Update on Spinal Surgery – 7 weeks post op

Just an update, I have completed my first week back at work and I have loved being back. my doctor advised me to start with two weeks of mornings just to get eased in, he said if you go back full time it’s highly likely you’ll wear yourself put and end up needing time off.

I did think actually I feel ok and think I can do full days but thought no I will follow doctors orders and be sensible. I was very glad I did as when I came home dinner time on Monday my leg was sore and tight and I did feel quite worn out, as the week has went on I was feeling a bit better each day. I decided next week that I will maybe do a full day in the middle to say how my body manages that. I found I need to make sure I keep mobile, as the first day I sat for an hour then it was break then sat for another hour so I made sure I would stand up move about etc.

I’m over the moon to be back at work and it doesn’t feel like I’ve been off but I look back and I just can’t believe how much pain I was in and how much everything was a struggle I am really grateful to be healthy and not in that extreme pain.

I was talking to someone in the staff room who asked why I was off and once I had explained she was shocked as someone she knows had the exact same thing everything that I had described, however his operation wasn’t successful and he is now left with permanent damage to his sciatic nerve he has to walk with a crutch but that is a struggle, he has lost his bladder control. They tried a second op for him but that failed too, hearing what he went through and that he was only 31 has made me just so grateful that my outcome was very different.

I woke up yesterday (Saturday) with a really sore foot, just my toes and the flat bit where you toes connect, it really hurts when I put my foot down to walk and from my knee down my leg feels rather tight and a kind of burning sensation. I’m not worrying myself I checked the spine health forums and apparently the L5 nerve is the longest recovery and these are hopefully just symptoms of recovery and the affects of scar tissue, it is still the same today so if no change by Monday I will ring the hospital for advice, I’m staying positive and hoping it is just the recovery as I would be devasated if I had to have another op don’t think I could handle more time of work!

Anyway I’m thinking of starting swimming and/or Pilates to help strengthen my back, we went swimming yesterday with the kids so I only did 4 lengths to see how my body reacts, I had to get out the water after 40 mins as my leg was tightening up but I really enjoyed swimming so hopefully I will be ok to continue.

If your recovery from surgery hope your doing well, ill update maybe in a week.

Been a while!

Happy New Year!

My resolution – to blog at least once a week! I admit I got sidetracked with the festivities but ill be posting more.

So my recovery is going great! Im 6 weeks post op this saturday, i started driving again at 5 weeks just short journeys and so far so good. My scar has totally healed now so i can finally have a proper long hot soak in the bath! Generally i feel great, I have no back pain at all, occasionally my leg feels a bit wierd like if ive been in bed for to long i can feel the nerve that had the problem feeling very stiff but not painful, im pretty sure from what ive read in spine heath forums that this is normal, it also gets a bit sore after a busy day.

Catch up time – Of course with not been able to do much before Christmas I was only washing the essentials so i now have a huge backlog of washing that needs doing and piles of ironing, i still cant stand long enough to iron a huge pile so i do get rather frustrated!

So i got bored over christmas and dyed my hair pink, then for new year I went back again

I used ColourB4 and was amazed at the results it took the colour out brilliantly!

We had a brilliant Christmas, in fact one of the best now i dont know if this was because i was off work so I had all the presents sorted very early, but we also had our relatives from Oz come

over too so 27 of us had a Christmas dinner at The Whitehills Pub. http://www.partyatthepub.co.uk/bars/the-whitehills  This was just brilliant for anyone thinking of eating out on Christmas Day  – DO IT!!! Firstly there was no stress at all we simply got up on Christmas Day opened pressies got ready went for Bucks Fizz reception at 1130 which was fab, the kids had an orange juice Mocktail so felt included.

We had the conservatory part to ourself which was perfect with having so many children, the staff were brilliant and especially for working on  christmas day they were just fab! The food was brilliant you couldnt fault it, the portions were a very decent size everyone had plenty of veg to go round, and the desserts too were amazing! They actually let us alter the menu slightly too as alot of us dont like the fancy starters like brie etc so they stuck on an extra option of soup!

By 1.30pm we had finished the food so whilst coffee was served we dished out the presents. So by 3pm everyone was home with no stress of cooking dinner or timing the turkey and the best part was no washing up. For me i found that this was the first Christmas i wasnt stressing out all day rushing round cooking or shouting at kids to get out the kitchen, I think we will do this again this year,  well worth every penny!                                

Christmas passed in a blur, i caught a terrible cold that lasted till New Years Eve which i was very gutted about but it didnt stop me having my annual New Year Party, it was my birthday and after spending most of the day thinking i was 34 during the party Matt my 5 year old kindly reminded me i was only actually 33! So that was a huge bonus! We had a fab party with my family and close friends (who got me a cocktail making kit – just fab) i managed a few cocktails, we had fireworks for the kids plenty of food and loads of gossip  – it was a bit emotional remembering our Granda who we lost in Feb but i do know he would be very proud of us all sticking together.  The kids had a hoot, spent most on the night playing on the Wii or blowing the hooters! I couldnt stop sneezing the whole night and my nose was streaming but i did have a brilliant time and as i didnt drink much i had no hangover!!

So thats an update, I’m back to work on the 7th I just cant wait, I have missed my friends and the children so much, my doctor said i should go back to work on a phased return as he reminded me that it is only 6 weeks since spinal surgery and he said if you go back full time you could end up exhausted and having to have time off at a later date, he suggested doing two weeks of just mornings which will help me to figure out just how worn out i get. Its hard to predict this as of course over christmas if im worn out i just have a lie down and you dont know how much worn out ness is just because of having a cold or the craziness of Christmas or if yes its because i simply had surgery 6 weeks ago. So for all i was tempted to say NOOOOOO im going back properly, ive decided to listen to the doctor and do what he says – i do not want to jeopardize my back and have any more time of work.

I see my surgeon tomorrow night at 1930 for the 6 week check so im gonna ask him about my leg, ive woke up this morning and it is aching again – not painful but heavy like i can feel the actual nerve needs a good stretch or rub, feels a bit dead? This is worrying me a bit as when i stand to wash up it is quite sore and i feel i have to sit, but fingers crossed it is ment to be like this and hopefully it will get better quick!

Home from surgery!

Finally it’s over!
So I went in to the Spire Washington on Saturday at 11am, I was due for op at 2pm so I had nothing to eat since the night before I was sooooo hungry! I was took to my room

the room was fab! Better than a travellodge to be honest! I felt so fortunate to be in this hospital, think I mentioned it before that this is through the NHS but my surgeon only works at one nhs hospital and I was fortunate to go to the private one!

My hubby and little un dropped me off they didn’t stay long I didn’t want them there I could see Matt looked concerned to be honest I preferred to be alone to get prepared! So I read the patient book and again had to double check I was in a hospital, there was even a drinks menu!

Well by 1pm I must admit I was getting nervous, at 2 the surgeon came to see me had a nice chat and was told the anaesthetist would get me, so she came along I said I’m a bit scared now! Next thing they put me in a bed and I got some injection they said tell me when u feel woozy then we put u to sleep. In about 3 seconds I was woozy so next thing I turned to anaesthetist and said when will u put me to sleep he laughed said its all done!

Amazing! I’d only been in an hour, it took me ages to come round I was in a lot of pain as of course I’m lying flat on my back on the actual cut! By 4 pm I was back in my room I felt like I’d been out on the beer sooooo dizzy, next thing surgeon walks in with another bloke say right lets get u on your feet, what! I can’t get up! but they stood me up then put me quickly down when they realised I was telling the truth and didn’t feel well!

The surgeon told me he was amazed I’d been walking as the disc was the biggest he removed, the nurse came in after him and explained this surgeon is a great believer of get up asap and get on with it he told me I could go home but no way I was so woozy I couldn’t plus I wanted one night no kids, sounds bad but I just needed to feel better before facing the kids!

By 6pm, hubby and kids visited and I was starting to feel better, they brought a huge bag of randoms so I got through them nicely which helped me feel normal, they didn’t stop long the oldest looked a bit worried bless him. By 9 I felt human again, I was able to get to the loo by myself Granted it took a while, esp as I had a drain in my back (yuk) I had a rough sleep apparently I was on my left side for surgery and I’m sure I’m gonna have hand mark bruises on my right hip and side from someone holding me up that hurts a lot!

Next part is gonna be strange, believe what u wish but I’m a huge believer in angels and not ashamed to admit it, whenever I’ve been low I’ve asked for help and its came, around 7/8pm when I was feeling woozy I had an overwhelming feeling my Granda was there I could feel something around my right shoulder every time I looked I could see a white orb type thing floating round, and all I could think of was my Granda saying I’m here with you like you were for me, (I was with him right up till he took his last breath this yr from cancer) now I know I was drugged up and all this was probably the After affects of the surgery but for me at that time it felt real, looking back I think don’t be so silly, but who knows?

Ill leave it there as I’m shattered now, but will update later with coming home! Xxx

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This is a tiny pocket angel my wonderful friend gave me to take in xxxx

Great but sore weekend!

Hello!

I’m still here, been a very busy weekend and I’ve been so tired on a night with all the medication!
So ill briefly fill you in, (whilst trying to ignore the constant shouts of mam, I’m not tired, mam, mam! Argh!)

So Friday, I was having a really fed up day I was in a lot of pain and just needed cheering up, so I’d been thinking about getting sum pink highlights through my hair but knew I couldn’t sit in the hairdressers as it would be agony, so I bought this

And was very careful just adding about 8 strips of colour, it didn’t take long so I avoided the pain of the hairdressers, and I loved it!

That certainly cheered me up! So Saturday, the best day as it was Twilight day! Wooohoooo! I stayed up till midnight when tickets where released and got the posh seats! So two of my bestest friends came and picked me up (they wouldn’t let me drive, save my legs lol) and we went early and had a lovely meal at Zizzis, (of course I got free garlic dough sticks on O2 moments) told u I like my freebies! It was just great to have a girly night and a good chat.

So went in to watch Twilight and wow it was brilliant, ill not tell anymore because if you are a fan you will love it! I curled my hair especially but it took ages, I really like the pink effect but do hope I’m not to old to be doing my hair in this young trend?! But if I am I’m not bothered, I’m happy it perked me up!

There it is front and back all for the grand total of £4!

I also saw my doc on Friday I forgot to say to get more tablets and another sick note 😦 he was fab and explained the letter from hospital to me very well. I am now fully ready to go for surgery on Saturday although terrified for the aftermath! I am positive that I will not be able to do nothing for two weeks, but determined as I have to get back to work before I go insane! The driving thing is a mega problem, doc said at least 4 wks but preferably 6 as any slam to the breaks will just do my spine in completely.

On Sunday Matt made some fruit meringues

really good fun

and stopped him from wanting to play on iPhone for at least ten mins!

Don’t think there’s much else to report, I’ve had a sore day today so I will review an app tomorrow, just wanted you all to know I’m here and still loving to blog!

Finally another kiss and Matt is off to sleep! Cuppa time!