Tim and Command Central
No matter where we go in the world, Tim manages to run the world from command central! We always take 2 monitors with us when we travel, one for him and one for me but as I can’t sit yet for more than half an hour, there’s not much point in me having mine so he gets to use them both this trip.
Back home he has his laptop and three screens plus his iPad, talk about spoilt LOL, now if he only has his laptop he grinds to a halt, literally his brain does the blue screen, GPF’s and abend’s!
I’m usually not much better, I have my laptop and two screens as well at home so I really can’t point the finger. He has been amazing on this trip, not only nursing me but doing his work and mine. He has definitely been my rock not just here but in the years previous when I was always in so much pain.
It was Tim that found out about ADR (Artificial Disk Replacement) at which I scoffed I have to admit, it seemed like something out of Star Trek but with research we found it to be a reality. Hence, here I am with three Titanium disks in my back! (will post X-rays of the disks later)
I cannot thank him enough for being there for me, for believing he could get me out of pain, for encouraging me to get it done.
Day 15 post-op
Well I had a much better day today, woke up with the usual aches and pains, not surprising given the 2 surgeries and the trouble associated with them, but they have me on 600mg Ibuprofen 3 times a day which helps and when there is real stomach surgery pain I still have my Lortab.
It means I have been able to get up and moving today and take short walks. Went around the block first thing and then Tim and I went to the various grocery stores in the afternoon. He’s really good and even though I walk very slowly he just ambles along with me. His usual pace is warp speed so I know that must be hard for him.
I tried to go a faster today but it didn’t take long before I got really sharp shooting pains at the surgery site. So bad it doubled me over, needless to say I realized I have to go at my speed but it is getting better every day.
I feel better in myself, if I can get rid of all the pain, which is getting easier every day, I get restless and feel ready to do stuff. Then I get in front of the laptop and within 10 to 20 minutes the surgery pain starts to set in reminding me I am not invincible.
It is sooooooooo nice though to feel human again and feel more so every day. The best thing of all is NO BACK PAIN! I get surgery twinges, or a muscle will spasm but I used to walk around all day with my hand on my back at L4/L5 where there was ALWAYS a sharp pain. The rest of my lower back used to ache or have sharp pains every day. The last 7 years in particular have been the worst of my life and getting worse.
As I sit here now typing this my stomach is beginning to complain and the unused (for a long time) muscles in my back are starting to complain but there is no pain at all from the disks. I cannot in any way explain what it is like to be out of that pain after having it constantly for so long. It’s like this huge cloud has lifted, I almost feel like a completely new person.