Saturday, October 7, 2017

Surgery to fix pesky finger tendons

It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit
 - J.R.R Tolkien


I attempted to start writing this post last week however soon learnt that typing with one hand was tedious to say the least. I have now advanced to having seven free fingers so lets see how this goes...in advance please excuse any grammar errors in this post. My brain is still feeling pretty foggy. 

Just a little recap in case you have just started following my journey in June I had my first appointment with a hand surgeon in Auckland to talk about the difficulty I was having with my left 4th and 5th fingers. This had been an ongoing issue for about ten years and had just steadily got worse. For me, Lupus has taken a shine to my hands for some reasons which has left my fingers curled and stretched into some pretty unnatural angles.The tendons in my hands have taken a beating to put it lightly. 

After xrays, MRI's and one more appointment his diagnosis was:
incompetent extensor hoods, recurrent subluxations extensor tendon left 4th and 5th MCP joints causing secondary swan neck deformities.

In simple terms when I attempted to make a fist the tendons would slip (sublux) off my knuckles causing pain, swelling and a loud click this was now causing deformities in my fingers due to the stress being put on the tendons. Attempts to improve this will splinting had failed so surgery was my next option.

The video below shows the difficulty I had attempting to make a fist... 



Today I am seventeen days post surgery. 
Seventeen days filled with an array of emotions and new leanings perhaps my biggest being able to put my bra on with one hand!!
Seventeen days of time feeling like its going by so slowly to the realisation that I am now able to achieve more than a shower in my days. 
Seventeen days of swallowing pain medication or being told off for trying to be brave and not to take them. 
Seventeen days of anticipation, relief, pain, nervousness, frustration, tears, comfort, laughter, joy and love so much love! 

By the time it came to my surgery I felt physically and mentally ready. The timing was right and thanks to a three week pain rehabilitation inpatient stay my body felt strong enough to handle a surgery. I was confident I was going in prepared. It was time to get this next chapter started and then closed so I could begin to focus on living and not merely surviving. 

The week before surgery I was lying in bed with Dan and jokingly said  "will you still love me with a bung hand?"  his reply was " hunny you do realsie you already have a bung hand?"

20th October 2017 - Surgery day 

Mum and I traveled to Auckland the afternoon before and spent the night with our friends. Originally I wasn't due to be at the hospital until 2pm so this was going to make for one long day but thankfully the surgery timetable had been changed and now I was due in at 11am. I woke up at 7am and washed my morning medication down with a tiny sip of water. 

I then took a nice long shower and made sure to stop and appreciate being able to use two hands as I washed my hair. 'Soon you will have to do that with one hand' 'Soon you are going to have to ask for help to do that'. 

Mum and I drove into the city and found the hospital; Auckland Surgical Center. We were early so mum suggested we should go for a walk and look at some shops to fill in time. We walked into one shop and were greeted by a bubbly shop assistant who asked how our day was going? I plastered on a smile and said 'good thanks'...that wasn't a lie so far my day was going good lets just hope it stayed that way. 

Mum found some clothes she wanted to try on while I couldn't get my mind off the fact that I was having surgery soon. Mum asked if I was getting nervous and I replied I was okay I just couldn't focus on shopping when I was about to have my hand cut into. Before we knew it it was time to head into the hospital. 

Deep breaths as I walked. I was ready! I can do this! The receptionist greeted us with a cheery smile and proceeded to check me in. I was handed a menu and asked to pick what I wanted for dinner...I was in a hospital not a hotel right? That thought was quickly swept away as I was asked to go into the changing room and put on a gown. We were then taken through into the waiting room where I would now sit until it was time for surgery. I look over at Mum and smile and say ' well here we go again!' The two of us are pretty used to waiting rooms by now. 

I was called in to see the nurse where we went over my extensive medical history. Then she checked my blood pressure and heart rate which once she saw the results informed me I would need an ECG because my heart rate was high. No surprises there! I was then given compression stockings to put on and she even proceeded to shave my arm. 

Next it was the Anesthetist turn to be graced by my complex medical needs. Soon any anxieties I had were quickly replaced with relief. I felt in extremely capable and knowledgeable hands. I am reassured that I will be given enough medication to put me to sleep and keep me comfortable but he will not pump me full of medication. Just the right amount! I am also told he will give me a nerve block in my hand to provide post operative pain relief. I raise the issue of me being on long term Prednisone and he informs me they will give me a stress dose to assist my body and also give me IV antibiotics because I am more at risk of developing infections. 

The final person who comes to see me is my Surgeon armed with his black vivid. He proceeds to outline where he intends to make the incisions. "See you in theater very soon" Then he is gone and we are left to wait until it is my turn. 

Surgery on my 4th and 5th fingers on my left hand to re-balance tendons and repair swan neck deformities


At about 1.30pm I was told that it was now my turn. After a big hug from Mum and few more deep breaths I was taken into theater. I remember as soon as I walked in shuddering with how cold the room was. I was taken by the arm by a nurse and told they had a warm blanket ready for me. I laid on the operating table and was covered in a cocoon of warm blankets. Next I had a headband like device placed on my forehead which was going to measure my brain waves throughout surgery. The Anesthetist assures me it won't tell them my bank account number. Then he is by my right arm and inserts a cannula where I will receive my medicine. The last thing I remember is him saying they are going to give me something to relax and with that it was now up to my surgeon to work his magic. 

The thing I was most nervous about in regards to surgery was how I was going to feel and react to the anesthetic when waking up. I have a vivid memory of waking up after my knee surgery and being in the most horrendous pain then the world going black again (thanks morphine). I then spent that night continuously throwing up and here's one for you being unable to pee which resulted in me having to have a catheter. I think we just reached a new level of sharing! 

This time my experience was the complete opposite I am pleased to report! I wake up in the recovery room and the nurse is bringing me a lemonade ice block. No pain, no nausea...did I even have surgery? I look down at my hand and there is no denying the fact I had surgery. My arm is in a bulky cast but thanks to the nerve block I cannot feel any pain. 

From the recovery room I was taken to my room where I would spend the night. The surgeon comes in and tell me that everything went well. His opening sentence was "well Lupus is a shit disease to get" I reply, "you don't have to tell me that!" The operation was a bit more extensive than he thought and he found my tendons in a worse state than he was expecting. However he was able to do everything he wanted. My operation took just over an hour. I thank him and before I know it I hear a familiar voice and am reunited with Mum. Next thing Mum is taking a photo which is being sent to family and friends to let them know I am okay. We speak to Dad on the phone as he is away at a conference and I assure him I really am doing well. I can almost hear him breathe a big sigh of relief.  




The next friendly face to enter my room was my beautiful best friend Josy! This was one of the major perks of having the surgery in Auckland knowing that I would get to see her. She is quick to tell me this is the best she has ever seen me so soon after a surgery. Then we hear one more familiar voice down the hallway and are joined by Laura. It is so nice to be surrounded by so many caring and loving souls especially while being away from home. 

My dinner arrives and without even having to ask Josy is beside me starting to cut it up. I manage to eat a bit of dinner and before long a wave of exhaustion hits me. I reassure Mum that I am okay and for her and Laura to go and get dinner. It has been such a long day for her as well! Josy says she will stay and get me ready for bed. Mum tells me she is so proud of me and that she will see me in the morning. 

Josy has always had this way of knowing exactly what I need even when I don't know myself. The first step was to brush my teeth and wash my face. See I probably would have stopped there and just got back into bed. Josy suggests I get out of the hospital gown and she will help me put my pjs on. Much better! Then finally I sit on my bed and she plaits my hair. Have I said how thankful I am for her?! The nurse comes in to check my blood pressure and heart rate and I am told I need to lie back for a little while...thanks heart rate! Josy covers me in my blankets and I thank her for everything she has done for me. "Liv I wouldn't be anywhere else". 

I snuggle down and close my eyes but I am conscious of the fact that I am going to be woken at 10pm for my dose of IV antibiotics. I put my headphones in and doze in and out until the nurse arrives. After my antibiotics I am asked 'what is your pain score now?' with a puzzled look on my face I say '0'. I was beginning to feel a bit like a fraud. Here I was just had surgery and I had NO pain while the lady in the room next to me struggled to gain any relief. To say I was thankful for no pain was an understatement. I am reminded that the nerve block will wear off but to enjoy it while it lasted. The only pain medication I was taking was Panadol.

Sleep was pretty hard to find that night but I was expecting that. Between bells ringing, a four hourly Panadol schedule, two lots of IV Prednsione and antibiotics and regular temperature, blood pressure and heart rate checks there wasn't much time to sleep. My cast and all the pillows needed to elevate my arm seemed to take up most of the room on my bed so there wasn't much room for me to get comfortable. 

Early the next morning the Anesthetist came in to see how I was doing and I remember telling him I wanted to take him back home with me. I said to him how much easier the recovery so far had been since I had no reaction to the anesthetic. The nerve block also meant I did not require any heavy duty pain medications which helped prevent the drowsiness and nausea. I ask him if the nerve block will wear off slowly or quickly. I am told it varies; some people will get a tingly feeling and the pain will slowly increase or other people it just goes from not being sore to suddenly you feel everything. I nervously laugh and hope I am not that second person. I am told to stay on top of taking my Panadol and not to just wait for it to get extremely sore because then it is harder to gain control back. 

The Surgeon was next to visit who was pleased I was pain free. I told I am to stay in the cast until I see him in twelve days time where he will take the stitches out and I will then go into a splint. Now it is up to my body to see how I recover. He has done the hard work in giving me the best chance of a better functioning hand and now its my bodies turn to start to heal. 

My breakfast is brought in and this is when I learn my first lesson...The health care assistant places my breakfast in front of me and asks if I would like her to butter my toast without even thinking the words 'oh I can do it thank you' come out of my mouth I then glance down at my hand look at her and laugh and change my answer to 'thank you I will need some help'
Yep...asking for and accepting help does not come naturally for me.  

Mum comes in and is happy to see that I am still in no pain. I decide I want to have a shower before we begin the drive home. The nurse comes in and wraps my hand up in a plastic sleeve and I am given clear instructions by Mum to yell out if I need help. My first one handed shower was successful...get changed was a little harder and something I could not quiet do by myself.  

Before I knew it I had been discharged and was sitting in the car about to travel home and it was only 9.30am! I tell myself to enjoy the feeling of my hand not hurting because as the hours ticked away I knew I was getting closer to it wearing off. I just hoped we could get most of the way home. 

We got two hours into our drive when I could feel my hand start to become achy and throbbing. It was time to get some painkillers on board. Codeine did the trick and then I slept a lot of the way home. 

It was so nice to finally snuggle up in my own bed and be back in my home environment. Now the real healing and recovery can begin. I take immense comfort in knowing I am surrounded by the most amazing amount of love, care and support. 

Turns out I can type quiet well with seven fingers but I will end this post here and my next blog post will continue on with my recovery and explain more in depth what the surgeon did to my fingers...I have just realised that might have not even been explained. I found out specifically what the surgeon did once I got sent my discharge summary so I will include all those details next time. 

Finally I want to thank everyone who sent me messages, prayed for me, thought of me and who were there for me. Surgery is a scary process even when you have done it before but having an incredible support team can truly make all the difference. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!