More Opinions Columnists

• V.B. Price: Preserving our water is greatest challenge the city, state faces
• Jeffry Gardner: End of The Trib is part of the demise of serious journalism
• Katherine Augustine: Time with friends from Japan provides treasured memories

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

On Nov. 29, 2006, I underwent a hysterectomy that was long overdue. In the recovery room, I awoke to an alarming new medical issue.

I was numb from the waist down and had severe swelling after lying on my back for several hours, causing extreme pressure on a congenital birth defect called spina bifida.

The numbness was identical to the effects of Novocain. The symptom was not only frightening but also dangerous. Before my surgery, I could feel the position of my legs and knew if I was sitting on something bigger than a soda can, and I had muscle control in my hips.

Suddenly, I had to rely on other people to position me correctly when I sat up, roll me over to prevent pressure sores while lying down and make sure no debris was left underneath me.

This was terrifying and frustrating. I knew I might have some discomfort from lying on my back during surgery, but I expected nothing more than a severe backache and some stiffness. This new issue had all of us going over the details of the surgery, trying to figure out if my numbness and swelling were temporary.

A neurosurgeon was consulted. I could have a spinal hematoma in the spina bifida sac; or a crushing of the nerves that protruded at the waist causing permanent damage; or a simple compression of the nerves in the fluid sac that could repair itself over time.

My primary doctor wanted to do an MRI scan, but I couldn't lie flat. A spinal tap was mentioned, which I quickly refused.

The team worried that I might have had another blood clot and suggested Doppler imaging to rule it out. Because I had no other symptoms except the swelling, the insurance wouldn't cover it.

A spinal hematoma is an accumulation of blood around the spinal cord, usually causing sudden pain and swelling in the affected area, followed by weakness and loss of sensation below the level of the hematoma. If it ruptures, causing blood to accumulate in the brain, surgery to remove the hematoma would be necessary. Since I had no symptoms of a rupture - severe headaches and neck stiffness - surgery was ruled out.

That left the last two possibilities. My medical team and I agreed with compression without a hematoma, deciding that no intervention, unless other symptoms occurred, was the best solution. I was released in six days.

I'm happy to report that it was a simple compression. After 90 days, I've recovered nearly 90 percent of my previous sensation and a vast reduction of swelling.

For nearly four years, I've suffered uterine hemorrhaging, a blood clot, depression and severe complications that caused surgical postponement twice.

With the help of my doctors, George Comerci and Maxine Doran, countless health care professionals and my family, my medical nightmare is finally over.