Sometimes there are Detours
Well, It's been two weeks since my spinal surgery. I vaguely remember the 1st week seeing that I was heavily sedated with some very good drugs and a morphine pump that I never let go of ( I actually pinned it to my gown). Apparently everything went well and they had me mobile pretty soon after which I was very surprised. I thought I'd be laid out for a few days before doing any moving around. I was in ICU for a couple days, then moved to NeuroTele for 2 days then another "wing" same floor for 2 additional days. Each room/floor requiring less and less supervision. I was waiting on my insurance to approve Rehab.
Dr. Jude and Dr. Couch agreed it be best that I be released to a Rehabilitation Facility to 1) Allow my body to heal properly and under supervision & 2) To build up my overall balance and upper body strength. Their guest Imation was 4weeks of healing and a couple weeks of rehabilitation. I was finally approved and transferred from Main Methodist to HealthSouth Riosa a few blocks down the street.
It's been almost a week here at HealthSouth Riosa and I feel I'm doing well. I still can not sleep through the night because of the staples in my back so I sleep in an upright position so as not to put to much pressure on the incision. I soooo miss sleeping on my sides but I'm so afraid that I'm going to stretch, rip or tear the incision site with me trying to adjust my body to a comfortable position.
Each day I'm improving and I'm finding the little accomplishments exciting. I wasn't able to lift my arms above my shoulders which I'm doing now. I wasn't able to bath without assistance and I can now (with a shower chair). Walking short distance without a walker is a piece of cake. Washing my own hair is slow and steady but I'm doing it on my own. Numerous other things I can mention but I'll stop there. I know that that doesn't seem like a lot to many of you but to me its improvements that I'm so proud of because its not easy after having major spinal surgery where 3 of your vertebrae where practically disintegrated by a cancerous mass and 6 other vertebrae were reinforced with pins and screws. That's a total of 9 vertebrae, three of which had to be rebuilt. My scar is no joke at lease 10 inches long. I have physical therapy and occupational therapy 4 times a day and I love that I'm being challenged to do better each day as seems fit by the therapist.
Once I am discharged then I will be able to take on the battle with the cancer that festers within my body. I can not do anything about it till my spine is healed enough to take the radiation and the chemotherapy. I want to make sure and do everything that is suggested to me for my own well-being. Believe me, If it were up to me I would have already started on the radiation and chemotherapy but things have a natural order that need to be followed for the best results and that's what I'm doing with the suggestions of numerous oncologist, surgeons, physicians and specialist that are the best at what they do. I leave it in Gods hands and walk this journey with him at my side.
#TeamSweetJean Cancer Treatment Fund
Dr. Jude and Dr. Couch agreed it be best that I be released to a Rehabilitation Facility to 1) Allow my body to heal properly and under supervision & 2) To build up my overall balance and upper body strength. Their guest Imation was 4weeks of healing and a couple weeks of rehabilitation. I was finally approved and transferred from Main Methodist to HealthSouth Riosa a few blocks down the street.
**Everyone at Main Methodist was so sweet and kind to me.
Sidney aka Alabama in room 880 was a lil ray of sunshine with an awesome
personality. Shannon/Lauren and the others in ICU are Great. Lou (Lourdes) said
she would keep me in her prayers. Lets not forget that she would bring me
pudding as a late snack, as did Katie the RN, John would sometimes sit and talk
with me and try and console me when the tears came. Crystal the PCA was so
sweet in trying to accommodate everyone she could. David & Alexis, Juan & Nelda
are sweethearts. Amy was a blessing to me. She helped me shower, she washed
my incision she washed my hair AND she combed my hair. Thank you to my Registered
case manager Margaret for the "good news" about being approved for REHAB.
It's been almost a week here at HealthSouth Riosa and I feel I'm doing well. I still can not sleep through the night because of the staples in my back so I sleep in an upright position so as not to put to much pressure on the incision. I soooo miss sleeping on my sides but I'm so afraid that I'm going to stretch, rip or tear the incision site with me trying to adjust my body to a comfortable position.
Each day I'm improving and I'm finding the little accomplishments exciting. I wasn't able to lift my arms above my shoulders which I'm doing now. I wasn't able to bath without assistance and I can now (with a shower chair). Walking short distance without a walker is a piece of cake. Washing my own hair is slow and steady but I'm doing it on my own. Numerous other things I can mention but I'll stop there. I know that that doesn't seem like a lot to many of you but to me its improvements that I'm so proud of because its not easy after having major spinal surgery where 3 of your vertebrae where practically disintegrated by a cancerous mass and 6 other vertebrae were reinforced with pins and screws. That's a total of 9 vertebrae, three of which had to be rebuilt. My scar is no joke at lease 10 inches long. I have physical therapy and occupational therapy 4 times a day and I love that I'm being challenged to do better each day as seems fit by the therapist.
Once I am discharged then I will be able to take on the battle with the cancer that festers within my body. I can not do anything about it till my spine is healed enough to take the radiation and the chemotherapy. I want to make sure and do everything that is suggested to me for my own well-being. Believe me, If it were up to me I would have already started on the radiation and chemotherapy but things have a natural order that need to be followed for the best results and that's what I'm doing with the suggestions of numerous oncologist, surgeons, physicians and specialist that are the best at what they do. I leave it in Gods hands and walk this journey with him at my side.
#TeamSweetJean Cancer Treatment Fund
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