Surgery day & very nervous/scared

[Gimpy]

Well, today is the day. I've put it off 4 times and now it's time to face the knife again. I'm having my shoulder and elbow done at 1:30 today. I'm nervous about the time. It was originally at 10:30 but something about the equipment they use was already in use and they had to wait. I know that the chances of error go up considerably in the afternoon. That's why I'm so scared about this. But if I don't do it today, then I won't have another opportunity until Summer 08.

Wish me luck! I'm not sure if I"ll be home tonight or not. It's being done in the hospital so that if they have to an open shoulder I will be able to stay the night.

Gimpy

[Tbackpain1]

I'll be thinking good thoughts for you Gimpy and I wish you a speedy recovery.

<hugs>

Theresa

[Mark N]

Gimpy, I hope all goes well and you have a great surgery.

[GardeniaGirl]

Gimpy - I hope everything goes really well for you today! Post as soon as you are able so we know how you are doing!!


take good care!
GG

[Jo6]

Gimpy I hope all goes well with you today. Take care and let everybody wait on you.
*hugs for Gimpy take care, Julia

[Bobbi]

... holding positive thoughts for you, Gimpy - that your surgery goes super well and you have a good recovery.

[Kathi49]

Best wishes Gimpy...take care and wishing you a successful surgery. :)

[BrokenBladder]

I hope everything goes well and you have a speedy recovery!! Please let us know how you're doing as soon as you feel up to it.

[Mark N]

Gimpy, I was wondering if you are home yet and how your surgery went. I hope all is well and you receive the benefit from the surgery you want. Have a great recovery and let us know how you are doing.

[Gimpy]

Thanks everyone! Obviously i spent the night. the surgery was set for 1:30, but didn't get started until around 4pm!!!! i had long discussions about canceling with the staff but n the end decided it best to through w it. typing one handed, please excuse the crudeness.

great news!!! it was not a rotator problem as suspected. i had large spur that was ripping at the ligaments and creating calcium deposits. so when they were taking the spur down the calcium started breaking off n chunks and they decided to take all the way down to avoid the need 4 future surgery, then the elbow. basically same thing a spur and large amounts of calcium abd bone chunks n the joint. surgery lasted around 3-3.5 hrs. pain was brutal n recovery, but once it was under control and i was n my room i had a good night. fairly sore now, but better than expected for sure!!! sling at night and only partial during day, possibly even no rehab if i do it myself. i have a 3 inch incision on the elbow that's pretty gross but only 6 little holes for the shoulder. can shower tonight, stitches out tuesday.

i am so relieved, but also confused about how the mri showed full rotator tear, then not in surgery? another medical mix up no doubt. i even had to do the mri 2x because of some problem, i'm sure they lost it, obviously someone with a tear got mine and the dr probably told them nothing was serious enough to warrant surgery. and the drs say it's all in our heads!!!!!!!!!

i do have some missing skin from their permabond surgical tape, where they taped my catheter down to my leg I have large areas of missing tan skin and when they changed my dressings this a.m.i could feel it being ripped off, but whatcha gona do?

thanks for all the well wishes. i will write more when i can type better.

G.

[Mark N]

Gimpy, glad to hear that the surgery wasn't as bad as you thought going in. it is hard to know why the surgery was different than what the MRI showed. I am glad you are home and seem to be doing okay. It is good to hear you got ahead of the pain even though the pain was bad coming out of surgery. Have a great recovery and I hope all goes well.

[shotspine]

((((((((Gimpy)))))))))

Wishing you a low pain and quick recovery! Hope the results are better than you even hoped for!!

[Gimpy]

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kathi49]

Gimpy,

I was going to write and say last night that I was glad you were better and that it wasn't a rotator cuff deal at all. But now your OUCH has said it all! :eek: I DO hope you get to feeling better...just take it easy! :)

[Gimpy]

Gimpy,

I was going to write and say last night that I was glad you were better and that it wasn't a rotator cuff deal at all. But now your OUCH has said it all! :eek: I DO hope you get to feeling better...just take it easy! :)

when they were removing the calcifications, they had to take some of the rotator cuff to get it all out, so they did have to do some cuff repair. the calcification on my elbow is down by at least 3/4 an in. it was huge, i just always thought it was the end of the bone from the bad break i had as a child. either surgery on its own probably would not have been bad but, both are pretty rough and the pain goes up and down. but i was also up and painting yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can't keep a good (stupid) women down!!!:o :p :eek: :)

[jimac]

Gimpy,

Rememeber that you are a GOOD women (not stupid).....LOL
Positive thoughts and prayers for your surgery and recovery.
Keep us posted.

Take extra special care of yourself during your recovery.
Jim

[Gimpy]

Gimpy,

Rememeber that you are a GOOD women (not stupid).....LOL
Positive thoughts and prayers for your surgery and recovery.
Keep us posted.

Take extra special care of yourself during your recovery.
Jim

thanks jim!

[Jyes]

Gosh, just read your post now, back in 2004 I had right shoulder surgery for Rotator cuff tear and whatever else they could find. I ended up with only a shave job on the rotator cuff but had a huge bone spur that was the main culprit of my pain. After two months of some PT and recovery time my shoulder felt normal again and it is now three years later and my shoulder is still doing great.
Hoping your recovery goes just as well as mine did!

Jyes

[Mark N]

Gimpy, I was really worried when I saw the OUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
then I saw where you were painting - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING LOL. I hope the pain has calmed down again and you take it easy during recovery.

Remember, you can't keep a good woman down but pain can knock you off your feet.

[Gimpy]

Gosh, just read your post now, back in 2004 I had right shoulder surgery for Rotator cuff tear and whatever else they could find. I ended up with only a shave job on the rotator cuff but had a huge bone spur that was the main culprit of my pain. After two months of some PT and recovery time my shoulder felt normal again and it is now three years later and my shoulder is still doing great.
Hoping your recovery goes just as well as mine did!

Jyes

sounds like my surgery. 2 months? i was hoping for 4 weeks since it wasn't all cuff problems. it's gotta be all uphill from now!!

G

[Gimpy]

Gimpy, I was really worried when I saw the OUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
then I saw where you were painting - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING LOL. I hope the pain has calmed down again and you take it easy during recovery.

Remember, you can't keep a good woman down but pain can knock you off your feet.

mark, by now you should know exactly what i was thinking after seeing me through so many surgeries. ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN'!!!!

:D :D :D

G

[Mark N]

Gimpy, Of course I know and that is why I didn't panic until I red the rest of the post. I knew you probably were out in the garage painting but had to read your post to find out. It is hell that to do the things we love cause us so much pain but it is worth the suffering to feel human.

[Gimpy]

Gimpy, Of course I know and that is why I didn't panic until I red the rest of the post. I knew you probably were out in the garage painting but had to read your post to find out. It is hell that to do the things we love cause us so much pain but it is worth the suffering to feel human.

right now i'm in the pain trifecta. my shoulder/elbow and my ever loving back. my back,lower, is worse than the others. i was afraid of this. i can't get comfortable anywhere. FYI: i'm just painting inside for now. i stepped out to the garage earlier today and i thought my daughter was going to tackle me, she actually scared me! I promised no garage work for awhile. :o

G

[Mark N]

Gimpy, promise me you will work on getting your pain levels down and will cut back on the work that is causing so much pain. Hey, give your body a chance to heal and recover:D . I hope your daughter kept her head up while tackling you, sorry just can't quit coaching and teaching ho to tackle safely.

[Gimpy]

Gimpy, promise me you will work on getting your pain levels down and will cut back on the work that is causing so much pain. Hey, give your body a chance to heal and recover:D . I hope your daughter kept her head up while tackling you, sorry just can't quit coaching and teaching ho to tackle safely.

mark,

I need to send one of my pieces of art so you can see what it is I've been working on. I'm so excited about it that I just can't stop. I finally found that one thing that is unique and I know will sell well here in Texas.. PM me your mailing address if you trust me! LOL :o :o :o