It feels like a 100 years since we’ve connected! If you’ve read my other posts you know that I’ve been dealing with herniated, compacted and degenerative discs in my upper and lower spine for 27 years (this February). I received these because of a bad crash in which I rolled my car three times. I was not wearing a seat belt so when I started to slide off the interstate, due to black ice, I wrapped my arms under the steering wheel and held on for dear life. This saved me, but it also wreaked havoc on my spine of course. Since then, my back has gone out, to the point of screaming when I had to sit up, about once a year.
HELL NO TO SURGERY!
Even when back surgery got better and better I kept thinking that I could work this out. Enough activity, diet, losing weight and I’d lick this thing! Not true. But, I kept my delusions and tried to get fit for years. Unfortunately, sooner or later the activity would put my back out and I’d go through the whole cycle again.
WEEEEEELL….THEN AGAIN
The most recent bout with my back was different. With the wisdom and support of a good friend, I finally could see clearly that this was not going to get better on its own. I decided to look into surgery. I was not only a good candidate; my neurosurgeon said flat out that there was no other way to fix my issues than surgery. I was excited to have an answer and to get better!
LET THE HEALING BEGIN!
Finally, on November 12, 2015 I had a three tier spinal fusion. I joke with my friends and tell them that I’m bionic! It’s been over two months and I’m ahead of the healing schedule. I went off the heavy prescription pain meds within weeks and now I don’t take anything at all. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still some pain but it gets better each week.
FUN FACTS
- Now that I’m upright (most often) I’ve started a plan to get fit. This includes better eating (but not deprivation) and more activity (as much as possible – which isn’t a heck of a lot right now) You can follow my fat to fit journey on Instagram! @debfattofit https://www.instagram.com/debfattofit/
- My rods and screws do NOT set off metal detectors. I tested this theory at the courthouse when renewing my vehicle’s tags. I wonder what the officers were thinking when I walked through and bursted out laughing, thanked them and walked on.
- I have been given a gift from a donor. Three of my vertebrae were removed and replaced with donor bones. I thank him/her/them often. ;)
- I get super funny when I am on a massive cocktail of pain meds. Or at least I THINK I am funny. The nurses were laughing but then my friend told me that I’d mumble and then laugh out loud at my own non-existent jokes. HAHA!!!
- I may or may not have had a beautiful Guatemalan angel that visited me each day. She would come and give me messages like, “Pray, pray, pray every day!” and “You have many angels in here,” and “You’re in the hospital because you work for too many other people and not enough for you!” Yes, she could have been my housekeeper but I’m convinced she was divinely sent to me either way.
LESSON LEARNED
What did I learn from all of this? Stop being so stubborn. Haha! Yeah, that’s going to happen. But really, the lesson I learned is that sometimes self-care and self-love means taking a leap of faith even if you’re scared. I would not change this decision for the world. I’m excited to see what can happen for me now!
Thank you for bearing with me and patiently waiting for inspiration to strike me with regards to writing.
If you’re in the Omaha area and are wondering if you need surgery I would HIGHLY recommend Ric Jensen with Neurosurgical Associates of Nebraska. He even comes into Iowa for check-ups and exams.
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