Surgery Monday August 8th

[dshobbies]

Well Lucy can't walk too much anymore so I don't feel as guilty for her but I do for myself. My grandkids love going for walks but I must keep them short, maybe just down the block to see the horses.

Judy, on one post you say how much you're doing with classes and volunteering, etc. Then you say how much pain you are still experiencing. I know these classes are important so please remember to bring whatever you need for your comfort and for now, limit your other activities to those necessary. Pain killers give us a false sense of well being. Pushing yourself can backfire if you're not careful. So please do take care not to overdo.

You're also dealing with a lot of emotional pain, not just from Jeff but with your daughter. Life is hard right now but it will get better.

Personal note - Youngest son had his first professional flight yesterday. He is living his dream and we're thrilled for him. Even with all the negative around us, life does have its rewards

Dale

[jsewell]

that was funny Maria about having to stop to pee. On a long walk like yours i would too.
I get confused on what is too much , i know i was really stupid in the beginning then kind of forced to be stupider when jeff left at 2 weeks out. I had the good feelings from the steroids , and the injections. ( I always have to get 100mg stress dose at the same time)
Now just going back to Dr Friedman's one night a week, i don;t get there until 7pm , i do leave to late, i hope things will slow down. The doctor doesn't , but i would like to get out of there closer to 11 not 1.
Class is only 4 hours now. He actually let us go at 7:30 instead of 8 and gives us a long break in the middle. So that is my week except the normal stuff of keeping up a house with 4 big kids in it. They do all the carrying and some shopping with me. and i do need some distraction. I love going to the clinic and talking to people from all over the country and world on occasion.
But i won't add any more. I promise myself and you guys who really do care. I can't do anything much about all the time i really blew it. I do rest when my back starts feeling tired or sore, i head up to my bedroom.

Now to get myself out of hot water!!!! Maria wasn't that crazy going to class and having to lay on the table????
judy

[Maria]

Dale,
Sorry for lack of memory.. is your son a pilot?? how exciting!!! Yes there are so many good things in life~

Judy,
re lying down.. no that was ok back then. Was necessary. I paid to be in an MSN program for my nursing degree and Family Nurse Practitioner and by hook or by crook I was gonna get it!!! Once I decided what I wanted .. I went for it however I had to get it!!!

Admitting one's limitations and working within them while trying to progress is not at all embarrassing. I knew I wanted something badly (my MSN/masters in nursing) and I was not going to let my screwed up back stop me from getting it but nor was I going to make myself feel so bad I'd be back in bed for weeks!!!))!!!!!

The way I look at is I'm doing my part and as long as there are ways to do it that don't make me feel physically worse then I'm gonna go for it~ like anyone else who wants to reach their goal.

I completed my Family Nurse Practitioner program in '87 and took the exams in '89 for FNP. I had to lie down in the classroom for several hours for 2 days tho I was 1 of 8 that passed this exam out of 23.

[dshobbies]

Maria,

A lot of nurses end up with back problems but how many start out that way? I am also assuming with disability laws, you were accommodated and fortunately for the school, rather easily. What baffles me is that you got a job!

Yes, my son spent several years and a lot of my money learning how to fly and getting his pilot's license and three others before getting his first professional job. He's wanted this since the 5th grade - he's 31! How many people are actually living their dream? Now that I can fly free, ahhhh, don't think I'll be taking too much advantage of that particular perk. I hate flying.

Oh well, Dale

[jsewell]

That is so cool Dale. One of the reasons my son joined the army. Personally i would have joined the air force if i wanted to fly and was going military.
Congrats to your son, now that mine is looking at the same journey as your son's I know how expensive that is.
I am also surprised that you got a job as well Maria
judy

[Maria]

Dale,
I'd love that as I do like to fly just gets expensive w/3 seats to go very far. One seat is ok for shorter distances tho I can think of many places I'd love to go!!! Great that your son pursued his dream!

RE my ability to get a job as an NP (nurse practitioner) I was an RN for a number of years before getting my MSN so I had experience and I had my first and 2nd back surgery while I was an NP actually. Prior to my 2nd back surgery my back problems were episodic in nature and in the beginning my back only went out once/twice a year. After my 2nd spine surgery in '92 my probs became chronic however prior to my back surgeries it was sitting mostly that brought about my severe back bouts hence the non sitting in MSN program. Lifting heavy objects/patients was out as well so no staff nursing jobs except one I held working in a preemie nursery for a number of years while in my NP program.

I guess I was fortunate to have experience, the degree, and could also speak Spanish so put that altogether and I was marketable. I have to add that Nurse Practitioners in most ambulatory care centers see patients so it's not the same type of work involving lifting and such. Also my greatest problem with my back has mostly always had something to do with sitting of which one does very little when seeing patients all day in a high volume clinic (worked OB-GYN for 7 years as well as Family Practice). The last job I had required some sitting (telephone triage) however I had a modified work station for that and stood most of the time.

I worked 18 years more after my initial back injury. And yes there are many nurses with back injuries for various reasons tho I tend to think understaffing is the biggest reason nurses hurt their back and repetitve motion (lifting heavy/people/objects). sometimes it's not even lifting it's just the helping to pull someone up in bed or turning them or basically general fatigue. Probably ergonomics gets in there somewhere as well and some predisposition to such injuries given stuctural makeup of individual. Ho humm I probably should have done something else for a career tho I did really love nursing (the old saying hindsight is 20/20 applies here).

Really I'd still like to be working in some capacity if I could be "realiable." Even with volunteering I've hesitated in terms of committment. So Judy I think it's great that you're able to do what you do even one day/week tho I'd be careful now so that you might be able to work in the future should your back allow for this and hopefully it will.

[jsewell]

I do feel i was so helped by this doctor that i like to volunteer there and they surely do need me. Well the patients don't know i am saving them from being there until the wee hours of the morning. i was one of those patients who was falling asleep in the waiting room while the one doc caught up with everyone's paperwork after he drew blood.
It also feels like i am working and i like that feeling. I am also fortunate that they just have to put up with all my surgeries and recoveries before i go back each time. They do seem to be happy to see me.
Tomorrow morning will be my test of how many aches and pains were caused by lack of cortisol in the am. I can't take pain meds when i get up because i have to go to a meeting at Becka's school at 9am. If i took them i would fall back asleep for sure. I know the cortisol has given me more energy in the latter part of the day. I'll soon see if the aches and pains are improved too. Can;t wait.

I did remember to bring a pillow to class tonight. He gave us a break after 2 hours and then only kept us 45 minutes after that.
I started Christmas shopping last night too!
judy