The surgery went fine and I woke up good and wasn't ill. Till later in the nite! The drip for pain (not morphine but related) gave me problems with nausea and vomiting. Later changed to morphine and felt better but soon began to have th e nausea and vomiting . Frustrating 4 days as I was improving with being able to get up little easier each day. Finally figured out (I did) that after taking me off morphine and went on ES vicoden, I was asking for nausea meds shortly after.Put me on reg dose vicodin and didn't get sick again! It was definatly tougher than I expected but I made it and it really does improve drastically daily.
At home, I am taking my meals out in our family room in a chair. I walk around the house with my walker everytime I get up to pee. (that;s a lot) I also found in the hospital, I felt better when I walked. Got rid of nausea and H/A. Guess it helps to get the blood going. Husband is making house walker safe for when he goes back to work next week. Older kids are taking care of me too. I lay on my side cause staples in the back makes it tough so far to be on my back. I ice alot which feels great and the numbing helps when I have to log roll from side to back to other side. Big problem I have is emotions. They are haywire. Between the sweats I had constant in hospital and crying jags now, I feel like I'm doing menepause again. Is this common after surgeries and all the meds during and after? Hope this will improve. Plus it's so hard being so dependant on others for everything. To others planning surgery, the walker was the best thing and my hospital wouldn't let me go home without it.
I use my walker to help me to the bathroom and to support me tho we got a 3 in 1 commode. Bedside commode worked great first night but since just a few steps into my bathroom. thats all for now...I think I'm doing well. the PTLIF
was L4; L5 S1 Please send words of encouragement! Please forgive misspellings, I'm currently on drugs! LOL

Hi - I had an ALIF in June removing L4 L5, L5 S1 with fusion. I was on the drip too but not morphine, I had dualaid. I also kept throwing up in hospital, they kept me for 11 days. I think the hardest thing was getting up out of bed and going to the bathroom. I am still using my walker, and if we are going out for awhile I use my wheelchair. I have a special chair to sit in the shower when taking a shower. Did they give you a grabber to use in the hospital, if not check into getting one, they are great to pick up things (I never knew I dropped so many things till after my surgery, this gadget is the best)

I have started to fuse, but I am still in extreme pain, doctor ordered a CT and MRI and it shows that L4 L3 is now herniated. Don't know how it happened but have appt next Wednesday and doctor wants to start epidural injections.

Take care of yourself...do what doctor says...I know its hard depending on others..I still cannot do housework, bend, lift, drive..etc.

Keep us updated...mew

One of the things will help are tons of pillows and stashing them around differnet places so you can wedge yourself, and somewhat lay on your back.

I had the hotflash/coldflash thing bad after surgery. And remember all the postop depression and stuff is crazy, for one your body had tons of crap done to it, tons of drugs and tons of drugs post op. This is a very major surgery and it does take time for your body to recover. You will notice a huge difference in a few weeks. I know that a few weeks sounds far away at this point. Just remember your body needs rest and if you over do it, you will pay, you only have one chance at recovery, so take it very easy.

Have you had the problem with going to the bathroom yet, cause that about killed me.

The walker helped me keep my dogs from underneath my feet, I started out just walking laps around my house.

What meds do they have you on now? Ice was my friend, now heat is.

You might start keeping a journal, because well..you have time lol, and the other thing is you won't even remember so much of this, its crazy to go back and read it.

Best of luck, take care and stay medicated so the pain doesnt' get ahead of you.

hugs vette

Hi Patrioticjoy,
I love your user id!

It sounds like you're doing really well. The emotion thing does happen. I've heard of post menopausal women actually having a period or two after major surgery like this. It just messes with your whole body, your hormones, etc. I'm sure it's frustrating to not "be yourself," but it'll settle down.

Also, a heads up on your pain. You can expect your pain level to increase in a few weeks. They use some pretty potent numbing agents during surgery. It can take up to 5-6 weeks for them to wear off. Just keep up those pain meds, as you're doing!

Wow, I can't believe they put staples in your back! I had them in the front, but when they flipped me over, they used dissolving stitches in the back. I hope they take them out soon for you! Maybe lay on a piece of memory foam. That would help pad them and might make it easier for you. I had a piece of hardware protruding from my back for the past year, and lying on memory foam was the only thing that enabled me to lay on my back. It was like a marble poking out, but the memory foam made a difference.

Glad to hear you're doing well. Be a good patient. Take your colace and eat some prunes. Time to rent some movies, rest and walk, rest and walk.

Blessings,
Emily

thank you for everyone's thoughts. thanks for reminding me of the increase in pain later. I remember reading that before suegery but forgot! Won't be such a shock. I'm doing pretty good. Get to the BR myself, brush hair, teeth. Walk laps through house 1-2 times an hour, eat my meals sitting up. Just found that using the porta potty chair with lid on works for regular chair sitting. 10 to 20 min only. I am taking regular 5/500 vicodin every 4 to 5 hrs and flexeril 6 hrs,
Hubby stayed in hospital with me 24/7 and off this week getting things set for me.
he goes back to work Mon but 19 yr old son staying home to help.
Thing I most enjoy....hot showers! Tho it makes me more sore. doing every other day. That first one with hubby wrapping me like a mummy with celophane to cover incision was pretty funny! Now making celo. patches and plastic tape
to cover.