Surgery on Wed

[Jsail]

Going in Wednesday morning to get right rotator cuff worked on.
I won't miss the physical therapy and medication that have I've been through the last 13 months. The 3 to 6 weeks of recuperation from surgery is going to be a challenge. I'm hoping to make it 2 to 3. The real issue is going to be learning to do things with my left hand for a while. Try using your mouse with your other hand for a day :tongue:.
Your prayers for the doctors and me are appreciated.
John

[stoneflyguy]

My prayers are with you and a fast recovery. I get a chance to assist in these surgerys often and although they are quick, they are painful and hard to recover from. I hope you can get out and cast a rod soon. You will be in my thoughts Wed. Good Luck and happy hunting or fishing.. :wink:

[CHROME CATCHER]

i've had shoulder problems for years, but have finally been able to get them healthy. don't push the recovery to quickly, it's just not worth it. take your time and you'll be glad you did. take care and heal smart :cheers:

[DAB]

I will pray for guidence of the DO. and for you that all will go well and for a speedy recovery.
DAB
If you have to use the mouse with your left hand you should change the function of the mouse buttons, it will make it much easeier.

[letsfish]

I'f with CC don't rush things, do what they tell you to do, above all don't push yourself. Healing happens. Rushing is asking for a wreck. If you get discouraged picture where you want to be a year out. Just don't push yourself.
And you bet, I will pray for you and your doctors.

[ampersat]

May God bless you with an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery. Take your time with the recovery part. It's almost more important than the surgery itself.

[rags]

My prayers are with you. Stay positive and don't rush the recovery period. You will be ready for Spring Chinook!

[Jsail]

Here I am to reply to my own post. Typing with both hands and occasionally using the mouse. Everything worked out great! They had told me that the pain would be fairly severe for two to three days after surgery; HAW, they are wrong! It's a little stiff but not sore enough to need pain medicine by any means.
Brother Small Fry picked me up a little before 7 and drove me to the hospital. Was putting on that silly gown 15 minutes later and getting holes for IV poked in me right after that. At 9:00 they wheeled me into the day surgery prep and poked some more holes for nerve block. That was fun; they insert a needle just below your collar bone and you tell them when your thumb twitches.
Next thing I know I'm coming down the hall after surgery. Sometime just before surgery they give you something that wipes out your short term memory, you can only wonder why. Anyway I don't remember all the people that came in to check on me after surgery, but the surgical tech said he was there 5 times.
The nurse told me I could get dressed now and set my clothes on the chair and just stood there. Me being anxious to get some fresh air jumped right up. Not a good way to start. As I got up my arm slides out of the sling, no pain, thats good. I reached down to grab the sling with my left and try to slide my arm back in. Nothing, it's not working. The nurse reminds me of the nerve block and say it will ware of in 12 to 24hrs.
Every thing was fine until later in the night when I went to lay down on the bed. I lay down and realized that I wasn't getting any oxygen. All I could do was get like a 1/3 of a breath. PANIC! I jumped up and ran down the hall (for some reason). I realized that I was breathing like one of those people having a panic attack. I tried to calm down and it got a little better. Decided I better call someone. Found the paper work from the doctor and finally, after being put on hold twice (GASP GASP) got the surgical tech. He said that the nerve to your diaphragm is right next to the one to your arm and that some of the drug may have oozed that direction. He said that I would be alright if I slept in more of a upright position. I felt much better knowing why but didn't sleep much through the night.
I finally got moving around about 8:30, the nerve blocker wore off of my arm and I could move it. It felt a little stiff when it got to about 45 deg, but no pain. It's still stiff but I can use the mouse, tie my shoes and I don't make any more of a mess feeding myself than before all this.
I plan on taking it slow and following most of the doctors instructions (I couldn't wait another day for a shower).

Thanks to all, for your prayers and kind thoughts. Thanks also to Small Fry and others for there help and offers.

I was told that the doctor that did all this is one of the best. I heard this from every professional that had a piece of this. If any of you need a Orthopedic guy, just ask.

[letsfish]

Great update! I'll keep praying for ya for a while, good to hear things are going well.