update

[Guest guest]

Dear Cam,

You warmed my heart! Thank you! I have stayed mostly in " lurker "

mode because I really have nothing to offer the group at this stage.

But I can't tell you how valuable this site has been towards getting

me to accept my condition and make peace with what lies ahead. Back

in Spring I was having so many pain problems that I stopped my yoga

and guess what? I hardly ever have the level of pain I used to have,

so I guess yoga was not helping me. Unfortunately, I've since gained

10 pounds and my body is going to hell in a handbasket but I don't

hurt as much. I have started taking an adult beginning tap class as

my last hurrah before I have surgery in an effort to lose some weight

and for some fun. So far it is not hurting my back. But it is only

25 min./week, I only practice at home for 10 min. periods at a time,

it involves no twisting & bending and mostly my feet are doing the

work. (I am a little dismayed that I lose my balance and start to

topple over in tap when I used to be able to do the tree for long

periods of time in Yoga. I blame it on my bad back. That's my story

and I'm sticking to it! )

As I mentioned, I am still trying to decide who to get a second

opinion from as I feel so very comfortable with Dr. Lenke and he is

geographically closer to us than any other revision doc. I think Dr.

Bridwell would probably give me the same opinion as Lenke; although

they hold separate clinics, I get the impression that their

philosophies are the same (yes?).

I have used the ol' Ben lin Method for deciding when to have

the surgery and looking 5 years out, next Fall/Winter seems to be the

best time for our family. Our son will be off to college and the

youngest will have her sister to chauffer her around. Dr. Lenke said

that when I had the surgery was my decision but the longer I wait,

the greater the chance that it will become an emergency surgery as my

spine is curving/collapsing at a rate of more than 5%/year. I don't

want to get to that point. I also don't want to get any more out of

shape than I am! I have yet to call Dr. Lenke's nurse and discuss

this with her.She may give me a different perspective or insight.

I also need to start writing down my questions. Curiously, the

time when I think of all the good questions is right before I fall

asleep or when I wake up in the middle of the night. Go figure!

Anyway - I want everyone to know that though I don't post much

lately, I do read everybody's posts and continue with my prayers for

those needing them.

Take care,