Friday morning came and the nurses came to sort my bed out so I asked them if I was allowed to go in the shower, I had had a good night and was feeling great, the nurse said yes it's fine we will get some waterproof dressings and then you can go in. The nurse helped me but it was lovely just being back to me doing things and I thought to myself I wonder if I would be allowed home, although didn't say anything. After the shower I got my clothes on rather than my pjamas and sat in my wheelchair to have breakfast. Mum then called me to see how I was doing and said I had just been in the shower and managed fine.
Once everything in my room had beensorted I got out of my chair and went for a walk into the ward and to speak to the Sister on duty to see what the likelyhood was that I would be allowed home, she didn't see why not but it would be up to the man himself, and that he would be coming to see me at some point in the day. I knew with it being friday, he would have clinic and therefore could be around lunchtime.
I decided to go back to my room and get in my chair so that I could get around easier and go to the shops. The Dr who had been looking after me came to see me briefly to make sure everything was fine and it was. I then spend the rest of the time whizzing around in my chair.
It is sod's law that when you are waiting too see someone they never come, but the minute you go out they arrive. This is exactly what happened I had gone off the ward for a few minutes and Mr Papastefanou had been too see me and I missed him, or so I thought because as I was heading back he was coming towards me so we stopped and had a long discussion about how I was and how things would be over next few months etc. He asked if I had any questions so I asked would I be allowed to go home now ? if your not happy then I would stay over the weekend etc, but no he was as happy as I was, the x-ray looked good, and I had done everything he had asked me to do, so off you go with my blessing.
It was really an emotional moment for both of us, because he was leaving the country and going home to greece to work, but we both left on a very happy moment, and Mr Papastefanou, if you are reading this I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me, and I will keep my fighting spirit I promise!!!!!!!!
Safe Journey
Showing posts with label artificial disc replacement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artificial disc replacement. Show all posts
16 September 2009
13 September 2009
Getting up the following day
Well after a bit of a unsettled night all seemed ok I was able to get washed and ready, the Mr Papastefanou came to see me as promised to see how I was doing and also to arrange for me to go and have an x-ray during the day. I said that I was feeling good and happy to get up with the Physio's when they came around. Luckily I didn't have to wait long after before they came. I explained to the Physio that I had my own way of getting out of bed, and that I would try it and if I struggled then I would use there way, and she was happy with that, so I rolled into action being careful not to pull my stomach too much because it was sore. I then said that I hadnt walked too far since October last year, but wanted to see how far we got. As soon as I stood up it was a odd feeling, although I knew that I was going to be ok walking some. Off we went into the ward and I manged slowly to get to the nurses station, and the Physio said well your safe for home as far as im concerned. I thought she was joking but it seemed not.
Anyway her assitant brought my chair and it was nice to sit down, albeit a little painful, but as soon as I got settled I was free and back in my wheels, so I could move around the ward and go off the ward with permission if I wanted too, but I didnt stray too far, because I knew it was coffee time soon and I was waiting for x-ray. Coffee came and I enjoyed it because the lady gave me some biscuits and on talking to her, we realised that she was the tea lady on ward 44 at Middlesbrougfh General when I got my back done 6 years ago, and she remembered me.
After lunch I saw the porter and I knew I was going for my x-ray, he asked me if I would prefer to get on the trolley here or down in the department. I said here, so the nurse who had been looking after me came and helped me onto the trolley and we left my chair outside the room for when I came back. I remember as I was getting on to the trolley my head went back and the nurse said you do everything with that head, because she knew that I kind of move myself with my head sometimes, but she also knew that if I didnt control it back and it fell back it can cause extensor spasms so she quickly supported me and helped me move better onto the trolley. The reason she knew about the spasms was because she also looked after me during first back surgery. We were off it sort of felt good as not left the ward since Tuesday and although it had only been 2 days I had forgot what my surroundings were like.
The x-ray didn't take long although I was quite tired by this point and I couldn't wait to get back to the ward so that I could go to bed. When we got back to the ward the nurse on duty could see that I was tired and uncomfortable, and gave me the choice of my wheelchair or going to bed, "bed please I have had enough for today", so they got a pat-slide and moved me into my bed and it was heaven, just to lay down, and wait for family to visit
Anyway her assitant brought my chair and it was nice to sit down, albeit a little painful, but as soon as I got settled I was free and back in my wheels, so I could move around the ward and go off the ward with permission if I wanted too, but I didnt stray too far, because I knew it was coffee time soon and I was waiting for x-ray. Coffee came and I enjoyed it because the lady gave me some biscuits and on talking to her, we realised that she was the tea lady on ward 44 at Middlesbrougfh General when I got my back done 6 years ago, and she remembered me.
After lunch I saw the porter and I knew I was going for my x-ray, he asked me if I would prefer to get on the trolley here or down in the department. I said here, so the nurse who had been looking after me came and helped me onto the trolley and we left my chair outside the room for when I came back. I remember as I was getting on to the trolley my head went back and the nurse said you do everything with that head, because she knew that I kind of move myself with my head sometimes, but she also knew that if I didnt control it back and it fell back it can cause extensor spasms so she quickly supported me and helped me move better onto the trolley. The reason she knew about the spasms was because she also looked after me during first back surgery. We were off it sort of felt good as not left the ward since Tuesday and although it had only been 2 days I had forgot what my surroundings were like.
The x-ray didn't take long although I was quite tired by this point and I couldn't wait to get back to the ward so that I could go to bed. When we got back to the ward the nurse on duty could see that I was tired and uncomfortable, and gave me the choice of my wheelchair or going to bed, "bed please I have had enough for today", so they got a pat-slide and moved me into my bed and it was heaven, just to lay down, and wait for family to visit
12 September 2009
The morning of the surgery
The following morning I was up early and into the shower and then ready and waiting with my very fetching gown and green socks on for Mr Papastefanou so that we could have final discussions and to sign the consent form. The porter was waiting in the wings and I remember asking after the operation, when would I be able to get out of bed. The answer was later this afternoon if I so wished, I thought you cant be serious, but it was as serious as it got. I thought well if thats the case im ready if you are.
We were off and as I was nearing the holding room before being taken to the anesthetic room, the nerves started to niggle a bit, I dont know why because I am used to it after all the operations I have had, but there you go, I suppose you cant win them all. I entered the anesthetic room and after discussions about pain relief on waking I was sent off too sleep
The next thing I remember is waking up on my side in the recovery room, shaking from head to foot with cold, which then set off muscle spasms in my legs, the staff were making me as comfortable and as warm as possible with a heated blanket, to stop the shakes. I remember looking towards the door and my consultant was coming towards me and at that moment I knew that everything was going to be ok as I reached out for his hand, he smiled and stayed for a few minutes, before scrubbing up for the next operation.
After he went I remember laying there a bit longer and the pain was getting worse and I remember saying to the nurses, please can I be turned onto my back as its the only way to reduce the spasms, they said wait while we speak to him in theatre, phew the reply was that I was allowed to be turned and that he would see me in a few hours. the team of staff came and slowly turned me and take the hat device off me replacing them with blankets.
I cant remember the exact time I was back in my room, but I know it was in the afternoon about 3pm I know I had missed lunch, so my thoughts were I have been in there a while. The nurses on the ward all seemed to jump into action and it wasnt long before I was settled and sleeping it off, the nurse spoke to Mum and told her I was back and asleep, so she knew I was back safely.
I think it was about 4 and true to his word he came to see me and to check how I was doing, we talked for a while and I remember him saying if you want to get up later its fine with me, rest now I replied I will stay in bed till the morning and get up with the physiotherapist. He said thats fine with me you go at your own pace and I will check on you in the morning. I then went back to sleep for a bit happy in the knowledge that everything went ok. One thing that I was also pleased about was although I didnt feel that great in recovey I didnt have any morphine, because they know that it makes me so ill and sick for days. As a result I knew that I was going to be up and about soon. When I woke the nurse asked me what I would like to eat, I said im I ok to eat now "yes" ok I will have the pork with mushrooms casserole and roast potatoes with veg and although it was a bit hard with the drips in my hand I quite enjoyed it. After that I felt well enough to ring Mum myself and I knew that once she spoke to me she would be more settled and know that I was ok
We were off and as I was nearing the holding room before being taken to the anesthetic room, the nerves started to niggle a bit, I dont know why because I am used to it after all the operations I have had, but there you go, I suppose you cant win them all. I entered the anesthetic room and after discussions about pain relief on waking I was sent off too sleep
The next thing I remember is waking up on my side in the recovery room, shaking from head to foot with cold, which then set off muscle spasms in my legs, the staff were making me as comfortable and as warm as possible with a heated blanket, to stop the shakes. I remember looking towards the door and my consultant was coming towards me and at that moment I knew that everything was going to be ok as I reached out for his hand, he smiled and stayed for a few minutes, before scrubbing up for the next operation.
After he went I remember laying there a bit longer and the pain was getting worse and I remember saying to the nurses, please can I be turned onto my back as its the only way to reduce the spasms, they said wait while we speak to him in theatre, phew the reply was that I was allowed to be turned and that he would see me in a few hours. the team of staff came and slowly turned me and take the hat device off me replacing them with blankets.
I cant remember the exact time I was back in my room, but I know it was in the afternoon about 3pm I know I had missed lunch, so my thoughts were I have been in there a while. The nurses on the ward all seemed to jump into action and it wasnt long before I was settled and sleeping it off, the nurse spoke to Mum and told her I was back and asleep, so she knew I was back safely.
I think it was about 4 and true to his word he came to see me and to check how I was doing, we talked for a while and I remember him saying if you want to get up later its fine with me, rest now I replied I will stay in bed till the morning and get up with the physiotherapist. He said thats fine with me you go at your own pace and I will check on you in the morning. I then went back to sleep for a bit happy in the knowledge that everything went ok. One thing that I was also pleased about was although I didnt feel that great in recovey I didnt have any morphine, because they know that it makes me so ill and sick for days. As a result I knew that I was going to be up and about soon. When I woke the nurse asked me what I would like to eat, I said im I ok to eat now "yes" ok I will have the pork with mushrooms casserole and roast potatoes with veg and although it was a bit hard with the drips in my hand I quite enjoyed it. After that I felt well enough to ring Mum myself and I knew that once she spoke to me she would be more settled and know that I was ok
Artificial Disc Replaement Surgery
Well its a while since I have given you all an update on how my life is going, and thats because you may remember that I posted a bit ago that I was waiting for more spine surgery, well I have had the surgery and im back home safe, sound and doing well.
I went for my pre assessment and long discussions with my Spine Consultant Mr Papastefanou and we agreed to go ahead with the operation on the 19th August. The day was set and I had 2 weeks to get my head around what was going to be happening.
The 18th came and I made my way to the hospital to get admitted to the ward and complete the medical assesments that you usual go through the day before surgery. I have to admit that I was starting to feel a bit nervous, but not as nervous as I was going to be the next day. All the assesments went well and I have to say I was really impressed with my room, I got a room to myself so that I had plenty of space for my wheelchair and I had ensuite facilites so it felt like a hotel room. I was also impressed with the meals, in all the times I have been in hospitals I am never liked the meals and not really eaten much.
I went for my pre assessment and long discussions with my Spine Consultant Mr Papastefanou and we agreed to go ahead with the operation on the 19th August. The day was set and I had 2 weeks to get my head around what was going to be happening.
The 18th came and I made my way to the hospital to get admitted to the ward and complete the medical assesments that you usual go through the day before surgery. I have to admit that I was starting to feel a bit nervous, but not as nervous as I was going to be the next day. All the assesments went well and I have to say I was really impressed with my room, I got a room to myself so that I had plenty of space for my wheelchair and I had ensuite facilites so it felt like a hotel room. I was also impressed with the meals, in all the times I have been in hospitals I am never liked the meals and not really eaten much.
27 March 2009
MRI finally done
Well yesterday I went to James Cook Hospital for my MRI scan, and for those who don’t know me, let me tell you I hate those machines I get so jumpy because they are so noisy. Therefore to my instant relief when I was told I could have a General Anaesthetic I was happier to have one, and when I say happier I don’t mean I was over the moon believe me, because having an anaesthetic makes me sick for hours if not a couple of days, so you can imagine my apprehension facing me yesterday morning, but I thought well I have to have it done so might as well get on with it.
6.30am came and I got up and sorted waiting for my taxi to pick me up at 7.15 and off we went said bye to mum (it was like the middle of the night for us lol) anyway got to the hospital in good time and I made my way to the day unit ward only to find the door was locked and I couldn’t reach the intercom (why doesn’t that surprise me!!!! In a hospital of all places!!!)
Anyway I managed to find a member of staff who kindly took me to the main x-ray dept, I was booked in and taken through to the small ward to complete all of the paperwork and wait for the anaesthetist, who was very nice and explained everything to me, because I had a couple of questions with regard to the metal in my spine and the magnets in the MRI, my understanding was that when the scan hit the metal part it would bounce off the magnet and distort the image, if not corrupt it all together and to all intensive purposes I was right, but they said that they should be able to get enough of an image to see what’s going on before I have the artificial disc surgery.
I then waited for a couple of hours for my turn and then I was allowed to go down, I was put to sleep really quickly and for the first time in I don’t know how many years I wasn’t sick when I came round, I don’t know what he gave me but whatever it was I will be asking for it when I have my main surgery. As far as I know the scan went well and I was allowed home on the afternoon where I slept it off and tried to eat a little bit, I didn’t think green jelly could taste so nice lol but there you go!!! I now just have to wait to get the results, hope it won’t be too long.
6.30am came and I got up and sorted waiting for my taxi to pick me up at 7.15 and off we went said bye to mum (it was like the middle of the night for us lol) anyway got to the hospital in good time and I made my way to the day unit ward only to find the door was locked and I couldn’t reach the intercom (why doesn’t that surprise me!!!! In a hospital of all places!!!)
Anyway I managed to find a member of staff who kindly took me to the main x-ray dept, I was booked in and taken through to the small ward to complete all of the paperwork and wait for the anaesthetist, who was very nice and explained everything to me, because I had a couple of questions with regard to the metal in my spine and the magnets in the MRI, my understanding was that when the scan hit the metal part it would bounce off the magnet and distort the image, if not corrupt it all together and to all intensive purposes I was right, but they said that they should be able to get enough of an image to see what’s going on before I have the artificial disc surgery.
I then waited for a couple of hours for my turn and then I was allowed to go down, I was put to sleep really quickly and for the first time in I don’t know how many years I wasn’t sick when I came round, I don’t know what he gave me but whatever it was I will be asking for it when I have my main surgery. As far as I know the scan went well and I was allowed home on the afternoon where I slept it off and tried to eat a little bit, I didn’t think green jelly could taste so nice lol but there you go!!! I now just have to wait to get the results, hope it won’t be too long.
13 March 2009
More surgery is needed 6 years on!
Well it is exactly 6 years since I had my surgery for Scoliosis and as you know I am waiting to have further surgery in the form of artificial disc replacement. Anyway following my recent consultation I have now been sent a copy of the x-rays that where taken on the day. Yesterday I also had a call from the hospital about my MRI under anesthetic and I am pleased to say I dont have to wait too long because it is the 26th March so I am getting ever closer to hopefully stopping the pain I have.
22 February 2009
Eureka we found the source of the pain
Well we finally found the source of my leg pain at last, I went through to see Mr Papastefanou on Friday about my back and leg pain and unfortunately I have to have further spine surgery. I virtually spent the whole day at the hospital and by the time I got home I was shattered. Anyway I had to go for a set of new x-rays so that he could see what was going happening, it surprised me somewhat in that considering the constant changes in technology that here we are 6 years on and they were still using the old (or at least what I call old) x-ray method. I had one full length one and a side view; I have to say I was interested to see what my back looked like after 6 years.
When I got back to see him we compared the x-rays with those I had in 2005 and there was some significant deterioration with the one remaining disc that wasn’t part of the original surgery, so much so that I have to have the disc removed and have it replaced by an artificial disc, I was a bit shocked at first but then on the other hand I was relieved that we had found the reason for my pain. I now have to wait for a date to have an MRI under aesthetic as I don’t like MRI’s the noise they make makes me very jumpy so it can be hard to get the scan done, so this time at least I will be asleep and then after that we can discuss the full extent of the damage and plan for the surgery.
What is an Artificial disc replacement
Artificial disc replacement (ADR) is a device or implant used to replace a diseased or damaged intervertebral disc. After removing what’s left of the worn out disc, the ADR is inserted in the space between two lumbar vertebrae. The goal is to replace the diseased or damaged disc while keeping your normal spinal motion. Artificial disc surgery is relatively new in the United States but has been used in Europe for many years.
I will be posting about my new journey as it happens.
When I got back to see him we compared the x-rays with those I had in 2005 and there was some significant deterioration with the one remaining disc that wasn’t part of the original surgery, so much so that I have to have the disc removed and have it replaced by an artificial disc, I was a bit shocked at first but then on the other hand I was relieved that we had found the reason for my pain. I now have to wait for a date to have an MRI under aesthetic as I don’t like MRI’s the noise they make makes me very jumpy so it can be hard to get the scan done, so this time at least I will be asleep and then after that we can discuss the full extent of the damage and plan for the surgery.
What is an Artificial disc replacement
Artificial disc replacement (ADR) is a device or implant used to replace a diseased or damaged intervertebral disc. After removing what’s left of the worn out disc, the ADR is inserted in the space between two lumbar vertebrae. The goal is to replace the diseased or damaged disc while keeping your normal spinal motion. Artificial disc surgery is relatively new in the United States but has been used in Europe for many years.
I will be posting about my new journey as it happens.
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