Tummy troubles but otherwise on the mend...

So here I am 5-1/2 weeks post-op from surgery #2.  All in all, i'm feeling ok - some days are definitely better than others but I can see improvements every day.  This morning, my Mom and I walked to the corner (about 5 houses down) and back...albeit slowly, but we did it.  My biggest problem since coming home has been the constant nausea and stomach upset - 24/7 - finally, at the urging of my visiting nurse and home PT, I went to see my surgeon yesterday because the tummy troubles, low blood pressure and overwhelming fatigue were just really getting the best of me.  He said all looked good from a surgical standpoint but that what I have is most likely "stress gastritis" - an inflammation of the stomach lining.  It's been really hard to function with feeling so nauseous all the time and as a result, I've lost about 7-lbs over the past 10-12 days and there are days when i can't even lift my head off the pillow or sit on the edge of the bed due to the nausea.  I've started on the usual tummy remedies: antacids, Pepto, Tums, gingerale, soda crackers and just bland soft foods to keep everything "quiet" in there. Today is the first day in a long time where I actually felt well enough to walk outside, even if it was only 5 houses down and back!  The doctor said it's all normal (how i'm feeling) and then he reminded me and my Mom how much work he had to do on me and what an ordeal my body went thru and now that the surgeries are over, my body is reacting to the stress of it all.  5 weeks later??  Who knew?!?!  I was expecting to be doing alot more than I'm currently and with alot more energy - I was hoping I'd be up and around a lot more but I'm not and so the surgeon reminded me that this is a long recovery (6-12mo) and that I need to be patient with myself and let my body heal and rest.  Easier said than done. But i'm working on it.

The kids are doing fairly well through all of this.  No sugar-coating anything, it's been hard on all of us for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. We've kept their schedules the same as there is some comfort in knowing there's still a routine even in the midst of stress. Nana and PopPop basically closed up shop in Savannah and moved in with us to help out: everything from errands, food shopping, taxi for me and the kids, meal maker, etc. My husband has taken time off intermittently thoughout all of this as well - days to visit me in the hospital and at rehab, days to take me to doctor appointments and other times, days to just stay home and help out with the kids. What a blessing they've been. 

All in all things are going well - - my family and I are just blessed and grateful for the ovewhelming kindness and generosity of so many family, friends and even some strangers through all of this.  If for some reason i have neglected to thank you all yet, please let me do so now...THANK YOU - ALL OF YOU - for your constant prayers, words of encouragement, visits, cards, emails, phone calls, meals - thank you for all of it from the bottom of my heart. 

The Nuts & Bolts of it all....

I was reminded very clearly this afternoon just how much surgery I had done on my back last month when i stooped down at the toilet while in the bathroom with my 2-1/2 yr old daughter, who is not exactly a fan of the whole potty training thing, and then attempted to get back up!  Although not on my back (thank GOD!) it was about as difficult to get back up as it would be for a turtle to right itself while on its' back.  Kate and I both have some work to do! 

I opened the mail and there they were - my long awaited, much anticipated xrays and CT scans from when i was in the hospital.  No one but me would ever be this excited to see what they look like - it's hard to describe.  I just couldn't wait to see what was (and continues to be) causing me so much discomfort and pain - it's not the same kind of pain like before surgery though; now it's more like a healing, surgical pain...and hopefully it will subside substantially in the coming weeks and months like it continues to do every day (albeit very slowly according to me!).  But then when I opened the disc and saw what was inside of me, my pain felt somewhat justified - like it was ok to allow myself to rest when i'm in pain and not feel bad or guilty about it - and not push myself.  I need to be patient.

So, here are several pictures (xray & CT) of my 'new and improved' spine post-op the 1/31/12 surgery.  Pretty gosh darn amazing to see screws in there the lenght of my index finger!

BEFORE PHOTOS:

"Flatback Deformity" (X-ray) with Harrington rods/hooks and no lumbar sway/curve of the lower back.

The dreaded Harrington hook and rod - - This is an acutal 7" piece of rod that was taken from my body using bolt cutters; the actual original rods were 13" long.  As crazy as it sounded, I wanted a piece of that rod for no other reason other than I wanted to see what was causing me so much pain.  The hook pictured was the hook sticking out of my upper back for the past 5 years...AMEN they're all finally OUT of my body now.  Good riddance!

AFTER PHOTOS:

ABOVE: (CT scan - lateral view)

All of my previous Harrington hardware was removed and replaced with pedicle screws and smaller titanium rods with fusion from L1-S1 with pelvic fixation.  And notice the beautiful lumbar sway/curve in my lower back now when compared to the "flatback" above!

ABOVE: (CT scan - frontal view)  

Pedicle screws and rods extending from L1-S1 and laterally into each side of the pelvis.