Monday, March 18, 2013

National Quilting Day

I so wanted to be sewing on Saturday, 3/16.  I heard a vicious rumor that it was National Quilting Day!  In fact, that rumor seems to have spread all over this here world wide web thing.

But instead of me sewing that day, it seems my neurosurgeon wanted another crack at my cervical spine.  Yes, I said "another."  He practiced his stitching on me on the 12th and then again on the 16th.

Doesn't seem fair that he sewed twice last week and he's not even a quilter!!

I'll try to make this short and sweet, but I've never been able to be short and lately I'm not feeling very sweet.  So hopefully you'll hang in to the end.  Maybe there will be a smile or two before it's over!

I went to the hospital Tuesday for a cervical fusion.  I expected to be in there overnight and then home for the rest of the week to recuperate.  Well, I think my friend Forrest may have been right about one thing -- you know, that box of chocolates and never knowing what you're going to get?

Seems the vertebrae are very brittle in my neck, and the cadaver bone and plates and screws weren't holding up very well.  So he kept me in the hospital another day and did a CT scan.  Hmmm, something doesn't look right, so let's send you to get an MRI.  What?  The MRI machine at the hospital is down for repair?  (This is my neurosurgeon talking if you haven't figured that out yet!)  I know!  I'll just order up an ambulance to drive you across the hospital parking lot to another imaging center that's up and running!

Seriously!  That's what happened.  I'm going on 62 years old and I had never ridden in an ambulance. I don't think that was on my bucket list, but it's been written on AND crossed off.  Now, just how do I manage to get those cute EMT guys to drive me there with lights and sirens!  Seems no matter how hard I pleaded and how much they laughed, it just wasn't going to happen.  So I resorted to groveling - as much as I could seeings as how I was strapped to a gurney - and felt quite like a beached whale, I might add!   When we pulled up to the imaging center beached whale gurney door, the three of them shouted "whoop whoop whoop"!!  I told them I was going to pretend that was sirens blazing because my daddy told me never to let the truth interfere with a good story!  :)  :)  Those guys were really having a lot of fun at my expense!  LOL.

Anyway, let's make this shorter.  It was decided to go back in and try to repair and/or stop the crumbling.  So that's what he did.  The surgery was shorter on Saturday because I was already cut open; they just had to take out the stitches (rippit rippit) and replace some of the cadaver bone and screws, plates, etc. 

And you know how I mentioned that temporary veneer that was placed in my mouth a week ago?  Well, it's now in a sterile jar waiting to go back into my mouth.  Apparently I tried to fight them all off coming out of this anesthesia.  They won, but I've got a snaggle-tooth smile to prove I fought the good fight!

So now I'm in a neck brace for four months and am supposed to move very little, no driving, no lifting, no nodding, shaking, smiling -- no, wait, I just made up the smiling part.  I think.  Darn, there are so many restrictions that maybe I'd better check the list just to make sure.  I'm hoping I'll be able to sit up very straight and sew in a couple of weeks, but maybe that won't even be possible.  I guess I won't know until I try, or am told not to try.  At about the three-month mark I think my neurosurgeon said something about an electrical bone stimulator but maybe I was hearing that through drug induced hearing.  There was a lot of that going around this week in my neck of the woods.  Gosh, no pun intended there!

BUT I have learned one thing that will never ever ever happen to me again. I WILL NOT go to the hospital for even one day without my cell phone charger.  It pooped out on the second day I was in there.  I had frantic family because they couldn't find me.  I was able to use the hospital phone to call work because it was a local call.  I tried to text J and D and G and MA and K and S but the texts didn't go through.  I didn't have my wallet with me; just my driver's license and insurance ID card.  In fact, the doctor loaned me money so I could stop and get my prescriptions filled on the way home.  Then when I got there, the pharmacy couldn't break that bill that late at night, so the limo service driver loaned me $30 until we made it the few blocks home and I could get to my wallet.

Okay, smile here.  TWO men in ONE day gave me MONEY!!  Hey, that must count for something!!

It's after 1:00 a.m. and I need to go lay down.  I'm high as a kite right now but I should be sleepy.  I have to set the alarm to wake me up in four hours to take antibiotics.  He really lectured me about that since my spine was opened up twice in four days days and that's dangerous from an infection standpoint.

I'll write more tomorrow or the next day or whenever I can manage to get out of bed.  Thank you all so much for the thoughts and prayers heading my way.  I know they worked.  My sitting here typing with two hands is proof!

ILY, my friends, very much!

32 comments:

antique quilter said...

good to hear from you. OMG what an ordeal. I think you need to be home near family next time you need to go to any hospital! the phone charger is something i learned from my DD you buy a second one and carry it in your purse you can't be without a charged phone!
LOL I thought she was crazy but I did it and after hearing your story I am glad its in the purse!
take care of yourself.... Penny is going to be glad you will be home for a few months with her full time!!!!
Kathie

Dee said...

Wow! What a story! But it sounds like you have a great attitude for having gone through all that or maybe they're just giving you some REALLY good drugs! I hope it's both. And I pray your recovery is smoother than the surgeries were. As for the ambulance siren, you're not missing much. Sounds like you had way more fun in your ride!

Sue said...

Vicky , it seems you have been through the mill. I do hope things get better for you over the coming months.
Stay positive and remember all your quilting buddies are routing for you.
Take care.

Diane aka cameldiva said...

Awww, Vicky.... here's wishing you a speedy recovery. It's good that you can laugh at all that has happened to you. Chin up, stay happy, even if you don't feel like it as the body cannot tell if the laughter is faked or not.

tpott said...

I was wondering where you were? I'm glad you posted and are in good spirits. I'm so sorry to hear that you've had to go through this mess. I hope your recuperation goes easily and quickly. Other than quilting and beasts (dogs) we both have a great sence of humor. When the doctor told me I had breast cancer, I said yes I know I found the lump, I have vacation planned with my husband and my 6 yr old son, can we work the surgery around that? She thought I'd lost my mind. I didn't I kept that and my humor, both have served me well. Hugs and prayers feel better. ;-> Toni Anne

Carol said...

Oh Vicky, only you could put such a fun spin on this whole situation. You're amazing. Take good care, follow the doctor's orders...and most of all keep up those amazing spirits of yours. Sending hugs and healing thoughts.

Cathy said...

Funny stories but I'm sure you're not really in that great a mood. Hope you feel better soon and able to find something to do while being inactive. Netflix saved me when I broke my foot!

Vicki W said...

You sure seem to be keeping a great attitude about this ordeal! I admire that tremendously! I hope you are not tested much further. None of it sounds fun. I hope they are able to "fix" everything soon and you can get back to real life!

Mimi said...

I am so sorry you had to go through that twice. look at the bright side, you have two hands to sew with....I don't. It's my dominate hand that is broke and had surgery on. no fun. hope we both heal up quickly.

Laura said...

Wow, Vicky, that's a lot to go through, and you still have a sense of humor. Thinking all the best thoughts for you and your recovery.

Penny said...

That is a lot to go through Vicki! You truly inspire me ~ it seems to me that you handled all that & w/an amazing sense of humor so w/ some recoup time now you're going to be A - OK!! Sending my best thoughts and keeping you in my prayers for a quick recovery. Hugs to you and Penny.

dortha said...

What an awful last few days for you. It sounds like Murphy's law was in effect. I hope you are on the fast road to recovery.

Lindah said...

Oh, my! What a story! And told with such a sense of humor. Please do sit/lie back and relax and let the healing do its work.
Prayers and best to you.

Carolyn said...

I'm glad you're back home and on the mend, but what a nightmare! It's good that you can smile about it. I hope that you're back to sewing in no time, prayers are continuing for you!

Darlene said...

OMG, my dear Vicky, I'm sending lots and lots of healing thoughts and BIG HUGS!!!

Let me know if you need any help.

julieQ said...

Quick healing now, Vicki...get to it!! Many healing hugs to you!

Sharon said...

Oh wow, I never thought about the phone, I just always believe when they say it's just day surgery! It sounds like you have amazing dr.'s and they are taking good care of you, so now you must take good care of yourself and follow dr/s orders. Rest, rest, and more rest.

Miss Jean said...

Whew! That's a lot for one person to go through! I'm glad there were so many angels around helping you out. Take care, rest and let Penny do all the work!!!

Mary-Kay said...

Too bad they wouldn't use the siren. I hope all goes well and you up and running/sewing in no time.

dianne said...

you had three men shouting "whoop whoop whoop" and another two giving you money - wow!!! other than the whole slicing and dicing thing, you had a much better time than i had last week!

seriously, heal!!! Penny needs you!

Marlene said...

WOW you have really been through it. Had to laugh about the ambulance ride.
Hope you recover well and that you have people to help.
Would come and visit if I was closer!

Nini said...

So sorry to hear this, but hopefully you're on the road to recovery now and the end of hospital time!

Becky said...

Ok. I'm writing your name in the back of my daily prayer book. You MUST heal! Prayers your way!!!!!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

You have such a wonderful attitude~ I won't even think it was the meds talking! LOL :-D Hoping everything grows together as it should and you are back to doing what you love best very soon! Gentle ((hugs))!

Perry said...

Dear Vickie, I am so sorry to hear you are having such a hard time I wish you the best and hopefully, things will be better sooner that later. Take care of yourself as best you can.

the ark said...

Oh my gosh! How can you be sooo funny after all that has happened to you?! You had me in stitches (ha,ha!)...I wish I was closer to take care of you and that little pup of yours. I hate to think of you alone in that house with all of those stairs! Can you set-up a granny bed downstairs, at least? What about work?! Are you officially retired now...will the quilting begin soon?!
Take care you wacky kid, you!
Tricia

Judy Laquidara said...

Oh, Vicky! I can't believe you've had to go through all that. I'm praying for a great and complete recovery.

CitricSugar said...

That's quite the ordeal! I hope it all heals well and that you can get back to doing all the things you enjoy. You're in my prayers, my dear! Take care.

Barb in Mi said...

Sending feel better soon wishes to you - and more men lending you money ;-)
Hang in there!

Deb said...

I can't believe all that you've gone through and you still have a sense of humor! I'm praying that you'll get better quickly!

Lynne in Hawaii said...

Take care my friend. You have a great positve mental attitude which goes a long way in the healing process. You are in our prayers for quick recovery.

Gretchen said...

Bless your heart, you have had quite the time lately. Hope you heal fast and heal well so you will be back sewing in no time. Hugs to you and Penny.