Health Update

Health Update: James and I flew to Anchorage at 6:30 this morning to get to Providence Hospital to see the specialist about my neck this morning. (We could have slept in...He was LATE!) He didn't show up till around 10:30am.

Now to the details...He went thru all my records and MRI's. He agreed with my Dr. that my neck has gotten much worse and is at the point of no return. It has to be fixed. And the only way to fix it in the shape it is in is disc replacement.... So I have to have several tests done between now and the surgery, but then he is going to replace the disks in my neck at c-4 thru c-7.He did find that he thinks I have a shoulder problem also. (One more thing to add to my list!) So he warned me that when he fixes my neck my shoulder and arm will probably not get better. When I fell and hurt my neck I must have hurt something in my shoulder and because my neck hurt so bad and the pain seemed to radiate, everyone figured it was part of the same problem. So he thinks that down the road I need to have my shoulder checked into. Of course he told us this is ONLY my neck. the rest of my back and hip problems with have to be delt with later.It sounds like when it happens I will be in the hospital two to three days. He will go in with an incision in the front of my neck on the left side. It will essintially be two procedures in one. He will remove the discs at 4-5 and replace and then remove 6-7 then he will put in a metal plate to lock it all together.I will have a drainage tube for at least two days and then if things go good he will remove it and I will get to come home to bed for two weeks. Then rest for four more. Then back for MRI"s or CT...to check on the healing and make sure everything "took". Then when I feel like I am ready for the next round...on to the next rpair project!! 42 and I'm already in for replacement parts! LOL My warentty sure wore out quickly!Thank you all for all the prayers so far and for the continued ones. This is scary and I never wanted to have another surgery but I guess God has other plans and I for sure want my life back so if this is what it takes, this is what I will do.

Thanks you all. Loma, I don't know who all knows what on which tests any more...I'm so confused any more, so if I repeat I'm sorry. Here's the basics. No stroke or anurisms ~good. Found that I only have one working artery in the back of my ...neck leading to my head instead of two. The other one looks to be malformed from birth which could be a part of my headaches over the years but not life threatening.My neck is much worse, it is collapsing on itself which is crushing the nerves. So I will be refered to a speciallist in Anch. She thinks at the very least I will need two discs replaced in my neck for now to get some relief. As for my mid back where I get the bad back spasms. She said this is in an area that can not be operated on and even though the scoliosis is getting worse and more painful it is something I will just have to live with and moniter with pain meds as much as possible. Finally, my siatic (sp) nerve and hip. That was always a problem but carrying two huge baby boys on that spot just damaged it more. She said eventually there are a few things can be done to give me some relief but I still might end up with surgery on the hip or in a wheel chair over time if the nerve keeps staying inflamed at the rate it is.So basicaly, I'm a mess head to hip! Not quite head to toe like we always thought but pretty close! LOLI know my spelling is awful but my head hasn't quit hurting for about 8 days now and I can't even see straight any more so I'm sorry. Health wise~ believe it or not~ I am getting better!! My fibromialga is as painful as always, but I am completely off of blood pressure pills, which has shocked the Dr's. they all said I would be on them for life and after 5 years, I am off of them. My Thyroid is doing well and I am on my second month without any meds for that. I have managed, even while being on bed rest for the last year, to lose 56 lbs!! So some things are looking up! Now if I could quit hurting and get some sleep!