Just had spinal fusion Sept. 20-need uplifting - Page 4

lamahan · 10-31-2002, 04:30 PM

Rachel,

Yes I work. I'm an athletic trainer and a teacher at a very large high school. I'm on restricted work duty right now, but do what I shouldn't do anyway! My job is taking care of injured athletes which is fun when I'm not doing a good job of taking care of myself!

The guy thing is actually really helping! I think we are going to a haunted house either tonight or this weekend. Should make for an interesting first outing together! He makes me laugh which is really important right now as everyone knows!

I agree with everyone else! Relax and get caught up on all your favorite shows! I can't wait to get caught up on Days and General Hospital!

Lori

zx24u2c · 10-31-2002, 05:10 PM

i just got home friday from my L4-L5 fusion with out hardaware. i guesss all is ok cause i'm up and walking a few hundred yards a day (live it n.texas,great weather right now). the only problem is i had better pain relief before the fusion, the dr. sent me home with 24 5\500 and 2 refills.! wow thanks for the help doc!but the only pain i have is at the incision(sp) site and some burning in my rt thigh.
alll in all it hurt like a mofo the 1st 3-4- days post op but pretty good so far, sleeeping on my back is a pain, hahaha!but no leg pain at all, and thats fine for now!

john

RachLuvJun · 10-31-2002, 08:47 PM

You all are so inspiring. I am slowly finding myself getting better. Yes the Doctors had put me on paxil, then switched to effexor, then to zoloft...all for the anxiety. However, we discovered over time that nothing was working and most of my anxiety was most likely as a result of a reaction the the fentanyl in the actiq they had me on. Now my anxiety is up a little because I am weaning off all this stuff. I am down to 2mg of dilaudid every 5 hours or so. I've only taken .5mg of ativan twice this week. (that's addicting too! sheesh) So I am not on any antidepressants/anxiety meds regularly right now. I'd like to try to hold out and get all of this narcotic stuff out of my system and then decide if I really need anything. since this medicine experience, I am very scared to be on anything if I don't have to due to dependence and changes the meds. can put you through.

Lori, we seem to have a lot in common...I am a teacher also. Special Education. I also coached lacrosse. I had to take the year off this year due to the surgery. I was non-tenured yet and left work last Feb. They held my job the rest of the year, but when I was scheduled for surgery Sept. 20, they couldn't hold it another year. They did say they'd hire me back.. Only problem is I find I do ok for a while..then go through bad spells which last a long time..then do ok for a while..then another spell. It's hard to keep a job with that problem! So who knows what I will do in the future. Right now I am a stay at home dog mom. haha. My girls (5yr old golden retriever and 1yr old bulldog) are my only company. It's so hard being single and at home while all your friends are working. I miss the friendships you make at work and the socialization of it all. It's suprising to find how important that working is to one's mental health!

Well thanks again for the support. Oh..one more thing. Why do some doctors do fusions without hardware? I have cages implanted for both of my fusions. I wonder what the studies show as the difference of with and without!

Rachel

RachLuvJun · 10-31-2002, 08:48 PM

PS If Maury Povich has one more show on 'who's your baby's father?' I think I will scream. They need some new daytime shows!

And I also watch General Hospital..so if anyone needs an update

lamahan · 11-01-2002, 01:09 PM

Rachel,

Sorry to hear about having to take a year off! I'm lucky that my school has a sick bank! I have a little over 2 weeks left on my sick and personal leave. My surgery is Dec. 3rd. My 2 weeks will take me up to the Christmas Holiday, then I have vacation time. I won't need days from the sick bank until Jan.7th, and then I have been already awarded 6 weeks leave from them, with more days as the doctor says I need to stay out of work. That is about the only great thing where I work. If the sick bank can no longer give me days, then we have "Friends helping Friends". Other teachers can donate days to me as needed. I'm trying hard not to have to go onto disability. My doctor has said I will be out of work at a minumum of 6 weeks. Most likely for up to 3 months. Being an athletic trainer, I do a lot of desk work in the late winter months which is good. The doctor said there shouldn't be a problem with me going back at 2-3 months post-op as long as I don't treat or try to help athletes. Just desk work only! We'll see though! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Had my first date with the man last night! He came over to my apartment and we ate pizza and then went to a haunted maze here where we live! It wasn't all that scary, but we got a good laugh out of all the little kids in tears! We're heading up to Houston tonight or tomorrow for more haunted houses! At least he's fun!! He knows about the surgery and is going to be a huge help. Even if it's just as a friend! He was in the Navy as a Medic!! How lucky am I??

Sorry to hear Maury isn't any good lately! Your right though, he does the same show over and over!! Do you ever watch Dr. Phil? I want to go see his show here in Houston before my surgery! I think that would be cool! Maybe he could answer some of my love life troubles!!

Have a great day!
Lori