Failure is success if we learn from it.

Back surgery struggles

Hi. I've been going back and forth on posting for the past couple of months. Just when I think things are improving and decide not to post.... nope. Mostly looking for advice and support. There's a lot going on.

My mil (upper 60s) had back surgery August 6. Spinal fusion L3-L5 due to sciatica pain in her right leg. She tried shots and PT and neither helped. The severe pain began in May. She couldn't drive or work her regular duties. She did some sit down work when she was able to drive to work. On August 10, mil had a 2nd back surgery. There was a screw touching a nerve which was causing pain in the left leg and fluid build up on the spine. She was discharged on August 12. She fell getting to bed that night even with my bil there helping her. My bil wasn't able to get her up. Called an ambulance and they took her to ER. She also had complaints of nausea and some dizziness. Diagnosed with UTI. August 14 she had a 3rd back surgery due to a fractured S1 and fluid build up on the spine. No one knows how this happened. Due to the fall? During a prior surgery? She received a blood transfusion on August 16 due to being anemic. On August 21, she was transferred to in hospital rehab to start daily sessions of PT and OT. She told us she was taking various amounts of steps each day. We later learned that these steps were taken not just with a walker, but with 2 people assist (one on each under arm). On August 27, she had her 4th spinal surgery due to spinal fluid on the spine... during this entire time, mil was experiencing hand tremors and extreme anxiety. She has since started talking with a psychiatrist and has started taking medication for anxiety. She was able to lower her pain medications and is off muscle relaxers. She is diabetic and has stage 4 chronic kidney disease. She also does not have a spleen.

Due to all of the setbacks and complications, in hospital rehab was not a success. She is not able to get herself out of bed. Which means she cannot take care of her toileting needs and needs 2 people with her around the clock if standing and 1 if we're going to only use a wheelchair and a transfer board. Insurance denied moving to another rehab facility. She was to be discharged on September 11 to go home. The doctors ran more tests before her discharge date and found there is fluid build up on the spine again. For whatever reason the X-ray team wasn't able to do an alternate procedure to drain the fluid and the surgeon does not want to do a 5th spinal surgery. The doctors requested rehab again, after being moved out of the in hospital rehab unit and back to the orthopedic section. Insurance has denied rehab again and the family has submitted an appeal. We are now in the waiting process for the appeal. They have 25 days to respond. I get it - insurance doesn't want to pay for her to go to rehab and not get better (again). But also, she wasn't ready to receive the rehab services at the time she had them due to other medical issues. Her team is confident she can walk again with more rehab.

Anyone have any similar experiences? Any advice? We're pretty much wait and see at this point.

If she does get discharged to home, she will likely return to the hospital shortly after as we aren't able to keep her safe.

Sigh. There are other issues as well, but that's for another post. Thanks for reading. ♥

15 comments posted: Tuesday, September 24th, 2024

Cologuard Test Results

A friend's relative received a positive test result on a recent Cologuard test. Should she be worried about colon cancer? I read that there is 13% chance of a false positive result. Of course we won't know anything until a colonoscopy is done. Anyone have any experience with this? The relative does not have hemorrhoids and didn't eat any of the foods that can trigger a false positive.

-lt

12 comments posted: Sunday, August 18th, 2024

Kids and College

I wasn't sure if I should post here or in New Beginnings. This place seems to have more activity.

My oldest is a senior. I always figured he would be going away to college and didn't really think about other options. Well, he may be going local and commuting. How does this work out with living arrangements? Our current schedule is every other week at the other house. My second oldest is in 10th. So he will be going back and forth another 2 years. Do kids typically choose one home and stay there after graduation? Or continue the off and on schedule?

I know no one in real life that can relate. I know it's different for everyone, but curious to hear what's happened for those in a similar situation.

♥ little turtle

12 comments posted: Thursday, March 7th, 2024

friendship labels

Hello wise SI members!

I have been struggling with this for quite some time and recently it has gotten harder. I feel like it's a very silly thing to be struggling with and therefore don't really want to address it. I'm embarrassed that it's an issue, but it's not going away.

I typed out a whole background and deleted it... it boils down to this... how do you handle having more than one close/best friend? How to handle feelings of hurt when your friend posts about her best friend on social media?

Feeling like the Other Woman and I don't know how to handle it.

♥ little turtle

7 comments posted: Tuesday, July 18th, 2023

Mod please

Will you move Doxing vs Expsoing. to another section?

Thanks!

1 comment posted: Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

baby turtle #3 with pictures!

Hi everyone! I thought I'd stop by to share some pictures with you.

Baby turtle #3 was born 6/19.

1 month

2 months

with his big brothers! baby turtle #2 wasn't born when I joined this site...

23 comments posted: Wednesday, August 24th, 2016