My spine surgery journey: from preparation to recovery

[DharmaGirl]

Serious impaction or constipation really does effect one's mood too. It's a medical problem all of it's own but it has mental health effects too. So please don't be so hard on yourself. :hug:

You got sick in the hospital while you were recovering from surgery. It's ok to feel bad. @blackemerald1 said it first, and I double it.

Then it's all quite a blur until they were fitting me in the hammock of the hoist machine

OMG! I think they need to get you stomach working before they continue to push your back recovery. Wow, you are going through so much, I think you should let out a big FU to the world,

 

[Deleted member 42984]

Wow, you are going through so much, I think you should let out a big FU to the world,

I second that. f*ck the world, will it give it a rest already? You're dealing with so much shit (no pun intended) right now. No wonder you're feeling bad. How are things right now?

 

[bellbird]

While you deal with everything else on your plate, it might be worth considering asking your therapist to do some of the heavy lifting on this. She could contact the hospital and explain there is a need for privacy and greater support.

Oh yeah, good idea.
I've sent her a message asking if we can speak on the phone so I will wait to hear back from her.

So does refusing to allow that one nurse to continue on your case.

Yeah, you're right.
It is big 'speaking out against stuff' challenge for myself.
A slight loophole, to gain some level of control over who does my enemas before needing to speak out: there are two daytime nursing shifts.
7am-3pm and 3pm-11am

That gives me two shots at a different nurse who could administer the enema, before I need to say anything.

See if I feel comfortable with the morning nurse (I know them all quite well now),
If yes: have enema before 3pm
If no: wait till 3pm to see who new nurse is
See if I feel comfortable with them
If yes: have enema
If no: request a nurse from the afternoon shift that I am comfortable with to administer enema

How are things right now?

Sore. Very sore.
I did get back to sleep after 4am. I was holding my vomit bucket because I thought I was going to need to.

My surgical team came past this morning. They read the notes of what happened last night, and checked out my nerves in my legs this morning. All was ok.

I asked if I can have repeat spine xrays, and they said to see if I can mobilise first (I haven't been out of bed since the seizure).

So I've seen my nurse this morning, and she is going to be there to help me when I get up. But because I'm feeling pain in my back that hasn't been there before, I'm going to ask for repeat xrays even if I can mobilise.

I'm so f*cking scared that some of my instrumentation has moved or been damaged from my fall. I need to know for sure either way.

 

[bellbird]

Was able to mobilise on my own to the bathroom just now, but I had my nurse walk with me just in case.

I got a message back from my T, and she can call me at about 4.30/5pm today.

I've also sent an email to my supervisor to keep him up to date with what's happening.

The house doctor then came past.
She had been in the background when my surgical team came past this morning.
She asked me about my back pain, and we were actually able to have a good conversation without me feeling like she was walking out the door from the moment she walked in.
She's going to contact my team to discuss repeated scans for me.

Then the phlebotomist came and did a blood test. One of those ones that I barely felt. Makes all the difference.
The moment she looked at my arm, she let out an excitable noise at my "good veins". Apparently she'd had only difficult veins all morning.
At least I've got one thing going for me :tup:

I've had one (small hospital) cup of the disgusting laxative.
I have to have 1 litre of it before 3pm.

Will try to have another and then call my nurse for the enema.
Get that out of the way, and then have a shower, wash my hair, and have my bed made fresh.

The house doctor is going to come back to talk to me after she's spoken to my team.

C'mon universe. Surely I deserve a visit from cute registrar now.

ETA: The house doctor just came past. She's spoken to my team and is going to book me in for two x-rays (side and front view of spine), which will hopefully happen today. Very glad that that has been sorted.

Then a hospital volunteer came past and asked me if I'd like some free magazines.
It's no cute registrar, but I'm not complaining about some free magazines.

 

[Justmehere]

I’m glad things are looking a little better.

If no: wait till 3pm to see who new nurse is
See if I feel comfortable with them

You are probably not doing your body or your medical team any favors going this route to delay medical treatment because you are wary of a particular nurse.

As much as you can be, keep asking for what you need from your medical team, including what will be psychologically supportive to you. It will help them help you.

 

[bellbird]

Yeah, you're right @Justmehere .

It's definitely difficult trying to overcome one of my big challenges on top of everything going on, so I can only promise that I will do my best.

But please know that I am hearing everyone's suggestions and know that you all want the best for me.
Please know that I'm not taking for granted your suggestions, and that I am taking them on board even if I can't act straight away on all of them all of the time.

 

[Chris-duck]

I agree with JMH. Could your T speak to one of the nurses you are comfortable with and explain how you don't want that nurse caring for you? Takes some stress off you having to deal with it and means treatment isn't delayed. I get it's hard and it's not fair you gotta deal with the nurse thing on top of everything else. But if it speeds up your healing it's worth it.

 

[bellbird]

Could your T speak to one of the nurses you are comfortable with and explain how you don't want that nurse caring for you?

Yeah, I will bring it up with T this evening when we speak.

For today, my enema is out of the way.
Just had it, and it was successful.
I can feel that there is still so much solid matter obstructing in my bowels, but at least the enemas are working again.

I've now had half of the litre of ghastly drink.

I'm going to have a shower and enjoy the feeling of the warm water washing my body. I'll ask my nurse to make my bed fresh while I'm in the shower.

Then I'm going to try to just relax for a while. Maybe read some of my magazines. Try to distract myself, if only for a little while, for everything that has been happening.

 

[Wendell_R]

For today, my enema is out of the way.
Just had it, and it was successful.
I can feel that there is still so much solid matter obstructing in my bowels, but at least the enemas are working again.

Every successful enema is progress! If the enemas are working, it means the solid matter is working its way through, and if the solid matter works its way through, this will all end. :hug:

It's definitely difficult trying to overcome one of my big challenges on top of everything going on, so I can only promise that I will do my best.

We know you're doing your absolute best! You have been besieged by a host of things, and are still holding up. Thinking of you all through the day! :hug:

 

[bellbird]

Thank you @Wendell_R :hug: :hug:

--
Guess who just finished her litre of laxative in under the time limit?!!!!! :D

 

[blackemerald1]

litre of laxative in under the time limit?

Well done you! Is it the salty tasting one... disgusting taste. Why, why, why cannot someone invent a laxative that tastes delicious... why does it have to hurt both ends?? lol

 

[bellbird]

Well done you! Is it the salty tasting one... disgusting taste.

Thank you!
Yes -- the salty one. So it better f*cking work because drinking salty tasting things is a huge trigger to me (There was a period during the Abuse Years where my abuser made me stand in front of him in the kitchen every morning and drink half a litre of a saturated solution of salt water).

Yah.
It sucks.