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Posted , 16 users are following.

Hi all of you wonderful people! Tomorrow will be one week post op. What a week!

I have begun writing a number of times but would fall asleep. So I hope I have not sent anything unfinished!

My surgery went well and it ends up that it is the only thing that has gone well. I had the spinal block and sedation and I can remember awakening from the sedation and saying, "I want some more of that." My next question was, " How long did it take? " Three hours.

Turns out I needed a great deal of bone grafting and they used someone else's bones also. So I was put on a no weight bearing restriction for 6 weeks. I am just glad they did not use the dogs bones. Yes, he was wandering around the room with a sign around its neck that read, "Will Donate Bones For Some Of That Sedative."

Such fun sedation is!

Fast forward, all was well until one nurse changing my sheets decided to force me to rollover on my sides, even my 10 inch incision side! I kept telling her I could stand up or sit in the chair but she just kept on saying, "You are fine." My body was screaming in pain and she even refused to give me a pillow between my legs!

I became irate from pain and fear. I demanded to speak with someone above that nurse and also wanted an xray.

My surgeon was not there.

Ultimately, my surgeon's PA told me that an xray would not be justified and I told her that I was not asking, I was demanding. I said that I suffered excruciating pain for a year and a half because a surgeon messed up and there is no way that I could endure that again just because some nurse wanted to roll my body back and forth!

I also added that I was part of the medical team and as a matter of fact, I AM THE MOST IMPORTANT MEMBER ON THE MEDICAL TEAM!

Later, me still crying, someone came in the room and and supposedly took an xray and then I was told there was no damage.

Now I am in a skilled nursing rehab facility. All seemed well until I fell. I FELL. It is amazing how many staff who treated me nicely prior to the fall, then act out angrily towards me after I fell. They treated me poorly and at one point they left me on the floor sprawled out without the courtesy of a blanket!

The leg of my walker tangled up with the leg of the toilet raiser that sits over the toilet. I felt the fall beginning to gain momentum so I grabbed the safety bar and my walker and my body flew almost a half circle along with my walker while I crashed into the bathroom door all the while making sure that my surgery leg hit nothing, but my good leg took the hit. Xrays showed everything was fine, but just in case, I will see my surgeon two days from now.

For over two days I did not receive what was promised to me, a wheel chair and a bedside toilet, which would have been safer for me instead of hopping on one leg everywhere.

So there you have it. In less than a week. I even forgot to pack my pajamas! Thank God for my friend near here as she loaned hers to me.

Sorry I could not write about a positive experience. Today I went to physical and occupational therapy and it was good.

I had better go before my pain meds kick in.

💛💙💜💚❤

Dawn, USA

2 likes, 49 replies

49 Replies

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  • Posted

    Oh my surgery to hear about your experiences.terrible nursing care.left you on the floor what the neck is that about.?

    I'll pray the rest will be better.This happened st Vanderbilt university hospital? Shockingsmile

    • Posted

      The leaving me on the floor and walking away from me happened in the rehab facility. The nurse who made me roll around fresh out of surgery was at Vanderbilt. And my surgeon had left to go out of town.

      Cannot wait to see him on Weds. to make sure my newest hip and my oldest hip has not been harmed.

      💛 Dawn, USA

    • Posted

      Your a real trooper dawn dee.I wished for you better treatment.You don't deserve being treated like that..

      Good for you standing up for your self.stand firm on your convictions.and say no to all of them who put you in unsafe circumstances.and mean it..You are strong that will take you through this part of your recovery.smile

    • Posted

      Thank you Ginger. All my life has been full of the strangest experiences. Sometimes I wonder why, but keep on rolling with the punches.

      There are wonderful gifted medical personnel and there are some who are only there for the paycheck and seem to lack the capacity to empathize with their patients.

      Hugs

      💛 Dawn, USA

  • Posted

    Dawn,

    I'm sooooo glad to hear from you and that from the initial surgery you are starting your recovery, however, all the rest that followed for you is beyond the odds..honey you better go buy a lottery ticket because I think your day has long come for some GOOD NEWS....so so sorry to hear about all those set backs!!!

    But I think you have come a long way in your journey to be able to speak up to those nurses and hospital staff to let them know your needs and that you come first is beyond amazing!!!!

    When you say you are in a recovery facility, is that back home or are you still away?

    Just take it one day at a time (easier than said) and focus on yourself and your recovery...you have so many people here to support you every step of the way....now go back to sleep and stay off the computer for awhile!!!

    Hugs, Patricia

    • Posted

      Thanks Patricia! My whole existence has been like this. It has been a long hard road to learn to stand up for myself. And the whole time I was making my case with that PA, I was sobbing so hard I could barely breathe. All the other nurses who came in my room after that, acted differently towards me. They were nice before, afterwards they would not speak or have eye contact with me. So I give up things when I decide to stand up for myself.

      💛 Dawn, USA

  • Posted

    Oh what an awful experience you have had my heart goes out to you where you in a nhs hospital I think if it was me I would write and complain about your treatment
    • Posted

      Thank you Ruthannfox,

      No I am not in the NHS system but I surely will write a complaint. I was causing no harm to anyone.

      💛 Dawn, USA

  • Posted

    Oh Dawn, how awful.

    I hope that things now improve, Well done for standing up for yourself, even if they are not as nice, at least they will try harder not to injure you any further,

    Your recovery is the most important issue.

    Dont feel guilty its the sqeeky wheel that gets oiled in life.

    Thinking of you,

    Sheila

     

    • Posted

      Thanks Sheila! You are so right, the squeaky wheel DOES get the oil. I have always strived to be squeaky with class. I see my surgeon tomorrow morning to check out what damage the fall may have caused.

      hugs

      💛 Dawn, USA

  • Posted

    Oh you poor thing. What a dreadful eperience for you. I do hope you start to recover and get treated properly. Sending hugs xx
    • Posted

      Thank you Lindabowles! Actually when I stood up for myself, it empowered me. Because if I don't stand up do me, who will?

      Blue skies ahead!

      Hugs

      💛 Dawn, USA

  • Posted

    Hi,

    Well at least the first part of your story made me laugh.

    Sorry You have had to go through all this as it's bad enough just having the operation but congrats to you at one week post op.

    I promise it will get better but don't be surprised if the post op blues get hold of you, unfortunately due to the trauma etc most of us get it.

    Anyway well done you for coping with the last week.

    Love

    Karen X

    • Posted

      Thanks Karen! I feel kind of good about myself for facing the battle head on. My message to the blues is, come on! Give me your worst! I am woman! A woman with staples, but still strong!

      Hugs

      💛 Dawn, USA

    • Posted

      Karen, those blues finally hit me last night. I am still at the rehab facility. I cried and cried. Today I am better, but am still weepy at times.

      What was it like for you?

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