It's been so long since I've updated this so I have lots to say so please just bear with me! This could be long! After having an MRI and meeting with the spinal specialist December 29th, it was decided I was decided I could actually have surgery this time! This was a huge relief but also brought on new stresses! I had two teams of surgeons who decided I would be having a two part surgery. The 29th was the first surgery which lasted about four hours and they made two incisions on my left side and put a rod in on that side. The next day I have another four hour surgery and they went in from the back and put the second rod in on the right.
They decided by doing this it would be less stress to my body, I would have a better recovery, and they wouldn't have to fuse as many discs. They ended up only having to fuse four discs which is great compared to the five to seven they were gonna fuse. They ended up fusing from T11 to L2.
The first few days were rough, but they got better and I started eating better. I even got wheeled down the hall and had my hair washed! After that I started getting more nausous and I couldn't keep food down. By the time they wanted to dismiss me from the hospital I couldn't eat anything because it wouldn't stay down for more than thirty seconds. They discharged me anyways. The car ride home I was very car sick. We had to stop in a near by town so I could go to the bathroom and the smells of fast food joints made my car sickness go crazy!
The first few days home were the worst. I tried to get up and move every hour like they had me doing in the hospital, but I still couldn't keep food down. Nights were the worst because I would get so stiff and that would cause my pain to rise. Now I am sleeping much better and managing the pain.
On Friday my brother was doing my hair and all of a sudden I felt like I was slurring my words. My brother and mom assured me they could understand me. Seconds later my tongue started swelling and I was having a hard time breathing. My mom quickly called the number to Saint Mary's in Rochester where I had surgery. They said they thought I was having an allergic reaction to one of my medications. We climbed in the van and my brother sat in the back with me and tried to calm me down. I was so scared that I was going to die it was impossible to stay calm. Once we got to the ER a man tried to help me in a wheel chair but he didn't seem to understand I that I couldn't twist my body. He kept telling me to twist my legs around and my brother finally got mad and said, "She can't twist! She just had back surgery!" They got me back into a room quickly but to me it seemed like it was taking forever. After a few nurses and a doctor looked at me they finally got an IV in (which was a process in itself!) and they gave me benedryll and I think something else. Shortly after I was able to breath again! I was also feeling very loopy and tired from what they gave me.
We had to stay there for a while so they could make sure I was doing okay. Another doctor came a couple times and talked about the medications he was switching me to to prevent the reaction from happening again. He didn't seem to understand I couldn't take any anti-inflammatory drugs, because of surgery. When we got home my mom called Saint Mary's to verify that the drugs they switched me to were safe. They ended up cancelling one of them, but other than that I have had no more allergic reactions or negative drug side effects, other than drowsiness which is to be expected.
I am learning new ways to do things myself! I have a shower chair so I can shower without assistance and my brother bought me a grabber so I can pick things up off the floor. I even had to get a new bed frame because my old one didn't have enough support for my new healing back.
I have a great family who has proved to be wonderful nurses! Since my older brother is home from college he is my main caretaker since Mom went back to work today. I am keeping food down much better and just enjoying some R & R time. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support! I am more than thankful for these and they make my healing much speedier!
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