Diane's surgery blog

[letteski]

Hi Diane

So glad your surgery has gone well. I know you are in the best of hands. In so many ways. You have always been such a support to all of us and now it is our turn to give back to you. (although I have done a crapy job of that) Sorry I am so late with my well wishing post but please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Paulette

[mmglobal]

Friday morning.... Diane is 14 days post-op and continues to do as well as any lumbar ADR patient I've ever seen. Pain levels are very low... medications being reduced (but still far more than before surgery). The most amazing thing is the ease with which she moves. At 1 week post-op, she would get in the car like a normal person.... left foot and left hip in simultaneously while standing on right. It's pretty amazing how great these early days have been. It's been a long trip and we are so ready to be home... only a few more days. We are 23 days gone now... 3 to go... tired of eating out... tired of hotels... missing our family... It's been a successful trip in so many ways, but we'll be so very glad to be home.

I know so many people who think that a long recovery time here will be useful, but I think that for most people, an extended trip after the stressful surgical ordeal is not what's needed. Also, the motivation to sightsee may be misplaced... may still be too much for the patient.

It's kind of blurry out... my marathon is almost over... I hope to write much more later. It's been a while since the last update, so I wanted to let everyone know that she's still doing well. It's been great to reconnect with so many of you... (Paulette... you rock... don't go saying anything bad about yourself or my Charite's will come over there and straighten your ProDisc out!)


Muenchen StadtOper


Twilight from our balcony at the am Markt

[Cheryl]

Glad all continues to go well. I agree with you on not extending the trip - I too was ready to leave just at two weeks post op - it was time to move on to the next step of recovery. Although the plane ride even in first class was extremely uncomfortable. And I couldn't even think about sightseeing -way too painful. If anything, preop sightseeing might be the way to go. Although I suppose that depends how bad you feel going into it.

Good luck on your ride home.

Cheryl

[jmintzer]

Mom and Dad,

We are so glad that you are recovering well. Can't wait to see you guys. Costa Rica was awesome and safe (no bites).

Love,

Jason and Naomi

[mmglobal]

Coming home today.... can't wait. Diane still doing great, but maybe overdid a little yesterday... some foot pain. (2 miles is good, 6 miles is better??)

Can't wait to see our house, rabbits, cats, dog, friends, family and oh, yeah.... Zoey!

Gotta pack and make our flight... more later... love to all,

Mark

[Tim]

Hi Diane and Mark
I'm so glad all has gone so well with Diane's surgery.
It must be such a relief now your packing up and heading off home.
Wishing you a continued smooth recovery.

All the best
Tim

[mmglobal]

First post home... it's Tuesday afternoon... 20 days post-op. We got home Sunday night after the long travel ordeal. We had a layover in Chicago and the flight to California was delayed. We were pretty exhausted after about 22 hours hotel to home.

Diane's ankle did swell up and hurt on the trip. We did not ask for any assistance, so she all the walking and waiting... pretty far through Munich airport... very far in Chicago. It was great to see the kids and Zoey when we got home. She was a little confused at first... not helped by the fact that she was almost asleep when we arrived. She warmed up quickly and we all played until Diane was ready to drop. She got in bed and said that she was exhausted... her foot hurt some, but her back didn't hurt at all. In the 2 days home, she's stopped opiates entirely and is only taking Voltaren. Remember that pre-op, she really didn't take them either.... after the surgery, she started 20mg/day oxygesic... after several days she stabilized on 15mg/day and stayed there until we came home (but was in good enough shape to forget doses.) Ankle is still a little puffy, but nothing like when we got home. The picture below says it all... Taffy really missed us... Diane loves the dog beach and takes Taffy there 4, 5, 6, 7 days/week. It was very hot here Sunday and Monday... today was a bit cooler, but still warm and sunny. It was wonderful to get to the beach and hear the kids playing in the surf... see the pelicans... surfers and kite surfers... palm trees... but most of all... Diane in her element.... We still don't know how good she'll get, but are so hopeful that she'll have a full recovery.

All the best... love to all...

Mark

[nomorepain]

U.S. Trials vs Germany Prodiscs, glad to hear you both are doing well, It was great to talk with you on Mothers day! so when is the next west coast meeting of spineys? Another feat of mine, and a first in a very very long time, i change my own oil, tune up my old volvo, crawling under the car, leaning over the fenders changing spark plugs, something i could not do before my prodisc surgery, 6 years and still feeling great! Welcome to the Club Diane, it will be cool to follow your recovery from year to year!
gary

[Maria]

Don't have another West Coast meeting until after June. I really want to attend but will be in Florida for nearly all of June!

Diane, you look radiant!! And the surgeons look nice too~ tho you've the implants and look the livliest! Hope you're doing well ~ beautiful beach weather coming up this weekend!

[ans]

I agree: D., you certainly do look radiant. Congratulations and hope this is your last surgery ever. - Allan