Cervical Spine Surgery Update

SXMGirl · ‎07-07-2010

I want to thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers. The surgery went well and I came home the afternoon after the surgery.

The only real problem that I had, which started in the hospital, was a serious spike in blood pressure, a bp crisis. It caused a terrible headache, with bp 220/200. It took almost 8 hours to get the hospital pharmacy to get the meds for the iv up to the floor. Apparently, bp meds are only kept in the main pharmacy at the hospital. In the interim, I was given many oral meds to help with the headache pain.

Once I got home, my bp spiked again. Eventually, it came down, but it was at 80/60. Right now, it seems to be stabilizing.

The hospital staff that cared for me was exceptional. The problem that I had was with my surgeon. He is probably 40, very nice, but when I went into the OR, he was on his phone, did a finger wave (maybe to me or he was facetiming with someone), but I never spoke to him. He and I will have a conversation at my appointment. One doctor told me that this is just how it is while the nurse educator said that she seriously hoped that was not the case.

My other concern was when the janitor came to clean the room while I was waiting to leave, he threw away items that were sealed, never used, and it was such a waste. I did speak to a hospital employee who called me the day after I returned home, and he was as appalled as I but thought that since insurance covered it and with covid, maybe that was the policy. Since I had to contact my US senator to get this surgery rescheduled, I will let him know about this. If every hospital tossed every unused and sealed item in every room, it is costing millions.

Anyway, I am home, wearing a hard brace during the day and sleeping with a soft one. They are annoying, but every bit of pain is gone, even in my knee that I get my gel shots. The difference is amazing. Still a few dizzy spells from the bp issue, but otherwise, the surgery appears to be a success.

Thank you all again. Your good wishes and prayers really made a difference and I am so appreciative.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!

Love my grandkids · ‎11-24-2013

@SXMGirl Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are coming along nicely.

I had a bowel resection on 6/28. I love my surgeon who also did my cancer resection 4 years ago and a hernia repair.

When I was brought in he greeted me and I was told the name and function of everyone in the room. From watching reruns of ER for years I knew that this is procedure.

I'm glad you are going to speak to the surgeon about his not speaking to you. IMO that is unacceptable.

Be well!

Jersey Born · ‎03-10-2010

Thank you for giving us all an update. I am sure you are relieved the procedure is over, and that your pain is gone. I know I am relieved that you are through it.

So sorry you are experiencing this blood pressure fluctuation problem, though, and I hope that that issue resolves as soon as possible, so you can celebrate your new, pain-free existence.

LdyBugz · ‎03-10-2010

@SXMGirl. Welcome back! Glad to hear you are doing o.k.. I'm sure the BP issue well even out for you.

I think you definitely should say something to your surgeon. If it were me, I would expect the surgeon to pop in right before the surgery to check on me and reassure me about the surgery.

But, glad you are home safe and sound. Rest well!

~LdyBugz

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@SXMGirl wrote:
I want to thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers. The surgery went well and I came home the afternoon after the surgery.

The only real problem that I had, which started in the hospital, was a serious spike in blood pressure, a bp crisis. It caused a terrible headache, with bp 220/200. It took almost 8 hours to get the hospital pharmacy to get the meds for the iv up to the floor. Apparently, bp meds are only kept in the main pharmacy at the hospital. In the interim, I was given many oral meds to help with the headache pain.

Once I got home, my bp spiked again. Eventually, it came down, but it was at 80/60. Right now, it seems to be stabilizing.

The hospital staff that cared for me was exceptional. The problem that I had was with my surgeon. He is probably 40, very nice, but when I went into the OR, he was on his phone, did a finger wave (maybe to me or he was facetiming with someone), but I never spoke to him. He and I will have a conversation at my appointment. One doctor told me that this is just how it is while the nurse educator said that she seriously hoped that was not the case.

My other concern was when the janitor came to clean the room while I was waiting to leave, he threw away items that were sealed, never used, and it was such a waste. I did speak to a hospital employee who called me the day after I returned home, and he was as appalled as I but thought that since insurance covered it and with covid, maybe that was the policy. Since I had to contact my US senator to get this surgery rescheduled, I will let him know about this. If every hospital tossed every unused and sealed item in every room, it is costing millions.

Anyway, I am home, wearing a hard brace during the day and sleeping with a soft one. They are annoying, but every bit of pain is gone, even in my knee that I get my gel shots. The difference is amazing. Still a few dizzy spells from the bp issue, but otherwise, the surgery appears to be a success.

Thank you all again. Your good wishes and prayers really made a difference and I am so appreciative.

@SXMGirl isn't it amazing? When my neurosurgeon told me there won't be any pain after the surgery, all I said was OK. I didn't believe him but I was hoping that he was right. He was and I must say I was shocked. The nurses kept on telling me to use the pain medication in my iv because I was paying for it but I didn't.

I had to wear a hard brace similiar to a football helmet attatched with velcro 24/7 because of where the fusion was C3-C4. I was given two and even had to take a shower wearing it. The second fusion C6-C7 I wore a soft brace and that made me feel better.

It will be over soon and you have a lot to look forward to.

Glad everything went well for you. I knew it would.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

@SXMGirl

My suggestion is to find out if your surgeon adds a pre-surgical consult to his bill, and if so, fight it.

Standard protocol at my local hospital, is for the surgeon to have a brief bedside chat with the patient in pre-op holding, for the purpose of verifying patient identity, the procedure being done, and for the patient to mark the surgical site in their presence.

This pre-surgical consult is an allowable charge; many surgeons leave it up to pre-op nurses, yet add that charge to your bill.

I fought this charge twice. Continued good wishes for your complete healing!

Sealed or not, nothing from a patient room can be reused! It must be tossed.

bikerbabe · ‎03-09-2010

Glad to hear you are doing well and BP has stabilized.

FYI, I am a hospital RN. Supplies in a patient room, even if unused, CAN NOT be returned to the stockroom. It’s not new protocol because of COVID. It’s a matter of safety and infection control.

SXMGirl · ‎07-07-2010

@bikerbabe I understand protocol, but I do not believe that a packaged inhaler needs to be in a room (actually on a shelf and I was never told it was there) unless there is a need. If I had needed an inhaler, I am certain that a doctor or nurse would have brought one in. I do not even know what two of the other things were, the plastic pan was never used and could have been sterilized just like the leg wraps, and there was no need to bring in a 100-pack of wipes when I was given a wash cloth. I see these things as a waste of money, but, of course, I am not in the medical profession.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!

Love my grandkids · ‎11-24-2013

@bikerbabe I was just going to post that a nurse told me this years ago when I was in the hospital. She encouraged me to take home anything that was sealed as it had to be tossed otherwise.

So I did and was able to use some things. I even found a use for a small emesis pan!

phoenixbrd · ‎03-27-2010

@SXMGirl Glad you are home and feeling well and, I'm sure, a sense of relief, Your life has changed for the better, less pain,,,,that is epic. Take good care, get lots of rest, and get set for a new quality of life, congratulations!