Today was my one month (actually 3 weeks) post surgery meeting with the surgeon so it seems fitting to update everyone on my progress. I have been staying with my mum and grandma in Auckland getting well looked after. It has been a great environment to focus on myself and get this right as there is only this one chance to get it right.
So I better start from the actual surgery (Spine Fusion)… I arrived nervous as ever, the surgeon sat down with me for some reassurance.Surgeon – you look nervous. Me – I am. Surgeon - I'm not. Me – that’s great news. Surgeon – well I'm off to do the curtain opener then you’re the main event!
At this point 2hrs out I thought ok that was not helpful at all time for a sleeping tablet. Dosed up I dozed off and was snoring before my anesthetic... Classy.. I woke up in a room – asked oo is this where you operate, the answer was yep, I replied - crazy and then that was me again.
3hrs of operating and I came back around surgery was done and I was over the moon none of the incredibly bad potential outcomes happened. I was kept in recovery smiling away to the nurses until I was taken to my room. Carl and mum were already waiting.. poor Carl had to rest on the ground for a bit I had some attachments and the one which drained from the wound had Carl instantly. They stayed with me for a bit. The first night was pretty quick I was monitored pretty intensely every ½ hr so slept with my arm getting pumped and the most friendliest nurses ever visiting!
Smiling away to Carl and mum – no wonder you cant eat they leave you lying flat like that as you cant prop the bed up with the spine needing to be kept straight.
The first day was bed rest. Its hard not being able to move yourself I even had to be helped to rollover. You would think you could with the amount of pain relief being pumped in. I had epidural – a pain blocker consistently streaming into my back, long and short acting morphine, tramadol, and panadol. Along with three different anti-nausea medications, unfortunately they didn’t work enough and I was incredibly sick this night.
The next day was mobilizing day. My epidural was turned off and I sat for the first time. When you sit it is common to pretty much pass out or get a little off colour. So up I went and a minute later my blood pressure hit rock bottom and that was me, time to be put back down. From here things went a little pear shaped and I had very sore nerves through my quads. On went the epidural again and I spent another night on this. That evening I sat up again, and did some walking exercises! Was very stoked with that.
Overnight we continuously dropped the dosage on the epidural and by the morning they were able to turn it off. And from here I got better and better at mobilizing, I seemed to have temperatures a bit and a bit of gunck to the chest so they had to monitor this as its not ideal but I was pretty happy with the iceblocks I got when I had temperatures.
I was unable to eat until pretty much my last day of the 5 I spent in hospital, but managed to ditch my walking frame and get some independence and be on my way just in time to check out! Wahoo. Oh and don’t worry none of the amazing food went to waste Carl was there to take care of most my meals.
Rocking the walking frame, dressing gown and mean socks with my nurse! Had to wear the mean socks for two weeks after leaving the hospital!
Boosting look at that distance!!
So summary my body hates pain medication, and my back was absolutely stuffed all the risks were worth it as I had no improvement ahead without the surgery according to my surgeon who saw first hand. Losing the feeling in my leg recently was only the start of the downhill spiral. The surgeon was pretty stoked to get in there explaining I had a very very angry nerve. He just hopes now it has been released that it can recover for the damage already incurred. I guess that’s a result of ignoring pain for so long! So fingers crossed for complete recovery! Come on nerve.
Thanks for the visits :)
During my stay at Ascot I had a private room, lots of visitors, great nurses, my surgeon was awesome and it was almost scary to leave. However things haven’t been bad since leaving and I have progressed walking wise. Starting with the 5minute shuffle twice a day to now being able to walk for 45minutes! My meeting today with the surgeon went great, its just nice to see that you are on track and to get a little more guidance of what I can and can’t do. The cant list is definitely bloody long but… I can walk, do very easy core activation, drive myself short distances, and I am able to go to Samoa I just have to stand heaps on the flight. So you guessed it I am off to Samoa next Saturday, for some sun and recovery before finally heading on home to Rotorua to get back to a bit more of the norm. Cant wait!!
Out for a walk with Carl – Rep'n Waiariki in Alks (got my garmin in hand. I'm taking this walking very seriously).
Carl has let me know he is doing a weekend of double racing.. Sounds hard I am sure he will have an update after the weekend. Thanks to everyone for all the support, still a long way to go yet but progress :-).
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