It's Old Home Week
I also see that some of you have sent e-mails via OH. I don't know why I didn't see them in my regular in box, but I missed them. So quickly, where I've been and why.
I'm not sure where we left off, but my anemia was out of control and my first scheduled surgery was canceled. Since October or so, life has been a series of work, sleep and medical stuff. Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather, rinse, repeat. I didn't so much fall asleep as pass out at the end of the day. And then my hands left the building.
Every morning the rest of me woke up and my hands continued to sleep for hours. I don't know how to explain it other than imagine your foot falling asleep and then imagine that painful tingling times 100 - for hours. Three of the disks in my neck had ruptured and two were firmly settled on my spinal cord. It took a awhile to get me healthy enough to have surgery, but we finally did. Actually surgery was almost canceled at the last minute because another kidney infection reared its ugly head. I would have posted before now, but it was just too painful to type and I spent every waking moment asleep. No, that wasn't a typo. I've fallen asleep driving home more times than I care to admit. The dog started following me around and barking at me if I fell asleep sitting up or standing somewhere.
I don't remember if I told you guys, but I was trying to shuck 7 ears of corn one night. I was standing in front of the garbage can shucking corn and the next thing I know, I'm standing at the sink with the dog barking at me and an ear of corn in my hand. The other 6 ears were missing. I found an ear in the silverware holder of my dishwasher, some in the food cupboard, some jammed down in glasses in the glass cupboard. What a mess. Welcome to extreme anemia.
So disks in my neck are now gone, the morning after surgery, my hands woke up with the rest of me. Woohoo!. This time, my kidneys didn't wake up so I blew up like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade float and the swelling ripped the stitches in my throat. So get this... The surgeon went in through my throat and moved my vocal cords, carotid artery, and everything else in there out of the way to get to my spine. Then he removed the disks, put in some cadaver bone and slapped on a titanium plate. The crazy part is every time I swallow, I get a stabbing pain in my back, but hopefully that will go away. Because some of the stitches on my throat split, tissue pressed through the hole and it looks like I have a nipple on my throat. BUT I CAN FEEL MY HANDS!
I'm off work for a while so I'll try to catch up on the board. I'm going to have to get much stronger and healthier to get my low back surgery done. For now, I get to keep wearing my neck brace (thank God it's not summer) and using a walker.
Big Hug!
Connie
Connie!!!
So glad to see you!... I'm speechless as well...
had to take a moment ... I'm soooooo sorry!!! My God in heaven what you are going through woman! It's just not fair all this mess is happening to such an awesome person. You're so lively and full of life inside. You always sparkle and make us all smile when you here. Darnit you should be enjoying life and your new bod and running around having a ball to match your wonderful personality. It's just not fair! God willing...I'm praying over and over that all this will pass and you will start to heal!! The blackouts sound sooo scary Connie, I couldn't imagine how you felt afterwards, talk about terrifying!! I'm constantly fighting anemia as well, but luckily it hasn't been too dangerously low lately. I do know that I have other mineral deficiencies. I am still having bizzare unnatural cravings for gasoline fumes, markers, paint...anything with a strong chemical scent. Its like being addicted to drugs. The anxiety I have for the need to smell these things is terrible. I've talked to my doc about it and she thought it was iron...but I've been taking my supplements and still have the terrible cravings. I read a little more and have heard its probably more a combination of deficiencies, zinc, iron, b12, d... which I am deficient in all the above, but not as bad as I was before since I'm on prescription supplements for like...forever my doc says. No one mentions that this surgery could cause not only a deficiency but a need to take medically prescribed amts of vitamins for probably the remainder of our lives. Gosh but my issues so pale in comparison to what you are going through. I'm so glad your surgery has helped and that you can feel again w/your hands. Hopefully those docs will eventually get you better! Hang in there and get lots of rest and know we are all praying for you. Love and Hugs!!!
Elizabeth M
God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. Today is very imporant, because I'm exchaning a day of my life for it.
