I’m alive! And not disabled. (I don’t say that lightly, it’s scary to have someone poking around near your spinal cord.) The absolute worst part of the whole experience was putting the IV in my hand. I almost cried.
The news is bad. The diagnosis is even worse than it was before I went in for the procedure. But I’m sleepy from the Benadryl so I’ll tell you about that another time.
Why all the Benadryl? Cuz I’m itchier than I’ve ever been. They suspect it is due to the Vicodin, but I’m still taking it because it feels so much nicer than when I don’t. Back surgery makes your back sore if you didn’t know.
I just had to take a typing break to scratch my arm. Then my face. Then my legs. Then my chest.
But I have the best nurses ever between That Mom and That Husband. Want to know something weird? I had pee-stipation. Have you ever had that? When we first got home I had to go pee so bad but it was coming out soooooooo slowly. Has this ever happened to you?
That Mom thinks it is sweltering. I’ve been keeping ice packs on my back so it hasn’t been that bad for me.
I didn’t think I’ve been affected by the Vicodin mentally until I started writing this post. This is all over the place isn’t it? I’m going to stop tying before I say something embarassing. Thanks for all of the comments, facebook messages, text messages, and tweets. You guys are all the nicest of the nice.
Anyone want to see a picture of what my back looks like with the bandage off?
May 13th, 2009 on 4:42 pm
Oh my goodness! I just discovered your blog today and spent the better part of the day reading through it… the weight loss, the wedding, the Sunday posts… interesting reading, all of it! But I had to post here because it looks like I’ve happened in on your life in some-what of a trying time. I’ll be thinking of you, keeping up with the posts and hoping for the best! Best wishes to you, TH, and all your other nurses and loved ones.
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Thanks Laura.
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May 13th, 2009 on 4:47 pm
I do! Because I’m gross like that.
I’m glad you’re ok though. But worried about the diagnosis – let us know soon!
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May 13th, 2009 on 5:48 pm
yes! Gross pictures, for the win!!!!
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May 13th, 2009 on 5:50 pm
Uhh, do the no-bandage picture with a warning and maybe a cutaway for the weak of stomach, please. Usually I’m good but the idea of looking into your back wound kinda freaks me out.
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MrsW Reply:
May 13th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
and because I’m absent-minded like that (I don’t even have vicodin as an excuse, hah!) I’m glad to hear you came through surgery okay. I’m also reeeeeally hoping that the bad diagnosis is something that they were able to just fix poking around in there already. Don’t hurt yourself with the scratching!
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Was the picture I put up too gross? I was really worried that it would be too much but I didn’t think it would be.
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MrsW Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I was actually surprisingly good with it. Amazing what switching back to regular multivitamins from prenatals for a couple days can do for a person.
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May 13th, 2009 on 5:52 pm
It’s TOTALLY your pills. I itch really bad from it. I am not allergic…so I dunno it is it just normal to itch. But yes……I get really scratchy too. Not at 1st but as they start to wear off after maybe 3 hours…I itch and itch and itch.
I am really sorry that the news is bad and like most people…I am totally waiting for an update to learn more. I hope the news isn’t terrible
Take care!
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May 13th, 2009 on 5:59 pm
YES! Photos!!
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May 13th, 2009 on 6:09 pm
I got HORRIFICLY itchy post-surgery and discovered it was from the morphine that was still in my body, not the lovely vics that were helping the pain.
Drink lots of water (good for flushing out whatever is making you itchy) and I hope that your bad news is something that’s been fixed while you were in the shop
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May 13th, 2009 on 6:43 pm
You, my friend, are high as a kite.
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:32 pm
My mom loved this comment. And then grounded me from answering emails or writing any more posts.
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May 13th, 2009 on 6:43 pm
It’s the drugs. When they ask me “what are you allergic to?” my only answer is “morphine.” I get the same rash as you have… as Corey said, it’s just the stuff trying to get out of you.
In the future (hopefully not… but just to know) ask for demerol instead.
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May 13th, 2009 on 7:16 pm
I’m glad to here that your surgery didn’t leave you disabled. Lucky you to have both that mom and that husband there!
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May 13th, 2009 on 7:29 pm
Yes! Please post gross photos! I love them!!!:)
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May 13th, 2009 on 7:52 pm
I just read your title again……haha
Were you singing “Backstreet’s back….. alright!” ??
I just read it and it made me sing that….haha
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Yes, I was thinking Backstreet when I wrote that. I was a middle schooler when they made the scene so I was ALL over them.
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May 13th, 2009 on 7:59 pm
Glad you are up and around enough to post your thoughts. I’ve had the itchy experience from pain meds before. This sounds crazy, but you know what helped for me? Baby powder. Sprinkled it all over my body, and it seemed to quell the itch. (Works for mosquito bites too!) And about the unbandaged pics… my first response is don’t post them, but I know I’ll look if you do.
Feel better soon!
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May 13th, 2009 on 8:08 pm
I hope that like another poster said — that your news is something that was fixed up good during surgery. Let us know what’s going on!!
And I’ll pass on additional photos.
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May 13th, 2009 on 8:27 pm
I’m an Australian based fan of your weddingbee blog, but just found your blog and was dismayed to see you have been in for surgery! I’m currently at home recuperating from an asthma attack that landed me in ICU, so I totally sympathise with your IV induced tears!
Feel better and I am so sorry to hear the diagnosis was not quite what you wanted.
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May 13th, 2009 on 8:29 pm
P.S. I have had pee-stipation. After I had my appendix out last year (yeah – bad health luck much?) I could not pee no matter how much I wanted to. It turned out it was because of all the painkillers they were giving me and the fact that the anesthetic was still wearing off for up to a week after, and it messes with your “functionality”.
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Apparently going pee was a pre-requisite before they released me from the hospital! I was glad I was able to “perform” under so much pressure.
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May 13th, 2009 on 8:30 pm
Hope you feel better ASAP!! And be careful taking Vicodin for too long — I’ve been on and off them for years because of hip/back problems since birth, and each time I have to go off, if I’ve taken them for more than 2-3 days, I CANNOT SLEEP for a week because I’ve become so dependent on them for knocking me out!
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May 13th, 2009 on 8:55 pm
Feel better soon! I hope the news isn’t too too bad… Rest up and good luck with the peeing
Oh PS, bring on the back pictures!
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May 13th, 2009 on 9:03 pm
Hi Jenna!
sorry for the itchiness! totally from the vicoden!
Also the urinary retention (the pee-stipation) is from the anesthesia you received, hope it wears off soon!!
hehe.. remember the taboo buzzer I told you about!!
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May 13th, 2009 on 9:17 pm
Feel better soon. I too have had pee-sipation. Very unpleasant!
Also, would love the un bandaged pic
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May 13th, 2009 on 10:12 pm
I’m glad your surgery went ok! I like gross medical pictures but then I’m also weird like Ruby Slippers.
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May 13th, 2009 on 10:16 pm
Good luck with your recovery, Jenna!
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May 13th, 2009 on 10:57 pm
Definitely
Glad you are doing well, minus the itching. Benadryl tastes gross too. ick!
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May 13th, 2009 on 11:29 pm
Feel better soon!
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May 13th, 2009 on 11:37 pm
So glad you are feeling better! And I’m gross so yeah, I wanna see what’s under the bandage!
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May 13th, 2009 on 11:43 pm
Yay you’re out and doing well! Get lots of good rest and make TH and TM wait on you hand and foot- and back!
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May 14th, 2009 on 3:21 am
Glad to hear you’re (semi-) ok. Here’s to a speedy recovery.
And yeah, I’ve had pee-stipation when on drugs too… except in my case they were recreational. Ah, those were the days. (I’m kidding of course.)
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Cate Subrosa Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 3:22 am
(Kidding about the “those were the days bit” – the rest is true. Just in case you wondered…)
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I love you. I really, really love you.
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May 14th, 2009 on 8:59 am
Glad to hear you’re doing (mostly) well! Hope you have a fast recovery and I, for one, would love to see the pictures.
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May 14th, 2009 on 9:02 am
Glad that you’re semi-lucid.
)
Still keeping you in my prayers as you recover.
And lastly, I vote no for an unbandaged pic. Unless there is a stern warning in the post’s title which would alert me to icky-ness. I have a weak stomach. What can I say.
P
Feel better dear!
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May 14th, 2009 on 10:26 am
Glad that you’re doing ok. Back surgery is scary, since the spine is responsible for so much!
You show me your pictures and I’ll show you mine! I had my gallbladder removed in December, I’ve got a few pictures of my swollen stomach. When I had my surgery, they gave me hydrocodone and two days later we found out that I was severely allergic when I couldn’t keep any food down and I was itching all over. Imagine having sore tummy muscles from surgery and then having those spasm when you throw up. Yeah, not fun.
You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers! Here’s to a speedy recovery.
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May 14th, 2009 on 10:37 am
Welcome back! The day of your surgery, I was praying for you. Sorry to hear the diagnosis is worse than anticipated.
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May 14th, 2009 on 12:24 pm
I am glad you are doing okay! Of course I want see your wound! But hence I am in 911. So all good… Well you are in our prayers!
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May 14th, 2009 on 12:47 pm
First, Jenna, let me say HI!! You captivated me as Mrs. Avacado on WB, and now I ‘stalk’ you via my Google Reader and Twitter, but I have never commented before. I’m so glad your surgery went well.
Now that I thought of something semi-interesting to ask/say, I thought it would be a good time to comment!
I’m just curious if the LDS faith has any stances on any medical procedures or the like (i.e. Catholicism does not condone contraception, Jehovah Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, etc.)?
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Other than abortion, not that I know of. We accept abortion in cases of danger to the mother and cases of rape, but just those two.
For the most part, the Church stays out of personal decisions and tells us they are up to us as a couple/individual. Prayer, faith, fasting, etc, should be used to make those decisions.
I didn’t know that Jehovah’s Witness won’t do blood transfusions!
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May 14th, 2009 on 4:19 pm
HI Jenna! I live in your home town Royal City and love your blog! I just had the same back surgery Monday the 4th so I can completely sympathize with you!
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Jenna Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Melanie who are you? Don’t I know all the people in Royal? Are YOU the one spreading rumors that I’m pregnant?
JK
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May 14th, 2009 on 6:36 pm
YIKES! Good luck and I hope the itching stops. Aveeno bath might help. I’m prone to hives and Benadryl and things have helped me.
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May 20th, 2009 on 2:03 am
[...] my first post back after the surgery I hinted that the diagnosis post-surgery was even worse than the news before. TH and TM filled me [...]