I'm keeping a good thought for you, GG. I can totally sympathize with this chronic pain/tried everything deal, and I feel for you. Your surgery will go great, your recovery the best that could be hoped for, and you'll be feeling better soon. I've decreed it, dammit! And in the meantime, hugs.

I'm really looking forward to my neurosurgery tomorrow.

And note, I did *NOT* post this in the "all lies" thread.

The surgery itself went as well as I had hoped, but the overnight stay was the worst experience I've ever had in a hospital. Lot longer that I had thought before I got to my stay room: surgery was scheduled for 1230, I was actually in there at 1305. I figured two, maybe three hours for surgery, 1 or 2 hours in recovery. 1700, right? Maybe 1800 at the latest?

I didn't get into my room until 20:40. And then, the recovery room nurse & floor nurse somehow miscommunicated: I saw the floor nurse briefly when I was wheeled into my room, and then not again until an hour and a half later, and even then, only after I made a call to the nurses' station. Security had all my stuff, so I couldn't see without my glasses, couldn't read my magazines I brought with me, it was basically TV or nothing. And I didn't find out for sure what I was allowed to eat or drink until after the floor nurse finally really showed up. And then turns out, I was only allowed clear liquids: at least apple juice counts as a clear liquid. Wasn't allowed out of bed until this morning. The only amusing part was that when security finally did bring me my stuff, the security guy told me he was "afraid" to touch my plush spleen. And my plush brain cell was a big hit in the neurology wing. Got almost no sleep at all, the guy in the bed next to me kept triggering his equipment alarm, or my equipment alarm kept going off (first time for me was the low battery warning because the nurse forgot to plug it in: the other two times were because the equipment was giving a false reading of air in the IV line: the nurse carefully checked, I carefully checked the line, there was no air in it.) For whatever reasons, the was an equipment alarm going off about every freakin' 20 minutes. And then the lights for the other bed only refused to work, so every time the nurses had to deal with him, they had to turn on the whole room lights. And breakfast this morning: their eggs rivaled the Air Force's for awfulness. And they gave me coffee instead of tea.

So, I have follow-up with the neuro-dude in 10 to 14 days. Not allowed to exercise, drive, lift anything over 5-8 pounds, or reach for stuff over my shoulder/head level until then. Neck is still stiff, and because the neuro-dude had to retract my esophagus, it hurts to swallow. Other than that, though, I am pain-free. And very happy about this.

That is a crappy over night stay. Remind me to never go to that hospital. Glad to hear you pulled through the surgery okay and are now pain free (with the exception of the stiff neck and can't swallow thing).

I also know what it's like to live with pain......I wish you all the best, and I'm seeing you surrounded by white healing light.

I will keep you in my prayers.......

XO GG XO

Glad the surgery went well. Hospitals suck but it seems to be the only choice we currently have. Take it easy.

That's the worst, GG, but at least you're home safe and recovering now. I hope you feel better soon.

Surgery going well > Sucky hospital stay

Hope you have a speedy recovery, gg!

You seem to have come out of the tunnel better than you went in. That's a win in my book.

But ironically, I got an e-mail from my sister stating that my cousin is in the hospital for a 30-day stay. Leukemia. I had no idea.

But I did call said cousin, and we had a long-ish conversation, and things are going about as well as can be expected under those circumstances.

Leukemia is a really sucky cancer (I watch a lot of House). Though it is one that's treatable if caught early enough.

There's nothing simple about bone marrow treatments.

Good news on the surgery GG. My sympathies re the hospital "thang", but few hospitals are good places to be!

Fingers crossed for your meet with neuro-dude.

Glad about the news on the surgery, GG. Hope your cousin's treatments are very successful. You and your family will be in our thoughts!

I also wish your cousin well and am keeping your whole family in my prayers.....