Saturday, February 17, 2007

Touch and go......

The return to the world of productivity went well, the back is holding out so far. I can still set things off with "just the wrong move", but they calm down relatively quickly now. Sitting is still the bugger, anytime I sit unsupported for too long, the leg starts to hurt. Saw the surgeon again last Wednesday, and he said I'm not likely to need surgery - maybe another injection, but not surgery. I go back to him in 8 weeks (Yea APRIL!).

Went to the bariatric support group this past Thursday, good to get back in with that group again. Only a few of us showed up, bad weather that night, and the group was nice and cozy. I learned that Indiana regulations only require 6 months of failed weight loss programming to get approval, so I should be fine there. I'm still battling with the recent deduction of breads and simple carbs - missing those chips, but less each day. Still have to moderate with the cheeses and nuts, and focus more on the veggies and such. I dropped 7# after starting the no-bread edict, but have crept back up since then. Have to post 2 consecutive losses before they'll start the clock on my countdown to surgery.

That's enough for now, hopefully I'll next post about the insurance ok.........

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Feeling better, can't wait to go "back" to work (pun intended).....

Ok, that 9" needle thing might just have done the trick - less leg pain today, no back pain to speak of......yea! I'm going to head back to work tomorrow morning through what looks to be a pretty nasty commute (40mph wind, -10 F temps). I've never been off work this long at one time for an injury/illness - will be strange.

This process has been one of reflection, that leads me to more seriously think about how much I need to accept other's help more willingly. Why is it that one can always say, "it's my pleasure", but "thank you" is so much harder when you're used to being the one helping others.

Having the 30" of snow and blizzard like conditions has been the most difficult. There's this really powerful, machine of snow destruction in my garage that only I have the muscle to maneuver. I would usually fire that beast up and laugh in the face of the snow as the secondaries of the carburetor kick in while plowing through 30" drifts with glee. Instead, I sit inside watching my petite wife, my 65 year old mother and my frail 72 year old step dad chip away at the massive drifts.

Humble acceptance of help comes hard for this Hunter Gatherer.......

Thursday, February 01, 2007

OUCH - BIG NEEDLES!


Ok, I've asked alot of people to do things for me over the past two weeks of the "Back Injury" - but having a long time colleague shove a 9" needle with another 3" needle into my spine to put some steroid right on the compressed nerve, is probably the most extreme. After seeing our back surgeon downstairs at work on Monday, he suggested I get a selective nerve root block to see if we can get the swelling around the disc to come down and lessen the problems it's causing. when he said that I had just the right guy in mind. Dr. Dan Cooke - a colleague from where I used to work, I spent many an afternoon in his office doing the Therapy side of his pain management consultations. He graciously got me in without much wait and did what voodoo he do (sic). I'm now about 30 hours out, and the effects will start to kick in at about 48-72hrs (long acting steroids) so I'm hopeful.
I'm planning to go back to work Monday regardless, gotta save some of that sick time for the Gastric Bypass I'm reapplying for.
Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts!