Thank you all for the warm welcomes! Reading these forums as a "lurker" you guys all seem like such great group of people - who have come together due to their lot in life to be in pain - and yet support each other whole-heartedly through all of the ups and downs of pain management.

@Mark - I truly hope your article gets published. I think the ability to program myself really made the difference in my trial. I've already put my rep "on notice" that I want to program the permanent as well - and she has no problem with that. If there is anything I can do, or any way I can help (as like you I was able to program myself) for the article let me know. I work in cancer research, and publish in scientific journals all the time, so I may be able to help in some way

@Sandy Kay - I'm sure the three weeks will go faster than I anticipate. Today was so very long and drawn out - being my first day back with all my pain back. It was actually pretty depressing, and I had a hard time getting through today. I know I have hope now - but it was SO nice feeling "normal" ie no pain for almost an entire week! And I know all about prepping the house for surgery, although thank you so much for the reminder! I have had a laminectomy before (so know the whole BLAST and log roll routine), I have had shoulder surgery where I could barely move my arm and had to have my husband dress me, bathe me, and put my hair up in a ponytail every morning (he got quite good at that at the end...which is impressive for a bald guy!)...and then my three foot surgeries in which my average time non-weight bearing has been 2 months, during which my husband took care of me. I count myself so blessed to have such a loving man in my life. We are young, and I feel like I (because of my pain) have held him back from all of the activities we used to do (skiing, rock climbing, etc). Yet, for the last two years, he has done all the cleaning, all the grocery shopping, and even when I am in pain, and being a very grumpy wife - he still stands by my side. I could never have made it this far without him.....and I so hope that the SCS will give us some of that quality time together back. The one thing I do not have is a grabber - and after seeing many recommendations for this, I am going to pick one up this weekend

-Heather