Surgery coming up...need some advice
 

Please, any post-surgery advice would be greatly appreciated. I've read several threads lately where some advice has been given but always looking for more.

I was told the plan was to send me home after surgery if the pain is manageable. If not, I get to do the 23 hr. 59 min. thing where they put me in "observation" but not officially "inpatient".

I can't believe it's only FOUR more days till I get the twins. :yahoo::yahoo::Dancing-Chilli::Dancing-Chilli::Grin-Nod::Grin-Nod:

The excitement mounts !
 

The BEST $10 I've ever invested in was one of those 'Reacher-Grabber' things! Indeed
Lots of http://dl8.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...lwj45xqdb5.gif

http://dl8.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...tapy7m6a6j.gif
And plenty of this sure wouldn't hurt ---->> http://dl4.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...mzmuz2zkdy.gif
`
And.....as always......you'll have all of us here waiting for you
http://dl.glitter-graphics.net/pub/8...vfzir76rc9.gif
We love you man

Ok.....
 

Enuf of the 'cutsie' cartoons........ :p

Hey! There IS this one little procedure my doc did during the surgery in which I found VERY intriguing! (I was awake during the procedure, so was 'taking mental notes' in my 'twilight' daze....)

He asked one of the nurses to draw a small vial of my blood. He had this vial next to him and used this blooddraw to inject in and around the incision site before he stitched me up.....
....the medical term escapes me....but I think I brought it up to Mark, so I'll leaf thru his thread and add that post as an edit here.....

It has to due with the plasma-rich cells in your own blood being put around the surgical site to lower risk of infection and help the healing process......

I bet it would throw your doc for a loop and actually impress him if you ask if he does this 'special procedure' :)

Here it is: (Plasma Rich Platelet/Protein Injection)

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post667743-153.html

Here somethings I did prior to having some surgery as I know I would be non weight bearing for awhile... Not for SCS...

I had books, magazines, extra shirt or 2, extra shorts close by. Within reach so All I had to was reach over and grab a fresh clean shirt.

I had snacks close at hand also.

I went through and figured out everything I would be having trouble with after surgery and just set myself up to have everything in that area close by.

Example:

I was non weight bearing for 6 weeks so I made sure I had a few towels close to the shower along with making sure soap was handy if I ran out. Hard to carry stuff with 2 crutches so I did everything up in advance. Extra toilet paper on the back of the toilet. Thats a must. :p

If you may be in bed for more then a few days, maybe having an extra pillow case handy to freshen up the pillow will be worth it. Its amazing how a fresh shirt or pillow case can make you feel. Even get a small thing of baby wipes next to the bed to freshen up.

If you already now what your limitations will be or how long you will be in bed, I would lay down in bed and picture everything that you will need next to you to make it easy. Snacks, fresh clothes, something to read, fresh batteries in the remote, a radio within reach, the phone within reach and so on....

I hope you get some ideas from this and it helps..

Wish you all the best.

A Grit and Bear It Cloth
 

I have used a small washcloth multiple times now after back surgery to Grit and Bear It because I did not want to cry out. It worked. Kept my dignity, kept the nurses in stitches [no wait a minute, that was me] helped my familiy since I was sent home LONG before the 23 hour marker so I wasn't doing the Ahh, OHH, Ouch thing out loud every time I had to move, and you will be having to move. So I would just jam that washcloth in my mouth and it muffled the cries. Worked every time.

Thursday!! You are in our prayers!
Mark56:)

Thanks guys. I went out and bought one of those grabber things and have pulled stuff down to lower shelves so I don't have to stretch to reach things. Doing laundry now so have the extra towels. I ordered some movies from Netflix (going to try to watch all 6 Star Wars while laid up) and have a bottle of rum to soak that washcloth in (just kidding...I think;)

Two more days...getting sorta' nervous. Know it will go okay but always feel better once on the other side of surgery.

Will let you know how it goes when I get the twins.

HARRRGGGGGHHHHhhhhhh Matey
 

Well if ye got a spot o' the rum, best not bring it with ya to recovery. Might get the redcoats up in arms!!!

Truly Fiona- I know Thursday brings both excitement and trepidation. You will not be alone there. We all will be praying for you, your husband and family, your surgeons:doctor:, neuromonitoring people, rep, nurses and recovery nurses. All will be well. You are in marvelous hands and those of our Lord who will bring comfort and healing when you are wondering "why did I do this?" the first time or two or three up out of that bed.

Be well my friend,
Prayers,:smileypray:
Mark56

Thanks, Mark. Now where did I put that rum :Ponder:
Oh yeah, it's in the snake bite kit.

No, it's in Rae's other pocket, you know???
 

Check Rae's other pocket. I think it was there last I heard,,,,,, or did I?
Mark56:)

Rum?.....What Rum?!
 

http://dl.glitter-graphics.net/pub/2...dgbv9ov2uo.gif Ah aim complitlee inohsent n this matter mates~ :thud:

Cut toenails
 

I went home within an hour and had no problems. I wore a girdle like band around my waist for nearly three weeks (until yesterday). Since you are not supposed to bend over too much I wish I had thought of cutting my toenails. For the first five days I had a bit of trouble finding a comfortable position in my recliner because I was very conscious of the implant and staples. I found walking around the neighborhood the most comfortable thing to do. If you don't have one, get a detachable shower head and you can keep reasonably clean without taking a full shower.

Yes!
 

FINALLY some CIVILIZED discussion!!! :eek:
I swear I don't know ANY of these people!!! All I know is that I woke up yesterday, logged on, and there were all these drunken hobo's fighting over an empty rum bottle!! :rolleyes:

Now i forgot what i was gonna say :o
it actually WAS intelligent!

I'll think of it and return.....

Oh Ya!
 

OK! ....omg, my kids probably think I have completely lost my mind...locked away in my room giggling and laughing at this 15" piece of the universal connection to eternity and beyond...

Thanks for the great belly laughs guys. Man

INTELLIGENT INfO: you probably already know this, but i do recall how frustrating it was trying to comprehend the POST-OP instructions, whilst i was pleasantly still in my 'twilight daze' and blissfully seeing fat BumbleBees Buzzing happily in the shade.....

Get CLEAR instructions of the POST op PRIOR to going IN to the procedure!!

Oh Yeah
 

Post Op instructions understood by one with clear mind a must....... but Rae? Are your feet really 15" long?:D:eek:

Mark56:D

Oh boy.....I'm not EVEN gonna touch that one with a 10-foot pole!!

Hasn't my vengence tactics EVEN begun to intimidate you YET!!!

http://dl5.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...jxfhvfi1fx.gif

Nope
 

Feelin my oats, maybe after my namesake!:D
:hug:z
Mark56 PJ:)

Good Luck Dear Fiona!
 

Well, if Mark is feelin his 'Oats' (that sounds like it'd make a wonderful double-entendre for my favorite comedian! He'd have a great time with this!)......
I bet it's because his special ANNIVERSARY IS right around the corner!!!
Yeahh! So happy for you Mark! You and Cleo have been thru plenty, so make this one count man!!!

And FIONA's special day is at hand as well!
Just wanted to send you all my :hug::hug::hug:, well-wishes, and all that other good jazz....maybe with a couple of Cuban Suppositories (as opposed to cigars) thrown in for good measure.
Hope you aren't getting too nervous! DON'T let THAT happen!
Good Lord you know you've got a great scope of people looking out for your well-being!
It's all gonna be roses!

Tomorrow is a very special day for both of you, so........
We'll do a 'chatroom jiggy' soon in honor

As Always
Rae
:icecream:

Bump!
 

Another good thread to bump to the top! :D