Phesina updates - Home!!!

[Karen]

Talking to her on the phone now, she came through everything well, and she'll have the post-op discussion with the surgeon tomorrow. She said something about fusing L1 and L2 and then they did a Laminectomy?? for the rest - she is on heavy painkillers right now. She wanted me to assure you it all went very well, and the kitties are doing well, and she will do whatever she has to to get everyone back together when she can! She'll be in rehab for she does not know how long, but after that hopefully will feel better than she has in a long time!

[Grace]

Thanks for the update, Karen.

Having problems fairly often with this site. I try to post something, or go to a page and get something like this ---




Error 520 Ray ID: 16a9af4f5f110436
Web server is returning an unknown error

[Karen]

Thanks for the update, Karen.

Having problems fairly often with this site. I try to post something, or go to a page and get something like this --

Error 520 Ray ID: 16a9af4f5f110436
Web server is returning an unknown error

Yes, see this thread: Funky Error

[Catty1]

I am glad to hear that all went well! I wish her speedy healing!

I just had to look up Laminectomy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminectomy It's the removal of a part of the vertebra - called the lamina! - that creates a bit more space around the nerve to give it a place and time to heal. It's used for stenosis a lot.

Pretty minor compared to fusion...get well soon, Pat!

[Felicia's Mom]

Glad everything went well.
I've been getting that error sign a lot too.

[Karen]

We received an update from Phesina's sister this morning!

Her spinal surgery appeared to go very well, and the surgeon said she should do fine. She’ll be at University of Michigan Hospital for 3-4 days, and then at a rehab facility (yet to be named) for several more days, until she’s well enough to go home. We’ll keep you posted as to how things go.

[Catty1]

Wonderful news! I hope she can go home soon. Will any home care be covered by her insurance? Just til she can cook and vacuum again, etc.

[Randi]

I'm so glad to hear the surgery went well.

Pat, please take it easy, get the rest you need and do what the doctors say!

Is it possible to send a card? Can I use the normal address?

Take care Pat and heal up! Thinking of you and sending positive vibes.

[Karen]

I'm so glad to hear the surgery went well.

Pat, please take it easy, get the rest you need and do what the doctors say!

Is it possible to send a card? Can I use the normal address?

Take care Pat and heal up! Thinking of you and sending positive vibes.

I will ask her sister about cards, and let you know!

[slick]

I will ask her sister about cards, and let you know!

Some hospitals allow email to patients. I'll check in to that.

[pomtzu]

Just til she can cook and vacuum again, etc.

Having been down this same road, I'll tell you that she can cook (just as long as she's not trying to do a 20 lb turkey ), but the vacuuming is out for a while!!!! No BLT - bending/lifting/twisting.

[kaycountrygal]

9.16.14 I'm so glad to read that your back surgery went well. Good Luck with your rehab. Take care of yourself... Kay in NC

[phesina]

Having been down this same road, I'll tell you that she can cook (just as long as she's not trying to do a 20 lb turkey ), but the vacuuming is out for a while!!!! No BLT - bending/lifting/twisting.

Right, no BLT...

Pom, did you do any rehab at all, or you went straight home, didn't you, since you had family to go home to. Did you have PT and OT and stuff to do?

Did you have any extended time incision draining?

Pat

[pomtzu]

Right, no BLT...

Pom, did you do any rehab at all, or you went straight home, didn't you, since you had family to go home to. Did you have PT and OT and stuff to do?

Did you have any extended time incision draining?

Pat

Hi Pat...

I was sorry to read that things didn't go quite as smoothly for you as they did for me -- but every patient has different outcomes on the same procedure. Gretchen sailed right thru her hip replacement, while my BIL had life threatening complications that could have cost him his leg - or even his life. After a 2nd surgery 2 or 3 weeks after the first, to go in and clean everything out, he is home and on the road to recovery. It was touch and go for a while tho.

I had a lot more draining on the 2nd procedure than I did the first time, but they pulled the drain anyway after 3 days. Didn't seem to have any ill effects, but then a month after the surgery, I had that torn fascia and the spinal fluid leak that caused my back all along the incision, to look like Spongebob. With the lumbar compression brace, it squished most of it back into my system and was just absorbed naturally. I got some nerve irritation from the brace and can't wear it any longer, so I look like I have a bicycle tire around my waist from the fluid that didn't dissipate and just changed location but it's nothing drastic and may go away on it's own eventually. Certainly doesn't need to be manually drained.

I didn't do rehab - went straight home after 3 days in the hospital. Of course I had all the "normal" restrictions,, and doc encouraged me to walk-walk-walk. No PT or OT thank goodness, since I had that for months and after being in rehab for 2 weeks, after the cervical spine surgery in 2006 - The Year From Hell.

So I'm pretty much back to normal, and don't have to see my surgeon again till November. I think I may ask him for a PT order tho, since the strength hasn't come back in my legs, to the point I would like it to be. He left the option of PT up to me - if I wanted it or felt I needed it- and of course I didn't at the time. Looks like I need to change my mind on that one.

Thinking of you,, and hoping you get to go home very soon. Just take it slow and don't overdo when you get there.. Keep me posted on your progress.

{{{Hugs}}} my friend - and Wolfy sends doggie kisses too.

Oh - when you get a minute - go to Cat General and check out my thread of "Squirrel Tails". Had to introduce the kids to PT - finally.

[Karen]

I heard from Phesina's sister - good news!

Pat is being discharged today from University Hospital to go to the rehabilitation center:

Regency at Bluffs Park
355 Huron View Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI
734-887-8700

(This facility earned a 5-star rating from US News & Business Report for Best Nursing Homes 2014.)

She’ll be there for several days, and then go home. She’s in good spirits and seems to be healing very well.

She really appreciates your calls and cards, as do I. Thank you, everyone.

One more step on the road to recovery!