Surgery Yesterday
 

Well I had my scalenectomy yesterday afternoon. I feel fabulous today! Most of my TOS symptoms seem to be gone but that could be the drugs. :) I should be going home today...I'll let you know how it goes.

So pleased all went well for you, Bronwyn. I had my left side first rib totally removed, along with a scalenectomy, on Tuesday morning. I was in the hospital for three nights, and I still have the drain in my chest. I'm hoping to get it removed tomorrow. I'm on narcotics every four hours with other meds interspersed as necessary. For now, pain management is my focus and I am not sure at this point what degree of success I will have.

I hope your recovery continues to be successful.

Take care,
Laura

So happy to see you posting, Laura! I've been thinking of you and hoping all went well. I'm getting more nervous as my surgery approaches. I was told to expect to be in the hospital overnight. Also nervous about this being my right hand--it will be more difficult to use the keyboard!

I hope you come back and post to let us all know how you are progressing.

When you are able to and feel up to it let us know how you are doing.
I hope recovery is going well for you.

Bronwyn -

If you feel up to it, can you let us know how you're doing? Due to the complexity of my situation, my physiatrist highly recommended I consult with other surgeons. So I am seeing Johansen in a few weeks and would like to know how you're doing before I see him. At this point, I am also considering going out-of-state.

Hi! Sorry it has taken me so long to respond! Things are going really well for me. I would say that about 95% of my TOS symptoms are gone. I still have a small amount of nerve pain but it is so much better than before that I am ok with that. :) My PT says I am doing super well and ready to start strength training as soon as the doc gives me the ok. I am back at work full time this week. It is a bit of a struggle for me by the end of the day but that is from the surgery pain. The only downside is I had really hoped to be off of painkillers by this point but I don't see that happening for a while. Good luck Sheri, I hope it all goes well for you!

Hi I'm new to this thread. and glad to hear your surgery went well and back to work! Youre the first person I 've read about who just had the scalenectomy only. Can you tell me if thats what you were going for and why you didnt need the rib taken out? I'm looking into that too,but i'm on the west coast.

Did your surgeon utilize any sort of an adhesion barrier, like seprafilm?

You asked me the same question, NoSpam, and I have to think it's standard practice to use an adhesion barrier. I hope so anyway!

Nospam, yes they used an adhesion barrier but I don't know which one. As for the not having a rib resection, my surgeon typically doesn't do them. He says that research is showing that the outcome is the same either way and having the rib resection just makes recovery longer and harder. I think he said he stopped doing the rib resection 10 years ago and has a better success rate than when he was doing them. I also live on the west coast, I'm up in Seattle.

:)
I've gotten conflicting answers from the vascular surgeons I've asked, so I'm not sure it's standard practice. It seems to be standard practice for those that do scalenectomies only though.

I just wish there was more consistency and information regarding rib resection vs scalenectomy only. I've been told my long term chances for success are better with rib resection. I guess I'm cool with my decision for rib resection as I am a fast healer (since his research shows outcome is the same either way...wait, you said his outcomes have been better!?). If only I could wait 10 years until TOS surgery has advanced.:cool:

He said the research (not his) shows the outcome to be about the same. He also said he has been doing this surgery for about 20 years and that he is seeing a better outcome the last 10 years since he stopped doing the rib resection. That's not to say that there aren't other issues involved also. I'm sure part of that is related to the advancement in adhesion barriers and such.

Dr. Donahue said he also applied something (I thought it was some sort of barrier film) to the spots where the rib was cut. He removed the entire rib, so that must mean my sternum and back. Ugh. Are you worried that your surgeon doesn't do this, or have you asked him? I heavily biased, but I wish we could fly you out to Boston!

I decided to start a new thread regarding adhesion barriers.

Would you mind asking your Drs. what was used in your surgeries at your follow ups for information's sake?

Why? I'm sure your surgeon has a specific type that he uses, doesn't he? It's not like he's going to use the type that Dr. Donahue used, and since I just had surgery we don't really know the long-term durability of them.

Hi Brownyn2, Who was your Dr? and were you happy with him?
Thanks,jkl

You're right, I am over thinking this. I need to calm down and stop being such a control freak!

Hey, Nospam, I didn't mean to sound harsh. I think it's completely natural to want to control something about a pretty scary operation that's going to be done on *your* body! Sorry if I came across as insensitive. You will have a great surgery and feel so much better--I'm sure of it. Scar tissue and adhesions can't really be prevented, according to Dr. Donahue. because our bodies are programmed to repair themselves.

I wish you the best, and will be around to support you!!

I saw Dr. Kaj Johansen and I was quite happy with him.

Well I had my 6 week follow up today. It super happy that it went really well. They were surprised that I had full range of motion back already and that my pain is fairly manageable. They said I'm doing so well that I don't have to come back unless I start having any problems. I sure hope this lasts!!

I'm so happy for you. Are you still on any meds?

Wonderful news, Bronwyn! Keep us posted on your continued recovery. :)