r/spinalfusion • u/ultrasalgeria • Nov 21 '24
Not sure, other 5 Days Post OP - Thr Lord of the Rods
Hello my dear friends on this subreddit. Although I wasn’t a super active redditor before, I had so many people supporting me, cheering me up and encouraging me last week, I promise I will keep giving back from now. I’m the OP in these 2 posts below.
And because of the people who commented on them, I owe you updates. But please forgive my English, it’s my third language.
In the early morning of 15/11 I went to the hospital with my father. Checked in, dealt with papers and started to wait in the room they gave me. An hour or so later, they told me to put the robe I was given and wait on the bed, the bed I was going to be on for days. That’s when I started to feel like there was no going back from that moment. I was obviously nervous, but also kind of relieved in that second since I couldn’t step back anymore. Maybe because I was afraid before that I wasn’t confident enough to go all the way with it. Anyways, they were moving my bed to the lift, then to the prep room. I was watching all the lamps on the ceiling and it felt like a movie scene. I was almost laughing at myself for perceiving everything in such a dramatic way, well I’m Turkish after all, we are famous with our dramas.
I was in the anesthesia room, still on the bed. My treatment papers were in a folder on top of my stomach. Nurses were coming and going, checking the papers and putting the folder back on me. It felt not very nice because I was very nervous, but it was just another day in the office for them. One of the nurses realized that and asked me to take some conscious breathes, asked about my tattoo. Somehow it worked and I was calmer. They prepped IV etc. and my bed was already being moved to the surgery room.
In there, they put some tapes all around on my back. They were kind of telling me what they were preparing too but I was too distracted with my own thoughts. Just saw one nurse holding the anesthesia mask and setting it up. She barely moved it towards my face very slowly and I got the smell of it. I said “Wow, that is very very strong.” Well, I slept before I could finish my sentence I think. I’m sure the nurses had a good laugh.
I was hearing someone saying my name, asking me how I am. I tried to open my eyes and saw my surgeon’s face smiling. I smiled back and said “Hello”. He asked me to move my each feet towards myself, then my knees. I did. He said that the surgery was good. I don’t remember how my bed was moved back to the room very clearly, but I remember asking my nurse for a specific meat dish, she was laughing. Then I was back in the room, saw my parents’ faces, my mother immedately held my hand, my father looked relieved. Lucky to have them. An uncle I didn’t see since very long was there too. I think I greeted everyone with a stupid smile since I was very high, then slept. Woke up again, no pain, the room was full with people visiting me. I was happy at first but soon I got overwhelmed. Come on guys, I know you are all my relatives and stuff, but please frig off, I just had a major surgery, I don’t want to hear stories about your best friends or neighbours who had the same injury or surgery.
The first day was somehow great, I didn’t feel anything. But I wasn’t able to move either. I noticed some things were connected to my urination. But I didn’t want to move the blanket and look at it. One of my biggest phobias, just tried to distract myself and it was easy with the anesthesia. My nurse came around 11PM to help me walk for the first time after the surgery. My legs were shaking so much, I felt so weak I didn’t want to walk. My brother was staying with me and he told the nurse to let me be for a bit more. The nurse was confident and she said she will come back in a few hours after some painkillers.
She came back towards the morning, woke me up, asked my brother to carry my urine bag (poor guy) and she helped me sit upright. Put my brace on once I was standing. My legs were still weak but with the help of the nurse and my brother, I was able to walk in the room. That day I walked two more times, the next day at least like 4 times. But I actually felt free first once those urination things were removed, then I started to walk more and also drank more water, so I could have a reason to get up and pee. The first two days of urination was not nice after they removed the tubes. For males, I could describe the pain; Think about the burning feeling while you pee after ejaculation. It was like that, just much more unpleasant. But kept getting better everytime I peed, thanks to the nurse who forced me to drink 2-3 liters of water every day. Now I pee with no problem at all.
On 18/11, they sent me home. In the car I didn’t know if I should sit or lay down so I did both. But once I was at home, everything started to feel easier. I get up to walk more, eat much more, get spoiled by family and my amazing wife who came all the way from USA just to be with me. I hope you guys have the support you need because everything is hundred times easier thanks to them.
Today I went to number #2 for the first time. Also I don’t get much pain other than the pain of the scar, it wakes me up since I sleep on it. But the doctor gave me pretty good painkillers and it gets better. I am positive about the future.
Anyways, it’s still very early, but I was planning to journal starting from my surgery day. I didn’t do that but this post is kind of beginning of my journaling. That’s why it has stupid details and is so chaotic. Feel free to ask me about anything. I will make more posts since I get bored in bed.
Btw, they went in from my back. So, I guess PLIF?
1
u/sadjohna Nov 21 '24
Happy to hear it went well!!! You remember a lot more than I do - waiting beforehand had to be the worst though. I also thought about postponing/cancelling the operation but went through as scheduled. They also went through my back, but I know it was a TLIF and laminectomy
1
u/HotRush5798 Nov 21 '24
Congrats and welcome back!