Geoff's Blog - Alpha Kilinik L4/L5/S1

Firerescuefin · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 09:21 AM

Yesterday (Sunday) I had the drain removed from my stomach (that could not come soon enough). There's nothing like carrying a 32oz bottle full of blood/fluids from a surgical wound everywhere you go.

This morning, I was able to have a normal "movement", which qualifies me to be a human again in the world of food....and I took a 30 minute shower this morning. That's a lot of funk to wash off.

Anyhow, I just got back from the "control" Xray (make sure nothing has moved) and I should be called back upstairs in a few minutes to go over it.

Today is our 7th wedding anniversary, so we are definitely going to have some special family time today. Ironically, my birthday is 10/16 and my wifes is 10/19..so Munich is where all the parties are happening. We are thinking of moving the celebrations to July next year

It was great talking to Mark yesterday. He has been beyond instrumental in this process. We have not experienced any "surprises" here. That is a blessing when you are taking something like this on. I cannot say enough good things about the clinic or its staff...all top notch.

Geoff

Cheryl · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 11:50 AM

I am laughing out loud about the food thing. I remember STARVING and Chuck actually called me in the hospital and I was complaining about that fact they wouldn't let me eat yet. He just said "Honey, something has to come out before it goes in". I had never actually spoken with him and that was our first converstion.

And yes that dried toast was great!!

Party like a ROCK STAR - you are doing awesome. Happy Birthdays.

Firerescuefin · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 09:59 AM

Its tuesday morning at Alpha Klinik, and I am waiting to meet with Dr. Zeegers and get payment taken care of. I actually checked out of the clinic last night, which was a day early. Mark first suggested the idea when I spoke to him sunday evening. We were talking about how I was doing and Mark said (paraphrased) "have the nurses become your hotel staff?" The answer was yes. I talked to Uli (our favorite nurse...everyone's favorite nurse) and she said I should go for it. The Dr.'s were not overly excited. Zeegers explained that there was a formula for the days spent, but that he agreed that there should be no problem as I was doing so well. We went back to the hotel, and my son did not fall asleep until 6 this morning

...What a great idea that was. Seriously, it was great being back with Grace and Logan.

When I was in Zeegers office with my wife yesterday, he had me get on the table to look at my incision. I moved gingerly getting on and off the table. He asked me what my problem was "Why are you moving like an old woman, you are fixed"...he then gave me a very hard and sudden shove to the shoulder...which he followed up with another shove. Grace almost fell over. He went on to say, mechanically you are sound, there is no reason to move like an invalid...except for the abdominal pain (which is considerable). We went on to talk for about 20 more minutes about the implant, how solid it was fixed between the vertebra (his analogy was jacking up a fire truck placing a rock between the tire and the ground, then lowering the truck back on top of the rock) He said, "try getting the rock out...your not going to be able to do so". Zeegers is pretty sold (as I would want him to be) on the Activ L's anatomic shape and his surgery making the disc nearly immovable. That's easier to hear than to believe, but I do believe it. He gave my wife a lecture about not being my mother or doctor and gave her a big hug. My wife started crying, thanking him for giving us our life back. He has taken a personal interest in us (which is unusual for world class surgeons, but I suspect not unusual for him) He always talks to my 11 week old son, and makes sure that Grace's questions/concerns are always addressed. I am so glad Grace came, because her eyes have been opened wide...not only to Alpha and Zeegers, but the entire world of back pain. When you are in it alone with your spouse, I don't think the spouse not experiencing the pain understands how insidious it is or how it affects the peoples' lives it touches. With her getting to know other families here, meeting Zeegers, and seeing the changes in me as my pain changes, she has a new outlook on things. She keeps saying how glad she is that she came.

I do want to clarify a few things, because I have been the one pouring over every post out there, searching for answers and hope...trying to find parallels to my own case and others that post of their surgeries. I am still in quite a bit of pain. I am moving like an old man. Their is a lot of tightness still in my lower back....but I feel 1000% better, because the type/quality of the pain is so much different, and psychologically, I believe that I am mechanically fixed. I feel it, and I believe it. Do I still have some nerve pain...yes. But each day it gets better. I guess I am saying this, because I would not want anyone to believe that you could go through a surgery like this, get off the table, and resume your life the next day. Because I know, that is what we would all hope for. I don't want someone to view my posts through rose colored glasses.

I am off to take care of the payment side of things.

Geoff

dshobbies · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 04:10 PM

Geoff,

What can I say, your posts are music to my eyes!
Dale

Cheryl · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 06:15 PM

You are doing remarkable! I agree with Dale awesome to read!!
You know that I'm not rushing you but I'm just curious what are your plans for coming home.

Alastair · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 09:17 AM

Hi Geoff,
I'm absolutely delighted for you that things have gone so well, you are quite right though, there's one or two mental press ups to do to get your brain back into the mode of being "totally healed".

You have been been many years in pain, and you need to get your brain to think you are out of that mode.

Take your time with your recovery. Happy Birthday

Yes Zeegers is a terrific guy
best,
Alastair

Firerescuefin · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 03:05 PM

Thanks everyone for the encouraging thoughts. We are out and about today. Tomorrow is the final meeting with Dr. Zeegers...I think more of a formality at this point. We took some pics yesterday, will try to get them up today. Munich is such an incredibly beautiful city. There are certainly better reasons to come here than a back surgery. We leave monday the 20th. We are going to take the following days to have some family time and to see the sites. Grace wants the computer as I have become a "computer honcho" since getting here. I will post more later on today.

Geoff

mmglobal · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-2008, 04:45 AM

Geoff... great news... glad you are still ahead of the game.

Enjoy the Glockenspeil Cafe. Diane and I like the beer at Schnieder Weiss... also have reasonably priced authentic Bavarian food there. (If you walk through the gate on the south side of Marienplatz, it will be on your left - market square on your right as you start to head down Tal street.

Talk to you soon...

Mark

Firerescuefin · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2008, 02:05 PM

Final payment was about 25K Euros....This was less than anticipated due to:

No need for another MRI
No Discogram
Checked out 1 day early
Anesthesiologist was considerably less.

It's nice for estimates to be too high than too low. It almosts feels like a tax return. I am meeting for a consult with the physiologist tomorrow morning. We talked for a long time....I cannot wait to pick his brain. I still have not posted the pics, but we are heading out the door to get some lunch.

I will be posting later on today. I have had a lot on my mind the last couple of days, and thought that it may be interesting to a lot of you out there that have had or are considering this surgery.

Geoff