Stream of Social Media: Surgery to Home

Surgery day. My rumbly tumbly and I have hours to go...So glad we pre-ordered Star Trek into Darkness (3D).
"Cuzz Katie, Life will be grand when you're healed..."
"I am hoping the anxiety of surgery is the worst part. You will be feeling better soon!!"
"Praying for success."
"Love, hugs & prayers Katie!!"
"Ok Katie update. Just went in to surgury about 3:15. She will do well, and healing will go well. Please keep the prayers coming. thanks for your support. Mike and I are here waiting @[The Hospital]."
"Katie is still in the O.R., getting close to the end of the window they told us to expect her to be out. Will update when she is in recovery."
"Longest day ever!! Finally, Katie out of surgery"
"The doc says it was one of the most unusual spinal systems he has ever seen (this is not the same guy that put it in), the universal hardware bits wouldn't work with this hardware at all and he had to drill some of them to get a grip. Apparently it made a lot more work for him. Two of the top bolts and four of the bottom ones were grossly loose and were "windshield wiper-ing" her soft tissue every time she bent."
"They say she is "closing" now - they are closing her up - its a very big incision to close."
"She is in recovery now"
"Wow. Well I'm glad she is in recovery!!!"
"Whoa"
"She is in a room set for the night, at [The Hospital]. I will go back in am and take care of her. It was hard leaving. Her biggest complaint was, where the screws were rubbing, all those spots hurt bad. Ya think? OMG! Poor thing"
"OMG I am glad that all that is fixed now. That had to be horrible. I bet she will be much better after recovery"
"Katie! I'm so glad you are so damn strong! Love ya much ! Your distant Cuz!! Everybody up north has ya in our thoughts! Muah!!"
"Aww! Glad that's over with!!"
"I can guarantee that for Katie, the worst part was telling them about the pain, and them not believing her... telling her nothing is wrong...I have broken screws in my neck hardware too, but luckily mine isn't moving around.. I laughed the day the doc asked me.. "how did you break the screws?" Like I had something to do with it..."
"Speedy recovery Katie, thoughts and prayers are with you"
"Katie you are in my thoughts and prayers! I hope this surgery makes life one step easier!"
"Glad she's on her way to healing...I bet she'll feel so much better with all that cleaned up!"
"Poor little Katie. She surely has been through a lot"

"Katie has been up in a chair for two hours, then they walked her to the door. Progress! Resting now. Thanks for all your support."
"Yea progress!! you can do it Katie!"
"Yeah!!!!!!"
"Katie is better every day. Dressing change today."
"They let her keep the stuff they took out of her back?? I hope she is still recovering quite nicely, also"

I'm home!
"YAYY!"
"Hope you are healing up okay!"
Expecting the home health nurse (change the tape!!) this morning and company this afternoon. Not such a bad one week post op.
"Someone is amazing, and her name is..Katie"
"Glad you are doing better!!"
"You are a woman/mom/wife who doesn't like to waste time! Glad to see you forging ahead so remarkably! You don't need no stinkin' Iron Man hardware - you are already a super heroine in your own right!"
"Glad to hear you are doing well.... continued prayers heading your way..."
Thanks for the bagels and the visit Diana
"You're welcome! Good to see you. Sometimes you don't realize how much you have missed someone until you see them... sniff, sniff."
Glad you are doing better my friend!!!

A Couple of Screws Loose!

Yes, that all came out of me. Click any picture to enlarge.

Forgive the less than sharp writing in this one. It's difficult to articulate details of such a significant event, that coupled with the fact that sitting at the computer was not an option for so long. There have been way too many days like Tuesday. I hung in there on an empty stomach for hours. When Mike told me it was time to go I abandoned my knee jerk neurosis about being on time in favor of denial and fear. We were late to check in at the hospital and I did not care. If you know me you'll understand the significance.

I knew my last back surgery left me with baggage, but I had no idea how heavy all those bags were until now. I was disoriented by all the things that gave me comfort earlier. New hospital, new doctor, new surgery...I felt like I was surrounded by sound and people, but nothing made much sense. In my head I was screaming and trying to cope with where I was.

When I woke up reality seemed more...solid. Nothing like some intense pain to "ground" you. The pain was more intense than I was expecting, but the emotions that came with having post surgical back pain were almost worse. Obviously, I toughed it out and got back home. It's a long road of recovery ahead, but nowhere near as long as last time. Onward a few pounds of hardware lighter I go...