Finally had my Neurosurgery consultation

[mary9761]

I finally saw a surgeon Monday afternoon. He agrees that surgery will probably be the best solution, but no guarantees of course. He says that the MRI shows a problem on the right side so they're going to do the less invasive procedure to take part of the bone that is pinching the disk that has shifted. He did say that he didn't know that this surgery would do anything for the left leg, but nothing showed on the left. I did tell him that the left started a month ago AFTER the original MRI was taken in December.
So tentatively we were/are looking at late April or sometime into May BUT, because I had a positive stress test in May 2004; nearly 100# and 7300+miles ago, I have to se a cardiologist for a go ahead and a clean bill of health. I told them I had a clear heart catheterization right after that, but they say it's been long enough they want to have a cardiologist check me out. UGH, now I need to call tomorrow to double check if THEY are making the referral or if I have to go through my PCP for the referral. Neuro told me to call them immediately after I get the go ahead from Cardio. SIGH.... I hope I don't have to go through another stress test etc. I know there's no way I could do the treadmill this time with my legs and back the way they are, but hopefully with the improved fitness and weight loss I'll do better. I'll probably have to have the medically induced stress test again, I'm just hoping I don't have to deal with ANY of it and can get the clearance ASAP so I don't have to keep putting this off. I've been off the bike nearly 5 months (will be Thursday) I keep telling my poor Little Navigator "I promise it's not another bike" as she looks at me accusingly any time I go out the front door as she sits attached to the trainer.
The doctor said, "I'm sure we'll get you back on the bike before it gets warm". I'm thinking, "DUDE! I would have been riding all season (at the least on my trainer) and every chance I could have gotten outside and it's ALREADY getting to be perfect riding weather for early training season!" My PCP is a cyclist but obviously this Neurosurgeon ISN'T.
He said it will likely be an over night stay and up and moving the next day. No real guarantee that it will or won't do anything to help, I just want to get it over with. I've lost 5 months of my life and fitness that I can't get back and I know where I DON'T want to go back to. My weight it trying to creep back on due to the fact I can't do much of anything physical at all right now. He said I'd probably be able to start walking first and then see from there. At least whenever I get cleared to even get back on the trainer the Sweet Navigator is waiting for me all ready hooked up and ready to go, although I'm sure she'll be glad to get a good lube and some fresh air in her tires. She's been chomping at the bit as much as me to get outside since the weather has turned nicer, of course, she's a good little workhorse so unless there was ice and muck, she didn't care what it was like outside, she just wanted to go.
I've been told your body remembers where it was, I hope it remembers the FITNESS and not where it was BEFORE that.
I have several new pair of socks that I found at Good Will that will make nice comfy cycling socks, the fabric to make a new high viz jersy and pants (GREEN) and by the time I get back will have a brand new Team Sunshine jersey waiting for me (hope it fits by then) I pray that since I've been off the bike and had been at a plateau and not losing now that after the initial leg muscle gain that hopefully the weight will start coming off like butter again.

[crazycanuck]

Mary,

It's nice to see you finally got an appt!!! It doesn't make sense why they made you wait so long..

You'll be back on your bike and beating me km wise.. In the meantime, i'm biking for you

Here's hoping that stress test is much easier & your neurosurgeon takes up cycling

C

[Mr. Bloom]

It's exciting that there's progress and that the surgery doesn't sound incredibly invasive and with a fairly quick recovery.

Please keep us posted.

[silver]

Oh Mary! I do hope that cardio checks you out quickly. Hang in there! I do think that the body remembers! More importantly, the mind remembers! Your desire to be on the bike is what will pull you through. You know the feelings of fitness and you yearn for it. I pray that you are able to get the procedure quickly and able to get back to your life!

[Bikingmomof3]

(((((Mary)))))
I certainly hope the cardio gets you in quickly so you can be cleared for surgery and start living painfree again. I agree with Silver, the body and mind remember. Kleep hanging in there. I cannot imagine the frustrtation, although I do recall mine with lack of info dealing with Neurologists-but I shall not go down that road. Take care of you. We are hear to listen, so do not feel alone. Keep us updated.

[cosc]

Mary, I hope all this will soon be just a blimp in your memory and you'll be back living life the way you choose.

[chickwhorips]

i do hope this will all be over soon and you'll be back to normal.

big hugs!

[mary9761]

Thanks everyone, I just called this morning to see if I needed my Primary care to authorize the Cardio appt and found out I have my appt on April 2! So hopefully I don't have to go through anything else after they see me (I really don't want to have to go through another stress test) and Neuro told me as soon as I see Cardio and get the clearance to call immediately to let them know so they can go ahead with the surgery scheduling..
The good news is my appt with Cardio is April 2, but the bad news is, my husband has an appointment earlier in the morning and we're waiting for test results from more blood work, xrays and such to find out why he's lost so much weight. Doc "felt" something in the colon area during prostate exam so he had colonoscopy done in January. They found a polyp which was removed, luckily it was benign, but it was the type that had it not been caught in time could have turned cancerous. They also didn't find it in the area that the doctor thought he'd felt something. CT scans were recommended, but so far not done, but the doc ran another full series of bloodwork. I'm hoping we don't have bad news (they are still checking for cancer) that would possibly push my BP/stress levels up etc to be a problem for my appt. I'm more worried about my husband than myself at this point really.
So there you are, Phew... Oh, and BTW, I'll NEVER be NORMAL LOL...

[Tuckervill]

Hi Mary! Glad things are finally moving forward.

I've had that surgery, twice. (diskectomy and laminectomy at L4-5) I just wanted to caution you when you say "up and about the next day"...you will be up, but probably not "about" so much. I had 2 nights in the hospital. The physical therapist first got me up, and then in the next session got me walking, and then a little farther each time. It was important to be careful moving around, because of the incision, plus to make sure everything was still all put back together back there. It's really important to get up, though.

On the other hand, the great news is that I was completely pain free in my legs after that, and it was like a miracle cure. (I reinjured myself--that's why the second surgery, not that the first one failed.) I used the pain medicine pump while in the hospital, but didn't use the pills when I got home at all. Didn't need them, but I moved around very carefully. Of course, YMMV.

Karen

[Aint Doody]

Good luck, Mary! We're all thinking about you.....