At Six Weeks!

So today yesterday I went to my first appointment with the surgeon since surgery.  He showed me my new xrays with the hardware.

When he asked how I was doing as he walked in, and I responded enthusiastically, he was surprised how well I was doing.  His words were, "At just six weeks?  With as big of an operation as you had?"

And yes.  I feel great.

Considering I'm young and have had far too many xrays in the past 8 years, they will not be taking another xray for another two years after yesterdays.  However, he said that I should be mostly fully recovered and fused at the one year mark.  They used artificial and someone else's bone graft, so it will take slightly longer.  He said he didn't use my own because I didn't have enough to take from.

But regardless, in a little under year, I should be physically better than I have been in years!

I have very much cut down on all the pain killers (since I'm on so much other medication) and am just sticking with the Oxycontin in the morning and night and that usually takes care of the majority of the pain.

They usually don't begin physical therapy for three or four months after surgery for this procedure, but until then I've been instructed to keep doing the same things I have been, walking lightly and perhaps a little swimming if I'm up to it.

I have to say, the first couple of weeks might have been miserable, but the pain I am in right now does not even begin to compare to the pain I have felt pre surgery, especially the past year.

I am pleased to say the least.  While I am still a little self-conscious about the curvature of my back, it's not nearly as severe and at least I can breathe fully again and don't feel like my lungs are being crushed.  And for me, that...has made all the difference, so I can still live with a physical deformity.

Well that's just an update.  Oh! and I snapped a picture of the computer with the xrays before the surgeon came in.  Speaking of the surgeon, I've been to a lot.  Like...a lot.  And as you all know they have a reputation for being cold and having a terrible bedside manner...well, at first I thought this surgeon did too, but he turned out to be the best surgeon I could ask for.  He listens to me and my concerns, he is funny and likes to make the situation a little less tense, and he takes my age very seriously.  I am his youngest patient, and he tells me that the majority of his patients are at least 80, and at that age getting a blood transfusion or getting a ton of xrays isn't going to make much of a difference.  He didn't give me a blood transfusion in the hospital, even though I had lost so much blood, because I was a "young and fertile woman."  At the time I didn't understand that, but when I asked yesterday, he explained everything and I was in awe. Also, a lot of the time, the surgeon himself or herself doesn't do the surgery, and just accompanies the resident, PA, etc.  He made sure that he did this one himself, and I could not have put my trust in better hands. 

If you look closely there is a metal rod, and you can see two screws at every level all down my back.  It actually is pretty cool to look at.  (And yeah, I probably can't go through a metal detector if any of you are thinking to ask that haha)

Lots of love to all of you and thank you so so much for supporting me.  And those of you that came to visit me in the hospital or sent me all the lovely surprises/flowers, I can't thank you enough. 

-Esha