So, it is now 2 weeks post surgery, and it's been an up and down ride so far. The first week after I got home, I really didn't move from the recliner except to use the restroom. My wonderful wife kept me well medicated (I'm sure this was more for her than me :) just kidding). I was taking medication at least 4 times a day, and Tish kept it on a pretty tight schedule to keep me in front of the pain. The worst part of the first week was that without moving around, and not getting out of the house, depression crept in very quickly. I felt worthless and felt more like a burden to everyone than anything else. Luckily, that got better pretty quickly. We did get alot of help during the first two weeks after the surgery, and for that, I'm very thankful. We had two meals made for us, one by Ms. Riza McCoy from my work who made a batch of her WONDERFUL lumpia, and one by my boss, LtCol Slagley's family. They made us a wonderful rice and sausage casserole with homeade bread and a delicious apple pie for dessert. Thank you to both of these folks as the meals gave Tish a much needed break. My cousin Brett, also mowed the grass for us this past weekend, which was wonderful (he did a great job by the way) so thank you very much to him as well.
I was recovering quite well and had to go to a funeral visitation on Wednesday of last week. Our family lost a dear friend way too early in life. The funeral was Thursday, but unfortunately I was paying the price for leaving the house and being out in the heat on Wednesday and was unable to make it to the funeral. I didn't learn my lesson and decided to get up and do a bit more around the house last Friday....boy was that a mistake. I was even told by the doctor and nurses that no matter how I feel I need to take it easy. I may feel well enough to get up and about, but that I would pay for it in the end. So after Friday, I was down and out all weekend long. Saturday and Sunday I spent most of the day back in my recliner and trying to keep the pain under control.
Then came Monday the 2nd of July, my follow up with the surgeon's nurse. 13 days after the surgery, I got the sutures removed and got quite a few questions answered. I was told that I'm able to get out of the house as I could tolerate, just to keep in mind that a 20 minute trip outside may cost me 4 hours of rest time at home. I was told by multiple people in the hospital that I was doing remarkably well for being so soon after surgery. I was told that I still can't lift more than 10 pounds for at least the next month, then work my way up from there. I am allowed to help with the housework as tolerated, was able to quit taking my tylenol 3, so I'm not on narcotics anymore. Unfortunately, still no driving for another 2 weeks or so, then I am to stay on side streets until my neck movement has returned to normal. Thankfully, I'm able to do more and more each day, just have to be very careful and listen to my body. While I was at the doctor, I scheduled my next follow up for 14 August where Dr. Mapstone will hopefully give me the green light to return to work. I was also told that at that appt, Dr. Mapstone would schedule another MRI somewhere around 6 months from the surgery and another follow-up shortly after the MRI. If all goes well, and the syrinxes are not growing, I will most likely get an MRI every year followed by another Dr. appt to review the results, and yes, that's for the rest of my life.
After my appt downtown, we went to visit folks at my work. They were quite surprised to see me up and around, much less doing as well as I am. We spent a good 45 minutes there visiting and chatting before we needed to head out and get some lunch. It was a great visit just to see some folks and at least get back that normalcy, even if I'm not allowed to go back to work until 17 August. Unfortunately, it was during the lunch rush, so there were alot of people that weren't there. I'm sure there will be more visits.
That brings us to today, 3 July. Today I was able to do a load of dishes to help the wife out for the first time since the surgery, woohooo!!!! I am so thankful for my wonderful wife and how much she has done for me and our kids over the last two weeks. I have been completely worthless and she has taken on the load gladly to not only take care of EVERYTHING, but also take care of me. Hopefully, tomorrow night I will be able to get out and enjoy some fireworks on the birthday of the United States. All of this has helped me remember just how lucky we are to be living in a great country with so many great people. It also helps me to remember that I'm beginning a new stage in my life, a new birthday per say. Yes, there will be many restrictions on what I can and can't do, but I won't have to worry about each and every symptom that may come my way. It's a great feeling knowing that we took the first strike in the battle. Everyone enjoy your 4th of July.
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