Day Surgery

My surgery on the 11th went well. At first we thought it might not happen because of all the delays. But finally at 2pm I had my surgery.

I was told my Dr fixed all that she could. Many stitches so I am being very careful when sitting. And yes I went home at 5pm. Only 3 hours later, a first for me.

I am doing good just taking it easy as my neck surgery is on the 6th of June. More later.

My Current Update

Just wanted to give you a brief update.

Tomorrow May 11th I am having my prolapse fixed or repaired - it is a day surgery. I was told I go to the hospital in the morning and go home in the afternoon. I am hoping this is true.

We are shooting for the last week of May or first week of June for my neck surgery. That procedure will be a lengthy one, with a 4 to 7 day stay in the hospital He will be cutting out and replacing my vertebrae's at the 4th through 7th levels of my neck with rods and screws. I will blog as soon as I get a date.

I have been in the neck brace now for 5 weeks - will be wearing it until the surgery and for 6 weeks afterwards. I was told I will be having months of therapy and it could take up to a year to heal. I am praying the healing goes more quickly and the surgery is a success this time.

I Am Trying To Get Up To Date

I haven't been blogging since December so much has been going on. With the Lord's help I have been directed to some new Drs who actually have been diagnosing me properly. I have been told I have this when in reality it wasn't that in the first place but something else. I am doing good now that I am finally getting to the bottom of things.

Here is the most current medical info to date:

Echo/Bubble study: Dr V said it was somewhat normal - the heart monitor report to my Dr said Normal but he ?'d it because he said every time I had an episode my heart rate dropped extremely low. (When I got extremely dizzy). Dr V said the heart monitor and the echo results are not going hand in hand. He needs to looked into it further he said. He did diagnose me with POTS.

Colon: Defecography is scheduled for the 22nd report will immediately be faxed to my surgeon so she can schedule surgery - either a colostomy or a rectal prolapse repair.

Chiari Center: Shocking results - no I do not have Chiari (good news), but I have something worse than that - my neck is in worse shape than my Neurosurgeon thought. I am crushing my spinal cord so much so I am not getting any spinal fluid to the brain. Plus I have 3 new bulging discs above the fusion and more pinched nerves. This is causing my Occipital Neuralgia, can also be causing my colon / bladder problems. I was put in a hard ridged neck brace to take off the pressure from my spine. I wear this 24/7.

Dr H is a Neurosurgeon - who treats patients like me daily. Not a clear cut case. I am to wear this brace for 2 weeks report in any and all changes that happen. Then I wear it 2 more weeks and go in for more tests so he can schedule the necessary surgery to correct the spine issues.

Dr H also told me I have POTS but believes it has been caused from an Autonomic Dysfunction but it also can be caused by the spinal cord problem. Both Dr H and Dr V said I need to be on some meds to stop the action of the Vagus Nerve - that is why he said I am complicated.

At this point you are probably wondering what POTS is so here is the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postural_orthostatic_tachycardia_syndrome#Symptoms

As always thank you for your love, support, prayers and Phriendship I could not do all this without you. Deb

Greetings from a dear friend

Sorry it has been so long in writing. As you know my health has not been the greatest in the past few years. 2009 was the worst year for me having to endure 9 surgeries.

This year in May I needed to have my colon removed for which I spent 21 days in the hospital. Recovery time seemed to be very slow. During my healing time I was given a 45 day noticed to move. I was to move from my apt. to another in the attached building within my complex. My Drs were not thrilled and told me I should not move. Since management wouldn't budge I had to find a way to do this. Many phone calls were made.

With the help of many dear friends from my church and where I live - my packing, cleaning of the old apt. I was able to move on Sept. 3rd. I did not lift anything I wasn't allowed by my Drs. nor could I do the cleaning, I did do some packing but it was just my office and medical supplies. Many women pitched in to help move all the little boxes and 4 strong men from church came and moved all my furniture. I was totally moved out of one apt and into the new one in 5 hrs. A few of my friends who helped move me also came back the next day and unpacked me.

I am still trying to get used to my new apt. it is smaller than I am used to.

On Oct. 8th I saw a new Dr for a 2nd opinion on my Phrenic Nerve and Diaphragm - because 3 Drs believed it is causing my breathing problems - that EMG showed my Phrenic Nerve and Diaphragm are normal and that my breathing issues are caused by my heart and lungs - the EMG that was done in July last year was done too soon after my neck fusion and the readings were incorrect. I am in the process of getting all new Drs. to sort out what is going on. The new EMG did show that I have autonomic distal polyneuropathy in both feet and up the right leg. It is genetic and I was told without the Lord's intervention it can get worse. My feet and legs swell all the time and the water pills do not help it.

Then following my move I was told that I needed a "simple hernia repair". So I scheduled it for Oct. 11th. That surgery resulted in 2 emergency surgeries to stop an active vessel bleed. That made 3 surgeries in 3 weeks. I am on the mend but still dealing with a few new health issues involving my heart and lungs and was diagnosis of Lupus the day of my release from the hospital following the last surgery in Oct.

Through it all God has been with me providing the strength and Grace I have needed to endure and persevere. I have never been alone - He is always with me.