[ALASKA MIKE]

last month we had to cancel because i had a sinus cold that i just got over and i felt my immune system was too low to handle a surgery. 2 hours before the surgery i talked to the doc and he said if i get an infection i would be in the hospital for 6 months because they would have to take out the pain pump, the spinal stimulator, paddle, screws, rods, plates, artificsial discs etc...so even though it was going to cost me a lot of money to cancel and reschedule i did. i have to pay my caregivers for their time even though i did not go thru with surgery.

fast forward 4 weeks later. i go in for surgery at noon,checkin @1030am. of course they run late. surgery starts @2pm. in recovery @4pm. in hospital room by 5pm.

when i wake up in recovery i cant move or feel anything below my rib cage to my toes. it took almost an hour before i could wiggle my foot/toe.

the first 2 hours in the hospital room were amazing.meds were wearing off and by 11pm i couldnt handle the pain. i was getting a lot of dilaudid by IV but it wasnt doing much.i asked for meds to put me asleep and pump me full of zofran and phenergan to keep me from puking cuz i thought i would blow out the stitches(no staples for me). it worked. so we repeated this until i could handle the pain.

need to rollover and rest--will check back in later