Now we are all full of curiosity LOL.

If you need meds demand them.
It does seem very soon to take you off them??

Pain = muscle tension and that is not good for recovery or comfort..

Let me guess: they found something "extra" or that shouldn't be there!

heal well, rest, rest, rest!!

Hi everyone, sitting over the bed edge working slowly with my laptop. A bit sore and sorry, with awful reflux and hiccups and can't sip water without hurting, but I think thats from the tube in my throat during surgery.

Covered in wiring and a drain that kept me awake because you can't lie here or there because of them. They were removed this morning and don't you get a reminder when the drain gets pulled. I am amazed at how I thought I had prepared for all of this and it is so different. When I get strength back I can expand on things but its easy to tire just typing.

I had some kind of lumpy calcium growths on the rib, that were playing with the nerves (do not know the size yet). T1 was played with and there is something with the sternum as it is not as flexible as expected. Front and middle Scalenes were dissected, I'll fix the naming of things later when my brain comes back.

My right arm is nestled beside me like a heavy weight as there was a bit more manual handling in there than expected, and I should be able to stop whacking people when I reach out to them, in about three weeks.

I buttered a piece of toast this morning but I still can't hold a pen and need assistance filling out the menu. Had my second xray today and it was clear.

Things are a little out of order a bit but I cant think straight just yet!!

Your sense of humor (rather, "humour") is intact, and that is very important, Blurto! Those that matter will know that your whacks are given with love. Keep feeling better!

How are you doing Blurto?

Is your arm & hand dexterity returning? Trying to shell pistachios has been helping mine come back.

Hi to everyone, I finally made it home yesterday after eight days. Really tired and can't do much and typing aggravates my arm terribly, so I 'll keep this short.

I had all the first rib removed and in the process it was discovered that there were areas with Exostosis manifesting along it's length. That was the interesting bit I was told about while my brain was still somewhere else. The Exostosis was being ground off closer to the vertebrate and the surgeon lifted the T1 nerve, in the lower plexus, with his finger, as a bumpy bit was growing directly beneath it.

That's basically caused the issues with my arm, and entertained many people watching me trying to eat food. The finger tingles are improving daily and the surgeon is pleased with my progress.

I have a bit of Pleurisy with the awful lack of breath and fatigue and a dull ache in my back, very close to the lower plexus. I cannot walk more than ten yards without having to stop and rest and it is less if I am talking at the same time. That is another thing that time will heal.

My main pain relief was Targin 10/5 and Endone 100g if the pain got worse. I found that Endone was ineffective with the Pleurisy ache and I replaced it with Tramadol 100g. I was able to lie down and eventually sleep with the Tramadol. They took my morphine away from me after the first 24 hours which I was not pleased about.

Shaving is a hoot, I hold the razor in my right hand, and hold/move the right arm with the left. I can now hold a small glass of water but not tip it to sip. Coffee cups are too large just yet.

Glad to be home but am going around the twist with my arm but it is improving every day. I cannot feel around the incision itself and go to my own Doctor to remove about a dozen clips on Monday.

Welcome home Blurto!

I'm surprised you are even bothering to shave...hasn't been a priority for me at all.

Did you require neurolysis or do they believe the rib and exotosis were causing all of the havoc?

Blurto - I, too, had a large growth on my 1st rib that pre-disposed me to TOS. Hopefully, with the removal of the growths and rib, your symptoms settle down with time.

Hi Everyone. Three weeks today and feeling better with everything. The right arm is the main issue, TOS symptoms seem to be all ok now, but time will tell with that.

This surgery has been so different to my surgery last year and although I researched things thoroughly, I haven't been prepared for the surprises this time around. I certainly wasn't expecting the extra activity with the T1 nerve, who was to know until you get inside I suppose but that is the ongoing issue for me.

I can hold things better, certainly type faster but only for short periods and I still need spell check... I can hold a cup or plate, but nothing in them and I cant turn my wrist to to do more common things, eating, drinking, cleaning teeth or washing. I do everything I can to support the weight of my arm, it is improving day to day but the restrictions are many.

I take Panadol with 9.5 mg codeine three times a day and that looks after things but you know when its tablet time. I was told not to drive until the feeling comes back to my arm but that advice could be impractical I think. Any stretching to use a keyboard hurts and the laptop in my lap is still the best for me.

I think I'm over the emotional part of the process and I am still getting use to not contributing around the house because I can't lift anything and have no stamina. I feel ok with rest, but then after a walk or trip out of the house the pleurisy kicks in and reminds me that I still haven't healed. I have an enormous family tree task to fill my time and I am just getting around to being able to focus and think again since the surgery.

The cat has me trained into a routine as well and the old thing comes looking for me if I am not sitting next to him to lift him up or down when he wakes up. My wife wonders where she went wrong with me, if the cat can do it...

I have included a snapshot of my incision taken in a mirror so it looks to be on the wrong side from my first pic. The lower part starts at my sternum and it travels 18cm up to the original wound from last year.

Cheers to everyone until next time.

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Blurto, how are you progressing?