My spine surgery journey: from preparation to recovery

[bellbird]

I was going to wait to post here till tomorrow, but I can't sleep so I think I'll do it now.
But for the first time in like... forever? I'm unable to sleep because I'm
So.
f*cking.
Happy.

Yep. More tears leaking out of my eyes as I write those three words.

I had my 6 week follow-up appointment today, and it went really well.
Like really really well.

Ok. Settle, brain. We need to construct some good sentences now.


So I was sitting in the consult room by myself, waiting for my surgeon.
My dad was out in the waiting room. He'd actually brought it up on his own that he knew I liked to be independent with these things, and that he respected that and was happy to just be "chauffeur".

My surgeon came in, and the first thing he said to me was "you're looking really good!" (to be fair, the last time he'd seen me was in a hospital gown with a deflating, but still pretty big, tummy).

He asked if my pain had been under control?
I answered yes, and told him the current pain meds I was taking.

He asked if my gut was better, and bowels were back to normal?
Yes.

He asked if I was mobilising ok?
Yes, I'm up and walking around every day.

Then, and this was the cool bit, he asked if I could stand up and he could have a look at my back.
I did, and held my t-shirt up at the back so he could see my back.
Surgeon: "oh wow... it looks amazing!... have you seen your back???" with his voice filled with the ? emoji.
bellbird: "yeah... I have :) :) my family and I are blown away"

Then he asked the nurse to remove my dressing.
She asked how long I had had it on for -- a few days?
No, about 4 weeks.
More ? face in voice.
"You've cared for this incredibly well. It looks so good!"
*removes dressing*
More praise for my wound itself.

Then she very meticulously cleaned off all the adhesive residue, then cleansed the area with saline.
I looked down at my wound and holy crap, it's like razor thin.
I just have a very thin tape dressing I need to wear for 6 days, and then it will be all clear to have it exposed.

I was also sent for xrays, and I got to look at them! And I'm being sent a CD with them on, in the post :)
I have 10 screws in my spine! (I counted them :D )


My surgeon gave me the news that I was not expecting at all: I've had my restrictions eased, to the point where I'm now allowed to do everything except lift over 8kg ????
And... the next time they want to see me again is in 4 MONTHS! Normally at this stage the next follow-up is in another 6 weeks.

Of course, I am not going to rush into activity; I'm not going to jeopardise my condition, and I also just don't have the energy. And I can come back earlier than 4 months if needed.

But oh wow.
I spent half of the car ride home crying out of sheer joy. Like I was that happy that I could not hold it back.
Even now, I'm crying again just thinking back.

And to think 6 weeks ago I was in ICU.

I can't believe it.
I honestly can't believe it.

 

[somerandomguy]

That is FANTASTIC!! Congratulations!!!

 

[Wendell_R]

Most Wonderful! Little happy dance!

 

[Deleted member 42984]

Very happy for you, b :-)

 

[Chris-duck]

That's amazing :D

 

[Teasel]

Oh Bellbird, I'm all overcome! Brought tears to my eyes reading this. So pleased for you!!! :D

 

[scout86]

That's great news, congratulations! That's what you get for following directions I guess. :) (Every time I read about your interactions with medical professionals, I'm struck by how different they are than anything I'm familiar with here. Sounds like a fairy tale, but it also sounds like it produces really good results.) Wishing you continued success on your journey!

 

[knuckles]

So happy for you Bellbird.

 

[bellbird]

Thank you so much, everyone :hug:
So lovely reading your messages this morning when I woke up (in a dry bed -- no nightsweats either!)

I just lay there for a long while, listening to music and hugging Mr Bear.
Letting these wonderfully surreal feelings sit with me as long as they can.

 

[blackemerald1]

Well done @bellbird !! I cannot even imagine how good it must feel to stretch out for the first time. Amazing what we all take for granted ins't it? The ability to adjust and heal is profound and your posts about the wonder of it all made me feel good. Thank you :)

 

[bellbird]

The ability to adjust and heal is profound and your posts about the wonder of it all made me feel good.

Well, I'm very pleased I can return the feels, given how much all of y'all's posts and support has, and is, benefiting me. :)

I cannot even imagine how good it must feel to stretch out for the first time.

Yeah. It's 'no words'-kinda stuff.
I've been gently reintroducing my body to forward bends since being cleared by my surgeon on Friday.

I can't yet touch my toes like I could before surgery (and I'm not going to push myself), but I'm not too shabby, either!
I've mostly been enjoying doing 90 forward bends, with straight legs and my head/forearms resting on the kitchen bench.
I was in one yesterday evening and asked my mum to let me know if my back was flat.. and it was! flip, getting teary again Forward bends pre-surgery would seriously show off the disformity of my back; the tense knotted muscle on the left (convex) side of my lumbar curve would become really pronounced.
It's a pretty common feature in scoli-folks, and the reason why one of your before/after surgery clinical photos is of a forward bend.


I came off celecoxib and omeprazole on the weekend, so now it's just paracetamol as needed which is the plan we (surgeon/GP) most recently decided.
Well, it's about 3pm today and I haven't yet needed any ugh, more teary


I've made the decision that I'm going to return to my flat and university in 2 weeks.
That will give me the time to practice being more independent with my newly eased restrictions, while still help from my parents if I need it. I think after 2 weeks I'll then be ready for the move, and I'll be able to take Tweeter back with me as long as I'm independent and competent in caring for him as well as myself.

It will be good to have my little recovery buddy? with me.
Because I haven't been able to utilise previously helpful grounding techniques these past 6 weeks; namely exercise, I've needed to find others, and spending time around Tweeter and focusing on him to ground has definitely become one of those.
I know that there's certain behaviours that he won't do if danger is around; preening, eating, playing, etc. So if I'm sitting near him, and he's preening, I know we're all good.
His cute little chirps are also very soothing.
It has really helped me through this recovery. (he's sitting in his cage about 1 metre in front of me, as I write this :) )

I've also decided I will join my university gym when I'm back.
My surgeon said exer-cycling will be the best exercise for me to do first, to ease myself back in, and I certainly intend to continue with following his advice.

I've actually never joined a gym myself; I used to do pilates and yoga from videos at home, or go for my runs in the early mornings when there weren't masses of people yet out.
A bit apprehensive how my hypervig will play out in the public-gym-dynamic, but I suppose there too will be times when the gym is less populated, and maybe equipment with better vantage points than others.

 

[bellbird]

I just sat on the ground for the first time in almost 7 weeks!

And yeah, it seemed like that justified its own post :D :D
a) because: small victories, and
b) because: all puns aside, sitting on the ground is one of my grounding strategies; another one I haven't been able to utilise since my op.


Another small victory: it's now 10.30pm and I haven't yet needed any pain medication (paracetamol) since yesterday night.
I've internally debated taking some before I sleep, just in case. But I think I will take the small risk of waking up in pain, as right now I really don't feel any need for paracetamol.
As least this way will give me a better understanding of my body, and if I wake up then I'll know for next time.

Fingers crossed I won't, though :)