Breakthrough during surgery

[Qalba]

I recently had cervical fusion in Nashville Tennessee at Centenial Hospital. I alerted every specialist prior to admission and during admission and preop about my condition. I informed them that in 2011 I had a traumatic breakthrough of symptoms during an afternoon bunion procedure. We eliminated and modified medications. I requested the first surgery but was the second one scheduled at 9 a.m.

The previous surgery went over. My surgery was delayed until 11:30 am. I was prepped in the preop room during the delay. I requested to stand by my bed where I paced to help prevent a breakthrough of symptoms. That was successful. The nurse notified the postop staff of my condition and asked them to be aware of my history.

I was awoke in postop at 1:30 with severe pain as my spine was a mess. Nerves were twisted and covered in other tissue and had to be scraped. I was given fentanyl which brought the pain and headache from 10 to 8. My bed wasnext to a double door that banged shut five times every time it was used which was every 2 to 3 minutes. My RLS was triggered. My attending nurse was excellent, She stayed at my bedside giving comfort and helping me stay focused.

My transfer room was not available and I remained in postop until 5 pm. Rls continued. My nurse helped me stay focused. At one point she had to leVe for about 30 minutes but assured me other nurses would tend to me. The door and RLS continued. I called out for help. I asked To be transferred away from the door as there were other bays available. She said we can't and walked away. I sat up in bed and covered my head and my ears and rocked. Symptoms continued. I could not get assistance. I started cursing and asking for help. No assistance. I threw pillows off my bed. No assistance. Finally my first nurse returned, gave comfort and I calmed down. The other three nurses said that I was abusive and they didn't have to be treated like that. Shortly after that I was transferred to my room.

I am suppose to return in three months for lumbar surgery. This is so typical of what all of us go through with the medical treatment. We try and try.

The good news is that the surgery was mostly successful. There is still some numbness in my fingers. The pain is now managed now and RLS is under control.

Thank you for allowing me to tell my story. There is comfort in sharing and hope in continued research and education. I appreciate this group immensely. We will get through this together!

[Madlegs1]

Good for you to be firm with them.

Delighted that things are much better for you now and hoping stay good for you.

All the best.💚

[Qalba in reply to Madlegs1]

Thank you for the kind words!🙂

[RiversW]

Yikes! This is a huge concern for me if find myself in a similar situation. Happy you are home and feeling better! Take care.

[Rayme]

Thanks for your story, it sure is shocking that you were ignored and had to suffer and endure the RL as well as their awful attitude. Shows how easily any of us with RL could find ourselves in this situation. I hope you are now starting to feel better.

[SueJohnson]

I am so sorry you had to go through this but happy for you that things are better.

[Joolsg]

I am sorry you had to go through this. Hopefully you can now recover at home.

[Jumpey]

I'm so sorry you had to suffer.Good luck with your recovery.

[Munroist]

I don’t know what your medication history is but if you haven’t had dopamine agonists then they are very effective for stopping RLS and could potentially be used as a short term fix for the RLS to allow you to be still while you recover? I don’t take anything for my RLS apart from iron supplements but I have a small supply of ropinirole which I very occasionally take for a day or two if I’m away from home and somewhere where it’s difficult to get up and move around at night. I only use them as a last resort and probably a maximum of 10 times a year and they just allow me to sleep through. Obviously they are not a long term solution due to likely issues with augmentation and impulse control disorder but could be useful in these difficult circumstances for a short amount of time.

[ziggypiggy in reply to Munroist]

Excellent idea.

[Qalba in reply to Munroist]

Yes, good advice. I think it will be wise to address this with my doctor further. I might be able to try another med . I am reluctant to even mention any concern for fear any opioid will be unobtainable. It is so very difficult to get an opioid in this state.

[Qalba]

Thank you everyone. Third day postop now. I am home and pain is being managed now with just Tylenol. I wanted off Percocet as soon as I could. RLS symptoms are still managed. I am taking 10 mg of methadone at night.