Post-Op Checkup

Post-op checkup: No driving until March. Wear neck brace until at least March. Need to keep my head held up high to stop scrunching of new parts.

Anyone know of a great (and cheap) sanitarium?

Neurosurgeon is a cool dude. Very matter of fact. Wears a turban. Knows his stuff. Raised in New Albany, IN, right across the bridge from Louisville, KY, where our daughter/SIL and their brood live.

I'm exhausted.

First post-surgery checkup and...

Today, I'll have my first post-surgery check-up. It's been 3 weeks and two days since surgery.

I'm still experiencing a great number of muscle spasms across my shoulders. I've been "good" and worn this awful neck brace every day. Only take it off for bathing. The best part of that is having hubby wash my hair. He does a great job with the shampoo and conditioner.

Fixed my first supper yesterday. Nobody's favorite, but something I could put together without cutting myself, breaking anything or burning the house down. Lentil soup in the crock pot. We don't like it, but at our ages must eat it for the fiber. Getting old ain't for wimps.

Some of the Fibro BURN has subsided. It now only covers my lower back down to about six inches below my waist-line - well, the waist-line I had before being forced to slow down by osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Pre-surgery, the burn creeped down to about 3 inches above my knees.

This surgery has done nothing for my hip-lock problem, so I'm sure "something" will be done about that at a later date. Still can't walk the length of a block without my hips locking up. Makes it extremely difficult to put one foot in front of the other. I'm thankful for the "freedom" chair we bought a couple of years ago.

I'm also having to re-learn how to use my hands and fingers. If I've covered this before here, please understand that Fibro Fog is still present. Pre-surgery I had to consciously order my hands to do most activities that most just take for granted because their brains are on auto-pilot. Now that my hands are almost working right again, I catch myself trying to over-ride the sub-conscious movements. Note to self: Stop that!

I'll find out today how long it will be before I can drive again. Being house-bound isn't so bad when I have deadlines looming, but it sure would be nice to be more independent.

Will update after my checkup.

On another note: Somehow, a lark I'm sure - or divine intervention - my domain name has been wrested from Tripod/Lycos and my website should be back up and running with GoDaddy today.

Speaking of Tripod: If you sign up with them for their "free" domain offer, THEY, not you, will own that domain name. Then, if you ever want to move your site for, say, the fact that their customer service is nearly non-existent, you'll have to "rent" YOUR domain name from them for the life of the website - or until the Second Coming - whichever occurs first. It was a fluke that my transfer went through on August 26th by me hitting the "transfer" button about 3 dozen times. All were denied except for one. It took Tripod until December 17th to recognize the transfer and they shut down my site on December 19th. Need I say more?

Venturing out for Bob Evans Breakfast

We ventured out yesterday morning. I managed to sit in the seat without being packed in pillows to absorb road bumps. Went out to a leisurely breakfast. Then stopped at a couple of places to pick up necessary items. The last stop - to replace my electric mixer that burned up while mashing spuds for our Thanksgiving supper - Michael had to haul out my wheelchair. My hips were done moving. My back ached. My neck was throbbing. It was time to go home.

After a 4-hour nap, life was looking like it was worth the effort again.

I have an article due on Friday and most of the folks I need to interview are on vacation. This is the toughest time of year to write for a construction magazine. But, my article will get turned in on time, regardless.

My website. Dang. I'm hoping to be back up and running today. Just have a few final edits and then I'll be on the phone with GoDaddy. If I didn't hate Tripod enough before, well, I hate them triple now. However, I did have the good sense to NOT use their site-builder, but Front Page, so my online life wasn't completely destroyed.

I'm healing. Slowly. Very tired of the neck brace. Tired most of the time. Fewer meds for pain. Still have some dizziness issues. See my neurosurgeon on Wednesday.

Post Christmas Bluesies

Christmas was quiet. Too quiet. We couldn't go to Louisville as planned because daughter, son-in-law, and a couple of their tribe of kidlets were too germ-y for me to be around so soon after surgery.

Plus, we'd taken a trial run by packing me in pillows in hubby's truck, and it was miserable - and a much, much shorter trip.

I'm healing well, albeit slowly. Fingers are working much better, but still not quite up to speed. They'll probably never reach full capacity, but I can live with the use I have now. No one would hire me as a typist, which is understandable, but some of my frustration is gone. Lightly tapping my thumb knuckle or a fingernail on something hard no longer drops me to the floor from the searing pain.

Michael, my dear hubby, made a pot roast for our supper. It was wonderful. He used veggies we'd grown right here in our little garden and home-canned. You know, veggies that still had flavor and vitamins intact. Son was home and his new friend, Kathy, came over for awhile.

Speaking of son - he and Kathy delivered 3 very large teddy bears to the local childrens' hospital, specifically to go to children who, perhaps, didn't have a great Christmas. Being in the hospital is bad enough, but there are worse things - like being completely ignored by family while you're there. As a foster mom and foster grandma I've seen it too many times. I'm sure these bears were as big or bigger than the children who received them. Just something he picked up in his travels about four months ago, knowing his plan.

Well, back to seeing if I can get my website set back up. Tripod dumped me. Probably because I dared tell them their customer service sucked. Where has my diplomacy gone? I'll work on that. Right after my website is back up and functioning.

In the meantime, my email is also down. If you've emailed me at linda at lindajhutchinson dot com and it bounced back at you, try hutchlj at yahoo dot com, but don't spam me. I tend to get even with slimy spammers.

Whine, whine, whine - You've been warned.

It was -21 with the wind chill yesterday. Today it is supposed to warm up so it can snow. Great weather for, hmmm, bears? The cold certainly doesn't help my pain levels. Our house is warm and cozy, but I still have to let the dog in and out, and son is in and out while trying to get his fuel lines thawed on his big rig, and hubby was in and out this morning. Oy.

We went grocery shopping last night. That was after Michael drove me to Ohio Health for the 2-week post surgery X-rays. What a sight we were. Knowing there would be no available electric carts, he pulled my wheelchair out of the truck and I steered the cart while he pushed my wheelchair.

For Christmas, we'll be having pot roast. Not my favorite, but something hubby can do well - since he's still doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, AND bathing me/washing my hair, etc. All this while working his backside off to build a Walgreen's store that normally takes 8 months - in 4 months. He's good at what he does, obviously.

I'm sad that we can't go to Louisville for Christmas. The weather is supposed to be ugly and even packed in pillows, riding in a car/truck for any length of time, is hell. We had all the grandkids here, except the two in Seattle, and the one in the military, at Thanksgiving, so I should stop feeling selfish for wanting to spend Christmas with them, too. But, it's tough.

I'm still fighting with Tripod to get my website moved to GoDaddy. It is completely down while they screw with me by withholding the DNS unlock code. This is day SIX of my site being down. Tripod sucks. Even after finally being able to move my site, I'll still have to pay Tripod annual "rent" of $12.95 for the use of my "FREE" domain name. Did I already say Tripod sucks? Please learn from my pain of dealing with them and do NOT ever set up your website with them.

Since my website is completely down, so is my website email. If you have sent me an email at linda@, I didn't get it. Please use hutchlj at yahoo dot com until this whole completely needless mess can be cleaned up. Please don't spam me, though.

My website is still down.

This is day 5 of my website being down. Tripod's "FR*E" domain name is NOT FR*E if you every want to leave their web hosting - which I've been trying to do for a very long time. They won't give me the DNS unlock code until I've paid a $12.95 "rental" fee on my domain name - and agree to pay it for the rest of my life.

My site was never set up on "Fr*e" to begin with. I paid them $8.95 for the Pro plan every month for 5 years. One would think that I would own my domain name. However, I do not.

And, of course, their "customer service" is only open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 - and it takes at least 3 days to get a response from them via email.

So, I've not only got a website that is non-functional STILL, but all of my website email is down, too.

I will say LOUDLY once again, "Do NOT use Tripod/Lycos as your webhost!" Ever.

GoDaddy is ready to give me telephone support - 24 hours per day !! - if Tripod will ever get around to giving me the DNS unlock code so I can move my site.

Tripod/Lycos sucks.

I'm sure this will not be the end to this particular rant. The BS never seems to end when your webhost is Tripod/Lycos.

Beware, be wary!

All of this on top of trying to heal from major spine surgery. Please excuse typos and mis-spellings. I haven't had my meds yet today.

Spine surgery report: It's slow going. Hate the neck brace. When I put on my CPAP mask on top of the neck brace I look like something out of a bad horror movie. Hubby is doing double duty - working more than full-time and still cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and even bathing me and washing my hair. But then, I knew he was a keeper 18 years ago.

My hands are working and they don't hurt - most of the time. My surgery wound hasn't hurt at all. My neck hurts all the time from all the digging around in there. Still not sure if I'll pick up any traits from the former owners of the cadaver bones my neurosurgeon replaced my badly deformed discs with. Hmmm. Anyone know anything about this? Might make for a good story!

I'm required to take two naps a day, plus I'm sleeping about 10 hours per night. No lifting! No sleeping on my stomach - ever again.

So that's about it. Tripod is the suckiest webhost on the planet. I'm not completely myself yet - and may become someone else. I may be happier when my website is back up and running, but I'll still warn everyone I meet up with to stay away from said sucky webhost.

On another rant

Still no reply from Tripod. Thank God for my naturally very low blood pressure.

Shoulders are still hosting those pesky fencing elephants, but I was able to sleep in my own bed last night, which made hubby very happy. Now I understand why all the kids and company like our guest bed, though. Very comfortable.

Went without my neck brace for a little while yesterday. Won't do that again. Hubby washed my hair. There is just something about having clean hair that is always nice, even if no one sees it. Barbara Walters made a comment about that many years ago. She said it didn't matter what her dress looked like when she was on camera as long as her hair was clean. I heartily agree.

Dear husband and I will be going to Cincinnati this afternoon to a mandatory health insurance meeting. Probably won't be good news. His employer has graciously paid a large amount of our premiums and also paid into our HSA account. That might change. Just what we need is higher costs for my care.

On that note; I heard a rumor yesterday that when an employee is laid off for even a short while, the employer can no longer continue to pay the employee's health insurance - that it must go through COBRA - which not many can afford. That sucketh, folks. While Michael was temporarily laid off this past year, his employer paid our insurance. Beginning in February 2009, if the rumor is true, he won't be allowed to do that anymore. So if this rumor is true, the newly unemployed, even during temporary unemployment, will be doubly screwed.

We need to impeach everyone in Congress and the House and start over. Shut off their health insurance. Shut off their pension plans. Clean out their 401-K plans. Ours has been dismally attacked.

We the people, may never be allowed to retire.

Re the 2-hour ride to Cinci for this meeting: I'll be propped into position with at least 3 pillows to absorb some of the bumps in the road. Just going shopping for an hour 2 days ago has made my body ache. I felt every little crack in the road, every lurch at a stop light, every corner no matter how slowly taken.

Frustrations, muscle spasms, and need to sleep a lot

This has been a horrendously difficult day, both physically and mentally. I've been on the verge of tears since this morning. And once again, it can all be traced back to my webhost. Add the pain from recent spine surgery and the picture becomes clearer.

I've wanted to switch to another host - one which would provide some semblance of customer service - for some time. I've not taken the chance that Tripod/Lycos (my nemesis) would register my domain name properly since they do so little properly that I've been registering it myself with NameCheap for years. Well, this year, Tripod caught that and decided to boot my site. They gave me two days notice.

Except that they will not release the authorization code or unlock the DNS code to do so. They will also not respond to emails, as usual. They do not provide telephone support.

So, my website is down. My email is down. And I have no hope that either will be back up anytime soon.

Several of my friends with more website building experience than I have have explained how simple it should be and that there should only be an hour or two of interruption. That I should just be able to dump Tripod and move to GoDaddy and be back up and running quickly. They've never dealt with Tripod/Lycos.

So, today, none of my meds are helping with muscle spasms or pain because I'm so stressed out. I want to sleep but can't. I want to take a shower and wash my hair, but can't because I can't raise my arms up over my head.

I'm going to write today off as a feel-sorry-for-myself day and move on.

Since Tripod is only open for business about 30 hours a week, my site may be back up and running sometime after Christmas, or New Years, or Easter.

In the meantime, if you'd like to contact me (DON'T SPAM ME OR I'LL SEND LUCIFER HIMSELF AFTER YOU! I'm in no mood to be messed with!), you'll need to use hutchlj@yahoo.com.

After almost 5 years of putting up with Tripod's crap because it was such a hassle to move my site, I truly, truly, understand why some go postal.

And hubby will have to drive me to have X-rays of my neck on Saturday so I can take them to my neurologist next week. Hubby will have to take time off work to drive me there, too. I haven't felt this trapped since I was 8 - the old tractor or my horse always got me where I needed to go.

To top it off, our Louisville family is falling by onesies and twosies with the flu, so dear hubby and I will probably be BBQing steak for our Christmas supper. Hope son can be home. He's always got a few friends who'd like a good meal.

Tomorrow has to be better.

Lycos/Tripod gives me the boot

Well, it seems my nemesis, Tripod/Lycos is screwing with me again. Got an email yesterday that said I have two days to move my website because I had registered my DNS?? elsewhere. Funny, that, because Tripod has refused to allow me to move my site for the past two years and would not give me the unlock code to do so. I have absolutely no idea how to "register my DNS" elsewhere.

I strongly suspect this is because the service I've been paying $8.95 a month for for almost 5 years is now $12.95.

I have had a hate/hate relationship with them for years. This is only because of their total lack of customer service. It takes 24 to 96 hours just to get a canned BS email that usually isn't even relevant to the question asked.

So... I've been given license to move my site. Have no idea how to do that but I will be going through the GoDaddy link at The Writer's Chatroom to get some help with moving it. The little bit Audrey gets as an affiliate helps to pay the chatroom's bills. She's had no problems with GoDaddy and it has been recommended to me by many others. They actually have telephone support. What a concept!

Fortunately for me, my site has been built using FrontPage and I keep a copy on my laptop and on a jump stick.

Oops! Forgot to post yesterday

How did I forget to blog here yesterday? My mind must have been flushed along with my now-working-again intestines. So much potty talk here. Sheesh.

Our trip to Louisville for Christmas has been canceled. Seems my Jeffrey, our much-loved son-in-law, is down with the flu. In a household with two adults and 5 kids, three dogs, two cats, and two goats, bugs get shared quickly. Nick was also home because he was feeling poorly. School was out due to snow. Daughter is attempting to stay well enough to work (she's the major bread-winner) and to pick up the two youngest at pre-school on her way home.

They came for Thanksgiving two years ago with 3 sick kids and one sick adult. I'm not up to doing that again. Dear hubby and I have both had our flu shots - which are medically mandatory for me, along with the pneumonia shot.

Our 2300 square foot home, which is usually large enough for the whole crew plus friends is beginning to feel very small. And that's with just the dog and me here. Michael is taking me shopping tonight to fill the list daughter sent, and to get me out of the house.

One year, about six years ago, I broke with tradition and didn't buy socks for everyone in the family. Daughter had a snit-fit as she headed to the store. Everyone complained. We didn't realize what a big deal it was.

It seems I've also created some sort of tradition for buying grown son underwear in August. Have no idea how that started, but he starts the man-talk in July about needing underwear. He's perfectly capable of going to the store to choose and pay for his own underwear, but says it just isn't the same thing.

They never really leave home.

Never.

On another note, I started reading Hope Clark's manuscript yesterday. This is the agricultural suspense/thriller she's shopping to agents. It's good! Hear ye, hear ye, o' agents of marketable authors! This one is worth a read!

This blog is worth the read just for the meta tags. HA!

One Week Post Surgery

I have a call in to Jack Hanna at the Columbus Zoo to remove these fencing elephants from my shoulders. It they would go away, along with the muscle spasms they've caused, I'd feel almost blissful.

My typing is still slower than normal, but after a year of having my hands and fingers mis-fire under a boatload of pain, I'll take the slower typing pace and be happy.

The weather in Ohio is typically cold and gray. I've threatened to smack Ohioans who complain about my beloved Seattle's rain and gray periods. At least it's green year round there. Here, everything is either gray or brown. UGH!

A friend sent me a very cute poem about winter. It's posted at http://lindajhutchinson.blogspot.com. Beware: That site is where I spout off about wrong-doings, ill-gotten gains, and politics in general - usually all in the same breath because they are all so intertwined.

My choices these days are: hold off on the meds and get some work done, or take the meds and go back to bed. The latter is the better choice, I'm sure. I'm also hoping my neurosurgeon isn't reading this blog.

I could get real used to this...

Slept most of yesterday. Had given hubby explicit instructions re how and when to make the mortgage payment online. Yeah, right. Realized it hadn't been done today, the 14th.

Hubby is making breakfast. I haven't been real hungry. Have lost 9 pounds since surgery.

Have to say, though, that I'm liking living in pajamas all day and night. I could get used to this!

The elephants are still practicing their fencing moves across my shoulders. Thinking of calling Jack Hanna to come load 'em up. I'm sick of them. They're friendly enough, they just move around a lot on my sore and spasming muscles. Actually, I'm hating them a little more each day. Hubby just thinks I'm being humorous...

This neck brace is a royal pain. Sliding my CPAP mask over the neck brace is even more fun. Makes me have some empathy for the actors in Space Odyssey who spent hours each day getting their makeup and costumes just right.

My hair is a fright. No need for makeup - would just be another irritation - since I can't move my head. Ever tried putting on mascara when you can't move your head, hold your mouth just so, or tilt the wand? At least I can hang on to the wand now. That's an improvement!

No one argues with me when I say I'm heading off to take a nap. Even if they're hungry. Even if they need clothes washed. See, I trained them both very well, and they know that I know that they can both cook and do laundry.

Seems breakfast is almost ready. I'm going to watch TV while eating and then my plate will be promptly picked up and put in the dishwasher and the kitchen will somehow get all cleaned up while I'm napping.

I could get used to this.

Slept most of yesterday. Hubby fixed supper and then cuddled with me while we watched the news. Can't wait to get this neck collar off. Supposed to wear it for 3 months. Yuck. Sipping coffee from a straw.

One of hubby's subcontractors gave us a beautiful poinsettia. It is very lovely. Will probably be our only Christmas decoration this year.

Daughter wants us to come to Louisville for Christmas. Our holidays are always re-arranged to work around work schedules. Don't know if I can make the trip. Four hours in a car doesn't sound like much fun. I also haven't been able to do any Christmas shopping this year. That sucks. Our grandkidlets will understand, but it still doesn't seem fair.

If we had waited to do the surgery after Christmas, we'd have to pay our $4K deductible again.

Anyway, I'm healing, but can see that it will be a slower process than planned.

Afternoon report

I've slept most of today. Feels good to sleep. The pain in my shoulders goes away for that time.

The dog has decided it's best to move her arse out of the walkway. Difficult to do when she's 120 pounds, but she must have gotten tired of being stepped on. She doesn't leave my side much except to go outside to do her business.

I'd actually feel almost good if the pain in my shoulders would go away. It's total debilitation. However, my lower back has eased up some and so has the pain in my hips. That could be due to my lack of walking or due to the surgery. We'll have to wait and see. I'm still too drugged to read much, so if you've sent me an email and haven't gotten a response, that's why.

Fibro sucks. Maybe when my mind is less littered with drugs I'll be able to come up with a better analogy for that.

Day 3

Day two of being home. Day three post surgery. Hate the neck brace, but terrified of taking it off. Wish Jack Hanna would stop by to pick up the elephants stomping across my shoulders and take them back to the zoo.

I'm woozy. I'm exhausted.

Throat felt like I had bronchitis cough for the first two days. That has gotten better.

My plan for using the recliner isn't working out well. To recline, it takes using pressure from both my legs and neck. HA! So, I'm propped up in the corner of the guest bed with about a dozen pillows.

Papa brings me the coffee thermal carafe with creme brulee creamer and a sandwich every morning. It is hard to swallow, even liquids, so this is working well for now.

Thank you to Renee' Barnes and Teddy in Poland for their warm wishes! Audrey Shaffer, Dina Malki, too. If my spelling sucks, it's because my pain level sucks.

If you have nothing better to do, or just 3 free seconds, send a book to Teddy for his library. You'll find the mailing address on the Past Showcase stars at http://www.lindajhutchinson.com. He'll be so grateful! While there, you can also buy my e-book, The Bare Bones Basics of: So You Want to be a Writer. That's all the marketing I have energy for.

Off to take another nap.

First post, post-surgery

Monday, 8th, had surgery. Immediately after time in the recovery room, my hands stopped hurting. So did my wrists. HOWEVER, I had the worst muscle spasms marching from my left elbow, across my shoulders, and down to my right elbow, I could ever have imagined. Should also note that hospital had cut back staff - nearly all aides were gone. Nursing staff was bombarded.

What was planned as a 4 hour surgery turned into 6 hours because of the amount of arthritis in my spine. It took them 2 additional hours to scrape away all the bone spurs that hadn't shown up in the films.

Dr. Mallik rocks! Not only is he easy on the eyes, but he is very personable. When one has a conversation with him, it is clear that we have his undivided attention. He's also very young to be running the neurology department, but he is. He also teaches. And has a thriving practice. Amazing man.

Ms. Audrey Shaffer called me on Sunday so we could talk before surgery. She said she had to talk to me rather than send an email. I'm thankful she is my friend.

Ms. Renee' Barnes called twice post surgery. The first time, I wasn't all that coherent, so she called again yesterday as hubby was driving me home. So nice to have friends who call to tell you they love you.

Daughter called to tell me her brother had done a superb job of keeping family updated. She was so proud of him for doing that.

Poor son had to help me to the toilet and also in removing some items of clothing. It made him very uncomfortable, but he did it because he was helping mama. He talked to the doctors and nurses and had my Michael on speed dial.

Had to spend the night in the hospital because of the extra surgical procedures. I was definitely ready to come home yesterday!

I'm a bit light-headed from the pain and meds. The meds aren't helping much. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, my pain level this morning is an 8. It's the spasms in my shoulders that hurt the most. Vicadin, Flexerill, and Valium just aren't getting it done.

I'm sitting in the recliner in our guest room. We don't have a TV in our bedroom, so I've set up shop in here. Slept, actually attempted to sleep, in the recliner until about 3 this morning. Tried to get up to go to the bathroom, but our bull mastiff had spread out in the walkpath and nearly dumped me on my arse. Michael heard the commotion and came running to my aid. She's a sweet dog and just wants to be near me, but I can't see well enough with this neck brace on, to step over her.

I doubt Michael has slept much. I doubt son has slept much. I know I haven't slept much.

Pneumonia is the big issue here, also the scare of staph infection. Either of those could prove fatal.

Anyway, I'm going to kick back and rest. Don't have much choice. Sure do hope these pain pills kick in sometime soon.

Dr. Mallik thinks Fibro kicked in with the trauma of surgery. I believe him. Fibro is worse than the surgery pain right now.

Thank you to my friends around the world who have prayed for me. I've heard from Hindis, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians alike. Thank you. Prayer is so very powerful.

Monday is surgery day!

Well, tomorrow's the day. I'll need to be at the hospital at 8:45 a.m. for surgery at 10:45. I was told by my neurosurgeon's office on Friday that I won't be coming home the day of surgery as my son-in-law did after both of his neck surgeries. I may not even get to come home on Tuesday.

It is my plan to chronicle each day of recuperation as soon as I'm able to type. Nothing but gibberish may show up as I'll be drugged heavily to keep me as immobile as possible, but I'm not planning to let that slow me down... much.

If everything goes as planned, my fingers should start working right again. My hands should follow suit. Both should perform better with much less pain.

Pain. I've been told I'll have the worst sore throat of my life, post surgery. Yeah, that makes me really wanna go through with this.

Okay, I'm off to pack up what little bit I'm allowed to take with me and to get a good night's sleep.

Yeah.

Right.

Drugs?? Now! Please.

Life with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia is just one freakin' picnic.

So, if you're of the persuasion, kind thoughts and prayers are being gratefully accepted. Moral support would be good, too.

After all, I'm only allowing a surgeon I've only met once cut open my throat to rip out parts of my vertebrae while he reams out the spinal cord opening, shaves off bone spurs, and re-builds connective tissue and bone.

I intend to ask him what's in that paste he cooks up with the ground up cadaver bones. If it's silly putty and they try to charge me $50K for it, there's gonna be some very loud yelling.

Once I can talk again.

I may have to wait until getting back home to update this blog for the first time. From my stint in the hospital with home-grown meningitis two years ago I'm fully aware of how snitty they get when I remove that little oxygen monitor from my finger and place it on my toe so I can type.

Okay, off to bed...