3 Week Update

Well it's been a little bit since I updated.  That's because I'm feeling better.  I went to the doctor last Thursday and I'll be going back to work this Thursday.  I'm really nervous.   The doctor did x-rays and they look really good.  Without all the hardware you can see the fusion much better.  It looks strong.  So he said I could go back to work whenever I wanted and I choose this Thursday.  My job is very physically demanding and I didn't want to go back any sooner because I still have scabbing over the incision.  I've had an incision open back up once before and didn't want to have that happen again.  Anyway we discussed the what if my employer tries to push me physically like they did after the fusion.  I told him I wasn't going to be stubborn about it this time.  If they make me cry, I'm going home.  He said to call and he would put me back on medical leave.  Don't think he really likes my employer.  I think I blogged a little about it last time.  When I went back to work after my fusion, I feel, they intentionally put me on a job that was constantly bending over.  I cried in pain every day.  I won't do it this time.  I don't really think it's going to be a problem, because I do feel so much better.  My biggest hangup is I don't want to be disabled.  I don't think I can be retrained to do anything easier.  I've worked many years in a factory setting and I'm not qualified to do anything else.   I don't have a college education, I regret that now.  If I had went to college I could possibly find something I could do.  It wouldn't be easy because I have trouble sitting for very long as well as the things I've been doing.  It would need to be something that balances moving and sitting.

Anyway my family are good.  At least my husband and children.  My parents not so much.  Their home was flooded for 3 weeks.  They had at least 3 feet of water in their mobile home for 2 weeks.  It's a total loss.  They have been living in a tent on their property for 3 1/2 weeks.  I don't like it at all, I understand it but I don't like it.  They are going through their home and garage trying to salvage anything they can.  It's horrible, the water knocked things off shelves.  If it wasn't extremely heavy or bolted down it got shifted around.  They have found a few things they can save.  I really wish their realtor would call them.  They put in an offer on a house in Florida.  So far the government hasn't declared it a national disaster, but I'm hoping within the next week FEMA will come in.

Day 7

Well I'm doing better I think.  The ice packs really helped bring the swelling down, well that and the ibuprofen the doctor let me take.  I'm taking very few painkillers now too.  I really don't like taking them because of my family's addictive personalities.  I've yet to have problems with it, but I could just as easy as others in my family have.  Yesterday I went to my niece's graduation party.  We didn't stay long but it was nice being out with my family.  I kind of shocked my family by showing up, but she's only going to graduate high school once and I wanted to at least show up.  I was sick after I left there, didn't take any painkillers all day due to wanting to go.  Didn't want to fall asleep and not make it there.  So when I got home I took some painkillers and grabbed the ice packs.  Oh WOW I left off stopping at my husband's niece's house.  She graduated too, unfortunately she didn't have a party but I needed to drop off her present.  She is beyond sweet and thrilled to get anything for graduation.  Anyway so after the pain subsided some I felt much better.  I discovered I get nauseated when my pain goes high. 

Anyway so far so good.  I'm hoping for the best with this surgery.  I already seem to have less grinding in my back.  There isn't a whole lot of information on recovery or anything like that out there to help you know if your doing good or not.  Hopefully someone searching hardware removal will find this and find some comfort.

On to today's events.  Today I went to Menard's with my hubby and the grocery.  He convinced me to use the electric cart in Menard's.  It felt horrible, the people there just kept staring.  You can't see I've had back surgery and I'm only 41 so nothing is visibly wrong with me.  I just wanted to leave.  After that we went to the grocery.  I refused to use the electric cart there because of the looks at Menard's.  I hope I don't look at people like that, I'm sure I do.  Everyone is guilty of it, passing judgement without the knowledge needed to pass judgement.  Anyway by the time I left the grocery (getting stuff to replace the stuff from the broken fridge) I was in a lot of pain.  I rested and took ibuprofen because I still wanted to do things today with the family.  After awhile the pain got a little better.  Called my husband to get the grill going.  He grilled burgers and hot dogs.  I made some fries and cheese sticks.  It was a good afternoon.  Now that everything has settled down I've taken my painkillers and I'm just relaxing trying to unwind.