L4/L5, L5/L6 (S1) Prodisc-L - treefrog (aka Cathy)

[treefrog]

Sorry I hadn't posted sooner. I have all these notes from every day starting from the day of admission, but haven't had the time to transcribe them yet.

But, I am doing really well. The pain I had pre-op, in my back and leg is completely gone. I have different pains, that are mostly just uncomfortable. I have been able to keep my pain meds to the same level as pre-op. And I expect that shortly after getting home I will be able to start reducing them.

I have been getting out for walks every day, some longer than optimum, but none that have really put me out of action.

We have today and tomorrow here, then we leave for home early on Saturday. With the time changes, we get home Saturday afternoon, but it will be about 13.5 hrs travel time. I really can't wait to get home. I am trying to enjoy as much of Germany as I can, without taxing myself. So, Straubing is as far as we have explored, but it is beautiful here, and I love the relaxed pace we have been observing while here.

[jessmith07]

I was just going to call you! So glad to see that you're doing well! Be careful on that flight home...I don't know about you, but I'm still having trouble with my feet and ankles swelling, and in the short flight from there to Paris, my feet swelled bo bad that by the time the plane landed, I couldn't move them...I was so scared that they were going to split open and I'd have little fountains of water spewing from them! I took the compression hose and used them like ace bandages to wrap my feet and then put a pair of socks over them. If you're having any problems with swelling, you may want to try to get some ace bandages for the trip home, just incase.

[treefrog]

Just a quick note to say I am home. The flight was not too bad. I ended up getting a first class seat on the flight from Heathrow to Raleigh. After realizing it was going to be very difficult to sit in coach, on the flight from Munich to Heathrow. I think it was worth the extra money. I was able to sleep for part of the trip.

I am doing much better than I ever would have imagined possible. I have distraction pain, but it is far more manageable than I thought. The only thing is just being uncomfortable most of the time, laying down or sitting. And making sure not to move the wrong way. I think I am doing pretty good with it. Though it is helpful that my sister is here helping me and doing things for me. I don't know how well I will do after she leaves, I'll have to rely on my boyfriend more, when he's home anyway.

Well, I don't have the time right now, to do much reading. But I hope everyone is doing well.

[Gil Denis]

Hi Cathy

Welcome home

Please take it easy and we are fine.

Rest, Relax And Heal life is waiting for you.

All The Best

Gil

[dshobbies]

Cathy,

What a relief to be home, huh? Glad your trip wasn't that difficult and ditto on your pain. The whole process takes awhile so settle in and enjoy your new back. Keep us posted and let us know how things work out once your sister leaves. Just remember, if you can't do it, don't... nothing is all that important.

Dale

[New-disc]

Cathy,

Thanks for keeping us posted .... surgery sounds like
it went well.

Be good to your-self

Todd

[treefrog]

2.5 weeks post-op, and I am doing amazingly well. My boyfriend measured me last night and I am now an inch taller than I was pre-op (though only 1/2 an inch taller than my "normal adult" height), at 5' 4".

My sister is here this week, though she will be leaving Sunday. We have been cooking up a storm, mostly her, in preparation for me being on my own more after she leaves. My boyfriend will be around, but he's not much on cooking, and doesn't always have much time for it. I will have lots of great, healthy food in the freezer for the coming weeks.

I don't have much pain, only what I think is distraction pain (an aching from my hips down to my feet), certainly not the pre-op pain.

Constipation is not much of a problem, though is still there a little (much like pre-op), as I have been able to keep my pain med to the same level as pre-op. I go to see my PM doc on the 22nd, and I will see about starting to lower my meds then (if I haven't already started - I have started reducing the amount of gabapentin I am taking) and get x-rays.