Back Update

[mary9761]

I have finally seen a neurosurgeon and gotten the cardiac clearance they wanted before they would do the microlumbar discectomy. I'd had a positive stress test, but negative cardiac cath in 2004 nearly 100 pounds and over 7000 miles before my back went out so surgeon wanted a clean bill of health before they'd do it.
My surgery is set for 11 May, 2007 at 6AM unless something happens between now and then. I've been told they'll probably keep me overnight for observation then release me the next day to come home. I've been told they'll have me up walking the next day as well, but I'm not sure how soon I'll be back on the bike yet. I'll try to make sure I leave instructions with my DH, Mark (Kapt_karkus on BJournal) to log in under my name so he can give at least a simple update until I can post later after I get home and I'm up and around.
We're still going through a lot with his health issues as well. They haven't found the cause for his rapid weight loss, but along the way they have found and removed a precancerous polyp from his colon and they may have caught early osteoperosis? They found he has weak bones in his damaged left foot (along with a bunion and bone spur) so they want to make sure he doesn't have a bone density problem on top of everything else.
I'm sorry I've not been active again in the forum. I'm THRILLED to see that Silver is POUNDING Marlin523 (my nemesis from last year's mileage challenge ) Keep up the good work girl
I send well wishes to all who need them and hope everyone is healing from illness and injuries they may have that I've missed.

[crazycanuck]

Mary

I hope the wait flies by!

You'll be back on your bike & beating me in the km dept soon.

Take care

C

[silver]

Hi mary, I'm so glad to see that you have gotten clearance for the surgery and that's it's been set up. I send hopeful prayers that it will have you feeling better quickly. Yes, please have DH give us updates.

And who is this Marlin that I'm beating here? I must be sure to keep way ahead. I ride in your honor, my dear! At least until you get back on your trusty Navigator.

<I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV>I'm sure that you've considered many options for your DH's issues, but the weight loss and osteoporosis made me think of Celiac Disease. I know there are a couple of people with that one here. My MIL has it and those were her symptoms. <feel free to ignore that >

[spokewench]

Mary - I wish you well with your surgery and hope that you are on your bike soon again. Biking is good for the back and knees so hopefully you can talk them into at least letting you on a bike in physical therapy a little to get that much needed exercise as you heal!

Good wishes coming your way from a fellow back pain sufferer.

[Ninabike]

Mary, Best wishes on your surgery and recovery. This is like one more "notch" in your belt of life events which have led you to be such an inspiration to so many. You'll do fine, and be back on that bike before you know it!!

[DrBadger]

Hey Mary-
I am glad to hear that they cleared you for surgery and you have that scheduled. I had a microdiscectemy in May of 2001 (L4-L5). I was in the hospital overnight, they had me walking around the floor the next day before I went home. The biggest thing was that while my back hurt from being cut into, as soon as I was out of surgery I had no pain down my leg at all! It was amazing!

I am sure that your doctors will tell you all this, but during recovery the best exercise you can do will be walking... walk lots. They probably won't want you to ride the bike on the road for a while since the disc will have to heal, and they dont' want you to fall during that time and re-injure the disc. I am sure that they will be OK with you riding on the trainer pretty quickly.

Good luck, and keep us up to date about both you and your husband.

[TrekJeni]

Good luck Mary!

Hope the time flies. I'll be seeing you again at the Hilly Hundred!
Jeni

[mary9761]

Thanks everyone, I am indeed counting the days. The doctor did tell me he wants me to walk for my recovery (I just hope it doesn't flare the heelspur UGH) Good news as soon as I'm cleared for the trainer, it's already on the trainer so I won't have to wrestle the bike onto it. It's a heavy bike so I don't want to have to fight that right away. I also hope that I'm not restricted when I start riding to not being able to use the front rack on the bus (lifting the bike on and off) That may restrict some of my riding as I really prefer NOT riding westbound from town or at certain times of the day/evening on the street I have to use to get to and from town.
Silver, this Marlin523 is my former band director and sometimes mentor (when I found out he was retiring after 33 years of teaching and was a strong cyclist at 56, I figured if he could ride so could I)

You are currently WAY ahead of him in the standings at Bikejournal for Indiana. I have the yellow premiere member jersey so I can check the enhanced stats he only has 599 miles for the year so far so you're kicking his you know what
Last year I challenged him to see who would get the most mileage for the year and until my back went out at Thanksgiving, I had nearly 400 miles ahead of him. He ended up beating me by 50 miles at the end of the year. I've been watching the rankings at bikejournal and right now you are the number 9 rider in Indiana that lets their mileage be public AND the number ONE female rider for the state. I held that rank last year for the entire year. Congrats!! Oh, and BTW, I see you rode 102 miles AWESOME!!!!!! Congrats on the century.

[Bikingmomof3]

Wishing you well Mary. I am very glad to hear you have been cleared for surgery. The time will fly by.

[colby]

Whew, what a long journey, Mary, but it sounds like you're almost there! Keep your chin up.

[Mr. Bloom]

Mary, I've thought of you often over the last few weeks wondering when this would happen. It's wonderful that there's something to look forward. Tell your family to please, please, please keep us posted.

[mary9761]

Thanks again, everyone. Before I get ready for surgery, I'm going to make a list of sites for my DH Mark to post updates to. This one will definitely be on the list. He doesn't have an account here, so he'll post on mine (I'll make sure it's signed in BEFORE I leave that night before) so that he can get in to post an update to at least let you all know that I've made it through surgery. They plan on so far keeping me overnight at least one night and they'll have me up moving the next day likely sending me home that day as well. I will be sure to post myself as soon as I'm feeling up to sitting at the computer.
I'm also going to try to make sure I have a list of phone numbers with me (in case I feel up to calling anyone from the hospital that night) and leave my cell phone home so I don't have to worry about it at the hospital.
We got another bit of good news, Grandmother who broke her hip New Year's day just before her 94th birthday will be coming home on Easter Sunday. She's been in a nursing home for several months now and she's finally being cleared to come home to mom and dad's.