So, it is now 2 weeks post surgery, and it's been an up and down ride so far. The first week after I got home, I really didn't move from the recliner except to use the restroom. My wonderful wife kept me well medicated (I'm sure this was more for her than me :) just kidding). I was taking medication at least 4 times a day, and Tish kept it on a pretty tight schedule to keep me in front of the pain. The worst part of the first week was that without moving around, and not getting out of the house, depression crept in very quickly. I felt worthless and felt more like a burden to everyone than anything else. Luckily, that got better pretty quickly. We did get alot of help during the first two weeks after the surgery, and for that, I'm very thankful. We had two meals made for us, one by Ms. Riza McCoy from my work who made a batch of her WONDERFUL lumpia, and one by my boss, LtCol Slagley's family. They made us a wonderful rice and sausage casserole with homeade bread and a delicious apple pie for dessert. Thank you to both of these folks as the meals gave Tish a much needed break. My cousin Brett, also mowed the grass for us this past weekend, which was wonderful (he did a great job by the way) so thank you very much to him as well.
I was recovering quite well and had to go to a funeral visitation on Wednesday of last week. Our family lost a dear friend way too early in life. The funeral was Thursday, but unfortunately I was paying the price for leaving the house and being out in the heat on Wednesday and was unable to make it to the funeral. I didn't learn my lesson and decided to get up and do a bit more around the house last Friday....boy was that a mistake. I was even told by the doctor and nurses that no matter how I feel I need to take it easy. I may feel well enough to get up and about, but that I would pay for it in the end. So after Friday, I was down and out all weekend long. Saturday and Sunday I spent most of the day back in my recliner and trying to keep the pain under control.
Then came Monday the 2nd of July, my follow up with the surgeon's nurse. 13 days after the surgery, I got the sutures removed and got quite a few questions answered. I was told that I'm able to get out of the house as I could tolerate, just to keep in mind that a 20 minute trip outside may cost me 4 hours of rest time at home. I was told by multiple people in the hospital that I was doing remarkably well for being so soon after surgery. I was told that I still can't lift more than 10 pounds for at least the next month, then work my way up from there. I am allowed to help with the housework as tolerated, was able to quit taking my tylenol 3, so I'm not on narcotics anymore. Unfortunately, still no driving for another 2 weeks or so, then I am to stay on side streets until my neck movement has returned to normal. Thankfully, I'm able to do more and more each day, just have to be very careful and listen to my body. While I was at the doctor, I scheduled my next follow up for 14 August where Dr. Mapstone will hopefully give me the green light to return to work. I was also told that at that appt, Dr. Mapstone would schedule another MRI somewhere around 6 months from the surgery and another follow-up shortly after the MRI. If all goes well, and the syrinxes are not growing, I will most likely get an MRI every year followed by another Dr. appt to review the results, and yes, that's for the rest of my life.
After my appt downtown, we went to visit folks at my work. They were quite surprised to see me up and around, much less doing as well as I am. We spent a good 45 minutes there visiting and chatting before we needed to head out and get some lunch. It was a great visit just to see some folks and at least get back that normalcy, even if I'm not allowed to go back to work until 17 August. Unfortunately, it was during the lunch rush, so there were alot of people that weren't there. I'm sure there will be more visits.
That brings us to today, 3 July. Today I was able to do a load of dishes to help the wife out for the first time since the surgery, woohooo!!!! I am so thankful for my wonderful wife and how much she has done for me and our kids over the last two weeks. I have been completely worthless and she has taken on the load gladly to not only take care of EVERYTHING, but also take care of me. Hopefully, tomorrow night I will be able to get out and enjoy some fireworks on the birthday of the United States. All of this has helped me remember just how lucky we are to be living in a great country with so many great people. It also helps me to remember that I'm beginning a new stage in my life, a new birthday per say. Yes, there will be many restrictions on what I can and can't do, but I won't have to worry about each and every symptom that may come my way. It's a great feeling knowing that we took the first strike in the battle. Everyone enjoy your 4th of July.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The Hospital Stay
So, I was without my computer for a couple days after the surgery, and just haven't really felt like blogging since the surgery....until today. I will warn everyone, it is going to be a long one, lots of stuff to cover. Where to begin, the surgery itself is a blur, I remember being on the bed, them explaining some stuff, then saying I'll see you when I get out to my beautiful wife, and that's about it. Oh, and then them wheeling me into this VERY BRIGHT operating room. They introduced me to everyone in the room, not that I remember any of them. After the surgery, I went to recovery where my wife, sister, mother, and sister-in-law all got to come see me. I specifically told my dad to wait until I was a little more awake to come to the hospital, mainly because I know he likes hospitals as much as I do. I was in recovery for a few hours, then was told, Ok, we're ready to move you to ICU. I thought, oh, that wasn't too bad, but then they told me all the ICU beds were full. 8 hours later, they were finally able to open up an ICU bed, and I was ready to move.
Once I got up to ICU, they scooted me from one bed to the other, and I fully believe that ALL my anesthesia quit working at exactly that point in time. I was in the worst pain I've ever been in during my entire life. I vaguely remember many explitives coming out of my mouth, followed by profuse apologies to the staff and other patients. Although, I'm pretty sure they didn't care and have heard it all many times before. So, while I was in ICU, Tish, Pam, Mom, Dad, and my cousin Brett all came to see me. Thankfully, that was after much of the pain was under control. I was in ICU for almost 2 days when I got the thumbs up to move to a regular room. This was a good thing, it meant the healing was going well, and I'd get to see my kids in a regular room. They weren't allowed in ICU due to an age limit. Unfortunately, once again, all the rooms were full. This time, it took them 12 hours to find a regular room for me.
I finally got moved up and settled into my room. Here is where all the visitors started to show up, all the above came to visit again, along with my kids, Keith and Rosie, my Mother-in-law, MSgt Roe and MSgt Simpson from work. I thank everyone that made it up to see me, I know there were many others that had plans to, but luckily I got out of the hospital MUCH faster than I expected. The surgeon beforehand said 5-7 days, my surgery was on a Tuesday, so I was expecting to get out Monday, maybe Sunday at best. Everything went very well, and I actually got discharged on Saturday. They actually tried discharging me on Friday, but I wanted one more night, just to be safe. While I was in the hospital all the staff was amazing, very helpful, kind, and caring. My room was actually very nice, despite what I was expecting. I was given beautiful flowers/ballons/candy and cards from my Bio Family and my regular family, I thank all of you for the gifts. I also got the "broken butt bear" who had been changed to a "broken head bear" but was strictly told that it was only on loan. As I said, I got released on Saturday the 23rd, my folks and Pam were headed back to Illinois, but made sure to stop by and say goodbye before they left. I came home to a beautiful sign made by my wife and kids that said "Welcome Home Daddy" and yes, it still hangs in our house today. I got in the house and didn't make it much farther than my recliner, unfortunately this would be my home for the next week or so.
Once I got up to ICU, they scooted me from one bed to the other, and I fully believe that ALL my anesthesia quit working at exactly that point in time. I was in the worst pain I've ever been in during my entire life. I vaguely remember many explitives coming out of my mouth, followed by profuse apologies to the staff and other patients. Although, I'm pretty sure they didn't care and have heard it all many times before. So, while I was in ICU, Tish, Pam, Mom, Dad, and my cousin Brett all came to see me. Thankfully, that was after much of the pain was under control. I was in ICU for almost 2 days when I got the thumbs up to move to a regular room. This was a good thing, it meant the healing was going well, and I'd get to see my kids in a regular room. They weren't allowed in ICU due to an age limit. Unfortunately, once again, all the rooms were full. This time, it took them 12 hours to find a regular room for me.
I finally got moved up and settled into my room. Here is where all the visitors started to show up, all the above came to visit again, along with my kids, Keith and Rosie, my Mother-in-law, MSgt Roe and MSgt Simpson from work. I thank everyone that made it up to see me, I know there were many others that had plans to, but luckily I got out of the hospital MUCH faster than I expected. The surgeon beforehand said 5-7 days, my surgery was on a Tuesday, so I was expecting to get out Monday, maybe Sunday at best. Everything went very well, and I actually got discharged on Saturday. They actually tried discharging me on Friday, but I wanted one more night, just to be safe. While I was in the hospital all the staff was amazing, very helpful, kind, and caring. My room was actually very nice, despite what I was expecting. I was given beautiful flowers/ballons/candy and cards from my Bio Family and my regular family, I thank all of you for the gifts. I also got the "broken butt bear" who had been changed to a "broken head bear" but was strictly told that it was only on loan. As I said, I got released on Saturday the 23rd, my folks and Pam were headed back to Illinois, but made sure to stop by and say goodbye before they left. I came home to a beautiful sign made by my wife and kids that said "Welcome Home Daddy" and yes, it still hangs in our house today. I got in the house and didn't make it much farther than my recliner, unfortunately this would be my home for the next week or so.
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