Medical Update...

Yvsa

Yvsa

Joined
May 18, 1999
Messages
15,395
Osiyo Cantinaistas,

I've had a couple of inquiry's as to what was going on with me medically that have also urged me to post it here in The HI Cantina so here it is for those of you who may be interested... :)

I have both good and bad news as to what is going on with me now... The good news is that I saw Dr Gaede on Tuesday, the 14th. ,which is further explained below and after telling him just how badly my shoulder was hurting he said he could build a fire under Dr Anthony and get my shoulder injection moved up closer than July 18th. ,and I got a call from Dr Anthony’s office yesterday telling me my appointment was moved up to tomorrow at 1:45 p.m.!!! WOOT!!! :D
I’ve been praying really hard that the shoulder injection will give me some immediate relief, because should it not that means to me that in spite of what tests have been done and what they’ve shown there could still may be some sort of problems somehow originating within my neck vertebrate’s. :(

I had an appointment with my neurosurgeon Dr Gaede Tuesday and the news was both good and bad... My L-4 to L-5 has shifted to where there’s now more of a narrowing of my spinal cord and at first it seemed there was only one option and that was to go with the very long and chancy surgery that somehow has lengthened from 6 to 8 hours, more likely 6 hours, up to a no stuttering 9 Hours!!!
With only a 50 - 50 chance of survival and those are odds that Barbie and I absolutely cannot accept!!!
With those kinds of odds I would be better off waiting until I was like I was two weeks ago yesterday, when I had Barbie take me to the ER and wound up spending a week in the hospital, and simply take a great big handful of heavy duty pain meds and quietly drift off to a deep sleep from which there would be absolutely no chance of waking up...
After discussing this surgery for a very short time and me/us deciding that it was absolutely not an option I asked Dr Gaede if there were anymore options and he told me, “I could wear a corset brace” and I asked, “For how long?” and he said, “Until it heals.” After asking him, “And how long would that be?” and he replied, “From six months to a year depending on how my body heals...”
And we all know my body heals fairly quickly compared to a lot of people so I’m thinking from six to nine months as long as I wear the brace religiously which at this point in time I can’t see any other options!!!
I then asked Dr Gaede, “Well then, what about the narrowed area?” And he replied, “After its’ all healed then I can go back in and open up the narrowing like I did the other area which is a relatively simple surgery and one I wouldn’t mind doing at all!!!” With a very big grin!!! :D
And at that I told him, “Let’s get it on!!!”

Getting things started may be kinda overwhelming to begin with because of so much having to happen so quickly, basically all at once, but we’ll get through it okay. Dr Gaede wants one of his partners to do a biopsy in the suspicious area during a CT Scan to ensure that he’s withdrawing the spinal fluid from the same area Dr Gaede found the Osteomyelitis infection when he removed the last of my hardware in November of 2009 that was only found when he opened up the L-4 to L-5 vertebrates in order to open up this same area so it would allow more room for my spinal cord and was forced too close me up because of the infection...
And which necessitated me staying in both The Tulsa Spine and Specialty Hospital and Meadow Brook Rehab Hospital for a total of 61 days with a PIC line and on intravenous antibiotics!!! :-(
Strangely enough then, like now, nothing untoward was found in a bone scan or all of the blood work that was being done on a daily basis which is the reason for the biopsy in the suspicious area under a CT scan, which is what necessitated me being in the Tulsa Spine
I’ll also have to wait on the call to see what getting the Corset Brace entails - like whether or not these are a generic sort or whether I’ll have to go be fitted for one and pick it up later or what...
 There are a couple of other things that Dr Gaede mentioned that I can’t recall at the moment and since Barbie has already gone to bed I cannot ask her what they were either but no matter as this is quite enough for now... ;)

I was warned about some of y'all losing a long post after going to the trouble of typing the whole thing so it was suggested that I first make it in a Word Document and then C & P it here which I've done...
Then somehow and for some odd reason when I did so my post didn't all come through with the same exact or same sized font so I tried to fix it by using BFC's Font and Font Size, if it doesn't come through right you can lay the problem onto BFC's programming. ;) :D :o
 
Good to see you, Uncle!
It sounds like you have a good plan....as good as can be expected.
As usual i/we are here praying for you and sending much smoke.
The Corset/brace doesnt sound too bad, nor the simple surgery..
Let us know if we can help in any way!
 
Prayers - smoke - positive thoughts and empathy your way friend - i have similar situations that vary depending what day it is

sincerely - Eric
 
Thanks for the update - always good to hear from you,even if the news isn't the best. The corset brace option certainly sounds like the way to go. Smoke and prayer from Texas.
Berk
 
Thanks for letting us know how things are going with you Yvsa. Certainly, all the best to you for your continued improvement and complete healing.

As to the corset brace, I wore one for 4-6 weeks. It was made by a company called Hanger and it worked very well once I got the right size. The one that was brought to the ER was a little big and I didn't feel that it fit tight enough. Easily remedied by one of their representatives. It had a stiff steel framed open section around the lumbar region and, for me, it worked well for isolating my shattered L2 or L3 (I can't remember which now) while it healed. Haven't had a problem since. I hope that whatever they fit you with works as well for you Mr. Red Buffalo.
 
I hate to say it, but I did not really do more than skim over your whole thing, but what really stuck in my head was L6 and such, which means that you are going to have surgery or have had surgery. Since you were kind enough to help me once, here's to hoping my hopes will somehow help you. I hope you get better, and peace be with you.
David
 
Smoke and prayers from Bastidville. I am very glad they have a realistic alternative so positive is are the thoughts.
 
I'll happily read much, much longer posts to find out you're OK. Much smoke and many prayers going up from NoVa on your behalf. Looks like they'll be continuing for a long, long time.
 
Yuh NSuh?


seems like a rather elaborate rationalization just to tell us you've started wearing corsets.


:)

It's ok. We accept you as you are.
 
Yvsa, It seems as though you are making some progress, overall. I am glad to hear it!
I just got home from The VA Hosp, an Endocrinology appointment. I have Osteoporosis, Ostepenia, Schmorl's nodes and some compression issues with L4 and L5.
Endocrine is trying to find why, at age 53, my spine looks more like an 80 y/o's on x-ray. 2 new Meds issued today, and we'll see how it goes.
Also set-up with Pain Clinic and Kenesio Therapy appt's and an MRI. Fun, fun! I REALLY don't want heavy pain meds, being Sober. I hope they have some non-narcotic options for me. Near constant low grade pain is draining over the course of the day.
 
I wish you all the best and I hope that you get some relief from the pain. I appreciate you keeping us posted!
 
Hang in there Yvsa, modern medicine has some new tricks in there bag, but like someone else said some old remedies are very useful too.
We will keep you in our thoughts.
Smoke from NoVa from me and mine.
Wonder how close we are to where OldPhysics is ..lol.
 
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