Thanks

I just wanted to thank all of you for the prayers during this last surgery (again!). There were some rough times and we thought the prolapse had re-occurred (and I was so scared) but the lump was not from the bladder but a small rectocele and, hopefully, it can be controlled and I won't have to have the weak area surgically reinforced. But it was so nice to get good news for a change. Have been taking short walks (only thing I'm allowed to do for 6 weeks) and I'm increasing a little all the time. Also coming down on the meds, even though it all is slower than I want but I have to remember that baby steps are just great as long as they are going forward and not backwards!

Released!

Sorry for the late update, but I wanted to let everyone know that Mom did get released from the hospital this afternoon. They are planning to head home around mid-day tomorrow and expect to be home by supper time.

Jennifer

Saturday

I talked to my mom again today, and she said she is having quite a bit of pain. They are transitioning her from IV to oral meds, and it's been rough. It has also been a little lonely, because my dad has been sick so he hasn't been able to spend as much time at the hospital as he would like. The doctors are still fairly confident that she should be able to be released tomorrow morning. Then they will spend one extra night at the hotel to make sure Mom is comfortable enough to make the trip home on Monday.

Jennifer

Day After Surgery

I just got a call from Mom, and there have been a couple issues to deal with since yesterday's surgery. She is receiving 2 units of blood today because her blood pressure has been extremely low. She has also been having a lot of back spasms that have been difficlut to keep under control, especially with having to lay flat to try to keep the blood pressure in check. She was part-way thru the first unit of blood when I talked to her, and she said her pressure is already starting to come up, so hopefully it will all be under control today.

Jennifer

Successful Surgery

Mom is out of surgery, and should be out of recovery & in her room soon if she is not already there. The surgeon said everything went great, exactly as expected. I will post more updates as I get them from Mom & Dad!

Jennifer

Just One More Glitch??

Well, I have an unexpected glitch in my recovery. I have been having bladder problems (won't describe all of what's been happening) and this weekend I finally put two and two together. I went to the doctor on Monday to confirm my suspicions and I was right - I have a bladder prolapse. It is a Stage 4, which is the worst stage, and the only correction is surgery. My doctor in Mayo is out of town until next week so I don't know when this will take place. I should have suspected it sooner since I was told at Mayo that, with my neurogenic bladder (the nerves are destroyed because of the spine problems not being taken care of soon enough) that at some point the bladder would fall. Now we have to stop any strengthening exercises below the waist and the only things I can do for the time being are some short walks and go to the warm water pool at the Wellness Center and move my legs around when I'm hanging in the water and do some stretches. We want to avoid making it worse than it already is. I'm sure it's been part of the lower back pain that doesn't seem to get better. The surgery will also delay us some on getting down off the meds - at least for a while. But I'll know more what to expect next week when I talk to Dr. Hussmann. It seems like I keep getting hit with unexpected obstacles but eventually I know it'll all get better. Keep praying. JAN

Good News

We went to Minneapolis for my 6 week return visits to the surgeon (Dr. Perra) and the Physical Therapist (Paul). Both had very encouraging news. Dr. Perra showed us the difference in my new x-rays compared to the x-rays before surgery and it was like they were from two different people. My spine is in the correct alignment (only 1 degree off perfect). So far my body has not produced any new bone but hopefully that will begin soon. I go back to see Dr. Perra in 3 months. He said things are looking great but that it'll be a long process - a year's recovery would be typical - and that I can screw it up if I don't take it slow and do what I'm told I can and cannot do. This surgery is not the end of all my problems but it gives us so much more hope to have better quality of life. Dr. Perra kept quoting the Tortoise and the Hare and said I must consider slower to be better. Paul then was also amazed at how well things were going. He said I was not as short as he thought I was!! He has started me on some very light strengthening and stretching exercises and we will proceed from there if this goes ok. In another week or so, I can start to try walking more again and I can re-try the warm water pool. He emphasized slow, slow, slow and that my body has been through so much (not just this surgery but everything else too) and that if I don't pay attention and only do what I am allowed to do with my back situation, I will screw up what we're starting to accomplish. So I must really work on my own frame of mind. I have always been the doer and I feel that I am lazy when I am not doing everything myself and I must get over that and do what I am able to do and appreciate those things. So I have a long road ahead of me but we are really headed in the right direction and it was so wonderful to hear that for a change. Thanks for the prayers - keep them coming - they really do help. Love, JAN

February 24, 2009

Finally I feel I can post some good news. I have had less nerve pain for a couple of days. It hasn't lasted a whole day yet but at least there have been several hours in a row where the pain is quite a bit less. So I feel we are crossing the threshhold and going to start having better days and more healing. I'm hoping that Dr. Hansen says we can try to go down on the meds when we see him tomorrow. Even if it's just a little bit, that's ok. We have to start somewhere and it'll take quite a while because we won't be able to go down quickly. We did learn a lesson, though, and that is that I am not ready to use the hot tub yet. My surgical tissues must not be healed enough yet for the hot water. Dr. Hansen said we could try it and we did but then I had really bad increased pain over the night and for most of the day. We had to increase the meds and get it under control and now things are back to where they were so we'll just wait a little longer for those tissues to heal before we try hot water. The cold packs still work wonders so we'll stick with that. Still thanking everyone for your prayers - I know they are what's helping. We are so hopeful that we are going to get much better after this surgery heals. I can stand upright now and that is a big plus. So please keep praying because, even though we've got a long ways to go, it's what is getting things going in the right direction. JAN

Update

Mom wanted me to post a quick update for everyone, since she hasn't felt well enough to sit at the computer to type something up. It has been quite a struggle trying to stay on top of the pain. It is difficult to find a balance between keeping her pain at a comfortable level, but not being so sleepy that she can't function throughout the day. She and Dad are so appreciative of everyone's support, through your thoughts, prayers, and meals! She asks that you continue to pray for her through this difficult time.

Jennifer

Return Home

We are finally at home - got her Friday night. It was a tough trip in the car but so worth it not to be in the hospital or a hotel room. While in the Hotel, I got a bladder infection, which sure didn't help matters much. We have been so grateful for all the messages and words of encouragement. They have really helped. The pain has still been very sever, even with the pain medication and muscle relaxants, expecially in my legs. But the doctor said not to worry about it too much yet because he had to work around the nerves and tissue surrounding the nerves and make more room for them to flow easier where they were meant to go. Also, he told us he tought there was spinal fluid leakage that was putting pressure on my spine and if he got in there and it was a problem, he would take care of it. He said it was a problem and there was pressure so he took care of the leakage. He said I now have much more of the correct curvature to my spine so I should see relief from that. He had to cut wedges into the lowest facet joints (I now longer have joints there now) and packe them with bone growth material and spacer so that it would push me back into the right spinal curvature. He removed the disk and put spacers and bone growth material in there. Then he removed the old hardward and put in new hardward from the top of the old fusion all the way through the new fusion. He said he thought my bone was strong enough that he didn't have to go all the way down to putting screws in the pelvis so it's not as low as we were expecting. Now I'm on the road to healing and I know it will be a long road. But I can't thank you all so very much for your faithful prayers - please don't quit - I still need you!! Some day I will be able to do the same for you. We have had prayers all the way from Sioux Falls to Florida to California to Montana to Wyoming (and who kows where else). It has been amazing. Thanks you, thank you, thank you. God Bless each and every one of you. JAN

Bye-Bye Hospital!

Wow, I got a surprising phone call from Dad this morning - they are getting sprung from the hospital today! I thought it would be another day or so, but apparently Mom is doing well enough to be discharged! They were just waiting for her prescriptions to be filled, then they are on their way out. Dad thought they would be settled back in at the hotel by about noon. He said that the oral meds she is on seem to be keeping her relatively comfortable, and the dosages she is on are less than after her surgery in New York. Right now the plan is to stick around the area for a couple days, then hit the road back home on Friday morning!

Jennifer

Monday

I talked to Mom this morning, and she sounded great! She said that she is still really struggling with the pain, but I wouldn't have guessed it by how she sounded. She is such a trooper! They did decide to take the IV out today, so she is on oral meds now. She was up for 3 walks last night, and has been up twice again today. Before the surgery, she was fortunate enough to connect with some extended family that lives in the area that she has never been able to get to know, and some of them are planning a visit to her in the hospital today. It is really helping that she has something to look forward to today!

Jennifer

More Progress

Mom has been moved out of the ICU and in to a regular room. Her pain level is still extremely high, but they are doing their best to control it. She is still on IV meds, but they are talking about taking that out and starting the oral meds possibly tomorrow, but more likely the day after. She has been sitting up on the edge of the bed to eat (solid foods today - yeah!) and has been able to take a few steps to sit in the chair. Before Dad left the hospital this evening they were talking about trying to get her out for a walk down the hall sometime tonight. They seem to think that she is progressing quite well in her recovery so far. Since it will still be at least another day before the IV comes out, Dad thinks that they have at least another 2 days before she will be released from the hospital. I will post more tomorrow when I get another update!

Jennifer

Saturday's Update

Mom is still in ICU as of right now, but should be getting moved to a regular room sometime today. She hasn't tried to stand up yet, but did sit on the edge of the bed today. Dad thinks that when the physical therapist comes back, they will probably try to get her up for a step or two. She also was able to eat a little bit - only liquids so far, but at least it's something! She was alert enough today to be asking about her grandsons, who are of course missing her and sending their love! Dad was able to talk to the surgeon and he said that she definitely has more curve to her back, which is a big part of what they were trying to accomplish. He got caught by the Cell Phone Nazi in ICU, so if you can't get through to him, he probably had to turn his phone off! But he says that everyone is more than welcome to call, just leave a message if he is unable to answer.

Jennifer

Morning After Surgery

I don't have a lot to tell you this morning, but I'll give you what I've got! Mom is still in the ICU. They had hoped to move her to a regular room sometime today, but it looks more likely that it won't happen until tomorrow, or at least later tonight. Dad re-iterated that the procedure went great. The surgeon was able to do everything that needed to be done, including relieving the pressure being caused by the leaking spinal fluid. Dad wasn't sure if he completely removed the sac, or just drained it, but either way the pressure has been eliminated. I will keep updating the blog as I get more information!

Jennifer

Quick Update

I know everyone is very anxious to hear how everything went. My dad just called and said that Mom is out of surgery and is in the ICU for pain control. The surgeon said everything went very well. It was late and Dad didn't want to stay on the phone for too long, so I don't have any more details at the moment. I will keep you all posted as I know more. I know how much Mom & Dad appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Jennifer

Surgery Update

I will be having my fourth back surgery on January 22nd, this time at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. This surgery is another spinal fusion with correction of what's called "flat back syndrome". We are hopeful that stabilizing my spine will allow me to be able to be more active again and have less daily pain. We will be using this blog to keep our many friends and family updated on my progress. We are thankful for your prayers and support, and we hope that you will be able to use these updates as a good way to keep in the loop on how things are going. Please feel free to leave comments if you have the time. I appreciate being able to hear from you. Also look forward to seeing some joyful updates that I'm sure will include some of our time with our grandsons!