Re: 4 weeks post op

[Guest guest]

Congratulations Ken on your weightloss so far!! I really liked what you said in your update. Tammy I.

Sneak preview the all-new .com. It's not radically different. Just radically better.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ken!, Great to hear your doing well!! 26lbs is a great "bonus" to lose before you 1st fill!!! I'm sure you will do great with your food choices, and working out!!

Be patient, and things will happen for you "in a Big way" ! Once you have your fill and have healed your port, there will be no stopping you!!

Dana

2-1-06

200-155-140

-------------- Original message -------------- From: "piensky2001" <piensky2001@...>

Hello everyone, I'm just checking in. Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since surgery. I have had a small problem with my port incision but it is being cleared-up with anibiotics. I'm happy with my weight loss but it has slowed down. Ive lost 26 pounds but because of the problem with the incision I have done little in the way of walking, etc. I miss the swelling from surgery as I had little appetite, but now I have to make good choices when eating. I have no regrets about the surgery and have high hopes that with my healing up, I can start lifting weights, walking, etc. Things should start to happen in a big way real soon. I have always been amazed how just loosing what I have makes me feel great. I hope all who are walking the trail behind me have great sucess. All thinking about walking the trail... Go for it!! Life is to short and you will find that all your fears were only in your imagination.SincerelyKen

[Guest guest]

You're doing great, Melinda!

Peggy

[ ] 4 weeks post op

Hi all,Yesterday marked 4 weeks since surgery with Dr. LaGrone in Amarillo. I wanted to post about my function to help others who are considering revision or have up coming revision.Pain: I am down to one pain pill per day mainly at night. I'm on Ultram. My pain is not really intense, just an overall ache and soreness.Walking: I walk in the morning and evenings about a mile total. I'm walking faster and my right hip is getting stronger. I was able to walk in the mall this morning while shopping with my mom (unable to do prior to surgery!)Activity Tolerance: I typically need to recline after about 3 hours of light activity (ie...out to eat, sitting at computer, walking, doing laundry with the reacher)Emotional State: Last week was a "weepy one" for me. Just tired of being in the house, but I'm much better this week.Driving: I started driving last Friday, but only short distances and not on the highway. Good luck to those with pending surgeries. Remember the "silky" PJ's. I used those as soon as my cathator was removed and I could stop using the hospital gowns. The silky material REALLY helps with log rolling in bed. Also, I took a digital frame and the pictures of family and friends helped me through those long nights. Sincerely,Melinda

[Guest guest]

Melinda,

You sound like you are doing very well for mone month post op...you

rock!

I had a couple thoughts when I read your post. If you are only taking

one ultram and it is at night, do you think you are getting enough

relief later in the day, afternoons and evenings? You may want to

check and see if the doctor/pharmascist will let you split a tablet

and take a half dose so that you can be more comfortable later in the

day. (No one should ever cut a pill without doctors permission as an

extended release formula can be very dangerous if cut...it releases

all the meds at once). Or perhaps you can just get a lower dose tab

to use during the day. I found as I was weaning off the percoset I

really needed them at night too otherwise I would wake up very stiff

and sore...but if I didn't take something during the day the pain

could get ahead of me...so I solved that by permitted pill splitting.

I was still off everything by 8 weeks. You will have to be the judge

of your comfort level...but 4 weeks sounds pretty early to be off all

but one ultram!

On the reclining....I looked forward to having a nap (and I usually

hate to nap!!) after lunch until I went back to work at 16 weeks, and

since then I have found that laying down here and there through out

the day really makes a difference...particularly that first year post

op. My suspicion is that because you can not bend and flex (think cat

stretch!)the muscles along your spine can not relax unless you lay

down. Since you are training them to hold you up in a new way...(and

for many of us who were inactive prior to surgery they are completely

untrained) you have to give them a break. There are no medals for

going all day without a rest! Your body is still doing a tremendous

amount of healing.

Here is a link (its also have it in the adaptive aids section of the

links) to a rear view mirror extender/expander that helps with blind

spots..Martha from Chicago swears by it:

http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fasp%

2FIsItemNumberRedirect.asp & search=SQ & frames=y & referrer=QVC & txtDesc=V19

299 & SearchClass= & Submit4=Go

I know you are not yet on the highway...but knowing you will be

sooner or later (especially after my Houston experiences!)makes me

want to suggest that you take a look at one. Actually...all you city

drivers should!

Please keep the updates coming...I know how much they help all those

that will follow you. If you go back and search under your own name

it is possible to cut and paste all your relevant old posts into a

new document and create your own " journal " which would be excellent

to have in the file section....if you are bored and have the time!

Take Care,

Cam

[Guest guest]

Wow, your post means so much to me. I have been contemplating having

surgery and this helps me a lot! My symptoms started last November

and I have run the gamut of epidurals and medications and my pain is

increasing every day. Everyone on this site that has had the surgery

seems to be better off after having the surgery, but you seem to be

very active 4 weeks post-op and it makes the prospect of surgery seem

easier. I know we are all different, but other than my spine, I am

very healthy and hope to have a relatively good recovery.

Anyway . . . my next appointment with my doctor (Dr. Errico) is in

September and I think I will finally sit down with him and discuss

having the surgery.

In the meantime, I would like to ask if anyone has had bladder

problems with this syndrome? I have suffered in the past from

interstitial cystitis, but it seems to be flaring up again and I

thought I read something about this in Mina's article.

Anyway, best of luck and speedy recovery to all of you who have had

or are planning to have surgery!

Donna

>

> Hi all,

>

> Yesterday marked 4 weeks since surgery with Dr. LaGrone in

Amarillo.

> I wanted to post about my function to help others who are

considering

> revision or have up coming revision.

>

> Pain: I am down to one pain pill per day mainly at night. I'm on

> Ultram. My pain is not really intense, just an overall ache and

> soreness.

>

> Walking: I walk in the morning and evenings about a mile total.

I'm

> walking faster and my right hip is getting stronger. I was able to

> walk in the mall this morning while shopping with my mom (unable to

> do prior to surgery!)

>

> Activity Tolerance: I typically need to recline after about 3

hours

> of light activity (ie...out to eat, sitting at computer, walking,

> doing laundry with the reacher)

>

> Emotional State: Last week was a " weepy one " for me. Just tired

of

> being in the house, but I'm much better this week.

>

> Driving: I started driving last Friday, but only short distances

and

> not on the highway.

>

> Good luck to those with pending surgeries. Remember the " silky "

> PJ's. I used those as soon as my cathator was removed and I could

> stop using the hospital gowns. The silky material REALLY helps

with

> log rolling in bed. Also, I took a digital frame and the pictures

of

> family and friends helped me through those long nights.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Melinda

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna!

I had significant bladder problems, though they are likely from

multiple sclerosis (not from back issues). But if you are looking to

talk to someone who has been dealing with incontinence and leaks and

such, I would be happy to talk to you here or privately - just let me

know!

>

> Wow, your post means so much to me. I have been contemplating having

> surgery and this helps me a lot! My symptoms started last November

[Guest guest]

Melinda--did you know that they make an Ultram ER? This is an

extended release Tramadol that you take once a day, and it covers you

all day for the pain. I'm on that now. I still had some left from

before my surgery, and I'm using it. I don't need the " heavy stuff "

any more, and this is about right. You might want to ask your doctor

about it. It would give you more coverage than cutting a pill in

half.

Carol V.

>

> Hi all,

>

> Yesterday marked 4 weeks since surgery with Dr. LaGrone in

Amarillo.

> I wanted to post about my function to help others who are

considering

> revision or have up coming revision.

>

> Pain: I am down to one pain pill per day mainly at night. I'm on

> Ultram. My pain is not really intense, just an overall ache and

> soreness.

>

> Walking: I walk in the morning and evenings about a mile total.

I'm

> walking faster and my right hip is getting stronger. I was able to

> walk in the mall this morning while shopping with my mom (unable to

> do prior to surgery!)

>

> Activity Tolerance: I typically need to recline after about 3

hours

> of light activity (ie...out to eat, sitting at computer, walking,

> doing laundry with the reacher)

>

> Emotional State: Last week was a " weepy one " for me. Just tired

of

> being in the house, but I'm much better this week.

>

> Driving: I started driving last Friday, but only short distances

and

> not on the highway.

>

> Good luck to those with pending surgeries. Remember the " silky "

> PJ's. I used those as soon as my cathator was removed and I could

> stop using the hospital gowns. The silky material REALLY helps

with

> log rolling in bed. Also, I took a digital frame and the pictures

of

> family and friends helped me through those long nights.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Melinda

>