Never again

[Kathy]

Phylly,
You sound like you are doing really good, for just 4 weeks out from surgery. If you are looking good, that is good. I always feel better if I feel like I look good, kinda lifts your spirits. I understand not wanting to be a burden; but trust me, your friends would be happy just to see you. Sometimes, my dear friend drags me and the kids to her house and if I don't feel good, we just let the kids play, while we lay in her bed on heating pads and talk. Or, I just have her come over and lay on the other couch, even if I don't feel like talking, it's nice to have some company every now and then. For the most part, my friends are very understanding and accomadating to my back pain (many have bought me my own heating pad for their house, that's a real friend!). They get it that sometimes, I just can't, we have to cancel plans, finish early or do something different. It took me awhile to let go and let people help me. I don't know how I would do it without them now. My friend came over today and cleaned my house, did my laundry and did the dishes. She comes and does that once or twice a week (and she has her own house, husband and 3 kids under 5 years). When I am better, I will be sure to pay it forward, as it has been a blessing to me and my family.

[mmglobal]

Let us know when you are up for a visit from some local spineys.

[phylly]

Let's wait a week or two and meet for coffee. It sounds like fun!

[Maria]

Phylly,
Some days I feel like I cannot get started.. I mean I feel dead tired even tho I've slept better than I've slept in years.

I was scheduled for a holter monitor and stress test (today/tomorrow) but my cousin is in intensive care in Santa Monica/UCLA so I want to be available to go there if needed.

Wouldn't you know my back is acting up since yesterday tho and I am sort of taking it easier than usual even...

I still have to get all my labs done re the Forteo which I've sort of shined on for a while as I seem to do about medical care in general unless pain management these days.

Ok, I don't see my Rheumatologist for at least another month and I've got to get the lab work done to make sure there's nothing off re all the values but I'm thinking these cramps/aches are just part of the territory with the medications/tiredness too but I don't feel this way every day just every couple of days now.

Hope it passes for you and me thanks as well for letting me know how u feel

[Cindylou]

Phylly, congrats on passing your four week mark. I think you should continue to post here, so newbies can see all different kinds of responses to this ADR surgery. The good, the bad, the ugly, if you will. I don't take Forteo, but Actinol, and have done really well on it. No side effects whatsoever. I think, overall, it sounds like you are coming along nicely. And good that you are walking some. I totally get the boredom thing. Here I sit at only 1 week post-op, and already, I look around and go, ok....what can I do now?? NOT MUCH is the answer, but I think, for me anyway, it's not having that good feeling of validation of being able to accomplish things, anything for that matter, that is frustrating. I am just not a very patient person, period. The house is trashed, I look like crap, the laundry is piled up still from LAST week, the bills are still sitting there that my husband promised he would do for a few months, and......you get the picture. I call my daughter-in-law every day to hear about the baby. I am pathetic. But, on the other hand, I do laugh at myself. And a sense of humor is critical at times like this. And my husband keeps me laughing too, which is incredible, when I think about everything he has had to endure the past 8 years. I have to continually tell myself: go with the flow; one day at a time; tomorrow is one more day of healing under my belt; never give up. The last is probably my biggest mantra. I am always so blown away by the stamina and stick to it-ness all we spiney's have. Pounding away at insurance denials, round the clock pain, never ending doctor's appt., searching for answers. I hope you have found your answer with this latest surgery, Phylly. Really great days are within your grasp. Keep hangin' on.

God Bless,

Cindy

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

Originally Posted by Cindylou

Phylly, congrats on passing your four week mark. I think you should continue to post here, so newbies can see all different kinds of responses to this ADR surgery. The good, the bad, the ugly, if you will. I don't take Forteo, but Actinol, and have done really well on it. No side effects whatsoever. I think, overall, it sounds like you are coming along nicely. And good that you are walking some. I totally get the boredom thing. Here I sit at only 1 week post-op, and already, I look around and go, ok....what can I do now?? NOT MUCH is the answer, but I think, for me anyway, it's not having that good feeling of validation of being able to accomplish things, anything for that matter, that is frustrating. I am just not a very patient person, period. The house is trashed, I look like crap, the laundry is piled up still from LAST week, the bills are still sitting there that my husband promised he would do for a few months, and......you get the picture. I call my daughter-in-law every day to hear about the baby. I am pathetic. But, on the other hand, I do laugh at myself. And a sense of humor is critical at times like this. And my husband keeps me laughing too, which is incredible, when I think about everything he has had to endure the past 8 years. I have to continually tell myself: go with the flow; one day at a time; tomorrow is one more day of healing under my belt; never give up. The last is probably my biggest mantra. I am always so blown away by the stamina and stick to it-ness all we spiney's have. Pounding away at insurance denials, round the clock pain, never ending doctor's appt., searching for answers. I hope you have found your answer with this latest surgery, Phylly. Really great days are within your grasp. Keep hangin' on.

God Bless,

Cindy

I too am always amazed at our resilience and ability to handle crap. It's like a test of personal character that gets thrown in our general direction to see if we are going to stand up or fold. What is the benefit in all this? I believe it makes us more compassionate towards others and able to be a support for the plight of other human beings. God can't be down here dealing with everything so he molds us to become what he wants us to be; caregivers for our fellow human in their trials and tribulations.

Glad to hear there is progress from Phylly and CindyLou. AWESOME!

Terry Newton

[phylly]

I love your mantras Cindylou and do feel like we can never give up but I had moments in the past year where I thought about it. Don't worry about getting things done in the house right now, your biggest job is to heal and get better. If you try to overdo you know what happens. I know that feeling of always being productive but now is not the time for that, you will have tons of time when you are feeling better. You will look back and this will be just another bump as Terry says. Plus you have an adorable new grand baby to cuddle and play with.

It is nice that you can laugh at yourself and your husband can laugh too. I need more of that, I think I am taking this recovery so seriously and do feel like a lost quite a few years with all these Spiney problems. I have reached a new low in productivity when I look forward to watching Judge Judy and Dr. Phil. I hope that Forteo has not made my brain too tired but likely it is the muscle relaxants. Today was a bit like that. I am now off to my walk and will catch up again. Don't be hard on yourself and TAKE IT EASY!
Phylly