Facing Surgery

[palmtree]

I'm awestruck by all the major surgeries everyone has had. The only surgery I've had since MS started was a brain aneurism. That was easy because I didn't have any time to worry about it. Once they discovered it, boom I was in the operating room and the anesthesiologist said "get out the versed".

The only thing that was hard was that they put me in ICU for 24 hours and then a lady came with a cart to take me out to the parking lot. I think people with MS should be given an extra day in the hospital because of the fatigue.

I hope all goes well. Have your family cook some good things for you so you don't have to worry about anything but taking care of yourself.

[PattiHNC]

finally, I'm back!

What a month it has been! The surgery itself was uneventful, I didn't even feel any pain from it. But yes, it certainly did send me into a flair-up. So, more in-patient rehab, just got out on Tuesday, and now out-patient rehab twice a week. I also had a bad reaction to the antibiotic they gave me at first and could not eat without throwing up. The only thing that kept me going was Boost. To complicate matters further, I have horrible veins, and they had to try to start an IV 4 or 5 times every time, and it would slip out every couple of days. Torture, pure torture. Anyway, it's good to be home!

[KatieAgain]

What a month it has been! The surgery itself was uneventful, I didn't even feel any pain from it. But yes, it certainly did send me into a flair-up. So, more in-patient rehab, just got out on Tuesday, and now out-patient rehab twice a week. I also had a bad reaction to the antibiotic they gave me at first and could not eat without throwing up. The only thing that kept me going was Boost. To complicate matters further, I have horrible veins, and they had to try to start an IV 4 or 5 times every time, and it would slip out every couple of days. Torture, pure torture. Anyway, it's good to be home!

That is a bummer. If you don't mind me asking was it a bad flare that required IVSM?

The reason I ask is I am having Surgery next month.

[PattiHNC]

I have to show my ignoramce

Katie, I have to show my ignorance and ask what an IVSM is. I'm still pretty new to all this. It was severe enough to require a little over 2 weeks of inpatient rehab. It would have shorter if I hadn't had the reaction to the antibiotic. I did bounce back much quicker than I did with my 1st flare, which resulted in my dx. Try not to worry too much, looking at some of the other posts here, it seems that I am the exception to the rule. Most MSers seem to have no problems with flares after surgery

[KatieAgain]

Katie, I have to show my ignorance and ask what an IVSM is. I'm still pretty new to all this. It was severe enough to require a little over 2 weeks of inpatient rehab. It would have shorter if I hadn't had the reaction to the antibiotic. I did bounce back much quicker than I did with my 1st flare, which resulted in my dx. Try not to worry too much, looking at some of the other posts here, it seems that I am the exception to the rule. Most MSers seem to have no problems with flares after surgery

IVSM is IV Solumedrol or IV Steroids. They are given over 3-5 days and reserved for really bad flares.

I talked to my MS Specialist today and he is in touch with the Surgeon. He doubts at this point I am going to have a flare since the stress is gone and I have a diagnosis and am eating again. But he is going to see me a few weeks after the surgery in case I do go into a flare.

[PattiHNC]

thanks for the clarification

IVSM is IV Solumedrol or IV Steroids. They are given over 3-5 days and reserved for really bad flares.

I talked to my MS Specialist today and he is in touch with the Surgeon. He doubts at this point I am going to have a flare since the stress is gone and I have a diagnosis and am eating again. But he is going to see me a few weeks after the surgery in case I do go into a flare.

I have had steroid treatments before, but not this time. The dr. did consider it, but felt it would delay the healing from the surgery too much. I'm glad you've been in touch with the specialist, I feel like you'll be just fine!