Billy Cardone is Doing Great!!!

Fatboy

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
On Monday Billy Cardone had a Back operation, he had L3-L4 fused, I think it was that level, I spoke to him yesterday afternoon and he sounded 100%, He didnt even sound like he took any pain meds, he said "I'm sore as hell". I asked where, he said I think its the incision but I'm not sure. Thats the best possible news there is. He would know it if it was his implant (the cage with bone in it that makes the fusion) was causing the pain, because its much worse than incision pain.

If it was the implant causing the pain then most likely that means more operations, like me 5 or Jeanette 7 operations. But thats not the case, his back problems are age/injury related. Jeanette and myself are young which means disease and much more difficult to fix, and then its tempoary as our backs keep deteriorating. Billys back isnt diseased, his back is healthy everywhere else, so his back ache is fixed with one operation. I was so relieved to hear that, I didnt want to see Billy go through the hell I have or Jeanette. He had one bad disc-they fixed it, mission accomplished.

He can get out of bed by himself the day after his operation, It took me over a month to be able to do that after 2 of my operations. Just to put it into perspective how good he is doing, when I was 1-5 days post op it took IV drugs and 2 men and one woman to get me out of bed, I hurt so bad. So to be getting up alone is HUGE.

He is taking a few walks a day around the hospital, he should be released later this week. He has everything set at home. I told him to carry his cel phone everywhere with at home "Just keep it in your pocket all the time" I said. Just in case he has a spasm and cant move, he could get stuck for hours with no help(I learned that the hard way).


I asked his permission to write this thread and he was happy to report to everyone he is fine, He wanted to send his regards to all his friends here.

My prediction is Billy will be home by tomorrow or the next day and uncomfortable for 1-2 more weeks then stiff for a a couple months. By May when the one pocket tournament in Vegas comes off he will be fit enough to play in it and have the time before it to get into stroke. If he wants to play in it, I dont know if he is or isnt, but my point is he will be able to, and thats the most important thing.


I promised him I'd call him today, and I will later-hospitals can get boaring and I just want to break up his day and bug him a little.:wink:

To be clear, because he cant tell what hurts more his incision or disc is the best possible news and that almost guarantees a 100% recovery. Sadly I wasnt so lucky-but this is about Billy and he is gonna be just fine and thats the best news of the day. We needed some good news here, Billy is one of the greatest people in pool, on so many different levels. I'm happy to be reporting good news,:smile::smile::smile:


best

Eric/Fatboy:smile:
 
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I have back trouble myself and I wish Billy a speedy recovery. I can sympathize with anyone who says they have back trouble or pain. It takes a lot away from playing pool and your quality of life. People with strong backs should be thankful........

James
 
I have a degenerative disk in my lower back and can sympathize with anyone who has back trouble. Mine is now part of my official disability.

Billy, all the best!!
 
Good to hear he is doing well, hope he gets back on the table and has flashbacks of 30 years ago. :grin:
 
That's very good to hear. I have ruptured discs myself (recently diagnosed by MRI after me telling the VA something was wrong for 2 years. The Xrays they had done did not show the problem.) I'm due for some sort of injections as the first try at fixing my problem. I'd almost decided not to let them operate on my back under any circumstance after hearing of many horror stories such as Fatboy and Jeannette. Maybe I'll soften my conviction after hearing that Billy is doing so well. Billy, I sincerely wish you the best possible results and a quick recovery! God Bless!

Sherm
 
Have a speedy recovery and hope to see you in May at the 1-pocket event.:)
 
cuesmith said:
That's very good to hear. I have ruptured discs myself (recently diagnosed by MRI after me telling the VA something was wrong for 2 years. The Xrays they had done did not show the problem.) I'm due for some sort of injections as the first try at fixing my problem. I'd almost decided not to let them operate on my back under any circumstance after hearing of many horror stories such as Fatboy and Jeannette. Maybe I'll soften my conviction after hearing that Billy is doing so well. Billy, I sincerely wish you the best possible results and a quick recovery! God Bless!

Sherm
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Epideral shots. Same thing that women get during labor. I feel for you brother. My wife had a ruptured disk(L4-L5) and ended up having surgery after getting 3 sets of shots at 3 different times. The shots will help definitely. If they arent TOO bad, they may even help fix the problem. The back is no joke though. My wife was a trooper though. She dealt with it for a while and being a school teacher was even tougher on her with all the moving around while she was at work. Anyway, get well soon Billy. I know once the soreness goes away for the incisions and procedure you will feel like a new man. Take care.
 
Always good to hear when a fellow pool player is doing well after a surgery! Billy...you got 9-5 for the next 3 days only! :) I should be able to get to 5 !

I have a herniation at L5-S1 and the big issue is I am self employed!....I am just praying some sort of health care is passed in this the BEST country on earth! That, or I have to go on vacation over seas and "get" hurt there!.....




shame!



G.
 
Thanks for the update FB. I also know first hand how bad it sucks to deal with constant back trouble. I'm actually supposed to go in next tues for another epidural at L5/S1. On my last visit they discussed doing a "subcutaneous discectomy" some kind of procedure where they go in with what amounts to a turkey baster and suck out the bulging disk. Nice huh. Unfortunately I'm going to have to do something.....it really affects my quality of life. Hurts all the time(especially when i try to play pool)
 
Bill Incardona

Thanks for the happy update, Eric. You're definitely right: he's one of the greatest people in all pool. GF
 
Update:

He was released today and felt great until the morphine wore off, they failed to prescribe him the necessary pain meds for being 48 hours post-op.

I called the Dr and they couldnt get him any Schedule 2 meds because it was after hours, I did my best but no chance because they need a signed triplicate script for schedual 2 pain meds(the stuff that you need 48 hours post op).

He is fine and nothing to worry about. It just pisses me off that they released him without the necessary medication for the next 5 days. Same thing happened to me my first time. I think he went back to the hospital to get readmitted or to get the hand written script. He is gonna be fine. I could hear the pain in his voice, I did everything possible and told Billy to call me 24/7. I gave him the names and amounts of meds he will need, so when he talks to the Dr, he will get what he needs. It hurt me that I couldnt do anything else, I posed as his nephew on the phone to get as far as I did. I was rreally upset and worried about Uncle Billy.

If I would have thought about it I could have gave him what he needed at the Derby but I got sick there and was trapped in my room for 5 days, All he needs is just 2 50 micro gram/hr transdermal patches for the first 6 days and 2 25 microgram patches for the next 6 days. The patches last 3 days each, and its such a low dose there is no risk of dependency. Thats a very low dose but enough to comfort him, I havent used any in 3 years but keep them around for emergencies. The big patches are 150 micro gram/hour, Billy needs 33% of that to be comfortable, not a risky dose or any chance of dependency with 4 patches.


He is gonna be in good shape after tonight. I just wish I could do more for him, I'd fly there but there were but no flights this late and in the morning he can get what he needs without me. Why they release people who say they feel good(who are on the morphine drip) without the necessary meds piss me off, 6 hours after the drip he was in horrible pain. And they know damn good and well that when the drip wears off the patient will be a wreck, the docs are scared to write scripts even when its the proper time for such medication. People 48 hours post op arent looking to get high, they are suffering. The doctors/nurses etc do this everyday-dont think for a minute they arnt aware of the fact that 6-8 hours after the drip the patient will suffer.

Here is a perfect case of controlling a substance to be used for whats its made for, yet the Drs wont dispense it-scared of lawsuits. Then the junkies go to pain clinics and get all the dope they want to get high. Health care in america sucks, and even in Germany I was short changed pain meds the first time. Man I wished I remembered to give Uncle Billy what he needed.


I'll post more later, i'm just real mad right now. I dont like to see my friend suffer for no good reason, period!!:angry::angry:


Eric

PS: I'm no Doctor but I had about 10 semesters of chemistry in school and 5 back operations, so I have a good solid knowledge base of what he needs based on his age, weight, and what other meds he is taking. I sure hope they fix him up right tomarrow, there is zero reason for him to suffer. Now if there were other risk factors I'd stay away from my position on this. Man I'm pissed right now.
 
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George Fels said:
Thanks for the happy update, Eric. You're definitely right: he's one of the greatest people in all pool. GF
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in every way possible. He has no weak link. His contribution to pool in the past 40 years is huge and I hope he is around for 40 more!!! I met him in 85, although he dosent remember.:smile:
 
Fatboy said:
Update:

He was released today and felt great until the morphine wore off, they failed to prescribe him the necessary pain meds for being 48 hours post-op.

I called the Dr and they couldnt get him any Schedule 2 meds because it was after hours, I did my best but no chance because they need a signed triplicate script for schedual 2 pain meds(the stuff that you need 48 hours post op).

He is fine and nothing to worry about. It just pisses me off that they released him without the necessary medication for the next 5 days. Same thing happened to me my first time. I think he went back to the hospital to get readmitted or to get the hand written script. He is gonna be fine. I could hear the pain in his voice, I did everything possible and told Billy to call me 24/7. I gave him the names and amounts of meds he will need, so when he talks to the Dr, he will get what he needs. It hurt me that I couldnt do anything else, I posed as his nephew on the phone to get as far as I did. I was rreally upset and worried about Uncle Billy.

If I would have thought about it I could have gave him what he needed at the Derby but I got sick there and was trapped in my room for 5 days, All he needs is just 2 50 micro gram/hr transdermal patches for the first 6 days and 2 25 microgram patches for the next 6 days. The patches last 3 days each, and its such a low dose there is no risk of dependency. Thats a very low dose but enough to comfort him, I havent used any in 3 years but keep them around for emergencies. The big patches are 150 micro gram/hour, Billy needs 33% of that to be comfortable, not a risky dose or any chance of dependency with 4 patches.


He is gonna be in good shape after tonight. I just wish I could do more for him, I'd fly there but there were but no flights this late and in the morning he can get what he needs without me. Why they release people who say they feel good(who are on the morphine drip) without the necessary meds piss me off, 6 hours after the drip he was in horrible pain. And they know damn good and well that when the drip wears off the patient will be a wreck, the docs are scared to write scripts even when its the proper time for such medication. People 48 hours post op arent looking to get high, they are suffering. The doctors/nurses etc do this everyday-dont think for a minute they arnt aware of the fact that 6-8 hours after the drip the patient will suffer.

Here is a perfect case of controlling a substance to be used for whats its made for, yet the Drs wont dispense it-scared of lawsuits. Then the junkies go to pain clinics and get all the dope they want to get high. Health care in america sucks, and even in Germany I was short changed pain meds the first time. Man I wished I remembered to give Uncle Billy what he needed.


I'll post more later, i'm just real mad right now. I dont like to see my friend suffer for no good reason, period!!:angry::angry:


Eric

PS: I'm no Doctor but I had about 10 semesters of chemistry in school and 5 back operations, so I have a good solid knowledge base of what he needs based on his age, weight, and what other meds he is taking. I sure hope they fix him up right tomarrow, there is zero reason for him to suffer. Now if there were other risk factors I'd stay away from my position on this. Man I'm pissed right now.
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Well it is good to hear that MR.CARDONE is going to be fine,pool deffinely cant afford to lose such a vip for any length of time,so alls good there.boy your right on about junkies getting what they want,it the same here in baltimore,i spend good money to go to the doctors here for a nagging shoulder injury,they act like it the end of the world when you try to get something for pain,but they give these junkies insurance and then the doctors give them what they want and then the junkie turns around an sells half his script,because the doctor gives him so much,junkie makes alot of money each month plus stays high all month,now that makes you sick doesnt it.but iam sure you know how it goes!
 
Wishing him a speedy recovery, Billy is a tough one! He will be just fine!

On another note, Eric how are you? Hope you are feeling better as well!

I am just getting rid of my Derby City funk after round 2 of antibiotics!

Marge
 
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