after lying in one spot for a while. It literally takes my breath away. I felt well enough for Bryan to leave me at home alone for 20min or so to whip down to the pharmacy in the morning, then an afternoon trip to Browns Bay for a frappacino. I feel up to a car trip, but Bryan's racing suspension doesn't appeal considering I have to remind people to tread softly around me in the lounge. Everyones footsteps can be felt in my body. It's not painful, but an unpleasant sensation like fingernails on a blackboard. I guess a spinal fusion effectively removes your natural shock absorbers in your spine- the layers of cartilige between your vertebrae, and packs the spaces with solid bone.
One of the best things has been the home baking people have done for me. Yesterday Bryan's nana stopped by with some ginger crunch, which on an upset tummy seemed to be really good. A few days prior Bryan's mum Glennis made me some really good anzac biscuits. Then Regan and Andy brought around a care package wtih some pumpkin bread they had made, along with some other goodies. Bryan has been helping out with the chocolate, I think all the running around after me has made him hungry. Being stranded helps me moderate my consumption of goodies, needing them all brought to me or being released from my chair to fend for myself briefly.
It's about 4am Monday, I'm still not sleeping through the night but thankfully the worst of the dreams seem over. Bryan is up with me at the moment reading his book waiting for me to feel ready for sleep again. It seems that between 3 and 4am is when I wake, but can usually get back to sleep. Bryan is still being wonderful, and I'm hoping that he won't get burnt out. He's wondering how best to spend his now enourmous pile of brownie points he's earned from being my 24 hour carer.
I'm feeling much better today, my tummy has settled down a lot. I've been off all morphine since the day after I got home. Although I was adamant before surgery that Tramadol does nothing for me, it seems to have some effect- although I can't really tell when it wears off. I'm glad to be feeling comfortable most of the time, with my tummy being the worst part lately. I get breakthrough pain at times though, which usually comes after lying in one spot for a while. It literally takes my breath away. I felt well enough for Bryan to leave me at home alone for 20min or so to whip down to the pharmacy in the morning, then an afternoon trip to Browns Bay for a frappacino. I feel up to a car trip, but Bryan's racing suspension doesn't appeal considering I have to remind people to tread softly around me in the lounge. Everyones footsteps can be felt in my body. It's not painful, but an unpleasant sensation like fingernails on a blackboard. I guess a spinal fusion effectively removes your natural shock absorbers in your spine- the layers of cartilige between your vertebrae, and packs the spaces with solid bone.
One of the best things has been the home baking people have done for me. Yesterday Bryan's nana stopped by with some ginger crunch, which on an upset tummy seemed to be really good. A few days prior Bryan's mum Glennis made me some really good anzac biscuits. Then Regan and Andy brought around a care package wtih some pumpkin bread they had made, along with some other goodies. Bryan has been helping out with the chocolate, I think all the running around after me has made him hungry. Being stranded helps me moderate my consumption of goodies, needing them all brought to me or being released from my chair to fend for myself briefly.
It's about 4am Monday, I'm still not sleeping through the night but thankfully the worst of the dreams seem over. Bryan is up with me at the moment reading his book waiting for me to feel ready for sleep again. It seems that between 3 and 4am is when I wake, but can usually get back to sleep. Bryan is still being wonderful, and I'm hoping that he won't get burnt out. He's wondering how best to spend his now enourmous pile of brownie points he's earned from being my 24 hour carer.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
The blue rinse brigade
Something about having a bad scoliosis, is that it separates you from other people your own age. It's hard for people to understand what it is like to live with chronic pain, unless they have also been there. This has led me to feel sometimes like an elderly person, with creaking bones when I get up in the morning... (I seldom lie in because it's not comfortable), and by mid afternoon will have munched through my first of a few slow-release codine tablets that will be consumed until bedtime.
Going home early from parties also, not because I'm ready, but because I can't bear the pain any more. I'm amazed that Bryan is so understanding about this, but I try and make sure he can pursue his own interests without worrying about me.
The blue rinse factor has been amplified since my surgery. I couldn't help but feel once I had recovered enough to be bothered, that I had awoken in some home for old-age pensioners. I shared a hospital room with two elderly ladies whose snoring could wake the dead, and my earplugs needed the additional help of my i-pod earphones resting on top at full volume to drown out the noise. Unfortunately, I have unusually small ear canals (according to my audiologist honourary mother in law), so at random intervals through the night my ears ejected the earplugs, and I awoke to more snoring. At one point, one of the nurses with a sense of humor, kindly went over to the loudest one and woke her to ask if she was sleeping ok.... admittedly, I had asked her if she could just do a set of 'obs' on her to wake her... she was pre-op, she'd never know it's not normal! I hoped that I would manage to fall asleep in the time it took her to re-orientate herself.
Someone also mistook me for an elderly person and bought me a very fancy looking tube of individually wrapped prunes. This is a mean trick because they look like chocolates to someone who is a bit out of it. These sorts of weird things, must surely be hugely appealing to elderly folk, because their paranoia about their bowels leads them to consume excessive quantities of prunes... And, because these individually wrapped numbers look so appealing, I can see how much fun grandma's would have offering them to children, who like me- mistook them for choccies. Then they can watch with delight as the child takes a 'sweet', unwrapps it, and consumes it... and then their face contorts in the shocking realisation that their beloved nana has duped them into the eating of prunes.
You can see by my ramblings thus far, that I am getting cabin fever, and it's only 9 days after my operation! I'm not enjoying being stranded, but at least my pain has come down to a bearable level so I have ditched the morphine. I'd really like to hear from people, while this blog is really great for me to communicate out, I miss out on people contact. I blame the pre-christmas rush and people being timid. I think that might be another nana factor there, the 'no-one visits' complaint, when really people do visit regularly... just not the people that you had thought. Maybe that was just my nana that was like that.
I had a much better night last night, slept until about 3am in the lazy boy with Bryan on the couch. I felt well enough to go to bed for the remainder of the night and had a blissful sleep. It was so nice to be able to feel a little bit normal again. No nightmares, just bad dreams with more wierd content.
Going home early from parties also, not because I'm ready, but because I can't bear the pain any more. I'm amazed that Bryan is so understanding about this, but I try and make sure he can pursue his own interests without worrying about me.
The blue rinse factor has been amplified since my surgery. I couldn't help but feel once I had recovered enough to be bothered, that I had awoken in some home for old-age pensioners. I shared a hospital room with two elderly ladies whose snoring could wake the dead, and my earplugs needed the additional help of my i-pod earphones resting on top at full volume to drown out the noise. Unfortunately, I have unusually small ear canals (according to my audiologist honourary mother in law), so at random intervals through the night my ears ejected the earplugs, and I awoke to more snoring. At one point, one of the nurses with a sense of humor, kindly went over to the loudest one and woke her to ask if she was sleeping ok.... admittedly, I had asked her if she could just do a set of 'obs' on her to wake her... she was pre-op, she'd never know it's not normal! I hoped that I would manage to fall asleep in the time it took her to re-orientate herself.
Someone also mistook me for an elderly person and bought me a very fancy looking tube of individually wrapped prunes. This is a mean trick because they look like chocolates to someone who is a bit out of it. These sorts of weird things, must surely be hugely appealing to elderly folk, because their paranoia about their bowels leads them to consume excessive quantities of prunes... And, because these individually wrapped numbers look so appealing, I can see how much fun grandma's would have offering them to children, who like me- mistook them for choccies. Then they can watch with delight as the child takes a 'sweet', unwrapps it, and consumes it... and then their face contorts in the shocking realisation that their beloved nana has duped them into the eating of prunes.
You can see by my ramblings thus far, that I am getting cabin fever, and it's only 9 days after my operation! I'm not enjoying being stranded, but at least my pain has come down to a bearable level so I have ditched the morphine. I'd really like to hear from people, while this blog is really great for me to communicate out, I miss out on people contact. I blame the pre-christmas rush and people being timid. I think that might be another nana factor there, the 'no-one visits' complaint, when really people do visit regularly... just not the people that you had thought. Maybe that was just my nana that was like that.
I had a much better night last night, slept until about 3am in the lazy boy with Bryan on the couch. I felt well enough to go to bed for the remainder of the night and had a blissful sleep. It was so nice to be able to feel a little bit normal again. No nightmares, just bad dreams with more wierd content.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Maggie is stranded!
I'm feeling much better today, still sleeping in the lounge on the lazyboy... The shock of the previous nights sudden nausea meant Bryan was too scared to sleep in the bedroom, and I was really glad. I've just woken from an afternoon snooze, and Bryan is having some well earned rest.
The nightmares have been pretty horrible, I've woken up sobbing after falling asleep during the day and dreaming about getting up from my nap and falling over, landing on my back as helpless as a turtle. The night before was less real, I was riding down a steep hill on a bike with someone, and couldn't stop. I woke up whimpering out loud just as I was about to crash into a person at the bottom trying to catch me. Last nights involved a very enjoyable bottle of wine which turned out to be $20,000K a bottle. It left me in a state which had me falling over in the restaraunt, into fish ponds, face down into sand... etc, but noone helping me or noticing me. This led me to believe in special dream logic, that I could do what I wanted to people and get away with it. So I shook the nearest bystander seated with his back to me, but then he got up and turned around and had a face made of noodles, and weird hands which grabbed mine as I reached out to defend myself and twisted them. No Freudian dream analysis required with these dreams, although clearly bizzare, they reflect the very real fear I have of falling over and damaging my new metalware.
While I'm able to do a lot for myself like walk around, shower, dress, stand up, and roll over in bed (but can't stay on my side for more than a minute or two), the lazy-boy where I now reside 23hrs and 40mins of the day has me stranded! I can't pull the lever myself, and so someone has to be around all the time to help me out of the chair through moving the lever and lifting the head up for me. This whale-like stranding also means that I get all my food prepared and brought to me by the head chef, cleaner, washer-upper, decorator, and Matron, Bryan. I haven't resorted to asking for one of Nelson's (my 18 month old nephew) Pelican bibs that catch all the things that have missed his mouth, (delights to rummage for after dinner.. the mix of peas, macaroni, and desert seem not to bother him one bit!). Instead I have a massive Dave Clark (folks at uni will know) style tea-towel bib. Then I can rescue the big chunks of green jelly that have wobbled their way off my spoon, or anything else. The next biggest challenge to eating whilst semi-recumbent surely must be eating upside-down, followed by eating in space. If I'm ever lucky enough to do the latter, I'll be sure to pack some green jelly for hours of entertainment.
My surgeon's bill arrived today, he told me whilst in hospital that he has reduced his fees considerably to be about half or more of what they would be, given the length of the surgery. I am hugely grateful for this, as although Southern Cross has come to the party, Bryan tells me that they are only coming to the quoted $50K or less. So the $8K surgeons fee is generous, but I can see why one of his 6 cars is an Aston Martin (maybe he can take me for a drive?). The costs of the titanium rods and screws was $23k. My Anaesthatist (Graham Morton) has been nothing short of excellent, and he also reduced his fees considerably to cover costs plus a little more. This is a huge favour from a former colleauge from my ICU nursing days.
I had the dubious honour of being nursed by a lot of my former colleauges, and those nurses which hadn't worked with me had been warned. The inevitable warning at handover after rattling off my list of woes, is to say 'oh, and she's a nurse' which means 'watch out, she's a nurse, she'll either be demanding or ok, but either way do it by the book'. My night in ICU I can remember vaugely, I had Hesbie who is an excellend South African nurse, who has a love of washing. After being woken every four hours (I know this, because that's the 'protocol' for how often to turn patients, and Hesbie is by the book) for a roll and a wash, and seemed to be frequent changes of sheets, I was sure that I must be looking luminous. I was surprisingly comfortable being turned, and used a lot of my morphine pump to help out. A few days later I had a chuckle to myself, recalling a nurses conversation with me a few years prior, saying 'I'd hate to be one of Hesbie's patients, she wakes them and washes them all night, lights on, she should just let them sleep'. At the time I totally agreed, but now having been on the other end of it, I can say that it was a nice feeling not to be left lying in a broken heap all night.
I can say, I appreciated the nurses so much, but never once did I think, 'oh how I miss it!'
After writing all this I'm roasting, and ready to get up and try a little walk in some fresh air. The thick surgical compression stockings keep me super heated! I think Bryan is still snoozing down in the bedroom, poor thing. I'm stranded without him, so will wake him now using the new walkie-talkie that Garry loaned us. It has a 6km range, and means I can get him out of calling distance. Yesterday it had the very important use of relaying fruju flavours from the dairy to me in my lazy boy. Aha! He's up! Time for walkies!
The nightmares have been pretty horrible, I've woken up sobbing after falling asleep during the day and dreaming about getting up from my nap and falling over, landing on my back as helpless as a turtle. The night before was less real, I was riding down a steep hill on a bike with someone, and couldn't stop. I woke up whimpering out loud just as I was about to crash into a person at the bottom trying to catch me. Last nights involved a very enjoyable bottle of wine which turned out to be $20,000K a bottle. It left me in a state which had me falling over in the restaraunt, into fish ponds, face down into sand... etc, but noone helping me or noticing me. This led me to believe in special dream logic, that I could do what I wanted to people and get away with it. So I shook the nearest bystander seated with his back to me, but then he got up and turned around and had a face made of noodles, and weird hands which grabbed mine as I reached out to defend myself and twisted them. No Freudian dream analysis required with these dreams, although clearly bizzare, they reflect the very real fear I have of falling over and damaging my new metalware.
While I'm able to do a lot for myself like walk around, shower, dress, stand up, and roll over in bed (but can't stay on my side for more than a minute or two), the lazy-boy where I now reside 23hrs and 40mins of the day has me stranded! I can't pull the lever myself, and so someone has to be around all the time to help me out of the chair through moving the lever and lifting the head up for me. This whale-like stranding also means that I get all my food prepared and brought to me by the head chef, cleaner, washer-upper, decorator, and Matron, Bryan. I haven't resorted to asking for one of Nelson's (my 18 month old nephew) Pelican bibs that catch all the things that have missed his mouth, (delights to rummage for after dinner.. the mix of peas, macaroni, and desert seem not to bother him one bit!). Instead I have a massive Dave Clark (folks at uni will know) style tea-towel bib. Then I can rescue the big chunks of green jelly that have wobbled their way off my spoon, or anything else. The next biggest challenge to eating whilst semi-recumbent surely must be eating upside-down, followed by eating in space. If I'm ever lucky enough to do the latter, I'll be sure to pack some green jelly for hours of entertainment.
My surgeon's bill arrived today, he told me whilst in hospital that he has reduced his fees considerably to be about half or more of what they would be, given the length of the surgery. I am hugely grateful for this, as although Southern Cross has come to the party, Bryan tells me that they are only coming to the quoted $50K or less. So the $8K surgeons fee is generous, but I can see why one of his 6 cars is an Aston Martin (maybe he can take me for a drive?). The costs of the titanium rods and screws was $23k. My Anaesthatist (Graham Morton) has been nothing short of excellent, and he also reduced his fees considerably to cover costs plus a little more. This is a huge favour from a former colleauge from my ICU nursing days.
I had the dubious honour of being nursed by a lot of my former colleauges, and those nurses which hadn't worked with me had been warned. The inevitable warning at handover after rattling off my list of woes, is to say 'oh, and she's a nurse' which means 'watch out, she's a nurse, she'll either be demanding or ok, but either way do it by the book'. My night in ICU I can remember vaugely, I had Hesbie who is an excellend South African nurse, who has a love of washing. After being woken every four hours (I know this, because that's the 'protocol' for how often to turn patients, and Hesbie is by the book) for a roll and a wash, and seemed to be frequent changes of sheets, I was sure that I must be looking luminous. I was surprisingly comfortable being turned, and used a lot of my morphine pump to help out. A few days later I had a chuckle to myself, recalling a nurses conversation with me a few years prior, saying 'I'd hate to be one of Hesbie's patients, she wakes them and washes them all night, lights on, she should just let them sleep'. At the time I totally agreed, but now having been on the other end of it, I can say that it was a nice feeling not to be left lying in a broken heap all night.
I can say, I appreciated the nurses so much, but never once did I think, 'oh how I miss it!'
After writing all this I'm roasting, and ready to get up and try a little walk in some fresh air. The thick surgical compression stockings keep me super heated! I think Bryan is still snoozing down in the bedroom, poor thing. I'm stranded without him, so will wake him now using the new walkie-talkie that Garry loaned us. It has a 6km range, and means I can get him out of calling distance. Yesterday it had the very important use of relaying fruju flavours from the dairy to me in my lazy boy. Aha! He's up! Time for walkies!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The journey thus far... a patient's perspective
So, I'm home. After spending such a long time feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of surgery, I'm glad to have it over with. The surgery was the biggest possible version, not the 'minor tweak' to fix the upper curve as I had been painting it to myself and others. Only Bryan really still understood that the surgeon wasn't going to know what he would do till he was in there, although we both went to all appointments. The things we take in when it's you in the patients seat is a lot less than I would like to think. I haven't seen the resulting chop, but my dressing goes from just above my butt to just under my neck. Was weird to have in the past looked at the biggest dressings in the dressing room and never seeing them used, to then having one of those not being long enough and sticking an extra bit on the end.
I had a relatively smooth ride in the hospital, the drugs were good although not eliminating pain, reduced it from a 10/10 pain down to usually around 4-6/10 (Pain scale for dummies, 0=no pain, 10 worst pain ever had in life). Unfortunately when I got home yesterday, after going so well, at night I woke up and was really sick several times. Not fun. Had the worst night yet, and was out of hospital. I think now is a good time to mention, as you can see a fraction of from this blog, that Bryan has been nothing short of wonderful. It must be tough for him too, but he has been at my side what feels like the whole time, and all the time since coming home. It's hard for me to have to lose all my feminine mystery in one foul swoop, but it shows the true extend of his dedication that he is still here, and being amazing. Family have been great too, and have done everything that I ask of them and more. Garry turned up with Skytv for me (some part of his one that he has at home, he's got mysky and I have the extra bit you can have).... there is endless crap you can watch, which is about all I can cope with. Movies are still a bit taxing. Mum and Dad turned up with a Lazyboy, which has been a godsend (but I really really miss my electric bed).
Because of last nights vomiting, I had to go a whole night without pain relief, wasn't as bad as I was expecting but pain 8-9/10... I know what 10 feels like. I've cut back heaps today so am not doing the walking that I was doing, and am needing more help than I have done over the last few days.
The highlight this far has been seeing how wonderful people can be, and Bryan has come out on top.
I have been having to teach people to walk on eggshells around me, when I'm in my chair I can feel every footstep in the lounge throughout my body.
I'll let Bryan fill you in on the rest of the stuff, he's currently erecting fairy lights in the lounge for me. We can thank Sarah K-M for that job for him... she looked around and went "hey, it's not looking festive! We need to decorate!!" and Bryan took the 'hint' and started putting up lights. They look great, and she's promised to come back in time to help decorate the tree. It's up, but there's nothing on it yet.
Thank you to everyone who has been and visited, left comments on the blog, and generally thought about me. It's very much appreciated.
I had a relatively smooth ride in the hospital, the drugs were good although not eliminating pain, reduced it from a 10/10 pain down to usually around 4-6/10 (Pain scale for dummies, 0=no pain, 10 worst pain ever had in life). Unfortunately when I got home yesterday, after going so well, at night I woke up and was really sick several times. Not fun. Had the worst night yet, and was out of hospital. I think now is a good time to mention, as you can see a fraction of from this blog, that Bryan has been nothing short of wonderful. It must be tough for him too, but he has been at my side what feels like the whole time, and all the time since coming home. It's hard for me to have to lose all my feminine mystery in one foul swoop, but it shows the true extend of his dedication that he is still here, and being amazing. Family have been great too, and have done everything that I ask of them and more. Garry turned up with Skytv for me (some part of his one that he has at home, he's got mysky and I have the extra bit you can have).... there is endless crap you can watch, which is about all I can cope with. Movies are still a bit taxing. Mum and Dad turned up with a Lazyboy, which has been a godsend (but I really really miss my electric bed).
Because of last nights vomiting, I had to go a whole night without pain relief, wasn't as bad as I was expecting but pain 8-9/10... I know what 10 feels like. I've cut back heaps today so am not doing the walking that I was doing, and am needing more help than I have done over the last few days.
The highlight this far has been seeing how wonderful people can be, and Bryan has come out on top.
I have been having to teach people to walk on eggshells around me, when I'm in my chair I can feel every footstep in the lounge throughout my body.
I'll let Bryan fill you in on the rest of the stuff, he's currently erecting fairy lights in the lounge for me. We can thank Sarah K-M for that job for him... she looked around and went "hey, it's not looking festive! We need to decorate!!" and Bryan took the 'hint' and started putting up lights. They look great, and she's promised to come back in time to help decorate the tree. It's up, but there's nothing on it yet.
Thank you to everyone who has been and visited, left comments on the blog, and generally thought about me. It's very much appreciated.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Making a break for it
Discharge day, Yay. I had an early start and still managed to get in the rush hour traffic, figured that I'd be in serious trouble if I was late. Turns out I didn't need to worry but Margaret was champing at the bit to get through the checkout procedure. Still had to have the once over by the nurse, dressing changed etc. Dr Barnes had been in earlier and thankfully had prescribed some good drugs, unfortunately only the standard panadol had arrived from the pharmacy. This put Maggie in a bit of a spin since it wasn't what she'd discussed and was worried about not being able to control her pain at home. As it turns out she had to sign for them at the pharmacy since they are very high powered i.e. they come with a don't get addicted warning, which is a bit scary.
So I bundled Maggie into the car with a sheep skin, cushions and more cushions. Then drove very gingerly on to the motorway. As it turned out the high speed made her nauseous, which took me by surprise, since I was expecting the bumps and corners to be a problem. So we made for the nearest off-ramp, had a break and were fine from there.
Margaret's mum and dad were waiting when we arrived with a lazy boy chair for sticking in the lounge. It took quite a few modifications to get it right but seems to be working out well. Maggie alternated between that and bed.
She also went for a bit of a walk 50m down the street and back, in purple pajamas, don't know what the neighbours were thinking. Will take it a bit at a time.
Bryan
So I bundled Maggie into the car with a sheep skin, cushions and more cushions. Then drove very gingerly on to the motorway. As it turned out the high speed made her nauseous, which took me by surprise, since I was expecting the bumps and corners to be a problem. So we made for the nearest off-ramp, had a break and were fine from there.
Margaret's mum and dad were waiting when we arrived with a lazy boy chair for sticking in the lounge. It took quite a few modifications to get it right but seems to be working out well. Maggie alternated between that and bed.
She also went for a bit of a walk 50m down the street and back, in purple pajamas, don't know what the neighbours were thinking. Will take it a bit at a time.
Bryan
Mountain Trekking
Another big day today, all sorts of people have to ok your release to the outside world. The physio is one, who had Maggie basically climb the Himalayas. Out of the ward, up a flight of stairs, along to visit the ICU, down to the other end of the ward and back. Then a trip down to have several x-rays taken, it will be interesting to see the final results from those. Had a look at the x-rays taken in theatre, looks fairly substantial.
So it's out tomorrow subject to final approval of the two doctors. They'd better prescribe something other than panadol to go. Then it will be home (with my carefullest driving) to settle in for extended recuperation.
I've stocked up on green jelly and ice cream, because it's the staple diet now.
Thanks to everyone who went and visited, txt'd, called and sent cards. No doubt your services will be required again over the next month or so to stop Maggie getting cabin fever at home. There is a bare xmas tree here (and a box of decorations) if anyone is feeling festive.
Bryan
So it's out tomorrow subject to final approval of the two doctors. They'd better prescribe something other than panadol to go. Then it will be home (with my carefullest driving) to settle in for extended recuperation.
I've stocked up on green jelly and ice cream, because it's the staple diet now.
Thanks to everyone who went and visited, txt'd, called and sent cards. No doubt your services will be required again over the next month or so to stop Maggie getting cabin fever at home. There is a bare xmas tree here (and a box of decorations) if anyone is feeling festive.
Bryan
Monday, December 10, 2007
Which foot goes first?
More improvements today, everything has been unplugged so there are no scary cables, drains, lures and such. Maggie is looking like a normal person again. I was surprised to find her sitting up eating lunch when I got there. She then showed off by getting up and walking over for hugs.
Incidentally I think I'm going to lose my 19mm bet, she seems much taller, look out Regan you might end up shorter.
Normality still consists of a bunch of sleeping and snoozing separated by very short episodes of activity. e.g. Sit up, eat a sandwich, lie down and snooze for 10 minutes, sit up for a second go at the jelly (purple this time, it's just not as good as green), repeat procedure for a cup of tea. Walking to the bathroom and back requires an hour of dedicated snoring time. Even Dr Phil can only command about 5 minutes of attention.
Next time I showed up she was harassing the other patients, sitting in the chair next to their bed (the one with the screaming kids who visited) perhaps she was trying to get her own back. I noticed that her posture was very good.
All going well she'll be out on Wednesday and back home for recovery! This is really the best possible scenario for release dates so I'm not holding my breath. You might even get her side of the story soon.
Bryan
Incidentally I think I'm going to lose my 19mm bet, she seems much taller, look out Regan you might end up shorter.
Normality still consists of a bunch of sleeping and snoozing separated by very short episodes of activity. e.g. Sit up, eat a sandwich, lie down and snooze for 10 minutes, sit up for a second go at the jelly (purple this time, it's just not as good as green), repeat procedure for a cup of tea. Walking to the bathroom and back requires an hour of dedicated snoring time. Even Dr Phil can only command about 5 minutes of attention.
Next time I showed up she was harassing the other patients, sitting in the chair next to their bed (the one with the screaming kids who visited) perhaps she was trying to get her own back. I noticed that her posture was very good.
All going well she'll be out on Wednesday and back home for recovery! This is really the best possible scenario for release dates so I'm not holding my breath. You might even get her side of the story soon.
Bryan
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Electric Beds
So Maggie got her central line out today and lost her IV drugs which had the expected effects of waking her up, when I got there she was in quite a lot of pain from sitting up for a bit. Fortunately she still has a bunch of good pain killers available and the nurses soon got it under control. No instant fix now tho so I got my hand pulverised for ten minutes or so.
Both sets of parents visited and commented how good Margaret is looking. I put it down to the green jelly that you get for both lunch and dinner. I guess there are some perks to being in hospital, but that doesn't sell it for me.
Did you know that you can get remote controlled electric beds? They must be a new addition to Mercy because some of the nurses seem to fumble around with the controls. Margaret seems to have a handle on them and can now frighten the guests by performing unexpected manoeuvres. Just be thankful that the wheels aren't motorised otherwise the inmates would be playing dodgems.
If all goes well she'll try for a short walk tomorrow, and should be up to having visitors if anyone feels like popping in from 11am. Mercy Ascot, Level 1 Room 22.
Bryan
Both sets of parents visited and commented how good Margaret is looking. I put it down to the green jelly that you get for both lunch and dinner. I guess there are some perks to being in hospital, but that doesn't sell it for me.
Did you know that you can get remote controlled electric beds? They must be a new addition to Mercy because some of the nurses seem to fumble around with the controls. Margaret seems to have a handle on them and can now frighten the guests by performing unexpected manoeuvres. Just be thankful that the wheels aren't motorised otherwise the inmates would be playing dodgems.
If all goes well she'll try for a short walk tomorrow, and should be up to having visitors if anyone feels like popping in from 11am. Mercy Ascot, Level 1 Room 22.
Bryan
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Early Christmas Presents
Can just see the Domain from Maggies room and there was plenty of traffic heading to Christmas at the Park, should have a good view of the fireworks display if there is one. As I write it's just started raining, bummer.
Maggie had her drain removed today, which I guess is one step in the right direction. She also sat up for a bit which was also encouraging. However the morphine side effects are kicking in, apparently it affects your breathing, so that was reduced and will be removed tomorrow. So she'll be more alert and hopefully not in too much pain.
The screaming kids and grandma with a hearing loss (and thus must yell to be heard) put in another appearance. Honestly do these people have brain cells.
Adele and Sarah C came for a quick visit bearing gifts, not sure if Maggie was providing useful conversation.
Some good news... Got home and found that not only had the garden fairies cut the grass while I was out but there was a letter from Southern Cross which I opened with some trepidation. Low and behold they are now offering to pay up to $50,000! Felt a bit like winning lotto. I'm sure it will be a big relief for Maggie.
Don't say you can't guilt out the insurance companies.
Maggie had her drain removed today, which I guess is one step in the right direction. She also sat up for a bit which was also encouraging. However the morphine side effects are kicking in, apparently it affects your breathing, so that was reduced and will be removed tomorrow. So she'll be more alert and hopefully not in too much pain.
The screaming kids and grandma with a hearing loss (and thus must yell to be heard) put in another appearance. Honestly do these people have brain cells.
Adele and Sarah C came for a quick visit bearing gifts, not sure if Maggie was providing useful conversation.
Some good news... Got home and found that not only had the garden fairies cut the grass while I was out but there was a letter from Southern Cross which I opened with some trepidation. Low and behold they are now offering to pay up to $50,000! Felt a bit like winning lotto. I'm sure it will be a big relief for Maggie.
Don't say you can't guilt out the insurance companies.
Friday, December 7, 2007
+24 Hours
Went in to Mercy this morning expecting to find Maggie back on the ward but she was still in ICU and all drugged up. Apparently this was mostly due to a backlog processing all the patients, a full house according to the nurses. Who'd have thought there would be a Christmas rush on at a hospital. So I hung out there for a while listening to all the machines that go bing. Graham came along for a brief inspection and told her to keep pressing her magic drug cocktail release button, but seemed otherwise pleased (I find it mildly disturbing how fast and effective IV drugs seem to be).
Around 12:00 Maggie got moved back down to the St Cecilia ward, I trundled along with the baggage. The view from the room is nice, overlooking town. The company however was annoying, complete with screaming kids (literally) had to tell them to bugger off and and ask for a single room which turned out to be optimistic thinking, since there was already a waiting list of 6. Yvette popped in for a quick visit. Also removed the stinky lillys that belonged to the neighbours.
When I was about to depart Dr Barnes checked in to see if everything was under control. Maggie reported that she was still in a bit of pain but it was manageable, although it's making her really drowsy and even dopier than normal.
Will let people know when she feels like visitors.
Bryan.
Around 12:00 Maggie got moved back down to the St Cecilia ward, I trundled along with the baggage. The view from the room is nice, overlooking town. The company however was annoying, complete with screaming kids (literally) had to tell them to bugger off and and ask for a single room which turned out to be optimistic thinking, since there was already a waiting list of 6. Yvette popped in for a quick visit. Also removed the stinky lillys that belonged to the neighbours.
When I was about to depart Dr Barnes checked in to see if everything was under control. Maggie reported that she was still in a bit of pain but it was manageable, although it's making her really drowsy and even dopier than normal.
Will let people know when she feels like visitors.
Bryan.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Big Day
Bryan reporting...
Huge day today, no doubt Maggie won't remember much of it, so I'll record it here. Arrived at Mercy around 6:45 after a quick trip up a misty Mt Eden to lose a few minutes. Walked into reception and handed over $9,000, ouch, they didn't seem impressed about being given a cheque! What did they expect, a handful of redies?
Admission was fast since they wanted to get the OR started by 7:30 so the nurses were being harried by the theater staff. The anesthetist, Graham, made a brief appearance and told me to go drink coffees, read the paper, and come back in four hours, he didn't give me a prescription though, so I only administered two doses (of coffee), orally at Circus along with some waffles.
Waited around and got a txt from the anesthetist at about 12:00 saying that they'd be another 90 minutes so I went for a walk to Eden gardens for lunch and something to do. But really there is only so much looking at trees in the drizzle you can do. Dr Barnes called at 13:30 to say he was done and that everything went well, so I scooted back to the ward for some more waiting.
Margaret's parents arrived with some flowers and joined the waiting party. Understandably a 5 and a half hour surgery was a long ordeal so Margaret went straight to ICU from recovery. Took me another couple of hours to get this message tho. So about 17:00 Margaret's parents and I got to see her.
At that stage she was quite dozy from from the anaesthetics and pain relief drugs. The surgeon and anesthetist, were apparently putting in an appearance so I waited around and repeated the days events several times to Maggie who was in a bit of pain and itchy from the Morphine. She also has welt on the forehead from being on her front for so long. Surprisingly, to me at least, she was quite ok lying on her back where there is a very long incision.
The surgeon and anesthetist, checked in at 2015 and looked pleased, I didn't get too much information but Maggie is now fused from L3 to T7 (which is most of her back) and is quite straight. We marked her height on the wall before she left, will measure her when she gets back, my bet is on an extra 19mm (other takers for bets?). I left her in the hands of the capable nurses with her iPod plugged in. Hopefully she'll be back down on the ward early tomorrow.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who sent messages and stuff.
Will report in tomorrow,
Bryan
Huge day today, no doubt Maggie won't remember much of it, so I'll record it here. Arrived at Mercy around 6:45 after a quick trip up a misty Mt Eden to lose a few minutes. Walked into reception and handed over $9,000, ouch, they didn't seem impressed about being given a cheque! What did they expect, a handful of redies?
Admission was fast since they wanted to get the OR started by 7:30 so the nurses were being harried by the theater staff. The anesthetist, Graham, made a brief appearance and told me to go drink coffees, read the paper, and come back in four hours, he didn't give me a prescription though, so I only administered two doses (of coffee), orally at Circus along with some waffles.
Waited around and got a txt from the anesthetist at about 12:00 saying that they'd be another 90 minutes so I went for a walk to Eden gardens for lunch and something to do. But really there is only so much looking at trees in the drizzle you can do. Dr Barnes called at 13:30 to say he was done and that everything went well, so I scooted back to the ward for some more waiting.
Margaret's parents arrived with some flowers and joined the waiting party. Understandably a 5 and a half hour surgery was a long ordeal so Margaret went straight to ICU from recovery. Took me another couple of hours to get this message tho. So about 17:00 Margaret's parents and I got to see her.
At that stage she was quite dozy from from the anaesthetics and pain relief drugs. The surgeon and anesthetist, were apparently putting in an appearance so I waited around and repeated the days events several times to Maggie who was in a bit of pain and itchy from the Morphine. She also has welt on the forehead from being on her front for so long. Surprisingly, to me at least, she was quite ok lying on her back where there is a very long incision.
The surgeon and anesthetist, checked in at 2015 and looked pleased, I didn't get too much information but Maggie is now fused from L3 to T7 (which is most of her back) and is quite straight. We marked her height on the wall before she left, will measure her when she gets back, my bet is on an extra 19mm (other takers for bets?). I left her in the hands of the capable nurses with her iPod plugged in. Hopefully she'll be back down on the ward early tomorrow.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who sent messages and stuff.
Will report in tomorrow,
Bryan
The morning of...
I woke up this morning really well rested, had a good nights sleep. I'm feeling ok, glad this long wait is nearly over. Still can't believe this is happening though, but it will be a good thing for me. Thanks to everyone who is sending me their good wishes today.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Pre-op
Well, I'm 2 days pre-op, and pretty much ready to go. I've finished most of my christmas shopping, but still have to find something for dad. I had planned to still bake all my traditional gingerbread, I wanted to keep stuff as normal as I could in the circumstances... but that's gone out the window.
The background story is that I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 12, when my doctor noticed that I couldn't sit up straight, and had a large hump on my left side of my back. At that stage, it was fashionable to wear baggy t-shirts, so it hadn't been picked up until he was examining me for a routine kind of problem. I was sent for an urgent x-ray, and the radiographer showed mum and I the films of my spine showing a large sideways C shape. I was referred to starship, where I was put under review at their clinic, and offered surgery.
My parents had a lot of soul searching, and decided to schedule surgery for the end of third form. In between times, they started seeing a chiropractor who felt that it could be managed with chiropractic treatments, and that the surgery was major and could compromise my ability to have children, so my parents cancelled surgery and continued with him.
Throughout high school I found it difficult to play sports, and had a difficult time with clothing, and generally looked different. I had a large rib hump, and one hip was significantly larger than the other. I think my parents did the right thing, because technology improved over the time that we waited, and the newer rods which they use are much better.
At the end of my nursing training, I was having significant pain and it had worsened over my teenage years. I went back to my specialist and he found that my curve had progressed over my teens, and he recommended surgery. I decided to go ahead with this in 2000, and had an anterior approach (through the side of my body) at Mercy Hospital. The resulting scar runs from my bra-line midway across the left side of my back, diagonally to my undie line on the front. The surgery lasted 10 hours, and I had a collapsed lung and was wiped out for several days. The fusion was from T9 to L2, and has 2 long titanium rods supporting it, with 2 large screws in each vertebrae. When I came out of theatre and was returned to my room, my then long-term boyfriend couldn't recognise me and walked around the ward room looking for me until he realised his mistake. Apparantly I had a soccer ball head from the swelling!
The rehab from that was long and slow, I had very little energy and was white as a sheet. I had to break up my day into tiny bits, having a shower then a lie down, then getting dressed, then a lie down, then breakfast and a lie down.... you get the picture. A milestone after a month was walking the 50m to the top of my street, and going for a ride in the car to see the christmas lights on Franklin Road.
The reason I'm having surgery now, is because my surgeon wasn't able to extend the fusion high enough during the surgery because of the time I had been in theatre, and also because of the approach that he used. We hoped that the curve at the top of the fusion would stay static, however it continued to progress over the seven years since I had my first op. I have had significant increases in pain over this time, and have been majorly restricted in the types of activities that I can do. I'll often over-indulge in sailing, gardening, housework, or the gym, and then have to spend the evening lying down. People don't really see this problem, I tend to try and hide it because I don't like being different. I'm hoping that this surgery will reduce this pain, as my physio thinks that it is all tied in with the progression of the curve at the top of my fusion.
The plan this time, is to go in from the back (another big scar) and fuse T7 & T8, and put rods from T7 to T12. It's going to be about a 30cm cut, and another one on my hip to 'harvest' bone to pack between the vertebrae to fuse it. I had been really upset about having another surgery, and thinking about the long-term implications for having scoliosis. I hadn't been thinking about it and always just got on with stuff, but having the need for another surgery brought it all up and I had to process it. I'm pretty good now, and am ready to go. I spoke to my anaesthatist the other day and am happy with what he'll do for me. He handles my anaesthetic as well as all the post-op medications such as pain relief. I worked with him in intensive care at Greenlane, and I had a lot of respect for him... plus he is really nice and has a good sense of humor (rare things in consultants).
Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the last few months, there are a handful of people who saw the true extent of how stressed out I have been. I think I did all my worrying over the months which I was waiting, and now am the picture of calm. I've decided to do this blog so that people who are interested can follow my progress, and understand a bit about scoliosis. There's a whole extra back-story on my fight with my insurer (Southern Cross), who have pulled my insurance out from under me. The estimated cost of this operation is $50k, so I'm fighting them tooth and nail!
The background story is that I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 12, when my doctor noticed that I couldn't sit up straight, and had a large hump on my left side of my back. At that stage, it was fashionable to wear baggy t-shirts, so it hadn't been picked up until he was examining me for a routine kind of problem. I was sent for an urgent x-ray, and the radiographer showed mum and I the films of my spine showing a large sideways C shape. I was referred to starship, where I was put under review at their clinic, and offered surgery.
My parents had a lot of soul searching, and decided to schedule surgery for the end of third form. In between times, they started seeing a chiropractor who felt that it could be managed with chiropractic treatments, and that the surgery was major and could compromise my ability to have children, so my parents cancelled surgery and continued with him.
Throughout high school I found it difficult to play sports, and had a difficult time with clothing, and generally looked different. I had a large rib hump, and one hip was significantly larger than the other. I think my parents did the right thing, because technology improved over the time that we waited, and the newer rods which they use are much better.
At the end of my nursing training, I was having significant pain and it had worsened over my teenage years. I went back to my specialist and he found that my curve had progressed over my teens, and he recommended surgery. I decided to go ahead with this in 2000, and had an anterior approach (through the side of my body) at Mercy Hospital. The resulting scar runs from my bra-line midway across the left side of my back, diagonally to my undie line on the front. The surgery lasted 10 hours, and I had a collapsed lung and was wiped out for several days. The fusion was from T9 to L2, and has 2 long titanium rods supporting it, with 2 large screws in each vertebrae. When I came out of theatre and was returned to my room, my then long-term boyfriend couldn't recognise me and walked around the ward room looking for me until he realised his mistake. Apparantly I had a soccer ball head from the swelling!
The rehab from that was long and slow, I had very little energy and was white as a sheet. I had to break up my day into tiny bits, having a shower then a lie down, then getting dressed, then a lie down, then breakfast and a lie down.... you get the picture. A milestone after a month was walking the 50m to the top of my street, and going for a ride in the car to see the christmas lights on Franklin Road.
The reason I'm having surgery now, is because my surgeon wasn't able to extend the fusion high enough during the surgery because of the time I had been in theatre, and also because of the approach that he used. We hoped that the curve at the top of the fusion would stay static, however it continued to progress over the seven years since I had my first op. I have had significant increases in pain over this time, and have been majorly restricted in the types of activities that I can do. I'll often over-indulge in sailing, gardening, housework, or the gym, and then have to spend the evening lying down. People don't really see this problem, I tend to try and hide it because I don't like being different. I'm hoping that this surgery will reduce this pain, as my physio thinks that it is all tied in with the progression of the curve at the top of my fusion.
The plan this time, is to go in from the back (another big scar) and fuse T7 & T8, and put rods from T7 to T12. It's going to be about a 30cm cut, and another one on my hip to 'harvest' bone to pack between the vertebrae to fuse it. I had been really upset about having another surgery, and thinking about the long-term implications for having scoliosis. I hadn't been thinking about it and always just got on with stuff, but having the need for another surgery brought it all up and I had to process it. I'm pretty good now, and am ready to go. I spoke to my anaesthatist the other day and am happy with what he'll do for me. He handles my anaesthetic as well as all the post-op medications such as pain relief. I worked with him in intensive care at Greenlane, and I had a lot of respect for him... plus he is really nice and has a good sense of humor (rare things in consultants).
Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the last few months, there are a handful of people who saw the true extent of how stressed out I have been. I think I did all my worrying over the months which I was waiting, and now am the picture of calm. I've decided to do this blog so that people who are interested can follow my progress, and understand a bit about scoliosis. There's a whole extra back-story on my fight with my insurer (Southern Cross), who have pulled my insurance out from under me. The estimated cost of this operation is $50k, so I'm fighting them tooth and nail!
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Pre-op 2000
This is before I had any surgery on my back. It's looking at it front on. You can see the base of the spine is where it connects to my pelvis, and then how the top is out of line with the bottom, This made it look like I had one big hip, because my ribcage was off to one side.
Pre-op 2007
Here is how my spine looks now, you can see that the part that has the rods is straight, then at the top the unfused part goes off at a different angle. The surgery tomorrow is to fix that, by putting a rod from about 2 vertebrae up and 3 or 4 below the junction.