BACK FROM SURGERY

[Guest guest]

Glad it went well, Kem...I knew it would!

Sue

[Guest guest]

I had terrible should pain. I was told that it was because the gas that they pump into you during surgery must escape the body and that it does so through the shoulders. It lasted for about 10 days and was, certainly, worse than any of the actual surgical pain I experienced! Hang in there, though. The light is very bright indeed at the end of that tunnel! Eating fairly normally is great reward.

(in Ohio)

From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of grapelady2Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 1:46 PMachalasia Subject: Back from Surgery

Hi all,Here from British Columbia,Canada.Had my laproscoptic Heller on Nov 1. All went well. Dr said surg went great, with no complications. I was up walking around 4 hrs after getting back to my room(thanks to the drugs). Had my xray Nov 2 and no leakage, Dr. gave me the ok to go home on Nov 3. Been on the full fluid diet since I got home, with minimal problems, but last night tried scrambed eggs...bad idea. Had horrible pain, thought I was going to die or explode,unbelievable shoulder pain, ended up vomiting(OUCH)and slept sitting up all night. Guess I'm back to full fluids again.My belly pain had been good unless I try to sleep on my side. My main complaint has been shoulder pain, especially when I hiccup, yawn or deep breath. Anyone else having/had this? And if so what did you do?Wishing you all well!

[Guest guest]

I just posted a note to ..

A little shoulder pain for 3 to 4 days is normal ..the food you eat irritates

the system inside which is yet to heal fully n it causes this shoulder pain..go

slow on your diet...this pain will disappear soon..

Mukesh

Back from Surgery

Hi all,

Here from British Columbia,Canada.

Had my laproscoptic Heller on Nov 1. All went well. Dr said surg went

great, with no complications. I was up walking around 4 hrs after

getting back to my room(thanks to the drugs). Had my xray Nov 2 and no

leakage, Dr. gave me the ok to go home on Nov 3. Been on the full

fluid diet since I got home, with minimal problems, but last night

tried scrambed eggs...bad idea. Had horrible pain, thought I was going

to die or explode,unbelievable shoulder pain, ended up vomiting(OUCH)

and slept sitting up all night. Guess I'm back to full fluids again.

My belly pain had been good unless I try to sleep on my side. My main

complaint has been shoulder pain, especially when I hiccup, yawn or

deep breath. Anyone else having/had this? And if so what did you do?

Wishing you all well!

[Guest guest]

,

This shoulder pain is considered as normal..though normally it's a little

pain..Bimal also had little pain in the left shoulder but it was only for 3 to 4

days..in your case also,it should go away soon...

Mukesh

Back from Surgery

Hi all,

Here from British Columbia,Canada.

Had my laproscoptic Heller on Nov 1. All went well. Dr said surg went

great, with no complications. I was up walking around 4 hrs after

getting back to my room(thanks to the drugs). Had my xray Nov 2 and no

leakage, Dr. gave me the ok to go home on Nov 3. Been on the full

fluid diet since I got home, with minimal problems, but last night

tried scrambed eggs...bad idea. Had horrible pain, thought I was going

to die or explode,unbelievable shoulder pain, ended up vomiting(OUCH)

and slept sitting up all night. Guess I'm back to full fluids again.

My belly pain had been good unless I try to sleep on my side. My main

complaint has been shoulder pain, especially when I hiccup, yawn or

deep breath. Anyone else having/had this? And if so what did you do?

Wishing you all well!

[Guest guest]

Jane,

Welcome home! It's amazing that you are back on line so soon. Thanks

for telling us all about it. It sounds like the actual surgery went

great. If you need more pain meds, don't hesitate to contact your

doctor and ask for them. Your " job " for the near future is just to

take it easy and heal. That's wonderful that your parents are helping

you out. Best wishes to you for your recovery,

loriann

-- In , " meadsem "

<janemeadus@...> wrote:

>

> Dear all - I am now day 12 post surgery and back on line. I really

> hope I never have to go through this again - I must say that for my

> 3rd surgery it is much more painful than I remember - although the

> major pain did subside very quickly. Thank god for the morphine

> drips - they didnt'have that when I had the other 2!

>

> I had a " Posterior Lumber interbody fusion " (PLIF). Only one cage

> was inserted as the otehr side was too narrow and tehre was a fear of

> nerve damage if they tried ot open it up too much. They moved all

> the nerves and cleaned up and I am now fused from mid thoracic down

> to the sacrum.

>

> THe surgery was about 7 hours - uneventful (except they couldn't wake

> me up). Good pain management in hospital - but other than that I

> must say that my hospital stay could have been better. My work takes

> me in contact with people in hospital or other medical settigns all

> the time and I hear what happens. However, I assumed that since this

> was a surgical ward, specializing in spine, that things would be

> better - unfortunately not so. I found that I had to be in on top of

> everything - watching to make sure they gave me the correct

> medication, that they didn't give me my heparin twice in one day,

> that they ordered things they were supposed to order (tests, meds,

> etc.) My roommate spoke no english and it was a nightmare for her -

> I can't imagine the errors there.

>

> I also had a bad reaction to the tape they used for everything.

> Foley, face tape, etc. I have a known allergy to elapstoplast

> bandages and last surgery an allergy to something but I never knew

> exactly what. Now I know I am allergic to the paper tape, the pink

> tape, etc. My face, arms and legs are still marked up by that.

>

> After 6 days I returned home. If you are having any type of revision

> surgery I can't stress how stronlgy that you cannot go home without

> someone being there. Luckily I have " young " parents (70 and more

> healthy than anyone on this list probabaly - my dad runs 10 ks!).

> They have helped keep me in order, take my two kids to school and

> their various activies (ages 6 & 4), made meals, done laundry, etc.

> I can do nothing really (and I have the hospital orders to prove it)

> so they are indespensible.

>

> I am able to go up and downstairs no problem. Haven't been out of

> the house yet as we still have quite a cold spell ehre (just outside

> TOronto)- but I am venturing out to Walmart tomorrow - have to get

> out of the house.

>

> While the sugery was not specifically a revision of the flatback -

> mine wasn't actually too bad - it appears to have corrected it. I am

> actually straight tall and my neck doesn't jut out (and I'm almost as

> tall as my husband). DOn't know if there was a real gain in height,

> but I certainly appear a lot taller. (My mom is sure that I'm almost

> back to my post harrington rod height of 5'10 " - up from about 5'6

> 1/2 " - but I don't know about that!)

>

> The surgery, beside the PLIF, fused from L4 down. They put in two

> rods along each side of the spine, screwed in on each side and down

> into the pelvis. I can feel the new rods (I'm sure that will go away

> in time). I can't do anything - no bending, twisting, lifting - and

> I think that's the worst part - trying to determine what your limits

> are without going too far (I don't want to wreck anytning and have to

> start again).

>

> I'm glad its over and hope the pain goes awaysoon (especially since

> my occycontin and percocets run out soon!). I also hope to get a

> little more independent as there doesn't appear to be a lot I can do

> on my own yet.

>

> Jane

> Surgery on January 26, 2007

>

[Guest guest]

Jane,

That's just amazing that you're back online after only 12 days! I

wish you the best of luck with your recovery. I'm sorry to hear

about your tape problems. I don't know if I'm allergic to the

adhesive in the regular non-paper tape, but I am definately

sensitive to it and get bright red all around it. I hope everything

clears up soon for you. I'm glad to hear that your parents are

helping so much with you & your kids. That's such a great thing for

you I have little ones too - 19 months and 3 years. I just got

the " OKAY " from my neurologist (I have multiple sclerosis as well)

to have the surgery, so I am seriously contemplating having it this

summer. I plan on having a lot of help lined up at home.

Unfortunately, I probably won't have anyone to stay at the hospital

with me though, since it's several hours away from home.

Good luck with everything! Please keep us updated on how you're

feeling!

>

> Dear all - I am now day 12 post surgery and back on line. I

really

> hope I never have to go through this again - I must say that for

my

> 3rd surgery it is much more painful than I remember - although the

> major pain did subside very quickly. Thank god for the morphine

> drips - they didnt'have that when I had the other 2!

>

> I had a " Posterior Lumber interbody fusion " (PLIF). Only one cage

> was inserted as the otehr side was too narrow and tehre was a fear

of

> nerve damage if they tried ot open it up too much. They moved all

> the nerves and cleaned up and I am now fused from mid thoracic

down

> to the sacrum.

>

> THe surgery was about 7 hours - uneventful (except they couldn't

wake

> me up). Good pain management in hospital - but other than that I

> must say that my hospital stay could have been better. My work

takes

> me in contact with people in hospital or other medical settigns

all

> the time and I hear what happens. However, I assumed that since

this

> was a surgical ward, specializing in spine, that things would be

> better - unfortunately not so. I found that I had to be in on top

of

> everything - watching to make sure they gave me the correct

> medication, that they didn't give me my heparin twice in one day,

> that they ordered things they were supposed to order (tests, meds,

> etc.) My roommate spoke no english and it was a nightmare for

her -

> I can't imagine the errors there.

>

> I also had a bad reaction to the tape they used for everything.

> Foley, face tape, etc. I have a known allergy to elapstoplast

> bandages and last surgery an allergy to something but I never knew

> exactly what. Now I know I am allergic to the paper tape, the

pink

> tape, etc. My face, arms and legs are still marked up by that.

>

> After 6 days I returned home. If you are having any type of

revision

> surgery I can't stress how stronlgy that you cannot go home

without

> someone being there. Luckily I have " young " parents (70 and more

> healthy than anyone on this list probabaly - my dad runs 10 ks!).

> They have helped keep me in order, take my two kids to school and

> their various activies (ages 6 & 4), made meals, done laundry,

etc.

> I can do nothing really (and I have the hospital orders to prove

it)

> so they are indespensible.

>

> I am able to go up and downstairs no problem. Haven't been out of

> the house yet as we still have quite a cold spell ehre (just

outside

> TOronto)- but I am venturing out to Walmart tomorrow - have to get

> out of the house.

>

> While the sugery was not specifically a revision of the flatback -

> mine wasn't actually too bad - it appears to have corrected it. I

am

> actually straight tall and my neck doesn't jut out (and I'm almost

as

> tall as my husband). DOn't know if there was a real gain in

height,

> but I certainly appear a lot taller. (My mom is sure that I'm

almost

> back to my post harrington rod height of 5'10 " - up from about 5'6

> 1/2 " - but I don't know about that!)

>

> The surgery, beside the PLIF, fused from L4 down. They put in two

> rods along each side of the spine, screwed in on each side and

down

> into the pelvis. I can feel the new rods (I'm sure that will go

away

> in time). I can't do anything - no bending, twisting, lifting -

and

> I think that's the worst part - trying to determine what your

limits

> are without going too far (I don't want to wreck anytning and have

to

> start again).

>

> I'm glad its over and hope the pain goes awaysoon (especially

since

> my occycontin and percocets run out soon!). I also hope to get a

> little more independent as there doesn't appear to be a lot I can

do

> on my own yet.

>

> Jane

> Surgery on January 26, 2007

>

[Guest guest]

Jane- Glad to hear you're on the mend. Did you need an osteotomy? I

had my revision done in Mississauga Nov 06 and did not require an

osteotomy to obtain satisfactory lordosis but am still worrying about

it a little? Did your DR talk about this issue with you? My procedure

sounds really similar to yours and I am upright and painfree so far.

Best of luck and I really agree when you say it is imperative to have

help when you come home after the surgery. Francine

[Guest guest]

Francine:

No - I didn't require an osteotomy. My flat back wasn't bad enough to

have to do something and with what they did it seems to have

straightened me up considerably (I've gained a couple of inches in

height again!) I take it you had your surgery at Trillium. I've heard

good things about that hospital - don't know anything about the surgeon

though. How was your aftercare (nursing etc.)?

Are you workign? I am hoping to get back soon - I am increasingly

bored at home. We'll see how i'm doing - but if I can handle it I'd

like to go back. THe biggest problem is that I take the train in and

out so that will be quite taxing - I could drive if I shorten my

days/work at home some of the time - not sure what I'm going to do yet.

I've been getting out a bit - going out today (since they are calling

for a big storm tonight). Find it tiring but good to get out. I'm

actually finding it hard to get enough exercise - since I have to lie

down when my back gets sore - then I'm not tired at night (I try not to

sleep during the day). Wish I could go for short walks outside - but

not in this weather.

So I guess that's 3 of us in the GTA that are on this forum. I wonder

if there is anyone else out there lurking?

Jane

>

> Jane- Glad to hear you're on the mend. Did you need an osteotomy?

I

> had my revision done in Mississauga Nov 06 and did not require an

> osteotomy to obtain satisfactory lordosis but am still worrying about

> it a little? Did your DR talk about this issue with you? My

procedure

> sounds really similar to yours and I am upright and painfree so far.

> Best of luck and I really agree when you say it is imperative to have

> help when you come home after the surgery. Francine

>

[Guest guest]

Jane; No I'm not working outside the home and haven't for years not

because of my back but, more years ago, because with three kids (now

grown) and a workaholic type husband it was too much for me to juggle

home and kids. I never got back and really enjoy being at home. Now

my 79 year old mother lives with us and has been a godsend while I

recover. I can't wait for spring to increase my walking though.

Trillium was great. I got a private room by luck even though our plan

only covers semi-private. The after-care was superb. The only thing I

could say that was a little un-nerving was that the nursing staff,

although they followed their instructions very well, did not seem to be

overly familiar with flatback syndrome per se. The spine unit there

covers the range of spine disorders and I felt the nurses really didn't

know all about this like I thought they might. Dr. absolutely

does but the nurses didn't but they did follow orders perfectly and

definitely knew my surgery was more complicated than most. No mistakes

were made and I was treated like gold.

Hope you keep progressing well!

Francine

[Guest guest]

I went out of state to have my surgey

with a doctor on the recommended list.

I got home late last nite and I'm having

a LOT of mixed emotions. Physically

I don't feel any better than before

surgery.

What if I went through all of this and my

health dosen't improve?

What should I be doing to detox and heal right now?

[Guest guest]

Gayl,Congratulations!It's way to early to start feeling a lot better . . . Please give your body a chance to start healing. . . Swinging emotions are par for the course . . . When negative ones come up, look for the positive. Stress will delay healing . . . You'll have time for detoxing later . . . Right now, it's time to give your body all the healthy food, water and sleep it wants.Hugs and prayers,Rogene

[Guest guest]

I got very depressed after surgery, it takes a long time to feel better...I did not go to one on the list and had to have 3 more surgeries, it was a nightmare and I almost died.

do not give up hope!!! hang in there. You will get thought this. Saline implants do not last a lifetime, I was told they last 15-20 years, dr. blais says they last between 4-7 years, some break down quicker then others, so you would have had to have them removed at some point.

it is not realistic to think you will feel better in a day. Who did your surgery? did you get cultures taken?

caroline

BACK FROM SURGERY

I went out of state to have my surgeywith a doctor on the recommended list.I got home late last nite and I'm havinga LOT of mixed emotions. Physically I don't feel any better than before surgery.What if I went through all of this and myhealth dosen't improve?What should I be doing to detox and heal right now?

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.