Adequately Medicated

Ok, now that the anesthesia's mostly out of my system & I'm able to think more clearly here's a few details for all those to whom I promised them.

Surgery went well, he only had to go in from the right side (this means he only had to cut muscles on the right side).  There was some seepage of spinal fluid but due to scar tissue on the sheath of my spine he couldn't see where it was coming from to suture (thus the lying flat for the first 16 hours).  The nerves were splayed around the bulged disc material & he was very careful to remind me & my family that while this operation would hopefully alleviate the sharp nerve pain I've been experiencing it is by no means a cure for my back problems.

That said I am still optimistic about the positive fall out in my life.  The pain, limitations on mobility, and other complications have been escalating radically over the last few weeks.

So far as long as we keep up on the meds I'm doing great.  As predicted I sleep  a LOT.  As I was leaving the hospital my nurse gave me some really encouraging info. She stated that in watching me move she could tell that I have learned to accommodate that injury & that she didn't think I was going to have too much trouble being careful and following the restrictions placed on me.

I'm noticing lots of little things that are different in good ways like my left heal & hamstring not being so tight, or coughing without shooting pain in my legs & feet.  The tissue around my incision is sore & grumpy, but then 24 hours ago I was in an operating room, so whaaah.

Scott's doing a good job to take care of me.  I'm currently composing a shopping list for him, the top items on which are lemon yogurt & nilla waffers (at 10:30pm lying flat on my back in the hospital bed with the leg squeezers on & morphine in my system that was a pretty amazing snack).

Been vertical now long enough to know I ought to go lay down.  No news is good news for a while.
Live long & prosper.
~m

I appologize!

However I make no immediate promises for improvement.  I'm scheduled for back surgery day after tomorrow & until I know how that went I have no idea how & if I'm going to be able to post in the near future.

It's been a rather unpleasant few weeks.  The nerve pain has gotten the best of me & I spend most of the time I'm not at work laying flat in bed.  It helps, but not enough.  Keep getting more and more disturbing signs of nerve damage.  I'm very glad I didn't postpone this any longer than I did.

I have a good feeling about my neurosurgeon. I've never dealt with Salt Lake Regional Hospital, but given my general distrust of all hospitals I'm supposing that one is no worse than another...

Scott's been an amazing support for me.  I have severe anxiety, & pain dulls my fo=,cus while limiting my ability.  I can only hope his patience continues!  Don't know how I'll repay him, but I'm sure glad to have his help & support.

Mom & Glenn are looking at a new adventure, they're putting together a food concession trailer.  It seems like a good way of combining her customer service skills & his food service skills while allowing them both a way to retire & travel a bit.  It's been fun to think, plan, and dream it up with them.  I hope to support their adventure & perhaps get to participate a bit.

My favorite nephew's birthday is the 24th.  I can't believe how big he is & how proud I am.  I may be the crazy, prone to spoiling, rarely seen aunt, but it's not from lack of adoration!


Time for another pain pill & a little time with my VERY temporary bedroom television.


It's likely to be several days if not weeks before I'm able to post again.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!
~m

I give up!

Ok, I give up on fixing my holiday post, the camera, my computer & my schedule have gotten together and forced my hand.  Life's been crazy.  I'm trying to identify & finish projects around the house so that I'm more comfy during my recovery time.  Work's in full swing, it's the first week of the semester and slow times on the job are a fond memory.  This too shall pass.

While we were south we did some property shopping & are still playing with the idea of buying land in southern Arizona.  Fact is the markets right for it, we found something we like and if we can make the financing work we want it.  We've always planned to own a piece of land somewhere that we could call home base.  Now we're contemplating having two of those.  This would allow us to retire to a somewhat smaller rv giving us more camping options without requiring a tractor to haul them.  In shopping for a smaller toy hauler type rig we found a trailer we both love and can see ourselves living in...that's unusual.

Our drive home from Q was uneventful and somewhat pleasant.  We've done this trip enough times to develop a routine.  Doesn't hurt that I was able to nap for a good part of the time that Scott was driving :)

Our cats seem to have weathered our absence with little inconvenience, even Outie was glad to see us & quick to forgive.


My car is rebelling on me, the beloved purple beast was unstartable yet again this morning....it's a darn good thing that I love that car as much as I do.  Hopefully while I'm out of commission Scott will be able to do some diagnostic research.  Whatever gremlin is draining the battery has gotten on my last nerve.  If I don't drive the car every day or place it on a battery charger it refuses to start.  Why must the car I love betray me!?!


Sunday I woke up to a surprise.  Where I normally have shooting pain I now have numbness and tingling.  I am so glad that back surgery is already scheduled!  The numbness is different but not necessarily better.


Tried a new restaraunt the other night, Red Maple, it was great!  Definitely going back soon!


Been typing this while laying in bed & my left arm's gone numb.  Really looking forward to not having to favor my back this much!


Live long & prosper.
~m