Alright, So as promised, I decided to blog since I had seen my other doctor on Tuesday. I went to a physiologist. I was kind of nervous, I had called this doctor for pain management. The plan was to get a nerve block put in place to help me make it until December when I see the neurologist. I wasn't sure what I was in store for.
I arrived and sat in the waiting room for 45 minutes. I was so frustrated but I couldn't leave because I needed to have my pain assessed. So I sat with Cody there. When I made it into the room, the appointment itself took 30 minutes. It was so long but very educational. After being twisted, poked, contorted, and prodded I learned alot about my body. I discovered that my spine has more issues than just the two herniated disks. Most normal people have a natural "C" curve in the upper portion of the spine and their tailbone points downward off the spine. My spine however, instead of curving naturally on the top doesn't it goes straight also my tail bone doesn't point downward it is parallel to the floor. Also I learned I have weak ankles and my right calf is larger than my left. I am not sure what all this means, but I will learn more. I am having a special nerve test called an EMG in two weeks to test my nerve functions in my legs. This should tell me more about how my body is working with this issue.
The doctors appointment wasn't all too bad.. He gave me new medications that help deal with the pain better than my asprin did. Also he told me what kind of exercies I can do without hurting myself. I hadn't been to the gym in 3 weeks and I am starting to feel slow and not healthy. So he was able to help me learn some.
Things are looking good for me, I am hoping that surgery is the last option and that I can solve this problem or learn to manage it before surgery is necessary.
I am almost positive I just entered another cycle of denial (it isn't just a river in Egypt) trying to work through this is going to be interesting..
Well that is all I have to report for now...
9.22.2008
a DaY iN tHe liFe oF..
Alright, So this weekend I was told that I needed to blog more. So I figured since I had a few minutes of downtime at work I would spend a few and update all of you. I am sorry, it is missing pictures I have been horrid about taking them lately. But I will try and take some soon and post.
September started off to a good start. I started school and Cody started online courses. I enrolled in 15 credits of art classes and Cody in 20 credits of airline things. So we are both trying to keep up. Every weekend is filled with homework for Cody, and me building some project. Needless to say we have been filled with thoughts of airplanes and art.
Cody, started the month off studying hard for his private pilot's license. He had his test last Monday, September 15th. He worked hard and flew 3 days in a row the few days before and we are glad to say passed his test with flying colors on the first try, which is apparently very rare to do. So CONGRATS!! In honor of his graduation, I planned a surprise party this weekend with family and friends at PF Changs. I do have to give myself props, I have NEVER been able to pull off a surprise without Cody figuring it out before I can do it, this time... he had no idea! It was great... So CONGRATS my sweetie, I am SO proud of you!!
Also... while in Cody news... Cody applied for a job at Skywest in Salt Lake at the airport. He thought it would be a good idea to get his foot in the door working for an airline and that way when he was able to be a commercial pilot he would already be working for an airline. So he went to the interviews, and a week later we found out he got the job. He will be a ramp agent, one of the people that has to load luggage on planes. He starts September 22nd. I am just excited, cause I get to fly for FREE!!
Recently I had been struggling with pains in my tail bone area. I would often find myself saying my tail bone hurt and I couldn't sit for long periods of time without having bad pains. So I decided that I would make an appointment with my doctor. He told me that I needed and MRI to see what was happening in my back. Back problems run in my family, My mom has 2 now fused discs (she had 2 herniated discs but had them removed and her bones fused together) my younger brother had a ruptured disc and my grandpa and a few uncles have bad back problems. So I was afraid of what it could mean. So I went and had an MRI. It was cold, and very noisy.. but 20 minutes later I was done.
The radiology tech took the time to show me my scans and explain the different parts to me. He told me it looked like I had 2 bulging discs but that my doctor would call me in a few days and talk to me. Sure enough the next morning my doctor called me. He told me that my L4-L5 disc and L5-S1 disc were both bulging, in the centers. Now, this was strange so for you that don't know what this means... let me interpret (don't worry they had to do this for me too). The L stands for lumbar, which is the lower vertebrae in your back. The S stands for sacral, which is a fancy name for the tail bone. So my cartilige discs in that area are popping out into my spinal cord cavity pushing against my spinal cord which causes pain and numbness in my legs and hips.Yes I know it sounds like great fun.
For the next few days I went through what I told Cody was my "denial process". It started with a day of " I am dreaming... this is just a dream, I will wake up and it will be gone.." to " Why me... I am 24 I am healthy, not overweight and I take good care of myself..." ( this portion involved many tears, and a few laughs..) and then finally to the "This is a part of my life now, and will be forever. It isn't going to be a disability, and I am just going to learn how to live with it." So I am now on asprin therapy which works pretty good, I can't lift more than 40 pounds at a time and I am learning my limits. I am taking it slow, and my next step is to get back into doing things that are physical. I am going to try yoga. I am going to a doctor tomorrow to have a nerve block put in place so I can't feel the pain for a few months until I see a neurosurgeon in December.
Needless to say our life is anything but boring right now... what can you do? So that is what is new... and I promise I will do this more often and with pictures!!
September started off to a good start. I started school and Cody started online courses. I enrolled in 15 credits of art classes and Cody in 20 credits of airline things. So we are both trying to keep up. Every weekend is filled with homework for Cody, and me building some project. Needless to say we have been filled with thoughts of airplanes and art.
Cody, started the month off studying hard for his private pilot's license. He had his test last Monday, September 15th. He worked hard and flew 3 days in a row the few days before and we are glad to say passed his test with flying colors on the first try, which is apparently very rare to do. So CONGRATS!! In honor of his graduation, I planned a surprise party this weekend with family and friends at PF Changs. I do have to give myself props, I have NEVER been able to pull off a surprise without Cody figuring it out before I can do it, this time... he had no idea! It was great... So CONGRATS my sweetie, I am SO proud of you!!
Also... while in Cody news... Cody applied for a job at Skywest in Salt Lake at the airport. He thought it would be a good idea to get his foot in the door working for an airline and that way when he was able to be a commercial pilot he would already be working for an airline. So he went to the interviews, and a week later we found out he got the job. He will be a ramp agent, one of the people that has to load luggage on planes. He starts September 22nd. I am just excited, cause I get to fly for FREE!!
Recently I had been struggling with pains in my tail bone area. I would often find myself saying my tail bone hurt and I couldn't sit for long periods of time without having bad pains. So I decided that I would make an appointment with my doctor. He told me that I needed and MRI to see what was happening in my back. Back problems run in my family, My mom has 2 now fused discs (she had 2 herniated discs but had them removed and her bones fused together) my younger brother had a ruptured disc and my grandpa and a few uncles have bad back problems. So I was afraid of what it could mean. So I went and had an MRI. It was cold, and very noisy.. but 20 minutes later I was done.
The radiology tech took the time to show me my scans and explain the different parts to me. He told me it looked like I had 2 bulging discs but that my doctor would call me in a few days and talk to me. Sure enough the next morning my doctor called me. He told me that my L4-L5 disc and L5-S1 disc were both bulging, in the centers. Now, this was strange so for you that don't know what this means... let me interpret (don't worry they had to do this for me too). The L stands for lumbar, which is the lower vertebrae in your back. The S stands for sacral, which is a fancy name for the tail bone. So my cartilige discs in that area are popping out into my spinal cord cavity pushing against my spinal cord which causes pain and numbness in my legs and hips.Yes I know it sounds like great fun.
For the next few days I went through what I told Cody was my "denial process". It started with a day of " I am dreaming... this is just a dream, I will wake up and it will be gone.." to " Why me... I am 24 I am healthy, not overweight and I take good care of myself..." ( this portion involved many tears, and a few laughs..) and then finally to the "This is a part of my life now, and will be forever. It isn't going to be a disability, and I am just going to learn how to live with it." So I am now on asprin therapy which works pretty good, I can't lift more than 40 pounds at a time and I am learning my limits. I am taking it slow, and my next step is to get back into doing things that are physical. I am going to try yoga. I am going to a doctor tomorrow to have a nerve block put in place so I can't feel the pain for a few months until I see a neurosurgeon in December.
Needless to say our life is anything but boring right now... what can you do? So that is what is new... and I promise I will do this more often and with pictures!!
9.03.2008
aUgUsT cAmE aNd wEnT..
I felt like an update was well in need. Alot has been going on with our little family and blogging became the last thing on my mind. Things have been insane.
August was great. We had a lot happen. Cody has been working hard at untouchables and working on his flying. He is taking his checkride on September 15th. If he passes he will have his private pilot's license. I am so proud of him and his accomplishments. As we were both caught up in work, we decided to have Tyke fixed. So in late August, Tyke under went his little surgery. The next few days were full of groggy sleepy puppy, monitored sleeping and bathroom breaks. But after a week of restricted things he was up to going back to normal. He is doing great, and healed wonderfully. We started up school on the 27th. We both are taking full loads. Cody is doing 20 credits online, so brave! The next day I turned 24. As my brother told me I am "old" now. We had a great august.
September started out great with Labor day. It was nice to spend time with each other and our families. We spent Sunday with Cody's parents and their friends and family playing top toss. We had a competition. We were pulled in pairs. I played with my brother-in-laws friend Gavin. Cody played with his parents gay neighbor, Curtis. It was fun, me and Gavin made it almost to the championship round but lost the round before. It was pretty fun.
Well that is the news.. until next time..
August was great. We had a lot happen. Cody has been working hard at untouchables and working on his flying. He is taking his checkride on September 15th. If he passes he will have his private pilot's license. I am so proud of him and his accomplishments. As we were both caught up in work, we decided to have Tyke fixed. So in late August, Tyke under went his little surgery. The next few days were full of groggy sleepy puppy, monitored sleeping and bathroom breaks. But after a week of restricted things he was up to going back to normal. He is doing great, and healed wonderfully. We started up school on the 27th. We both are taking full loads. Cody is doing 20 credits online, so brave! The next day I turned 24. As my brother told me I am "old" now. We had a great august.
September started out great with Labor day. It was nice to spend time with each other and our families. We spent Sunday with Cody's parents and their friends and family playing top toss. We had a competition. We were pulled in pairs. I played with my brother-in-laws friend Gavin. Cody played with his parents gay neighbor, Curtis. It was fun, me and Gavin made it almost to the championship round but lost the round before. It was pretty fun.
Well that is the news.. until next time..
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