Hi Cindyj,

you mention the choking feelings,
I had those from SCM and scalene muscle spasms pulling the top rib and collar bones up - felt horrible and made my symptoms so much worse with any use of my arms.

After my chiro relieved the spasms - I had an independent evaluation by an advanced PT {hoping for better proof to use on work comp appeal} but it turned out he was able to drop my top ribs- they got stuck raised up from those spasms.
In a one time session and it made a world of difference for me.
- it's called rib mobilization

I don't know if anyone has tried something like that for you in any PT or anything- rib mob is also used in Peter Edgelows therapy techniques.

hi Cindy,

I too had a one night stay at the "inn" it was ok....other than the fact that the doctors resident sent me home with too little pain meds...but my GP delt with it. I was scared but knew I was in good hands only a couple of surgeons do the surgery in Ontario as they are only reimbursed $250.00 what a load of garbage that was.

one night is not so bad I was feeling much less pain than I did the day before aside from the post op pain which sort of felt like being run over by a truck when I was undermedicated so make sure u are comfortable all the time no reason ever to be in pain......

It took me three months to feel well enough to do things on my own....lifting light dishes out of the dishwasher with my unaffected arm of course but still moving neck and turning....I am hoping you are having supraclavicular incision...under collar bone....you heal faster from that one.

the next day my mom helped me in the tub but to get in and out and with balance....I just used the tub to bath for a week or so until I took the dressing off then I showerd and did some of my exercises he gave me in the shower as my muscles were warmed up in there....

oh get your hair done before you go then you won't have to have it done for a while.....just a tip I had my mom wash mine outside....it was July/august so I lay on a sunbed and she hosed my head.....cold water....

anyhooo......best of luck my dear and cash in on all your help for things dont be the hero you will need help so don't be afraid to ask for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can't emphasise that enough......obviously...eh??????
So it will all go well we are rooting for you! You are now a member of our little (growing) family and we are a tight bunch so welcome and ask questions and fire away.........

love and hugs,
Victoria

Hey CindyJ!
Wow, I didn't quite realize what short notice you got, especially after waiting two years.
Just as gibbrn said......CASH IN YOUR FAVORS!!!!
Do stuff like clean and grocery shop prior to going in.
I spent the last two days before surgery, "surgery proofing" my home/apartment.
This included cleaning, grocery shopping, paying bills, laundry, pet supplies, etc.
Basically I thought of stuff I'd like to have done prior to surgery so I didn't have to do it or deal with it for a while after surgery.
Post surgery I spent 3 or 4 days at my parents. Once I was home I accidently fell asleep in my recliner. What a great discovery!
For several days I found I slept much better sitting up in the recliner than I did laying in bed. Often I'd sleep in the recliner and when I'd wake up I'd go sleep in my bed.
I think this reduced a lot of strain and pain as I had so much trouble getting up from a laying down position.
Sleeping sitting up post surgery may not be good medical advice as my Docs never suggested sleeping while sittling up, but they never warned against it.
I'm just saying what I found that worked for me.
Good Luck and take it easy after surgery. Do everything slow and don't feel bad about it or let anyone make you feel bad about it.
Take Care!

gbsb,

good advice....I guess with all our little bits from each of us Cindy, you can piece together a plan! You will do fine...and we will help..... I hope you have Dragon software so you can talk rather than type as that will be an issue....you can pick dragon 7 up for about 25 to 20 on ebay and it works really well it's the one I have and should be using....lol....

I wish I had slept sitting up sleeping was a problem for me I was a side sleeper and since the surgery can only sleep on my back for comfort sake.....I cna't roll or lie on my side at all it is just too uncomfortable. I had a hell of a time after surgery to get comfy....took a lot of pillows and basically I sat up crying for the first few days as I didn't have enough pain meds..as I have already said but you shouldn't have this issue.....you should have no prob with the right meds....but you will still feel like you were run over by a truck on your shoulder .....not kidding.....it was heavy and I carried my arm around for a while to ease the pressure....anyhow....not to scare you it is well worth it and I had six months completely pain free until my physio screwed me up agian hardcore.!!!!
but that's another story....lol

take care
love and hugs,
Victoria

WOW Cindy,

Best of Luck! Eveyone gave some great advice.

I had surgery 6 weeks ago and still recovering. You mentioned that choking feeling. That was my main complaint, I did not have as much arm/hand symptoms as mcuh as that choling feeling. Jo is right rib mob will help that. I did not have rib taken out but had anterior scalenectomy and part of the middle. And most all of the choling sensation is gone. I am waiting to go to PT with doc ok so they can do rib mob to put those ribs back in pace finally.

I also had heart palpitation which seem to have resolved after the surgery. ONe doc said the cirulatory system is a closed sysytem and if there is any pressure on it even tmp it will respond and heart will work harder. I am going in a week for heart ultrasound to make sure heart did not enlarge. Only precautonairy as doc thinks it is fine.

GBSB - what a great suggestion. Surgery proof your home! And I wish I had a recliner because you are right getting up from prone position was much easier.

Don't know if anyone mentioned this make sure to have plenty of pillows and blankets in car for ride home. It maynot have seemed to be bumpy on way there but it sure way on the way home. I got a bot naueous on the way home or maybe a little warm gingerale in the car just in case.

Take the pain meds as doc told me because pain retards healing. By day four I was down significantly from my pain meds and a week later only needed occasionally.

Afterwards I leanred to carry nothing. Hubby was happy because he thought great she won't buy any more purses she does not need. I learned to only carry my wallet. But hoping soon to go purse shooping again

Make sure to drink lots of water. It helps heal the body.

I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery.

Hi Cindy, So glad you're here - but my gosh, that is short notice for a major surgery such as this one! Maybe it's just me, but if I were you I would call the surgeon's scheduling coordinator and ask if he has a later opening you could have, to give you more time to prepare. (Just a thought, I have them occasionally...).

Also, do NOT wait for them to ask you about the palpitations if you do decide to go full speed ahead on Mon. and have your pre-op - the first thing out of your mouth should be "you guys need to hook me up to an EKG to check out my ticker; I'm having palpitations and not at all sure what that means in terms of going under the knife tomorrow" (just my opinion, it's what I would do in your situation, as well as call the Dr's. office and communicate the same info to the nurse STAT!). (Come to think of it, the heart thing could buy you a later date if you play your cards right....seriously! I'm not saying be manipulative, but stay as proactive and involved as you can as a patient - don't let the big bad surgeon run over you!)

Re the tolerance to pain meds, I really hear you on that one, because I had the very same concerns when I had my TOS surgery in 11/05. By then I had been a "chronic pain patient" (hate that term!) for so long that I too had developed severe FMS (which narcotics don't even touch in my view), as well as CRPD, and probably a bunch of misdiagnoses (my TOS diagnosis was not made until many, many years after initial onset). So I had tried by then about every pain med out there, just trying to get some relief. And they do stop working after a certain period of time, and/or a specific phenomenon takes place which I won't go into here.

But here's the thing I want you to hear, Cindy: You have the right to speak to your anesthesiologist about your concerns re effective pain control, as well as your surgeon. They are very legitimate and both docs should be made aware of them so that you can be treated properly. Don't worry though, about waking up on the table or anything, because what they put you out with is actually gas, the narcotic (usually fentanyl) just eases the ride in and out of consciousness.

When you wake up post-op, yes you will be in pain, girl but it will not be the same kind of pain you have (sadly) been in for so long now. What you will be feeling will be acute pain from the procedure - and acute pain responds much, much better to opioids and other measures which will be taken in hospital to keep you comfortable.

You will want to ask when you call your surgeon's office on Mon. or when you see him (keep jotting down your questions, keep them handy) this question: Will I have a PCA (patient-controlled analgesia unit)? One thing I do know the doc will look at on his rounds is how many times you punch that little button. If you're doing it more often than it's set up to deliver pain medication to your body, then it signals him to up your meds! So even if they tell you it will only dose you every x mins., you lean on that thing each time you feel you need pain relief!

I wish you the best of luck, Cindy. This is a tough thing to go through and I am glad you don't have to do it alone. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other - we will be here for you!

Alison

I just wanted to share some of my experiences too... and some suggestions, some of them are very similar to the other's suggestions which I hope will encourage you!

I agree with gbsb, re: having things at home in order. I only had 2 weeks before my surgery to get prepared as well and I tried to have everything in order as well. I tried to have others do these tasks for me as I thought I needed to be as rested as possible so that I would be able to recover more readily. If you can, have friends or family do dinners for a week or longer. Can someone come and stay with you for the day your first week home?? That was very helpful to me.

I also slept in a recliner at night for the first week. I couldn't breathe laying flat on my back in bed. If you don't have one, maybe there is an organization in your town that has hospital beds that they loan out?? We have one in our town. THey deliver them and set them up for you and everything.

Also, for the ride home, take a FIRM pillow to hold against your chest, and pack "MOSHI" type pillows in everywhere you can to cushion you. I filled a pillow case full go under my legs and then used two under each arm and behind my neck and shoulders to ride home. Even with all of that, the ride home was the hardest part for me!!

I was fortunate to wake up from the surgery not in pain. They used a fentynl patch as well as an I.V. with dilaudid, so I did allright at the hospital. I told them about my concern for pain management at the pre-op. appt. because I too had been taking opiates prior to surgery for a while.

I didn't have palpitations so I can't comment on that. I am glad there are others here that could reassure you there!!

The only other thing I can think of to mention is be sure and get your body ready for possible constipation from the med.s from surgery. It's not pleasant to have to deal with that along with the pain! I wish I had started eating prunes and other fibers and drinking lots of fluids before surgery. They gave me senna pills and collase (sp?) at the hospital, and after I started having problems at home they recc. I get them. I had no idea they came over the counter !!

I'm sure that you will do well especially with all the wonderful advice everyone has offered!

Please keep us updated and let us know how you are doing and how things are going!!

God Bless!!

G ~

Cindyj,

Good luck on Tuesday I hope things go well for you..

Hugs and blessings,

Dolfinz

I can't thank you all enough for giving me so much help!! I have had alot of surgeries so I usually clean my house before I go.But I had my niece and nephew 1 year and 3 year old for the weekend so there is no way I can get it all done this time.My husband is unable to work so he will be home with me all the time.I have really long hair sos I know its going to be hard to care for it, but it can stay in a ponytail i guess. I know the drive home is going to be agony, it's a 2 hour drive over some pretty rough roads, so thanks for the idea to take pillows.I know it is short notice but I have been on the waiting list for 2 years ,so I'm not passing up the chance to get it done. I am going to make sure I have an ekg before they do surgery.I think the palpitations are related to th TOS but I want to make sure there are no heart issues.Well I am going to bed to try to get some sleep.Tomorrow I am going to write down alot of your suggestions so I dont forget anything. Thanks again everyone and I really appreciate your prayers. I am putting myself in God' hands, so I trust that He will carry me through this. Hope everyone has a good nights sleep, cindy

Thank you everyone. I am off to the hospital in the morning and I will post as soon as i feel up to it after surgery.You have all helped me a great deal and I am no longer scared.I am just wanting to get it over with now and praying it will help!! You are an awsome group!!!!!