Half Way

Almost there!

When I initially wrote this post, my recovery period from my back surgery was only 12 weeks. After going to the doctor in the middle of April, they added on another 6 weeks because my bones were not healed enough, making making this nearly a 5 month recovery at the end of May. Hopefully at that point I can say I am done and just move on with life.

This past month and really more so the last week or 2 has been a bit rough because of the weather changes. For anyone that has had a surgery that requires hardware, you can testify to the fact of how achy you can feel when the weather drops or rises within a short amount of time. Not much has really gone on this past month, other than I have been doing  a lot of sleeping, a little reading, and doing my best to get outside and walk.

It has been such a blessing to have had nice weather during the day. Walking seems to be what has kept me together. When you are in your house 24/7 you can tend to get a bit  anxious, and feel like you are going to go stark crazy if you don't get out of the house soon! 

I am up to walking around a mile and I think I will just keep it at that. I don't walk very fast at all and there are times I just have to stop because your energy just gets drained so fast when you are recovering from a major surgery. 

I love walking because it can be the best time to just do some thinking or just let your mind clear and think of nothing at all. One of the things that I have really been thinking about is that there are going to be a lot of changes in the near future, due to the fact that I had to have this surgery. I try to not let it get to me, because I know that God has mine and my families future in his hands and that he has not failed us yet. I know that he will continue to provide and take care of us in the near future. 

My project has been another thing I have really been thinking about. When I walk, I just walk back and forth on my street, each time passing my van, "The Trade Mobile." I wonder where this project is going. This current trade has taken a bit of time to get it rolling. 

I suppose I haven't come across the right person to trade with yet. My surgery has slowed things down as well. I really haven't felt like dealing with Craigslist or any other venues. My primary focus has to be on getting better. I will just take it a day at a time, and as I feel up to it I will try and write some new stuff. 

Have a great week!

Condition Update

I was intending on doing a one week update video

But I have been feeling pretty cruddy the last few days. My strength has been improving and I am up to walking 4 blocks! Each day presents new challenges. I just have to take it a step at a time. I am  now at the stage where my muscles, nerves, and bones are starting to wake up and really realize that they have been abruptly hammered, and sawed, and pulled at, and cut, and, and, and...

That has been part of the reason I have been on the DL. I have been trying to rest and enjoy this weather and take as many naps as I need. God has really been teaching me a lot since I have been off work. I have had plenty of time to think and gather my thoughts.

Though this recovery has been challenging, I am trying to make the most of it and do the best with what I have. I have been blessed with a great wife who has taken on a whole lot more than she should have to deal with, and for that I am blessed.

 I have a very beautiful nearly 3 year old daughter who has been helping her Daddy pick up things that are out of my reach since I can't bend. She is willing to run and get whatever is asked of her and for that I am blessed. I have also been so blessed for each of my other family members that have reached out to us in our time of need and to my many friends that have gone above and beyond the calling of just being called a friend. 

Though mine and my families journey ahead seems challenging and at times uncertain, I have been blessed to get to serve a great God who never lets us down, nor forsakes us, nor lets us go without. I don't think I could have asked for more. Thank you again for everyones prayers, support, concerns, and encouragements.

Thanks for making today a very special birthday!

5 Days post op...TURN the heat down please!

I am going to take a stab and say I am not going through menopause, because I am a male and too young anyways. And I am going to say that I am not septic (trust me, this is really bad and you don't want this. I have been in septic shock before, Google it) because my incision does not look infected, and I am on antibiotics, and my mental status is within reason because I am writing a post. 

That just leaves ONE thing..SIDE EFFECTS! You know, that paper that comes with your prescription that starts out with, "When taking this medication, you might experience...."and then they just list a whole bunch of random things that are like in 2 font and the only words that do stick out on the paper are...."Seizure, constipation, diarrhea, and DEATH." 

Oh, that medication sounds like a lot of fun, I want to take that! Who wants to have diarrhea? Oh, I do! Thankfully, with the handful of medications that I have had to take after my surgery, Seizures, diarrhea, and death have not been a problem..yet at least. 

I will say, if you ever have to take pain medicine after a surgery, just make sure you drink ALOT of WATER! I will leave it at that and let you figure out why. 

Anyway, one of the lovely side effects that I have gotten to experience during this fun little journey is sweating and increased body temperature. As if I am not already hot enough...KABAM, okay bad joke. 

Part of what happens when you take pain medication is that you blood vessels dilate (gets bigger) and blood flow increases, carrying the medicine to certain receptors, blah, blah blah.. in your body to trigger certain signals, therefore blocking the pain. 

Unfortunately, one of the side effects of your 

blood vessels dilating is....you sweat

It does not make it any better that I have to wear a back brace 24/7 that is like 2 feet tall, up and down my back! With the combination of sweating so much, walking some, and the other wonderful side effect of a decreased appetite...I am going to be a new man after all is said and done with.

You won't even recognize me! Since I am refusing to shave, (mainly because I don't feel like it) I will probably look just like Tom Hanks in "Cast Away". Then when it is time to go back to work, I will shave and really be a new person. I think it is time for me to wrap this up, my mind is getting loopy.  

Until tomorrow...Have a blessed day!

As an UPDATE...My wife broke me and I finally gave in and shaved :( At least I got to get it out of me when I was young and in college. Back then my hair was down to my shoulders and I had a huge beard. I just don't like to shave, okay, I said it! Honestly though, what guy really does?