First surgeries are scary stuff
I often joke that I’m the “nurse” for my family and friends because when someone gets sick or has a sick baby, they usually ask me what I suggest. Most of the time I have answers from my short experience as a mother. I should clarify that my experience is a bit different since my children were both preemies, but it is still fairly short in time. 
Anyway, today I got an unknown boost from the hubby when we went to his doctor’s appt. We had to set up a surgery for him and weren’t even sure how serious it would be. Apperantly the recover is serious enough that they usually have a nurse come out to check the dressings. Jason told the doctor that we didn’t need the nurse because he knew I could handle it and take care of him. 
In the end, we did decide to have the nurse come out at least once just so that I make sure I’m doing the dressing properly, but it was a boost to know that he puts so much faith into me.
Next week I’ll be on here a lot because I’m not sure how well Jason will be after his surgery. It’s a big deal for him because he’s never ever had a surgery before. I’m not sure how he made it to 25 without having at least one, but he did, lol. He’s going in to remove a Pilonidal cyst at the base of his back. Ironically, the surgeon is the one who finally told us exactly what was wrong. It had been misdiagnosed as a fissure. No harm done since the surgeries for the removal of both are performed by the same surgeon. It’s going to be a fairly long road for recovery. From what we’ve read and what the doctor said, he’s going to need at least 3-4 weeks, maybe months before he can return to his full activities. This means no work for at least a week and maybe longer. If he goes back to work but not doing his normal job, he’ll be able to go back much sooner. We’re not sure how the company will go for that, but his boss is cool, so hopefully they’ll give him a temp desk job.
The big loss is the bowling tourney that Jason entered last night. It’s the weekend after St. Patty’s Day and Jason won’t be able to because that’s just barely three weeks away. It would be pushing the recovery and we don’t even go back to the surgeon til St. Patty’s Day. 
I’m really bummed about that. I was going to volunteer and I might still, if he volunteers, too. But it will bite when he wants to actually participate and won’t be able to.
This is only his first major surgery this year. He’s also going to most likely have knee surgery done. He’s not looking forward to that either, because it’s another long recovery period and he’ll miss more work and bowling. The only plus side is that these surgeries will relieve a lot of his pain and will, in the end, make him a lot healthier and happier. It’s the process of getting to the end that is going to make him miserable.
I’m grateful that I’ll be here to help him through this. It’s going to be tough and this year isn’t shaping up to be very easy on us at all. It’s just one of those years where a lot of major events are happening. Some are good, some are not so good, but all have to take place. When it rains, it pours, lol.
If you’d like to understand Pilonidal cyst surgery more, I suggest you read this great FAQ from Pilonidal.org. We found it extremely helpful in understanding everything. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to write up my experiences with dermagraphism for a visitor who left a comment in my photos section.
February 19th, 2004 at 2:49 pm
I hope all goes well for you two. By the way, be sure to ask them if an anesthesiologist will be present during the entire operation. It’s mandetory, because wrong amount of anesthesia can kill a person.
February 19th, 2004 at 4:32 pm
I have a small story that might make Jason’s surgery seem minor, and maybe help him feel lucky instead of cursed.
My dad was hit in the head/body by a 10′ long, 12-18″ wide steel heating pipe while at work (weighing, they guessed, over 150-180 pounds), it fell 3 stories and flattened him to the ground. Everyone that saw it thought he was dead. He got up a few seconds later, dazed of course, and was fine it seemed, besides some bruises and such. They X-rayed his shoulder and gave him a clean bill of health. He went back to work the next day… For almost a few months he kept going back to work, with not much wrong it seemed, until things just sort of got worse in his neck. Skip ahead a little bit… It ended up he totally burst 1-2 discs in his neck, with 2-3 others close to it and deteriorating still. Discs are the sacs between your vertebrae…irreparable directly. The only relief is to fuse vertebrae together. Today, he is 100% totally disabled from working and looks like a twig he is so thin (btw, this accident was in late 01). He has his 3rd and hopefully last surgery coming up to pretty much fuse his entire neck together, fix a titanium wire that popped lose in his neck and rubbing his nerve cord. This is causing swelling, numbness, pain and more all just from the nerve. He was told to decrease his meds he is taking right now because after this next surgery that will happen within weeks, they wont be able to give him any more if he doesn’t taper off some now. The pills he takes now (type and amount) would probably kill, or close to it, a normal person if they were to take one dose of them. To top it all off, he has a pinching nerve cord in his shoulder that he landed on when he was hit. That may be slightly relieved by this next surgery, but may need shoulder surgery later on. I am amazed how he has made it through these past few years hardly able to do anything, in severe pain, but he keeps on trucking.
Him and I are not asking for sympathy, I just wanted to tell his story that hopefully it will inspire others to realize they maybe don’t have things so bad.
February 19th, 2004 at 7:48 pm
I wonder if this is what Darren has had…. One on his arm and one someplace else. I can’t remember where now… seems like it was on his back or neck.
“Can you get Pilonidal Cysts in other places?” - Yes. These cysts have been reported in the Umbilicus (Navel), between the fingers on the hand, on the breast, in the pubic region and in the armpit - however, each of these locations is very rare.
February 20th, 2004 at 4:49 am
Sometimes you have to go through pain to come out the other end ok. I dont envy Jason going and having this surgery done,:curtain: but i have helped my mum through two operations on her knee, made life so much better for her. Sure there is going to be some pain, but then think of the up sides he gets to spend more time with his children and wife,:love: he gets to watch all the tv he usually misses, he gets to sleep in late after the pain starts to go away a bit, and the pain killers do wonders im told, :vampire: he might get to see what it is like to have a shaved leg, then he can get back at denise when the hair grows back and starts to be spikey (in case denise ever did that of course) :silly: and the fun of having everyone at his beck and call, lolol. Might be a good idea before he gets his knee done to find out about how he will be able to shower as you cant get the bandage wet.
With my mum we got a seat thing that went on the sides of the bath so she could sit on it, but if you have a shower recess, im not to sure what he can use, ive heard from other people who have had the knees done and it was much easier to have a bath for the first week anyhow, as his knee will be weak and he wont be able to hold his body up properly, maybe you can rent something or contact someone at a hospital.
I could get rude here but im just thinking, :gossip: jason think of the things you have been struggling with to do with denise and maybe you will be able to do them really easy afterwards :sex:
February 20th, 2004 at 10:30 am
Good luck with the surgery. I wish they could figure out what’s wrong with my hubby’s back. He’s had 2 MRI’s this past year, they said the last two discs(forgot what they are called) are deteriorating (spelling)on one side and bulging on the other. Bugt they keep saying nothing is wrong, yet the pain is getting worse for him. Oh, and Brad bowls too. He’s going to the state tourny and they they are going to nationals in reno. Well, I’d better get going. Oh, and knee surgery is all that bad depending on what has to be done, remeber mine? Take care hun.