Hi there friend,

Long time since I've seen you on the board. Do bring me up to date on how you are and what you are doing now. Still working from home some?

Haven't seen you or Heather (Misery) for ages. Put a post out for the both of you a while back, but got no response. Hope that was because you both were doing great and out enjoying life.

Like so many, have watched lots of coverage on the Katrina situation. It's so terrible and sad, frustrating, etc. Not enough words to describe all the emotions, and makes one so thankful that we live where we do. More than 15,500 have come to TN, so still lots of local coverage, as well as national news. Glad there's been such out pouring of support from the public.

Thanks for asking about my mother. Sorry to say that she isn't doing very well at the moment. Terribly anemic, going down hill since Apr/May, now reaching the point where a Hematologist/Oncologist has been added to the picture. Finally began Aranesp injections last week, so it will still be a while before she starts perking up. Medicare evidently will pay ridiculous $$ for these injections before the transfusions which would resolve the issue in a couple of days. It's just all part of the heart failure now dragging in other parts of the body.

It does frustrate me that the doc so quickly has determined it isn't cancer, and has said that the age, heart failure, kidney failure, etc all brought on by the heart condition does affect the ability to rebuild blood, yet wants to do a bone marrow biopsy to confirm that this is the problem. I just don't feel there's justifcation to put her through that unless something in all the other tests done have reflected that it could be something else and he keeps saying there aren't any other indications. Usually will go along with what the doc recommends, but this just doesn't seem reasonable UNLESS she doesn't show some kind of positive response to the injections after she's had several.

Glad to say that things are still going great for me. Do seem to spend more time on all fours than I ever spent as a baby. Know I looked strange crawling so much when I got up limbs and such after the winds from the strongs off of Katrina. Then, after I spent 2 more days on all fours while I cleared the grass out from around the shrubs.

Got this brain storm, or was it a brain cramp? Decided to lay down the weed control material, set brick edging and hauled in river rock while I had the grass all up again. Looks good and will save work in the long run, but must admit that I still haven't learned to stay within what some would call reasonable limits. My next couple of days were rough on the old woman, but I'm okay now. In fact, worked out in the yard most of yesterday, after I installed new seals on the garage doors.

Take care and post once in a while to update me.

Hugs.

QC,

So VERY glad your still "reachable here" you've always been an anchor.... in a sea of confusion and indecison for me.

I am so sorry to hear of your Mom's worsening condition and I totally understand your frustration with the course her Dr is taking.
I will keep her in my prayers - I am so greatful she has such a GREAT caregive & daughter to look after her !!

I have not been posting in what seems forever ... wish I could say it was due to things inproving with me - Sadly, they have not.

I am basically at the same place that you were last aware of -
"suspected fusion failure at L4/L5.

It all boils down to: I can proceed as I am, for as long as I can endure,
or proceed with sx for possible revision via 360 fusion.

NS as you'll remeber is "Bernard Guiot" and I don't think I could find a more accomplished or capable doc - [you can g-o-o-g-l-e him and ck out his credentials and numerous publications]

I am just not yet committed .... to plunge into another surgery - what with all of the other contributing factors - i.e. the Arachnoiditis, Fibro, Nerve damage from 1st 2 sx's and the chronic neuropathic pain.

I KNOW that even if revision sx is needed ... I would at best case scenerio still be left with things above and IF THIS sx was anything less than 100% successful, I don't think I could continue to maintain .... and you and I both know that rarely is ANY sx 100% successful in relieving pain.

I think I am most afraid of ANY complication and or ANY NEW pain or damage another sx could bring with it.

I am blessed with a wonderful PM and the NS is monitoring me closely to ensure screws don't toggle out and or there are no signs of hardware failure. I am at a manageable state 'per se .... in that I am able to continue working at the ofc 2 days a week and home the other 3 - but still totally debilitated each afternoon/early evening.

I'm just thankful I can live, walk, earn a living and have such a great support system through friends, family and my employer.

Katrina and it's aftermath are beyond words and tragic. We here in FL also have a lot of folks that have come here. Oh how I wish I didn't have a whacked back - I wanted so badly to GO THERE and help in some small way....it is just terrible.

Misery, Diva, Rowboat ..... like you, I think of them often and pray their disappearance is a postive thing....

I will keep in touch and I need the support of the board.
For awhile it seemed like I was in a huge black hole emotionally - sorta hit a wall. I have since kicked myself in the butt - and am back :)

as for my porch.... well ..... a pesty little tornado visited one day while I was at work and left a huge oak on it - it is under major repair now and I hope to enjoy some beautiful fall mornings there very soon.

Huggles ~
Bionic

Bionic,

Honey, you just remember that you are strong and keep yourself out of that hole. Do know how it can be to fight continuously with one health situation after another. Do you have a hard time keeping the Fibro in check?

Just cannot imagine where I'd be with my Fibro, heart, asthma, arthrisis, ulcers, thyroid problems etc if it were not for such a wonderful osteopath. Do get frustrated at times that he wants to see me every 3 months even if I don't think I need to see him, but I just see enough of doc's - nothing personal as he is such a caring soul. But, he can spot things and makes adjustments to meds based on questions and labs, so that I don't have to suffer severe dragging, feel bad times often and my cardiologist doesn't need to see me so often.

Mother's trying to think she is feeling better this AM. Still dragging, but she wants to get out a bit, so is getting dressed as I type. Even driving about town for a few minutes will be a good change of scenery for us both. When I was doing the yard work and going after the loads of materials, she would ride along just to sit in the truck.

Back to your fusion. Has he said why your fusion failed? Has your neuro spoken about the potential for either an ADR or the Dynesys system if he reworks your fusion? If only one level didn't fuse, from what I've read, the ADR can still be done. Shucks, if it would make that area more stable and more normal so as to lessen the risks of additional levels being unstable, that would be good. Besides, the FDA has approved it, and while the insurance companies won't rush to approve it, in a few months, with the appeals it will be covered without the fuss since the FDA approval will be time sealed, so to speak. With the Dynesys, you would be supported, but still flexible. Maybe you can talk with him and see if either of these would hold more potential for you if more has to be done.

Do you know why the 360? Is that just what your surgeon prefers? My neighbor underwent a 360 fusion about a month ago and he is in his 70's. He's had a rough go of it. Makes me glad I didn't have to have the 360.

Sure hope you get better news and less pain soon. It has to be so frustrating, especially while you try to continue working. You take care of yourself. I've not looked up your doc, but so long as you are happy with your care, that is important.

Absolutely hate that pesky little tornado paying you a visit. We are in the newer tornado alley and see lots of them in my area. Just glad it wasn't an F5 and that you were safe. You'll get the repair made and be enjoying that porch in no time at all. In the mean while, please take care and don't wait so long before you get active on the board again.

Best wishes.