What a difference a day made

I popped back to life over the weekend and getting back to the state of wanting to participate in every day things. Friday and Saturday last, I pretty much slept most of day (and night) but following that the grey has cleared.

  

The picture left is King Theoden under a spell in Lord of the Rings and I have always loved the imagery of Gandalf enticing him out of his spell. I think a lot of us at times can get covered in a greyness, my issue was major surgery but often it's other life issues that affect us. My Galdalf on Saturday was Kat who enticed me from bed with a half a glass of Guinness and an offer to sit on our deck and admire a particularly beautiful evening. 

Recovery has been progressive and not as dramatic as King Theoden, although I feel in my mind it was a significant weekend. I had my first major outing yesterday and went to church, which was a bit daunting but I'm pleased to have done it. We had a fun full day following with friends and family at home and I was comparatively very active. Another first was last night I slept through night without need of additional  painkillers.

Physically I am able to do a lot more, twist in the torso, easily getting up and down, arms above my head and stable walking, including on uneven surfaces. Healing is going very well, with a lot of stiffness in spine gone, the wound healing well and swelling reduced.  A problem I have now is I cant do what I would like to do. No strength and although improving the length of activity still very short. I still need to be horizontal for most of day or else pain kicks in, but fantastic having mind engaged. I can foresee and looking forward to physio and exercise in a couple of weeks time and in no time I will be boundin around like normal.

Click HERE to put a smile on your face and to learn more about boundin and recovery from setbacks. (To Kat, friends and family, thanks for being my Jackalope)

Bottom of the garden

Slow progress or poor attitude

Doesn't checkout from hospital mean checkin to life. Maybe taking it a bit easy but surely that "3 weeks rest before Physio" didn't mean 3 weeks no activity and long periods in bed. Progress here has been frustrating slow, or shall I say was slow until I adjusted my poor attitude. Kat often says listen to your body and I think she is right, sometimes your own expectations are misguided. My body is very tired and sore and through lots of rest I am slowly getting better and stronger each day. There has been no infection or complications and the wound is healing well. My Dunedin Orth Surgeon did a home visit to take out staples and was pleased with progress. My back is still very swollen and I am bent and hobbling around like an old man which I don't like, but don't have the strength and perseverance to deal with yet. A job for another day.

My appetite has returned with gusto which is very timely; we have had a daily arrival of the most delicious meals each night from friends in the community. We are very fortunate and enjoying being lavished with food.

Over next week I am hoping to get a bit more active but will just go with the flow and see how the body is feeling.

"Hasty speed don't oft succeed" Old Dutch Proverb

Something to Strive for

Surgery 2 by Pictures

Checkout from Hotel Burwood today

Heading down to Dunedin on a Jet late afternoon. looking forward most to seeing the kids xoxoxo. Feeling fit for journey and it should go smoothly.
   
My experience at Burwood Hospital has been very good, the nursing staff generally are very friendly, caring and competent and I've been in a nice sunny single room with a door out to grass lawn and garden, plus wireless internet. Most of the time I have had my own personal nurse and companion, Kat xx, which has made stay and recovery far easier and fun.      

Thanks to my Christchurch mates for all the practical support and calling in to chew the fat. Also thanks to Kim at Christchurch end and Royce at AIr NZ for help with logistics getting home.

Biggest thanks to the surgical team lead by Gordan Beadel (Sarcoma) and Jeremy Evison (Spinal Surgeon). These guys walk on water and I have been very pleased to be under their care.  More on this later.
 
I am on high levels of pain killers and strict instructions to lay low for a few weeks.   It's going to take a while to get use to and break in the new back, it feels very stiff and foreign. I need to fully recover before getting into Physio and full on exercise. I am sure I will come to terms with it and recover sufficient mobility, but it will take a while.

Another milestone nearly ticked off. Hoorah