How did/do you deal with the stress?

[jessmith07]

I had to give myself shots from the day I left from the hospital until the day I left from Paris. They were blood thinner shots to prevent blood clots, and I had to continue them until the latter of a) staying up and active for at least 4 hours per day, or b) until I made the trans-Atlantic flight home. I didn't think I'd be able to give them to myself, and for the first couple of days, Hubby gave them to me...but once he told me that he REALLY didn't like giving them, I sucked it up and gave them to myself. It really wasn't so bad...the needle is really small; I didn't even feel it going in.

As for the stress, up until I finally got to Germany, I was a mess! I had to increase my daily anxiety med dose, and deal as best as I could. I don't think I would have made it without my wonderful husband, and the TONS of support that I got (and still get) from my friends on this site. Now, I'm fine; I went back down to my regular dose of anxiety med, and I haven't had to take Xanax for the accute attacks since before the surgery.

As for the surgery itself, I had it on a Tuesday afternoon. I pretty much slept until Thursday morning, then I woke up, got up, put on my brace and took off. Went for maybe 5-6 small walks that day. Friday, started using the stairs instead of the elevator and made arrangements to leave the hospital 2 days early. Saturday, went for a one mile walk around the hospital. Sunday, checked out of the hospital, and flew to Paris to be with Hubby (who was working). Been going ever since, and have to "force" myself to slow down. Spent a wonderful week in Paris and was even able to get out and see some sites and do some shopping. The only pain I have now, 2 weeks post-op, is muscle pain in my legs and hips (because I'm almost 2 inches taller, and everything is stretched) and my abdomen is a little tender from the incision. ZERO back pain...well, not the same back pain...my muscles will get a little achey if I do too much...but the pre-op pain is completely gone. So far, so GREAT!!!!

Making the decision to have the surgery was only part of the battle...then fighting the "crazies" that get you when things are too quiet, or when you can't sleep in the middle of the night. I have to admit, that the recovery is MUCH easier than the months leading up to the surgery.

Hang in there, and please tell us more about you.

Jess

[Kraze Kat]

Originally Posted by jessmith07

I had to give myself shots from the day I left from the hospital until the day I left from Paris. They were blood thinner shots to prevent blood clots, and I had to continue them until the latter of a) staying up and active for at least 4 hours per day, or b) until I made the trans-Atlantic flight home. I didn't think I'd be able to give them to myself, and for the first couple of days, Hubby gave them to me...but once he told me that he REALLY didn't like giving them, I sucked it up and gave them to myself. It really wasn't so bad...the needle is really small; I didn't even feel it going in.

As for the stress, up until I finally got to Germany, I was a mess! I had to increase my daily anxiety med dose, and deal as best as I could. I don't think I would have made it without my wonderful husband, and the TONS of support that I got (and still get) from my friends on this site. Now, I'm fine; I went back down to my regular dose of anxiety med, and I haven't had to take Xanax for the accute attacks since before the surgery.

As for the surgery itself, I had it on a Tuesday afternoon. I pretty much slept until Thursday morning, then I woke up, got up, put on my brace and took off. Went for maybe 5-6 small walks that day. Friday, started using the stairs instead of the elevator and made arrangements to leave the hospital 2 days early. Saturday, went for a one mile walk around the hospital. Sunday, checked out of the hospital, and flew to Paris to be with Hubby (who was working). Been going ever since, and have to "force" myself to slow down. Spent a wonderful week in Paris and was even able to get out and see some sites and do some shopping. The only pain I have now, 2 weeks post-op, is muscle pain in my legs and hips (because I'm almost 2 inches taller, and everything is stretched) and my abdomen is a little tender from the incision. ZERO back pain...well, not the same back pain...my muscles will get a little achey if I do too much...but the pre-op pain is completely gone. So far, so GREAT!!!!

Making the decision to have the surgery was only part of the battle...then fighting the "crazies" that get you when things are too quiet, or when you can't sleep in the middle of the night. I have to admit, that the recovery is MUCH easier than the months leading up to the surgery.

Hang in there, and please tell us more about you.

Jess

Thanks, that was helpful. (I still hate the needle, though) I still have bruises on my leg where I received them the first time I was hospitalized. I am truly glad that you enjoyed Paris. (I don't know how you could even look at a plane) I drove my friend home and he was about to die after 2 hrs in my comfy car.
As far as the stress, I am already in Germany, so that may help a little (though everything in the states is falling apart). Just last week, my car was stolen from my sister and totaled. And yesterday I was told someone kicked in the door in an attempt to burglarize my home that is currently being rennovated. I am trying to settle all of that while preparing. Not to mention getting odd comments at work (I am a chauffeur) and being critiqued and yelled at anytime I have to go take care of something (though when I am not driving I am sitting around trying to stay awake).

Which brings me to my next question: How difficult is driving?
I currently struggle to even walk (which is very unprofessional) to where my passenger today ordered me to remain in the vehicle rather than open the door for him because he said watching me made him cringe. Loading and unloading his luggage was definately out of the question. Though I will have a recovery period, eventually I will have to return to driving

[jessmith07]

I just got home from Europe Monday, and went driving around, playing Mom's Taxi Service, today. It was fine...I have a big suburban, so it rides really well and has plenty of leg room...the only thing I find painful when driving are speed bumps...I haven't gone out in our little 2-seater convertible yet... but my 15 year-old wants us to take it out, because she thinks we look so "Hot" in it! Lord, help me!

[dshobbies]

K K,

I never heard of giving yourself shots until you, which Jess confirmed. BTW, you shouldn't judge how quickly you will or will not heal by anyone else. We are all very different. This isn't an easy surgery and the healing rates are so varied I don't think anything is a given. Jess is on the very quick end of the spectrum, I fell toward the other end. Three months is a good estimate.

As for driving, sitting may be difficult or not. Again, healing is individual.

You might also consider a raised toilet seat for a couple of months. I was told to use one after all my back surgeries.

You might consider looking on the internet. Buying anything and having it delivered is pretty easy.

Good luck to you, Dale

[jessmith07]

Dale is right...everyone is different, so let me share a little about Jess. I pray that I don't offend anyone or step on anyone's toes, because I would NEVER do that intentionally...ESPECIALLY not here where I've come to think of the members as my second family. My only intention is to share my personality type in the hopes that others may see something similar and relate.

I am a fighter. I thrive on crisis and remain calm on the outside and breakdown when nobody is looking, which many on this site have seen me do in the middle of the night. I DECIDED long before the surgery that I was going to be fine after the surgery. The time period leading UP TO the surgery was stressing me beyond belief, but I knew, and even kept telling Hubby, that once the waiting was over and I was in Germany, I'd be fine, and I was. I had to force Hubby to leave me less than 24 hours after my surgery to return to his office in Paris. I KNEW that HAVING to take care of myself would force me to get up, get moving, and get back to him ASAP. I did prepare for the worst (by bringing plenty of meds, books and clothes), but in my heart, I had decided that I WOULD BE FINE. When I woke up Thursday morning, in pain and on my own, I forced myself out of bed, thinking that there was nobody else to turn to to take care of me (even though Hubby was a phone call & short plane ride away). I won't lie...it hurt, I was scared that my insides would fall out or that I would fall and screw everything up...but I DID it...and I kept pushing myself and keep pushing myself to this day, though I do listen to my body when it tells me I need a day of rest. I guess what I'm trying to say is, for ME, keeping a positive mind set worked for me. Like I said before, the months leading up to the surgery were MUCH worse than the recovery that I've experienced thus far (thus far, being the operative words, as I'm fully aware that there may be good days followed by bad weeks).

Anyway, I was on my own for the most part after the surgery, although knowing I had the love and unyeilding support of Hubby was (and is) priceless, I'm trying to tell you that it can be done. I don't know you or your exact circumstances, but try to focus on "the other side" and how you will manage when you get there. I see you seem to be a very organized and detail oriented person (as am I) and are already putting your "ducks in a row". Stay after it. Start positive thoughts and begin the healing process now, even BEFORE your surgery. Sounds strange, but that's what I did...for me, there was alternative.

I hope this helps. If you go back and look at my pre-op posts vs. my post-op posts, you probably won't believe that I'm the same person. But here I am, 2.5 weeks post-op and doing better and better each day...certainly unbelieveably better than I was 3 weeks ago! I knew that when I woke up the Thursday after my surgery.

If you find the time, please start a thread and tell us more about you and your situation.

Sending you positive thoughts,
Jess

[Katie]

Wow, Jess, you are a very tough broad Many kudos for handling it so well by yourself. I know I could if I had to, but much prefer having my wonderful husband close by. He is my rock.

Having said that, I have gone through an awful lot on my own, and know that most people ARE strong enough. That is, most can get through with the help of those around us....the nurses, doctors, even strangers step up to the plate when needed, I find.

No one is completely alone in this world, as lonely as it seems sometimes. I have spent a lot of time crumpled up in a soggy mess, thinking I was alone and not able to cope. I was always wrong. Sometimes needed some meds from my doctor to cope...but there's no shame in that.

Thanks to all of you for explaining the shots that you give to yourself. It makes total sense, just never experienced it before in that circumstance (the heparin shots for thinning the blood). If you can get a small enough gauge of needle, it will hurt even less Sometimes it is what you are injecting, not the needle itself, that stings the most though. Would pinching the skin where you are injecting help? I give a lot of needles to my horses, and inject behind where I lift the skin, and they don't seem to object so much. I don't know if that description makes much sense though

I've rambled on enough for now...good luck with everything.