Thursday, January 29, 2015
Well that was close...
Yesterday my mom was re-dressing my wound on my spine and she told me it looked really like the infection got worse. She took a picture of it and sent it to my doctor's assistant. My doctor called me told me to get to his office so he could look at it and admit me to the hospital to get it washed out the next day.
When I got to the doctor's office, he told me it looked worse in the picture and he proceeded to clean it out (ouch!) and was okay with me going home as long as I have a wound nurse come to the house to clean and dress it.
I was so relieved! Last thing I wanted was to get admitted to the hospital again. I hope I can heal without any more hiccups! If there are more then I will deal with them head on and think positively because "this too shall pass..."
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Insomnia...
Insomnia is thee worst! I am currently out of work due to my surgery, yet it's 4 AM and I can't sleep. I'm supposed to be resting, but how in the world can I do that when I'm wide awake at this time. It doesn't help that my back is still in so much pain. Blah!
In other news, I think I have finally made my decision about moving to Florida. I think I am just going to go for it! I will stay in here for the next year or two and then I am going to be Florida bound. I can't wait! I have been looking at condos and townhomes. I have also been looking at available jobs in my field. I would make more money in a lower cost of living area. As weird as it sounds, my new life will begin in a new location, along with my new back lol! Seriously though, having the spinal cord surgery can actually reverse some of my minor nerve damage. We shall see 6-12 months post op because it is too early to tell at the moment.
In the meantime, do I try to fall back to sleep or start brewing my coffee? Decisions decisions....
In other news, I think I have finally made my decision about moving to Florida. I think I am just going to go for it! I will stay in here for the next year or two and then I am going to be Florida bound. I can't wait! I have been looking at condos and townhomes. I have also been looking at available jobs in my field. I would make more money in a lower cost of living area. As weird as it sounds, my new life will begin in a new location, along with my new back lol! Seriously though, having the spinal cord surgery can actually reverse some of my minor nerve damage. We shall see 6-12 months post op because it is too early to tell at the moment.
In the meantime, do I try to fall back to sleep or start brewing my coffee? Decisions decisions....
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
My First Post
After many years of going back and forth on whether to create a blog, I decided it was time. I am currently recovering from tethered spinal cord surgery and I have decided that I would use this blog as an outlet for my feeling, but more importantly, to educate people about S.B.
I have to self-catherize myself, which I have been doing since I was 4 years old. If I didn't learn how to do it, I would not have been allowed to attend regular public school. S.B. comes into your life bearing gifts that you can't return. The issue with S.B is that there is no such thing as a Spina Bifida doctor, as SB effects different parts of the body in so many ways. I have a primary doctor, a urologist, urological surgeon, neurologist, neurosurgeon, gastroenterologist, gastrosurgeon, cardiologist, physiatrist, and a psychiatrist and counselor to deal with all of it! I also go to counseling to learn how to deal and cope with people's reactions. When people look at me, they don't see a sick woman; they see someone using a handicap bathroom stall while their elderly mother is in a wheel chair waiting for that stall and I receive dirty looks for it.
The worst was when I was in school and the teachers would refuse to allow me to go to the restroom. One time in college, the professor embarrassed me in front of the whole class when I got up to use the restroom. She said "if you can't sit through a class that is only an hour and half without having to use the restroom, then you need to see a doctor because there is something seriously wrong with you." The next class the professor made me switch seats with a guy sitting by the door in front of the whole class after I gave her my doctor's note. She announced "since you have issues and have to pee every 5 minutes, switch seats with Robert so you are by the door and don't interrupt my class THAT much." I was mortified. The professor was not asked to come back the following year.
My Medical History
In 1986, I was born with a "fatty" tumor on my spine. The tumor was removed, but it was too late. The damage to my spinal cord was already done. After many failed attempted of closing the hole in my spine, I ultimately had to have a shunt placed in my head to stop the leakage of spinal fluid. My parents were told I wouldn't be able to walk and would most likely suffer from mental retardation. Well those doctors were proved to be wrong as I WALKED at 4 school graduations.
In 1990, I was suffering from reoccurring kidney and bladder infections. I had to have my ureters, tubes that connect your bladder to your kidneys, crossed to prevent reflux and keep the infections in my bladder instead of having it spread to my kidneys. Unfortunately, this surgery is my first memory as a child. Not only because of the pain associated with the surgery, but the hospital had a regular Nintendo Game System and I would forward to my turn to play despite having IVs in both of my hands! I spent 40 days in the hospital at the age of 4.
In 1997, I had to have my shunt fixed due to the tubing tethering in my neck. That surgery was successful and I continued to live an almost normal life. I started working when I was 14. I waited table for 10 years! Yes, I waited tables when I was supposed to be the girl that wouldn't be able to walk! I played sports. I was awful, but I still played.I graduated high school, community college, and university. I have Bachelor's Degree in Law and Justice Studies and I work full time as a paralegal, which I love.
I was doing really well, until 2013 happened. I had a small procedure done and what was supposed to take 30 minutes outpatient, sent me to the hospital for 18 days and rehab for 18 days. I was paralyzed from the waist down and had to learn to walk again. At that time, I found out my spinal cord was tethered. Despite trying all the medications, nothing could stop the pain I was experiencing. So I ended up having surgery get rid of all the scar tissue from my surgery when I was an infant.
Now, I am on the road to recovery and will have plenty of time to blog! At least it will pass the time!
I have to self-catherize myself, which I have been doing since I was 4 years old. If I didn't learn how to do it, I would not have been allowed to attend regular public school. S.B. comes into your life bearing gifts that you can't return. The issue with S.B is that there is no such thing as a Spina Bifida doctor, as SB effects different parts of the body in so many ways. I have a primary doctor, a urologist, urological surgeon, neurologist, neurosurgeon, gastroenterologist, gastrosurgeon, cardiologist, physiatrist, and a psychiatrist and counselor to deal with all of it! I also go to counseling to learn how to deal and cope with people's reactions. When people look at me, they don't see a sick woman; they see someone using a handicap bathroom stall while their elderly mother is in a wheel chair waiting for that stall and I receive dirty looks for it.
The worst was when I was in school and the teachers would refuse to allow me to go to the restroom. One time in college, the professor embarrassed me in front of the whole class when I got up to use the restroom. She said "if you can't sit through a class that is only an hour and half without having to use the restroom, then you need to see a doctor because there is something seriously wrong with you." The next class the professor made me switch seats with a guy sitting by the door in front of the whole class after I gave her my doctor's note. She announced "since you have issues and have to pee every 5 minutes, switch seats with Robert so you are by the door and don't interrupt my class THAT much." I was mortified. The professor was not asked to come back the following year.
My Medical History
In 1986, I was born with a "fatty" tumor on my spine. The tumor was removed, but it was too late. The damage to my spinal cord was already done. After many failed attempted of closing the hole in my spine, I ultimately had to have a shunt placed in my head to stop the leakage of spinal fluid. My parents were told I wouldn't be able to walk and would most likely suffer from mental retardation. Well those doctors were proved to be wrong as I WALKED at 4 school graduations.
In 1990, I was suffering from reoccurring kidney and bladder infections. I had to have my ureters, tubes that connect your bladder to your kidneys, crossed to prevent reflux and keep the infections in my bladder instead of having it spread to my kidneys. Unfortunately, this surgery is my first memory as a child. Not only because of the pain associated with the surgery, but the hospital had a regular Nintendo Game System and I would forward to my turn to play despite having IVs in both of my hands! I spent 40 days in the hospital at the age of 4.
In 1997, I had to have my shunt fixed due to the tubing tethering in my neck. That surgery was successful and I continued to live an almost normal life. I started working when I was 14. I waited table for 10 years! Yes, I waited tables when I was supposed to be the girl that wouldn't be able to walk! I played sports. I was awful, but I still played.I graduated high school, community college, and university. I have Bachelor's Degree in Law and Justice Studies and I work full time as a paralegal, which I love.
I was doing really well, until 2013 happened. I had a small procedure done and what was supposed to take 30 minutes outpatient, sent me to the hospital for 18 days and rehab for 18 days. I was paralyzed from the waist down and had to learn to walk again. At that time, I found out my spinal cord was tethered. Despite trying all the medications, nothing could stop the pain I was experiencing. So I ended up having surgery get rid of all the scar tissue from my surgery when I was an infant.
Now, I am on the road to recovery and will have plenty of time to blog! At least it will pass the time!
Introduction
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)