Clare

great news!

hi clare, great news that you are back home so soon!, you're a real tough cookie!. what a mess your back was in, unreal, how you ever got around at all is very admirable! good luck and a speedy recovery goes out to you:).
take care n best wishes,daveym.xxx

thank you both

em hope your still taking it easy you will always have back pain as will i my surgeon doesn't think i'll ever be able to work again but we will see im trying my hardest to recover it's not an easy ride i thought i'd be able to reduce my oxycodone but not a chance yet, no sleep very uncomfortable as i can't change sides got up with the help of my hubby and in as you will all know what im talking about, hubby still has to help me down stairs and i still have bad legs pain, but after 10 mins of oxycodone and paracetamol it has ease but i can't walk unaided don't think i will for a while.

sending form off today for help with finances my surgeon has gave my hubby all his details so hopefully we will get help soon:confused:

em how you doing in work are you feeling your getting better?

and daveyam hope your not suffering too much.

iv'e got the nurses coming today thay are checking all my pressure sores.

well maybe tomorrow will be a better day

love to you all clare xxxxx:)

Hi Clare

Sorry I didn't message for the last couple of days but I have been feeling a bit poorly, the GP thinks I have gallstones and is sending me for a scan.

I bet you you are loving being at home even though you are having to use a commode. Hubby still has to help me on and off the loo at times and also getting dressed so do know how you feel.

When I had my fusion I stayed upstairs afterwards for a few weeks as it was too uncomfortable on the sofa and I didn't have a downstairs loo either. I used to ring hubby or whoever was looking after me on their mobiles, we still do it now! Just be careful going downstairs while your leg is weak, as you know I fell down the stairs five days after surgery and it scared the life out of me and my family.

Well keep on recovering and staying positive as that definitely helps.

Take care, love

Wend xxxx

aww wend sorry to hear you have been so poorly,
hope it's not gallstones i really hope you feel better soon.

my commode is downstairs i only go up stairs at night when going to bed which is so painful trying to get in a position, nurse has just been out my lump in breast is still large so may need to get it investigated if it doesn't go down , my chin is getting better the sores on front is still sore but not bothering me too much like she said 11 hours surgery will take it's toll, iv'e got a chair downstairs which i can sit quite comfortable but i get up every 20 mins and walk with zimmer, it's a long recovery but i'll get there staying positve at least i know there are no discs left to prolapse:)

wend i really hope you get better please if you can let me know your progress.

love always clare xxxxxx

hi clare, i'm not to bad thanx! it's amazing how many suggestions i've made to my gp instead of him coming up with the ideas to help me, for example i've told him many times that i have severe burning and sensitivity of the skin at the top of my right buttock and i cannot stand anything rubbing against it (boxer shorts or jeans) due to my sciatic pain, so i've covered that area with a large pad stuck on with ducktape!!!, then i asked if there was anything to de-sensitive that area, now he's prescribed me some large medicated patches which should do exactly that!. he could have come up with the patches 3 months ago when this flare-up started:mad:!!!. i hope you're feeling a bit better day by day:)!. it's been lovely today! and it's set to be like that for a few days:). it's been 3 weeks since i saw a new surgeon, and it's took his secretary 3 DAMN WEEKS to type his a letter to request a mylegram at another hospital for me, i could'nt believe it, a week yes but not 3, i asked why that was and the receptionist was annoyed at me for asking! i was fuming but i had to keep my cool and not let her know this. i told her i've been housebound for 3 months and she replied " we do sympathise with our patients", ha, what a joke!, i said i want action not sympathy!. i wish i'd never gone to this new hospital but i'm in to much pain to travel to my usual hope hospital. sorry to go on so much, especially with the condition your in. hope you're able to sit out in the sun, even if i'ts only for a short while:).

love n best wishes to you clare!
daveyam xxx!

Hi im so sorry you have to wait long I know how it feels to be constantly mithering but that's what you have to do also I'm sorry that you're in so much pain I really hope you get sorted ASAP love clare keep me posted x

thanx clare, its so frustrating when it comes to having to wait so long, gp's will NEVER understand that leaving people in such pain only damges a person more, be it physicaly or mentally. the damage is not visible to their naked eye so they have no idea what a person is going thru'. they will never understand what kind of pain it is or how it feels, or how it alters between standing,sitting, walking, or how it can "grab" suddenley and stop you in your tracks, i think they look on it as something like a headache pain for which they can prescribe tablets and it will ease it or cure it.they just don't get it!.
anyway i'm upstairs, as i am most of the time, laid down typing this and watching andy murray winning at the moment. i don't normally watch tennis, i'm a football fan, but its been quite good. its funny what you can get into when you're laid up.
love, daveyam,xxx

i know
i understand sometimes i wonder if having a fusion was a good idea im in more pain now then pre-op although my surgeon said this will be the case my nerves was so horribly damage that i suppose it's gonna take time for them to heal, it's jyst my left leg still numb and still walking with aid, he's phoning me next week so it's not like iv'e just been left it's still early days, it's sleeping that's a massive concern can't turn very hard to get out of bed but like i said hopefully it will get easier in time.

and i think for you is just if you not heard anything by monday phone again then again that's the only way.

love clare xx

Hi all
We got back last night from an overnight trip to visit some American friends who were staying in a rented cottage in the Cotswolds. Lovely weather, lovely place but oh I am so tired and achy in addition to the pain today. I am travelling lless well than ever. Peter has just gone out to test drive a car (not new I may add) because he thinks we need a bigger car. You know it is the first time I have not been at all interested. I cannot test drive it because I have not driven since December. Roll on this op. I can't wait to get a date.

Sorry you are not feeling at all well Daveyam - you must fight for your rights to get your treatment changed to something better - though I know every step of the way is such hard work.

Clare - great you are home. I would not like having to have so much help with dressing etc - but hey you are on the slow road to recovery and you are with the family. I found years and years ago when I had to have an urgent hysterectomy that I did not feel better every day but when I thought about it I felt a bit better every third day. Perhaps it will be like that for you. It did all take what I considered to be an age but there were complications so it was longer than usual. Somehow you get there. You do not say but is your other leg still improved - or indeed hopefully cured?

love Angela

hi angela
sorry iv'e not got back sooner, im glad you had a nice time on your trip but sorry for your pain,

the reason i,ve not posted is because it's all still negative still on morphine i was hoping to start reducing it but im in a lot of pain still in legs my left leg is still numb on top to jusy above knee mt right leg is not as good as it was after the surgery so im still unable to walk unaided very hard to get in and out of bed and my breast is still very sore and lump is the same nurse will be out on wednesday, surgeon will be phoning this week, i thought i would see some improvement by now when will it end. oh and chin is getting better.

im sorry i can't give good news on my progress that's why iv'e not wanted to post but of course i wanted to speak to you, i would like to thank you again for coming to see me in hospital.

hope your pain eases love clare xxx

booked holiday last september we wer'e all excited now it's coming up and we can't go due to everything that has gone wrong three operations since feb last one lasting 11 hours in loads of pain life has been cruel i know im enduring self pity well i don't care because i've had enough im sick and tired of it all silly little things like house looking like a bomb has hit and im here not being able to do anything i woke from the 2 hrs sleep i had in absolute agony
my friend has to come tomorrow to dress me plus bath and dress my little boy as my husband has to go back to work the time he's had off since my op he has not been paid for im getting no sick pay,

right there it is iv'e let off steam as i don't want to show tears in front of my family sorry for posting in such a negative manner, oh and if one more person says i look like the guy out of family man cos of my chin i will not be hold accountable for my actions.:mad:

I'm so sorry you are still in so much pain Yogi. Do you get disability living allowance or now the PIP personal independence payment? Surely you should qualify for a carer now?

hi cscara

iv'e recently sent form off it was sent to my hubby on my behalf so just wait and see, my hubby back in work tomorrow very scary even though i know my friend is coming it's just so frustrating.

xxx

Hi Clare

I am sorry you are feeling so low, but please don't panic it's still really early days. It can take up to two years to fully recover I was told. My consultant said that at six months I would have a better idea if the nerve damage was permanent or not so you have a good while yet. You should also see if you can get occupational therapy to refer you to social services for a carer. I was lucky that my hubby could get me washed and dressed before going off to work, then being self employed he would come home at lunchtime to make me a sandwich. I also had much older children who could help out around the house. However, even now I get stressed about the state of the house as my families standards aren't the same as mine. Most of the time I try and ignore it, but if I have a friend coming round I do have to almost do a list. Put it this way no one in my family had ever cleaned the toilet until I hurt my back, they had a lot to learn 🙂

Just remember I am here if you need to talk, moan or just sound off. I know how you are feeling and how scary things are at the moment but please don't lose hope yet. The good thing is your nerves weren't trapped for years so its possible they will bounce back, at the moment they are very badly bruised from being touched and squished but there is a good chance at least some if not all will repair themselves, at least I pray for you they do.

Anyway take care,

Love Wend xxxxx

Hi Clare
Sorry to read how you think things are going. I think there is a lot going on here, and that you have more right to moan than many people. That is what we are here for.

I think first of all I would say that many people feel depressed when they come out of hospital. After spending days of trying to get home which is what you think you want (and of course you do want that because you want to be with your family) you leave a fairly cushioned existence in which someone looks after all your needs. You then reach the comfort of your home and realise it is not nearly so straightforward.

I too would hate my husband having to do the more basic things for me, but that will pass. However, what will probably not pass is your attitude to the house looking a tip in your eyes and not as you would wish it to be. You must therefore turn a blind eye to a lot of things. Stress is the last thing you need. I am sure it is not as bad as you think and largely surface untidiness from having a family around the place. However, having said that you are probably going to have to be tougher on the family (except the little one) How about a five minute clear up each day when everyone puts away anything of theirs and takes it in turns to flick a duster around the living room and hall. Would the older two take turns at cooking the dinner and washing up to relieve your husband. Your daughter who is ten could perhaps help with your little boy. Girls of that age usually love playing mother and perhaps she would get him dressed and washed, give him drinks etc. Your husband will then be freer to keep an eye on bathroom and kitchen. Your house does not need to look like a palace just ignore the other things. You can then spend your time relaxing as you have been told to do and playing with your little boy. If you spend a lot of time on that and he now knows you are around I am sure he will be happy..

I am so sad that you say that the improved leg is now giving more trouble but glad to hear your face is improving. I think one of your greatest problems is sleep. If we do not sleep well we feel much worse. Are you picking up any hours sleep in the day. I am a bit worried today as I do not sleep without my heated wheat pads. I have them when I get into bed and then again sometime in the night. However, I just think it is much too hot today and wonder how I will go on.

Hope you don't feel I am telling you what to do but if any suggestion is a possibility it will help.

I go to physio at MRI at 8 am tomorrow. I don't think she will be overpleased as whilst I was doing reasonably well last time in her eyes, I cannot raise my right leg more than about half an inch from the bed. I also cannot lift my right foot onto the footrest of my wheelchair. These are both new things.

Finally love, how about writing out a list tomorrow of the things you cannot do and anything you can do better since the op. Progress is slow I know, but seems even slower to you. Do not look at this list again for seven days then compare them and update. Do this every seven days and take pleasure from any improvement at all.

love, Angela