Update on me!

Im Still Here! 
Since my last post, Ive been through so much. My dad suddenly passed away from a heart attack at his house.  We were not close, but I still loved him.  I was going to call him that day too.  Its horrible having both parents gone.  My stepfather also passed away.  weird how my 3 parents all passed away in May. within 4 years of each other.  Dates and me are very unique!  Especially the month of March. Anyways,  I also had a huge back surgery.  I had my L4/L5 and my, S1 fused.  Life after spinal fusion has been very interesting.  My limits have been tested.  My frustration levels are high,  not being able to move a certain direction has been challenging.  Here's what I have figured out with spinal fusion. 1, sleep nude, or in a silk nighty, (<--- cheaper)  and or have silk sheets. it makes it easier to slide around in bed. And trust me, you will be sliding around!  2, wear your brace!  Its cumbersome, but will help. I did every time i got up. I wore it so much that after 5 some weeks post-op, i had rubbed my "bump" (more on my bump later)  i raced to my back dr, and i had rubbed it so much it was very angry, red, and very painful! So i was excused from wearing my brace. 3.  My "Bump"  it was at the surgical site where my hard ware sits.  Yes, Hard wear. I now have 6 lovely titanium screws in my back.   It was so hard to lay in bed.  It was hell getting in and out of bed.  My man would be right there to help me get into bed.  It was nice having him, "tuck me in" to bed!  It took almost 5 minutes those first few weeks.  And then with my bump i had to lay sideways almost.  4.  Keep up with your pain meds!  They do work if you take them as said too!  They did for me!5.  Get a walker, a cane, a bath chair, and a raised toilet seat.  seems funny, but all of those items will help you.  I used my walker for the first month.  And then my cane. The raised toilet seat was used for maybe a month, and now I have some toilet bars, and they are nice to have.   The bathtub chair was the best!  It was nice sitting in the shower to shower, we have a removable shower head, so it was perfect! My first shower was at a week after.  Our shower is in a corner, so it was a step up, and then a huge step down.  Make sure you have a bath mat so you don't slip, and my man was there helping.  He actually washed my hair for me! Shaving my legs was difficult.   Use press and seal!  It does work! 6.  Take the help offered!  My mans mom lives next door, so she was with me the first few days i was home.  She cleaned the kitchen and made dinner as well! That was very nice.  Shockingly, my 15 year old daughter helped with dishes a few times!  WOW!7.  Now your told not to,  lift, push, pull, squat, bend, twist, stay straight.  Its hard to do, or not to do.Its a struggle, but with my tribe, we get it done! some back pictures, and my x-rays!