Loose Screws

[Hooch]

That sucks, I'm glad it's gone, terrifying bloody thing. Just the last thing you need after everything else hey. Hope u are getting on ok.

[jsewell]

Thanks Hooch except for the unknown about another surgery to fix the screws, i'm not doing too bad. The sept osteotomy and kyphosis correction of my thoracic spine and some lumbar hurt much more than this surgery. now that i am walking around my lower back pain has returned and with it some bad right hip pain. I have a right hip replacement with a recalled part . I am hoping the pain is related to the lower back though.
Past my bedtime
judy

[mmglobal]

Psychotic reactions to surgery? My surgery at the AlphaKlinik was Sept 2002. In Oct. 2003, I went back to the AK and had been invited into the OR to observe surgery. I kept hearing some tittering among the staff and I seem to be the subject, so I asked, "what's funny?"

"They call you the alligator!"

"Why?"

Apparently, I had a psychotic reaction to the anesthesia and awoke in the recovery room, sitting up and swinging. I slugged an OR nurse putting her on the floor. The had kind of a TV episode moment as everyone was scrambling to hold me down and sedate me. They halted surgery for over an hour while everyone's adrenaline subsided.

I had some comparatively minor, but still quite unpleasant for the staff; episodes in the next few days in the hospital. For the next couple of weeks, I had horrible dreams. I could not believe I had those thoughts in my head. Waking up was kind of a 1/2 dream, 1/2 waking fog kind of torture. "Please, let me wake up from this dream."

So we have something in common. Let's get a camera crew and get together to do some anesthesia... could generate some great reality TV!

You are not alone.

The Alligator

[mmglobal]

By the way, I'm typing this message from Dr. Zeegers' house in Maastricht, Netherlands. Through the years, I was able to spend a great deal of time in the OR and laugh about it with the staff. We are still great friends. I'm sorry that the party had to be cancelled, becuase many of them would have been there.

[jsewell]

Mark i can't imagine what they called me was anything nice. I was totally gone for days in the hospital . Spent 12 days , most for the phychosis. I have seen nurses notes from a different surgery stating i thought i was in a submarine. This last time they asked me every day (several times) where i was and what the date was. Ususally it is written on a board, but sneaky nurse assistant did not do that. I was back in 1930's and asked my doc if that was close enough to get me out.
I first thought there were wild animals in my room. A mountain lion under my walker . There was a guy with a gun but he would not shoot until i told him the proper word. Then a snake came out of the end table. I guess just writing about it is reminding me that this happened in a previous surgery as well. The mind is a very powerful thing. Wish i could use it to stop pain.

Alligator you must have missed my question a page back. About the screws. In your opinion, do they definately have to come out? Just want to have all i need to talk to my surgeon next week.
judy

[mmglobal]

My layperson's opinion is worth little. Check your PM's

Mark

[jsewell]

Bad me i forgot to follow up here. I saw my doc and he took an xray, my screws have not moved at all so he is leaving them there for now. They are small screws with not much purchase. I am already fused from C4-7 anteriorly and the posterior fusion starts at C8 T1 so it is pretty far away he put it in as extra insurance and does not think it matters too much.

WE looked at the xray of my lower thoracic fracture and discussed that for awhile. so next week i am having injections to see if he can help with the pain there and see if my hip pain is referred from my spine . Sure hope so. And life goes on.
I think i typed this somewhere else, but maybe on face book. I don't want to be repeating my self here.