My story after all these years/ update/02/03/18 back surgery yesterday

[hammer]

Hi Bob,

Now if only there were a way that you could take a 6 month vacation elsewhere while your body heals.

The only way the vacation would be any fun is to leave the body behind, but so far I don't think I can do that, damn it! That would be great, wouldn't it!

[hammer]

Tomorrow I will be going to my primary care doctor to hopefully get my catheter out! I got a call yesterday from her nurse whom I will be seeing to see how I was doing and to talk to me about the removal of the catheter. I asked her why wasn't I able to releive myself without it after surgery? She said that sometimes when someone goes through multiple surgeries with anesthesia it sometimes happens! Then I asked what happens it I can't go on my own tomorrow? She said it normally is fine after a week or so, but if not I'll need to go to urology for help after that. The only plus side of having it in this last week is I haven't had to get up at all at anytime to go to the bathroom!

I've made very good use of the new power lift/recliner chair we bought for me last year! It's called a zero gravity/infinity chair! The chair not only lifts to pick you up to get you in or out, but the positions that you can put it in are infinite! The back adjust separate from the legs, the set will adjust to alow for lumbar adjustment, and you can get a multitude of angles. As the name states, zero gravity/infinity lift chair! I'm living in it now and probably will for the next month. Except for eating and PT ECT.....

At first count we had 5 incisions for this surgery, but after a closer count it turned out to be 6! Yesterday I started to feel like a was laying against a solid oak board going across the back of the chair, and no matter how a rearranged the pillows it didn't change a thing! Debbie suggested I try the heating pad, so I did and in a very short time I came to realize it was my back mussels all tightened up!

[hammer]

Well, all went great getting the catheter removed! The way that it was done, they had me empty my bladder as much as I could, then pinched the tube going into the bag. They then removed the bag and filled my bladder with saline salution using a syringe as a funnel through the tubes in the catheter until I felt full. Then they deflated the bullon and removed the catheter and had me try to see if I could empty my bladder myself, and I did! It's amazing how something that is so simple and normally so normal can be such a blessing when there comes a time that you can't do it for a while!

On Monday I went in for the 2 week post op check up just to have all the incisions looked at and check on pain control. The incisions all are looking good but I found out that the doctor figured about 6 weeks on the narcotic pain meds and the narcotic muscle relaxer. Well on the Friday before  when I was in I had the nurse order the muscle relaxer because I haven't been sleeping do to pain, and remembered that while I was still in the hospital they said I was suppose to have them going home but didn't. I also requested more hydromorphone pain pills as Debbie had been giving me 2 every 4 as needed as the first week supply was written. The second week was 1 every 4 as needed, but I wasn't able to sleep or get comfortable at all! So the doctor rewrote the script.

Everyone involved with this surgery told me all along said it was much harder of a surgery then any other that I've every had! The surgeon is the same sergeon that has done this surgery and the last two! So two weeks out of surgery they want my to be off the pain meds, holy crap, I'm not super man!

My understanding is the FDA is getting tough on writing scrips on narcotic pain meds! Some bad apples have to make it hard for the rest of us! I have gone through all my surgeries using pain meds as needed, and once no longer needed, no more meds!


Bob

[Alchemist]

Hi Bob,

Two weeks is enough to get accommodated.  It should be supplied long enough and then you will need a 10 day (original dose) supply for a reasonable taper which takes longer than 10 days.  If you are taking 12 a day then 120 tablets will be enough, with a pill cutter, to taper.  I can tell you how to do it.  Done right it is easy.  Done wrong it is misery.  I have helped thousands of people taper.

[hammer]

I've now cut down to I every 4, and will be going to 1 every 6 soon. This is the same meds I had with my SI joint fusion, but they didn't get so excited get me off so soon! They are only 2 mg!

I think I'm now dealing with a UTI, I'm going back in tomorrow for that! 

[Alchemist]

Hi Bob,

The sad part of kicking people in pain off of an opioid while pain is still moderate to severe is cruel and often drives people to illegal drugs.  They create the very problem they are trying to prevent.  Cutting down a quarter tablet a dose, each 2 days.  Taking the effective dose but adding 15 minutes to the time between doses each day will also be doable, then at six hours cut the dose in half and go to 3 hours and keep doing that.  That doesn't add to misery either.  At the rate of cutting it 50% at a time is asking for trouble when you hit the brick wall (actual accommodation level).  Another way to withdraw is to not take a dose until the withdrawal starts, often with yawning, sneezing, diarrhea and other such pleasantries.

Good luck.  2mg sounds like hydromorphone,  hydrocodone would probably be 7.5mg or 10mg and no less than 5mg. 

[hammer]

Yep hydromorphone, and I've never had any problem dropping it before, but I've always been able just to lower the amount as the pain got less! This is the first time that they said that I'll need to just stop ASAP! After the last surgery I still had 30 pills left over, but I guess I have that to use to last a little longer ending the pain control of this surgery.

I've been one of those lucky people that have never had problems with drugs or drinking! I only use the prescription drugs when prescribed, and I can count on one hand how many times I've had a few to many to drink! Now that being said, I have a shot or two most nights of some very good Brandy on the rocks before bed, so I'm no tea totaler either.

My only addition that I ever had was Copenhagen chew that I did for over 17 years and quit on my 37th birthday in 1995!

[hammer]

One week after getting my catheter out I get blessed with a UTI! So I went in to the VA for the urinalysis and sure enough it's positive! This is a new on on me, I've never had one before and I'm here to tell you, it hurts to pee! The good news on that, it's doing better now!

The title of tread though is something that made me do some thinking about a lot people that aren't able to do anything for themselves, such as our older generation that really depend on others!

On Saturday while I was still dealing with the UTI I had the desperate need to get to the bathroom and I was in the laying position in that very expensive zero gravity lift chair of mine that I'm living in! Well, the control box did not work! No lights, no up, no down, no lumber movement nothing! I had Debbie check the power conections, all good!

So now what, I'm not even supposed to bend over or twist, I don't want to call 911, I figure they got better things to do then get me out of a chair!

I managed to wiggle to the end and get standing up and to the bathroom befor going in my pants! We then got the phone number for the company that we bought the chair and the chair manufacture, and there are no weekend service repair!

I said to Debbie, hell, I fix two way radios and I need this chair so I opened up the control box and sure enough there are two un-soldered wires! Went down to my radio work room/Ham shack picked out all the tools I need and had Debbie bring them up to the chair, and within a few minutes the chair was fixed.

My point on this is, what do your/our parents, grandparents do if this happens to them? I personally know people that depend on chairs like mine for their total comfort as I am right now, or their electronic beds for the same reason.

Gentlemen, we have an aging generation with all us baby boomers getting older! If you are good with electronics and handy with your hands, it may be a good service type business to go into. It may be just a side line for a while, but something worth looking at.

Bob

[expedient-traveller]

Sorry about the UTI, Hammer. Had one myself a few years ago. No fun, 106 fever and lots of hallucinations. Went away in a couple of days. Never would allow a catheter again, have intermittent incontinence and do not know when it could happen. But, overall, it is still a great life come heck or high water, and faith in God is the best and strongest medicine. Besides He lasts a lot longer.

[hammer]

Sorry about the UTI, Hammer. Had one myself a few years ago. No fun, 106 fever and lots of hallucinations. Went away in a couple of days. Never would allow a catheter again, have intermittent incontinence and do not know when it could happen. But, overall, it is still a great life come heck or high water, and faith in God is the best and strongest medicine. Besides He lasts a lot longer.

Had no choice on the catheter, I was under for the 3rd back surgery, and hopefully the last! The incontinence is no picnic either!

As for faith and God, he's the the first reason I keep hanging in there, Debbie and then rest of the family come right behind him!

[hammer]

At 12:00 midnight my alarm went off so that I would get up to take my pain meds and muscle relaxer. I drink plenty of water, as I should then head to the rest room to releive myself,and OMG my damn UTI is back! I had taken my last antibiotic at 6:00 PM Thursday and all had been going fine until then! I was burning like hell and having a hard time trying to pee!

My doctor had said if this happens don't wait, get to the ER ASAP! So I woke Debbie and we got there, after some time they got a sample and sure enough I got it back, oh shit!

They thought that I may have to go home with a catheter again, but I'm still able to go on my own, thank God! So I got a supply of 14 more days of a different antibiotic and hopefully this will kill it! 

I've said it before, and Ill say it again, I had the feeling all along before this surgery that there would be problems after the surgery! I'm not liking what I'm seeing happening come true so far!

Time to try a get a little sleep.

Bob

[expedient-traveller]

Hammer: This might sound a bit on the old-country doctor type of line but, I have increased my intake of tortilla chips, hot salsa and started taking Dandelion Root capsules. It has helped and I do not get UTI infections any more. Just a thought. Happy Resurrection Day and Happy Passover!

[hammer]

Hammer: This might sound a bit on the old-country doctor type of line but, I have increased my intake of tortilla chips, hot salsa and started taking Dandelion Root capsules. It has helped and I do not get UTI infections any more. Just a thought. Happy Resurrection Day and Happy Passover!

Thanks friend.

He has suffered, died and has risen for the forgiveness of our sins, for this he has my eternal love and devotion!

Bob

[Bman41]

Yes, and AMEN!

Hammer: This might sound a bit on the old-country doctor type of line but, I have increased my intake of tortilla chips, hot salsa and started taking Dandelion Root capsules. It has helped and I do not get UTI infections any more. Just a thought. Happy Resurrection Day and Happy Passover!

Thanks friend.

He has suffered, died and has risen for the forgiveness of our sins, for this he has my eternal love and devotion!

Bob

[Rcoggy23]

Hammer,
You are a very inspiring individual. Thanks for your postings on this forum. I have always felt limited with my moobs both physically and socially. I am so happy to have found this platform to open up about gyne. Keep up the good fight Hammer, you are among family.