Surgery Monday August 8th

dshobbies · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2011, 11:48 PM

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 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2011, 12:15 AM

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 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2011, 01:55 PM

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 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2011, 05:01 AM

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

dshobbies · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2011, 05:42 PM

Just for the telling - I buy holiday gifts all year long. When I see something someone would like, I buy it on the spot. I am usually done and wrapped by October. I'm also assured I'm buying something I truly believe the receiver will like and not something I had to buy because I was running out of time.

The only last minute gifts are for the kids - their sizes and desires change too fast. Then once they reach teen-age years they want cash!

Try it - it takes so much pressure out of the holiday season which makes it more enjoyable. The big negative, you miss the sales which is offset by speading your spending out over a years time.

Now if I could just remember where I put those gifts

jsewell · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2011, 01:29 AM

That is a great plan and my new one. I always feel i have to get through the Sept . birthdays (3 in 12 days) and then start christmas shopping. One less person to buy for this year. The kids are all difficult they must tell me exactly what they want and from where. Actually my 23 year old will tell me she does not need or want anything. I tell her she will end up with a bunch of stuff she does not like, because i must put things under the tree!
She just gave me her birthday money back after holding the check for 3 weeks so i cant even give her money unless i found it on a tree!!
My older son also said he does not want anything from me , just add up all i have done for him and count that as his present.
they are sweet kids, the youngest would just say yay spend their money on me.

I was freezing in class last night, so much money is being wasted at that school on the air . then it gets cool when the sun goes down, next week a pillow and a jacket. the pillow did the trick for my back.
I still wake up feeling like my whole back is on fire even with the extra cortisol. I still need to figure out if it is helping enough to stay on it.
judy

Maria · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2011, 12:22 PM

Judy,
Are you feeling any better today from the additional cortisol? I wonder if all that cold air and sitting put you into some serious back spasming night before last (Sunday)? Hopefully if so things are calmed down a bit or will be soon.