Just a quick update

Just to let you all know I'm doing well.  I have one last drain in from my marathon PS session that will come out tomorrow.  The wound seperations are healing well (tops of the inner thighs) and except for running out of energy I feel fine.  It is 3 weeks today since surgery and I feel like I gain ground daily.  Still living in "Swell Hell", but that is to be expected with the amount I had done.

I'm off computer for the next couple of days because mine crashed.  I'm at the library LOL.

Later!

Trisha

Good to hear you're mending well Trisha!  Can't wait to see the after pics when you feel healed enough to post.  (with clothing is fine! ).  Hopefully, I'll get to goal some day and be able to get my plastics.  My back fusion surgery is scheduled for August 26th, so hopefully, a month or so after that I can get back to exercise!

Linda

Linda, my computer crashed and is just now up and going again.

Tell me about your back fushion....Is it L5/S1?  If so I know of two others who have had this within the past 60 days.  Where are you having it done?

Trisha
(oh....they didn't take the drain out because it was still producing too much.  It will come out tomorrow evening by my nurse friend.  NOW it is leaking around the drain site...)

I'm having my surgery at the Spine and Brain Center of Eugene.  My surgeon got her undergrad degree from Stanford and went to Harvard Medical, so I think she knows what she's doing.  At least, I pray she does!!  My L5/S1 disc is pretty well collapsed and the L5/L4 above it isn't much better.  The L4/L3 is herniated, but not badly.  I can't wait to be released from this agony.

Linda

So what exactly then will be fused?  L3-S1?
Dang, Linda....I KNOW how much this hurts.  I was Bob's advocate for one of the 3 days he was in hospital.  3 of us took turns because the last surgery they didn't control the pain well.  I was there just to keep track of everything done and to be his advocate should he need one.  One never knows when they will actually NEED an advocate.  this time all went well for him.

Is there anything I can do for you?

Thanks Trisha - it's nice of you to offer to help.  I think my brother will look out for me.  I'm having L5/S1 fused for sure, possibly L4/L5 also.  I won't know more till my appointment on the 22nd.  I wish the appointment were sooner, but my surgeon will be out of town.  They may leave L3/L4 alone, depending on where the herniation is.  In the discogram, it didn't seem to be giving me much pain, so the likelihood that it's pressing on a nerve is low.  I am fortunate that my PCP is on top of my pain meds.  They put me on the Fentanyl patch which is finally effective in managing the pain.  I hope to make it to surgery without experiencing the degree of pain I had before.  I'm hoping for a good outcome.

Linda

Well I too will pray for a good outcome.  I DO have a smidgeon of experience with that surgery.  You will be in a brace for about 3 months afterward.  Too bad you couldn't have abdonminalplasty at the same time....the brace would work for both LOL.

My offer stands....I will help you in any way I can, ok?

Trisha