It is, I've never met anyone with the same affliction. **. It is pretty rare.
Ugh... Well after my surgeon did my surgery on Friday he buggered off on holiday.
I had internal bleeding, so the drain kept filling, no one wanted to authorise it's removal as The drain was still draining and they were not my consultant. I needed a blood transfusion early on. I also had fluid around and/or on the lung,so that caused pain and extra difficulty breathing. After 8 or 9 days my surgeon returned and said he was surprised to see me still there
and said to remove the drain. (In amongst all that was the heamatoma(the bruise was crazy) and severe post op nausea.)
I had another chest xray the next day and was told I cOuld go home !!
I was doing ok then the next day I was having difficulty breathing and they were worried about clOts and infection, so went back in to my local hops( I had the surgery 45mins away as he wAs a specialist and had supposedly done the most surgeries in the country.) ended up on the chest ward with sick people!! It was traumatising. They had no clue about it and had never seen such a surgery I cannot count how many times I was asked why I had a rib removed. I Was there for 6 days had numerous x rays and ct scans till they heard from my surgeon who said all my side effects were normal due to the extent of the bruising and such.
I was so glad to come hOme it was awful. I have depression and anxiety issues already but I manage it all mostly by medicating with pot, which helps with those symptoms and the pain and nausea.
Also still take paracetamol, tramadol and now amitriptaline. Although I try to keep that to a minimum I much prefer the effects of cannabis, it isn't always enough by itself though.
Gosh, ill be impressed if you got through that. I have been thinking about seeking therapy or counselling to try and deal with it all. It has taken a toll on my relationship. I'll be glad when it's all ovEr. It is an intense experience.
There were various neglegancies I need to ensure don't happen again to try and minimise trauma to me.
Oh my gp is also thinkingof reffering me for physio which I think I need.
Take care
Quote:
Originally Posted by SD38
hi joanna81,
its good to speaK 2 someone closer to home.... in a strange way it makes me feel more supported that I'm not the only one on home ground going through this rotten TOS journey ( there seems to be so few of us here in the UK!!!). I suppose the surgery went as good as it could have but unfortunately I'm still suffering in the thoracic region. Alot of tenderness near my collarbones/ neck and arms etc on use.
Why did you have to return to hosp after 2 days?
Mine wasn't perfect either as I had an extreme reaction to the pain relief meds (diclofenac..... terrible stomach pain and wicked nausea) almost worse than the surgical incision! I thought that I was hard done by because of being in for 6 days, you was much longer.... what happened?
I too went through the phase of wanting to get it all out of the way but sadly encountered unexpected post surgical depression/anxiety.... which hit me me HARD! I thought that I was in control of my emotions but from no where I lost myself, my post op fear and pain was very real and intense.
I have attended a CBT course since to work on my feelings and due to do a pain management course in the hope to take on board some techniques to guide me....... well, that's the idea anyway. I need to prep myself before going through 1st rib excision surgery again. My sleep pattern is still disrupted from the discomfort from my neck/shoulders etc, so I feel very anxious about disrupting the other side. Time to heal is needed.
Anyway I'm glad to say that in the next few weeks I have follow ups with a neurologist and the surgeon who performed my last op.... watch this space!
I wish you all the very best, but give yourself time to heal sufficiently before another op. Take care and keep in touch. BEST WISHES!!!!!! |