23 November 2023
Surgery Day - Please read the Comments to get your Update
Read within on how to get an update on my surgery.
To help Brie with streamlined communications, she will be placing comments below this post regarding how my surgery went.
Brie will also ring Micky D & Jenbo as soon as the Surgeon talks to her and she will text Nana Joy (since she doesn't have 'the internet' as she calls it!).
The 'plan' is 12pm surgery, 90min procedure, into recovery by 130pm for 1 hour, ICU around 230pm for the day and overnight (all in Qld time). But as you've probably come to realise, nothing goes to plan!! So either her or I can provide updates on this in the comments below too.
As soon as I'm well enough I'll write a post and reply to any texts.
If there is more updates to give whilst I'm not well enough, between Jenbo & Brie they will place comments below to keep everyone in the loop.
All you need to do is refresh this page URL and look for comments.
Hopefully that will make things simple enough to manage :-)
[This might be an innovative idea that is a case of 'fail fast' haha - in which case between Brie and Jenbo they'd have enough phone numbers to get to all of you somehow!]
25/11/23. Just been in touch with Loren. She has had CT scan this morning and very tired. Has now got a management plan in place and feels this is helpful. SPS is more settled Jen
Loz is now going to have a sleep, all in all she's going really well. Hopefully they will get her onto the ward before long. Trudi
Hey all, I'm with Loz right now and she is going ok. She is still in ICU as they wanted to do more tests and observations. All seems to be under control so I'm sure once the other ward has her bed available she will be whisked off.
Hi everyone. Thanks for the msgs. Will respond later and hopefully be able to do a post tonight. Still in ICU at this stage.
Surgery itself went well. Exceptionally well. That side of things is better already. Now we focus on infection control from the discs.
But I had a major trauma with an arterial line put in whilst I was under anaesthetic. No one knew that until I came too though and I realised it had activated an epic SPS episode when painkillers did nothing and my hand was all clawed in clamped tight.
That was off the back of me taking a long time to come too properly from the anaesthetic. Didn't know where is was, what day it was and couldn't move a thing. Felt paralysed. Thankfully I've had that before but it doesn't make it that much less stressful!
The SPS episode took a few hours to solve.
Meanwhile poor old Brie was not getting any phone calls and took it into her hands to make some calls and then when still getting no information brought herself in to demand some and wait patiently for hours. Very grateful for her and all she did and for doing whatever she could to give you guys some sort of update and help my family as best could be done given no real news!
I'm still suffering from the SPS - it's now activated the rest of my body, but managing with constant hot packs.
Amongst all of the stress of no one understanding or knowing what to do with SPS we've still got some funny updates to share later!!!
Loren has had a rough night due to spasms. She feels the neck surgery is very positive as she has better strength in her arms. She has found heat packs over night her saviour. Trudi look forward to your update later in morning. Let's pray for no infections to give her the best of outcomes. ❤️🩹Mum Jenbo
That's wonderful news! Thanks for the updates :)
Thanks Brie
Last update for the day- The surgeons visit
In short the surgery went really well and looks like Lozzy’s strength has already improved. Which is bloody amazing!!!!
She will be wearing a neck brace for a few weeks to speed up recovery
She got to have the 'good' surgery so no cage and no poles just the discs. The surgeon was very positive and very excited about the improvement in strength
It is now well past my 7pm bedtime so signing out for today. I'm sure Loz will have a good update tomorrow on my performance as support person 🤣
Very happy to be ending my post on such great news
Hospital Update - 6.40pm
Currently with Loz. She has been moved to ICU. Recovery took longer than expected because of the SPS and a bad seizure triggered by the needles in her arms. Wasn't a great experience in recovery for her and a lot of pain but team in ICU seem more on to it.
Surgically she seems ok but is yet to see the dr so no real news on the surgery itself yet
Loz has a lovely 'country practice' type nurse called Wilma who is a real highlight and has given Loz a good few laughs.
Hopefully all positive from here
Brie
I've just called the hospital. Loren is out of surgery and in recovery and is ok. No other news yet. Waiting on call from dr
Brie