End of Week 6

This week I have a more positive attitude. I think my progress is back on track again.  Partly because naturally I should be getting better, and partly because I am listening more to my body.  We had a busy Independence Day weekend.  On the 3rd watched the awesome Air Show and Fireworks on the Mississippi River.  My parents were in town for a few days and I was really glad that we got to spend some time together.  On the 4th we went to the parade in Galena (will try another town next year...just didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped...) but then on the 5th and 6th I pretty much laid low because I could tell that my back needed a break.  The 6th was my birthday and I really wanted to go back to Galena to go "shopping" (probably would not have bought anything, but I love to window shop there) but I knew that it was just too much.  So, I guess that's what I'm learning the most these days...that I can't do everything and so be it :-)

I've been doing more driving around town.  Still can't imagine a trip longer than 20 minutes, but I am able to have some more independence.  I took a week off of walking because of the muscle cramping but I'm back at it again.  Right now I'm going out once a day for about 1.6 miles, after I get my xrays back on the 15th I may try to do that twice a day.

I started to take a calcium/magnesium supplement and changed my evening muscle relaxer and that seems to be keeping the muscle cramps at bay.  I still have significant popping and twitching but I try to move or if Michael's home, he'll massage it for me.  (Awwwww..... ;-)

I've been trying to gain more and more independence.  The neighbor on the other side of us happens to be a chiro and saw me carrying a couple of grocery sacks yesterday.  While I don't think he knows what type of surgery I had specifically (my brace makes it obvious that it was a spine surgery) he asked if I should be carrying the sacks.  I said "No, but there's frozen stuff in here."  His neighborly response?  "That's what's important."   Humph.  Touche'.  I don't even know him and was surprised by his license to administer sarcasm but really, he was right.  I should have waited and had Michael carry stuff in.  Sometimes it's so tough because you just want to get stuff done.  BUT, like I said before...I can't do everything, so be it.  Today I kept his sarcasm in my ear and let my house get messy beyond my comfort.  I'm trying hard to have the kids help out and pick up after themselves, etc.  but.....who cares.  We're far from being candidates for the show "Hoarders".

So, for those of you who are reading this because you are also considering or will be having a spinal fusion, here's a summary of what I can/can't do at 6 weeks post op:

CAN'T:
Load/unload my dishwasher
Do the laundry
Vacuum
Sit longer than 30 minutes comfortably
Properly put something in my oven (I have a throw/slam method that I am sure is not safe...)
Use a dustpan
Put on my own socks/shoes
Use the bottom shelving of cupboards/refrigerator (unless I sit in a chair and then reach, sometimes that works)
Among a bunch of other things...those are just my thoughts on daily living.....

CAN:
Drive around town
Dress myself with the use of a long-armed grabbing tool
Shower
Wash dishes at the sink
Go on long walks
Shoot my children with a water gun from the chair on my deck (that's essential, right??)
Cook successfully on my stove top (though my children need to fetch me pots/pans from my lower cupboards)
Among a bunch of other things as well :-)  That's just the jist.

My biggest advice to myself and to others at this point is to not set your expectations to high for yourself.  Make them high enough that you can steadily progress, but not too high that you actually regress.  Unfortunately trial and error seems to be the best way to figure that out.

I will blog after my appointment on the 15th.  I hope they give me a picture of my rods/screws, I think that will help my case with the kids that I actually am Frankenmommy.  After that, I will probably do an update at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months post-op.  I can feel this blog is/should be winding down.