It's Tia Anne's turn now!

[Maybebaby56]

I think that my expectations have been a bit high and have gotten to me. Today is filled with fatigue, dizziness and I have almost fallen a couple of times this morning. This silly girl was trying to push herself too hard and I am paying for it. The medicos are pulling some blood and doing a bunch of testing. I just sent my primary care provider home to rest and get over her own problems and for some reason she isn't listening to me very well.....but she loves me and I wouldn't do it any different if our positions were reversed.

The nurse will let me know in a couple of hours if they can discharge me today.

Hey you girls that have gone through this, how long did it take to feel stable and in control? Four days should be enough right? Or is this just the foolish ramblings of a silly old lady?

Tia Anne

Hi Anne,

Four days should be fine, but everyone is different, so I don't feel my advice/experience is very helpful.

I was surprised how little pain there was, but I was in a very welcome morphine haze for the first two days in the hospital.  I would have gone for day three, but I couldn't take the beeping from that damn CO2 alarm you're required to have when you're on the pump.  I had no problem standing or walking.

On the other hand I had no interest in food at all. I can't say whether I had any problems with fatigue, because I didn't do anything. Dr. McGinn restricts her patients to bed rest for most of the first couple of weeks.

As far as getting back to work, that has been a much different issue for me. I had to go back to work after five weeks and I wasn't ready. I am in constant pain internally. I can't sit for any length of time. There are no accommodations for me to dilate at work, either.

Recovering for SRS is a huge deal. It takes months. Everyone has to deal with some issue or another, and life tends to get in the way more often than not.

I wish you all the best, Anne.

With kindness,

Terri

[Anne Blake]

Well today is the fifth day since surgery, rested well last night and have now gotten back to my hotel room. My partner and I agree that I really suck at being a patient and she isn't that happy about having to put up with me. I would agree.

Planning a lot of bed rest with a few small walks around the motel. Small because I am as weak as kitten and also because it is 97 deg F outside. Tomorrow is my first visit at my doctors office, I believe that Dr. Ley will remove some stitches and some packing. Hurray for that, it feels like I have a football wedged down there.

Enough for now, I hear a nap calling my name

Tia Anne

[Anne Blake]

Day six of post op has arrived and the day for some stiches and packing removal. They gave me a mirror to look at the work zone, wow, such an ugly sight! Dr. Ley says it all looks fine and it will be lovely after the swelling, bruising, stitches go away and the scars diminish; in eight to twelve weeks. This has continued to be an area of trust. She did tell me that there was a lot of sensitive nerve tissue in place and I should be able to enjoy the area when healed. Next office visit is Wednesday to hopefully lose the catheter!

Now my task is to develop more patience and wait for reduction of swelling and pain. How long does it take to be able to walk normally again. I wore a fun sundress and wedge sandals to her office today (it is Scottsdale and ninety degrees) and was moving with the grace of an old cowboy tossed off of way too many broncs, leaning heavily on my cane added to the picture. How soon till I regain the smooth straight line strut with heels and own the feeling? Someone please lie to me and say next week!

Tia Anne

[mm]

Tia take it easy you just had major surgery with lots of cutting, moving part around and stitches; you  to take it slow at first don't want to have a set back because you did too much.  Walking will come, you have seen what was done between your legs; you have to give things time to hear.

[Mariah]

Congrats Ann. Yes please do take it easy. Someone who was in while I was didn't and they ended staying longer and having additional surgery. Just passed by the surgical center on the bus back from Meltzer's office. Hugs
Mariah

[Debi]

We now have another milestone of a step in Tia's progress. I just watched her get out of bed without help (mine or her own my rolling to her side and pushing off into a crunched over position). Then she stood up straight and went and took a shower. Now we have her back in bed with pain again but for a moment she was on top of the world. One high point at a time.

[Laurie]

  Baby steps. Glad she has you there with her Deb (it can't be easy for you) ((Hugs)). Keep her in line and don't let her do too much or railroad you.

Hugs,
  Laurie

[Debi]

Laurie, don't you know that the Scots-Irish in me means that I don't know what it means to be railroaded. After all we were the ones who built them. She is taking baby steps but I can see that in the very near future she will be running. It's then that I will need you to remind me that I won't need to keep up.

Deb

[Anne Blake]

Day seven post op and it is a wee turning point. As my loving partner Deb said, I was able to get up and move around a bit without significant pain and feel so good about being me,and then taking on the immense challenge of a shower, I was humbled and laid to bed in consuming pain once again.......but it was a big step in my healing progress.

Last night, or actually early this morning, laying awake in the dark I was having second thoughts about choosing surgery. I had so underestimated the physical demands it would put on my body and I had so overestimated my personal strength; it has turned out to be quite the humbling event. I know, deep in my heart and soul that I could not have denied taking this step and chosen to not embrace me fully, that I needed to get rid of those dangly bits. But I am glad that I did not see how difficult it would be, as, if I had, I might have stumbled and never known the joy of this morning.

I am feeling strong enough to do it alone for a while and am chasing my primary care giver away so that she can explore the fun things that Old Town Scottsdale has to offer; museums, shopping, eating, et al, as long as she saves some of the shopping fun for when I can get out and join her. There are a couple of jewelry shops that I can not pass up.

The rest of the day  has a few short walks planned with plenty of rest in between. Tomorrow is the big day and the hopeful removal of the catheter and freedom.

Tia Anne

[HappyMoni]

Anne,
   I remember the beautiful little town of New Hope in PA. Of course everyone saw it but me, except for the brief ride through in the car. But I had something better, I got a lifelong goal of having mind and body match, so recovery, it ain't so bad. Get Deb to take some pictures for you. Plan a return trip and visit Dena maybe.
   As for showers, I hated them. It was the thing that completely wiped me out and left me shivering, wanting that bed in a bad way. I was wondering if you have the hot flashes yet. I had that pretty bad. I felt like a microwave bag of veggies, steam then freeze then steam again. Oh, fond memories!
   I know you are uncomfortable, but soon the pain will be a memory and your new reality will be there to enjoy for a long time. Now be nice to Deb, we all know how awesome she is.
Love,
Monica

[Dena]

In the shape she's in, it's better if I make the 25 mile drive to visit her as Phoenix has grown enough to have nasty freeway traffic. Besides that, I live in a relatively isolated part of the city and other than fast food places, you have to drive about 10 miles for a decent place to eat. Tia is staying in the middle of the tourist trap and pretty much anything she could desire is only a short distance away.

Now on the other hand, if you like 5 hamburger joints, 3 pizza places, 3 Mexican places, 3 sub shops, 2 chinese places and a bar barque place all in one intersection just over a mile away, I have found heaven for you.

[Laurie]

Ut oh now you have done it Dena,,,3 Mexican places? You're on her list of places to visit now.

Hugs,
   Laurie

[Devlyn]

Day seven post op and it is a wee turning point. As my loving partner Deb said, I was able to get up and move around a bit without significant pain and feel so good about being me,and then taking on the immense challenge of a shower, I was humbled and laid to bed in consuming pain once again.......but it was a big step in my healing progress.

Last night, or actually early this morning, laying awake in the dark I was having second thoughts about choosing surgery. I had so underestimated the physical demands it would put on my body and I had so overestimated my personal strength; it has turned out to be quite the humbling event. I know, deep in my heart and soul that I could not have denied taking this step and chosen to not embrace me fully, that I needed to get rid of those dangly bits. But I am glad that I did not see how difficult it would be, as, if I had, I might have stumbled and never known the joy of this morning.

I am feeling strong enough to do it alone for a while and am chasing my primary care giver away so that she can explore the fun things that Old Town Scottsdale has to offer; museums, shopping, eating, et al, as long as she saves some of the shopping fun for when I can get out and join her. There are a couple of jewelry shops that I can not pass up.

The rest of the day  has a few short walks planned with plenty of rest in between. Tomorrow is the big day and the hopeful removal of the catheter and freedom.

Tia Anne

Big hug! For me, all my satisfaction in living independently for decades came crashing down when I realized that I was going to have to ask for help, that I wasn't going to be able to do this alone. Humbling, indeed. I'm glad you already had your support in place.

Hugs, Devlyn

[Dena]

Ut oh now you have done it Dena,,,3 Mexican places? You're on her list of places to visit now.

Hugs,
   Laurie

I don't think so. Toco Bell, Chipotle and Filiberto's (slightly better than Toco Bell). The really good place is in Tempe, about 6 miles from where she is saying. There were two more but I think they went out of business however they were no big loss.

[Laurie]

Dena, You may yet be safe...

[Anne Blake]

Devlyn,

The old me used to handle being out on my own and being able to handle whatever but I hated what it had done to him. My new problem is that the old me knew how to handle this but the new me has no idea. I believe that being on such new ground offers opportunity for growth but it is indeed scary at times having to learn in real time, humbling is an oft used term lately. I guess that having these brothers and sisters on Susan's is a great safety net.

[Devlyn]

Except Laurie. 

<running away>

[Mariah]

Personal strength loss that I under estimated was really noticeable that first time that I was on my feet in the hospital. I had so many things I wanted to get done and did try to do, but ended up getting dizzy and lightheaded and realized quickly I needed to take it easier as Dena saw when I was in the hospital. The other thing that you will notice is that as much as you are gaining strength your going to need a certain amount of rest too. I might have a descent amount of energy, but then needed to rest to allow my body a chance to catch up due to the fact I was still healing and that takes up a lot of energy. Just take things one step at a time and you will be fine during the healing process. Hugs
Mariah

Day seven post op and it is a wee turning point. As my loving partner Deb said, I was able to get up and move around a bit without significant pain and feel so good about being me,and then taking on the immense challenge of a shower, I was humbled and laid to bed in consuming pain once again.......but it was a big step in my healing progress.

Last night, or actually early this morning, laying awake in the dark I was having second thoughts about choosing surgery. I had so underestimated the physical demands it would put on my body and I had so overestimated my personal strength; it has turned out to be quite the humbling event. I know, deep in my heart and soul that I could not have denied taking this step and chosen to not embrace me fully, that I needed to get rid of those dangly bits. But I am glad that I did not see how difficult it would be, as, if I had, I might have stumbled and never known the joy of this morning.

I am feeling strong enough to do it alone for a while and am chasing my primary care giver away so that she can explore the fun things that Old Town Scottsdale has to offer; museums, shopping, eating, et al, as long as she saves some of the shopping fun for when I can get out and join her. There are a couple of jewelry shops that I can not pass up.

The rest of the day  has a few short walks planned with plenty of rest in between. Tomorrow is the big day and the hopeful removal of the catheter and freedom.

Tia Anne

[Anne Blake]

Day 8 post op and a fine day it is. Yesterday started out great and then the shower took it out of me. The full shower story was that I threw my back out in the shower and I twisted up like a  tortured pretzel. For fullness of truth, the twisted tortured pretzel is still present. Today was my second post op office visit and the day for the catheter to go bye bye. Yes, a bit of tmi; the tube went away (strange but not at all painful feeling), sat around drinking water and coffee, went to the Ladies room and succeeded at using the newly modified hardware, full spray pattern but what the heck, IT WORKED! Walked out with a few copies of a signed and notarized letter saying, "It's a girl". Then went out and had some great jalapeno, chorizo and corn pancakes with eggs, best meal around for me to celebrate being certifiably me!

Yes, the back is still twisted and I am in excruciating pain but my smile has never been wider. Next stop, some more healing, drive home (~900 miles) and begin documentation changes.

Tia Anne

[Jessica Lynne]

Congrat's Tia...it has to be so wonderful to feel whole. I'll keep your continued progress in my thoughts and sling positivity your way