Hi All,
I got out of the Hospital Fri 8/26/05 (3 day hospital stay), could of stayed another day but new my care would be better at the apartment in Santa Monica with my parents. For those of you that are interested in more details here is a day-by-day account of my first 5 days.
Day 1:
The morning before surgery I took a walk along the beach with my Dad. I was surprised how relaxed and ready I was to get this started. Then check in to the hospital with my Mom at my side and had to wait 2.5 hours in a very uncomfortable hospital bed until it was my turn. My anxiety started to build as you can imagine and they gave me a valium to calm my nerves.
Then things started to roll before I knew it I had the IV in and they wheeled me into the OR and said we are going to put you to sleep now. The next thing I remember was a familiar voice �Paulette-Paulette its Mark�. I reached out and grabbed his hand and said how did it go? Did they get it in? He said it went great and my spine was very mobile. I was so happy and relieved that when he said he had to go (Mark was observing another surgery with Dr D and the team) I would not let go of him and he had to tell me to let go. My mind was not fully connected to my body.
When I got to my room my parents were waiting for me then Mark came in and gave us all the details and was very happy with what he observed Then in came the �Team� Dr D, his fellow, and 2-PA�s. They all were incredibly pleased with their work like school kids showing off. I asked what size core he used and he said a size 10mm and wanted details on the distraction process. Dr D said that my spine was very mobile and cooperative he was also very happy to pull out a large piece of disc material that was sitting on the nerve and said that should be the leg pain right there. I asked Dr D if I could stand up and go to the bathroom and he said yes but only to the bathroom until I have the corset. They left.
I told Mark that I wanted to stand up we called the nurse and with their help I was up on my feet and walking what an incredible feeling. Did not have to have a urinary catheter because I was able to go (pee) right before surgery and was only one level.
I have never been on morphine before and was not able to sleep at all. Asked if I could have a sleeping aid and they said no because I was not able to have liquids. Had to call the nurse, (a tall strong gorgeous man) to move me from my back to my side then back again and to the bathroom several times. I was only allowed ice chips and was told not to swallow them. I started to get very itchy from the Morphine and was breaking out into a rash.
Day 2:
I was given more ice chips for breakfast and was then switched from morphine to dilauden PCA and given benodryl for the itching. The pain increased and they added soma for the tightness I felt. I was taken down for a CT scan and then fitted for the corset. Was given my first tray of food, beef broth, jello and hot tea. The pain was by far the worst day 2. The incision was excruciating when transferring in and out of bed. It felt like someone had pounced on my lower back, definitely different low back pain then the pre-op low back pain. PT consisted of a walk with a walker to the nurse�s station and back to bed. The nurses station was located just right outside my door. I enjoyed a dinner of liquid food, chicken broth was the main course. I was able to bring in my Lunesta (sleeping pill) for that night and slept as good as you can in a hospital.
Day 3
Orders can in to wean me off the PCA and onto oral meds. I was happy to get off the dilauden it gave me headaches. My mother spent the day with me and brought me one of my professional ice packs to lay on. Their idea of an ice pack was a bag of ice chips not so great to lay on.
In came my first oral meds, 2-darvocets. I questioned this as it hardly took the pain away before surgery. In 2 hours I was up to a 6-7 pain level and they gave me 1-narco. In 4 hours I was pushing an 8-9 shivering and shaking in pain having difficulties transferring and walking. The nurse said that I could not have anything else for 2 hours and gave me an anti-inflammatory. Dan/djscal called and told me to call the nurse and ask her to call Dr Delamarter and get new orders. There was a shift change and my night nurse came in and boy was I happy to see him. He returned with a syringe full of dilauden and new orders for 2 norco every 4 hours. Thanks Dan I would not have made it through day 3 without you.
Day 4
Woke at 2:30 am had to ask for more meds and then again at 5:00 am watched the sunrise. Walked the halls in anticipation of getting out of there to my stash of pain meds waiting for me at the apartment. My PM doctor from Tahoe was waiting for my call. I do understand there is a nurses shortage but wow they said my orders were as needed and I had to ask for my meds.
Dr Delemarters Fellow came in and said that my orders were for oxycidine not darvocet. When Dr D came to see me with both PA�s. I told him that I was having pain from the middle of my back to the middle of my thigh. He said that I was experiencing bruising from having to jack-open my spine so much to fit the disc in. He also told me to �take it easy� that his was not a case of �no pain no gain� talking to me just like a Coach/PE Teacher.
I left the hospital and made my way back to the apartment and started in on the meds proscribed by my PM doctor in Tahoe oxycodone and percocet for break through pain. It was a good thing I had everything I needed filled and ready to go.
Day 5
So happy to be with my family in such a beautiful place where Mom can cook and Dad can go for long walks. The meds are regulated and I am feeling really good and very optimistic. It�s hard to believe that there is anything in there. My incision is horizontal all of 2 inches long and slightly off center to the left side (below my tan line ).
Dan/djscal came by for a visit and we went for a short walk, long rest and toasted to our new lives over dinner. Dan you have been a great friend and advocate and my ADR big brother.
Next 10 days
I will be resting and recuperating here in LA and will keep you all updated on my progress but promises not to be so wordy in the future. I look forward to meeting any of you that can make it to the elephant house here in Santa Monica on Sunday Sept 4. What a better way to start my new life with a toast to all of you that supported me through this journey.
God Bless
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