Update

[greatbear]

First off, thanks a BUNCH for all the well-wishing, prayers and good vibes, because they apparently did some good. :)

Jeff got out of surgery a bit before noon, so far the operation is a success and he's recovering, albeit a tad groggily and sore. I visited him earlier today after the surgery, checked on him and then called his family and work and gave them the news so they could relax. I went home, did some things then came back around dinner time. He was already a bit better off, though the lack of service from the nurses, the guy in the semi-private room blasting his TV while loudly talking on the phone and the seemingly forever wait for his dinner make it a bit of a hell. Hopefully, though, he gets released as soon as possible. Then it's up to me to be the nurse. ;-)

Some background: Jeff has a degenerative disk disorder of the 6th and 7th vertebrae which pinches the nerves running to his arms, giving him carpal tunnel-like symptoms. This effect was reduced in the past with subdural injections of a steroid which would shrink the nerves to help alleviate the pinching, but as time went on, this method of treatment became ineffective. He finally bit the bullet and is having the surgery done, which involved opening up the junction between the disk and vertebrae and inserting a 'spacer' of bone inside. The bone will then fuse into the vertebrae and open up the space between them allowing the nerve to no longer be pinched. The kicker here is that there was a choice of sources for the bone, which could come from the upper 'horn' of the pelvis (ending up with another surgery site that more often than not is more painful than the neck site) or, strangely enough, from a cadaver. We picked the latter. The procedure has been mostly successful, without 'rejection' issues that you might think would happen.

Me being, well, me, during the time I was talking to his doctor about the procedure and the various options, made sense of what goes on. I softened up the tense air in the room by saying that I repair cars and other stuff with used parts, so why should people be any different? The doc also said that after a short rest that Jeff should not simply hang around the house, instead he should get out and do shopping, walks, etc (no lifting or that sort of thing, staying in the restrictions). I asked the doc if I could take him to a Metallica concert while banging my head and showing my \m/ DIO \m/ fingers. Doc laughingly shot that idea down unfortunately. Poor Jeff turned beet red. Think what you will about the 'other' use for tossing one's head in such a fashion. Appreciated bonus: the doc was very cool about us being partners and worked together with us as if we were any other couple. Same with the rest of the hospital staff, really. Living in Columbia does have some benefits I guess.

Anyway, I'll post more when I know more. And I thank everyone for their encouraging words and thoughts. They mean more to me than you know.

Peace.

Comments

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Glad everything went well!

Uh...ruh...

...ok, it could just be 'cause it's 12:30 and I'm tired, but I'm sure I'm missing something here. What are \m/ DIO \m/ fingers?

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Ronnie James Dio used to run about on stage doing the 'devil horns' with his hands about umpteen dozen years ago. To demonstrate: Find and play your favorite comedically demonic heavy metal. Extend the index and pinky fingers on both hands while holding the other fingers down with your thumbs. Raise hands in air a la Nixon's 'peace sign' pose. Toss head in a Beavis/Butthead fashion.

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

hey! you beat me!

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

\m/ w00t! \m/

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

put your thumbs over your two curved in middle fingers to achieve above mentioned "rock on" status. Your homework assignment will be to watch Wayne's World over and over.

[beastbriskett.livejournal.com]

Happy to hear Jeff's in the clear!
How about you do him a Metallica video? Just to cheer him up...

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I showed Jeff the current round of videos (including mine) last night. He got the biggest kick outta them. Especially yours! Both of us wanna pick ya up and hug the stuffin' outta ya just for that.

[thepozlife.livejournal.com]

I happy to hear that the surgery went well. It was also great to hear about the doctor and hospital staff treating the both you as any other couple.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Columbia has a remarkably large yet nearly completely 'invisible' (meaning well-integrated and accepted) gay community. At one time I believe it was also the 'interracial marriage capitol of the U.S.'. It may still be.

[bearlover.livejournal.com]

Good to hear Jeff is doing well. The surgery he had sounds alot like the one my brother had. He opted for the cadaver thing as well.

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

good news! thanks for the update!

so...are ya gonna wear a candy striper outfit Nurse G. Bearmd?

[aadroma.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Jeff's (more or less) in the clear, and hey -- you got him to blush! Bonus.

I really hope I find a hospital that'll be like that with me and Carl~~

"Yeah, I'm in a mosh pit, but my doctor said it's okay! OW MY KIDNEY!"

[le-lapin.livejournal.com]

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

So how long until he CAN rock out with DIO horns, or the other thing that involves bobbing his neck? :)

Glad to hear it went well.

If you can't take him to the concert...

[disccub.livejournal.com]

Let him make his own concert

[daxcub.livejournal.com]

Give em a big, but not too tight, hug from me with my best wishes on get'n his butt outta bed - unless there are some special, non-traditional physical therapy sessions I'm not aware of! :) HUGZ!

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

*HUG*

[musicmanchicago.livejournal.com]

glad to hear tha things are going better handsome

[brinah.livejournal.com]

Healing thoughts and prayers!