From the other side

[Guest guest]

Dear (former) flatbackers,

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been home and I am now sort of feeling up to sitting a little while and typing this email. It has been so good to get back home. The thing I love best is my own bed! The day I got home I got in it and it felt like a cloud!

My surgery and experience at Baptist Saint Hospital in Amarillo was just what the Lord promised to me. My surgeon, Dr. LaGrone, is the best in my opinion and he did a wonderful job on my revision. He came by daily except for the Memorial Day weekend and sure blessed me by telling me how well I did and how well I was healing. One day he came in and asked me how I felt. I told him, "my hip hurts, my head hurts, my feet are numb, etc." He replied in his usual dry way, "Sounds like you're doing fine!"

Surgery went well except for a small tear in the dura (spinal cord sheath). That slowed me down a bit and I had to stay in ICU an extra day to keep the headache away. I have had hemorrhaging problems in the past, but I only required one unit of blood during the surgery and one or two others afterward to build up my blood.

The hospital staff, nurses, physical/occupational therapists, food deliverers and cleaning ladies were the BEST in the world. There was not one person who worked with me who was not very pleasant, polite, caring and even friendly. I loved talking to them about their families, studies, etc. I rate my night nurses really high because anyone who will come and take an antsy, bored patient to the bathroom six times during the night deserves a strong commendation! Not to mention the precious nurse who cleaned me up and changed my clothes about seven times one day when my constipation finally broke. That was probably the most horrible day of my stay.

I'm taking it slow as per all of your instructions. I'm doing my exercises from the physical therapists in the week I had rehab. My therapists were wonderful! I'm also walking daily--working on twice a day--with my husband in the neighborhood. It's hard to find a good time to go out as it is so hot and humid now. I can sit for a couple of hours at a time, but don't like to do that. My main struggle is still the restless leg. At about 1:00 in the afternoon, I get really wiggley and antsy and sometimes take a muscle relaxer. My "pain" is minimal. I take a couple of Tramadol in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. Before bed I take two Hydrocodone to help me sleep and I am sleeping longer and longer during the night!

My church family has been bringing meals every other day, so we haven't had to worry about food. I still have the 12 dinners I made up beforehand and Bill is really good at taking a run to Sonic or Whataburger. I was horrified in the hospital when they told me my weight was 137. However, it is down to my usual 126 now and I am happy again. By the way, the food was excellent at Baptist St. !!! Best pizza I ever had!!!

My favorite time of day is my shower time!! Thanks, Beth, for the super idea of using a terry bathrobe to dry off with!!! Everything seems better once I've had a shower!!

I'm sure I am boring many of you. However, I just had to let everyone know what a wonderful thing the Lord has done for me! I still feel like I am extremely swaybacked, but I am beautifully straight! My brain will catch up with that someday! The numbness is receding from my feet and all that is still numb is my left foot's toes (oh, and my rear end)! I am so thankful that I was able to have this surgery done! Sure there were difficult days, but I can say the experience overall was fantastic!!! I am so glad I am on the "other side" now and taking each day as it comes. I am rejoicing in God's goodness to me!

Much love!

SJ,

Tyra