flchristi's Journal

Well  yesterday was the big day finally! I had the surgery to put the spinal cord stimulator in. I hurt quite a bit today but it is surgical pain not the normal old pain I was feeling. I say was because I dont feel any of the old pain and I am hoping that after the surgical pain goes away I still wont have it\\

On Monday someone from the neurosurgeons office called to say that they wanted to mo ve my surgery date up from Friday to Wednesday. I only got part of the message since something happened to the recorder and I only got parts of it. When I called the office they said that only the pre-op was being moved so although I was confused and still sure of what I heard I said sure and on Wednsday I went for the history and physical at the doctors office and then I was sent acrossed the street to the hospital for pre-op testing. There they told me that my surgery was going to be the nest day(Thursday). Again I was confused but happy that it had been moved up by a couple days. Then they told me that the second part of the surgery would be done on Friday(My original start date). I was so thrilled because now this meant that I will be done with the surgeries before the weekend!!

Well yesterday I finally got the first part of the surgery done. Everyone at the hospital were so nice and very compitant. I felt so relaxed because I knew I was in good hands. I hate to sound negative about our healthcare here in Florida but for the most part I feel it sucks(and I am a nurse). Usually I am spending so much time trying to watch out and make sure someone wasn't doing something right and they might hurt me that I dont get a chance to relax. This time was so different though and I felt very relaxed and appreciative for everything they were all doing for me. It was still kind of strange though because I still couldnt believe it was all happening and soon, if all goes well, I  wont have the pain I have had forever(well since 1998).  The surgery is in 2 parts because they want to make sure that the SCS works for you and then they either go back in and remove it if it doesnt work or if it works they make a pocket under your skin in the abdomen,side,or back. I am praying it continues to work.

I am scheduled to go back to the hospital on Wednesday next week.

I hurt alot  but it is surgical pain. I have a wire coming out of my side that goes up to my spine from the left side so I have 2 openings at least. I havent seen them but I can see the bandages. They are verry  large and the one  on my side needs to be changed because it is getting pretty bloody and I know it wont last until wednesday. But then again I am really afraid to mess with it because it is conected to a wire that goes into my spine so its a bit too scarey for me to mess with.My pain is there but it is mostly surgical pain. The SCS is working really good so my other pain is hardly noticeable.   If you havent noticed I am very tired so I will end this for now so I can get some rest.