Welcome Back Fiona!!
 

...............................http://dl5.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...dknpcvr0be.jpg

We're anxious to hear from youuuuu!
:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

For Fiona
 

In pain you have been
it seemed such a sin
to have not a good laugh again.

So off you did go
to hospital row
where docs and the wizards do reign.

You gave up your clothes
some looked in your nose
and then you were stuck on some train.

IV they did say
you shouted hooray
and hoped that the dreams weren't so plain.

To surgery land
a place oh so grand
and there you were given a strain.

Of double this now
some twins, what a row
the docs were so pleased that they grinned.

You really were there
and, oh, but your hair
imagine group photos they played.

Oh well, much to miss
and then what a switch
neuropathy traded for PAIN.

But surgery done
they sent you gone, hun,
and waved with a smile and trick.

Said use it not now
just wait, still, somehow
for surgery pain to abate.

Then program they will
you'll feel such a thrill
to heaven you'll feel you have gone.

That feeling so grand
those TENS were so bland
and now with your twins you do win.

Pain management yours
some tears come, of course
and with them release from your pain.

Become, if you will
ambassador thrilled
to help all who need this relief.

Your future is sure
and hubby secure
that now you may have life again.

A blessing you say,
from God and alway
this marvel you call now, your twins.


Welcome home dear friend,
Heal soon, take it easy, easy, easy,
Mark56 PJ :)

Mark!
 

HOW do you DO that!!
You pull out a beautiful poem as easily as i can pull out a stupid smiley from my left pocket!!

Maybe we should trade 'trousers' for awhile, so I can know what it must feel like to have the gifted pen you share with all of us!

Fiona will LOVE this!! :circlelove:

Congratulations and best of luck with the healing process. You are officially one of us now ;)


God Bless!!! :hug: Vanna

Have my implants
 

Don't know how long this will be as I'm very sore. The incision sites for the two implants are sooo sore. Sitting with an ice pack on them for some relief as pain meds. aren't helping the pain there as much as would like. Will post in more detail later. Thanks for all your prayers.

Surgery went splendid and my husband said my dr. was thrilled with how it went as he was able to put four percutaneous leads (2 cervical and 2 lumbar) in through one incision in my lumbar area rather than having to make a second incision up in my cervical area. I think he'll have bragging rights on that one as it seems it's not usual to get two implants at once. Well, off to bed....hope I can get some sleep.

Wow!
 

I must say, I was holding my breath as I pulled up your post Fiona!

only ONE incision for the leads!! unbelievable! This is so good to hear!
Yes, you will no doubt be in pain......the incision pain is worse the first 2-3 days and then (with ice) the pain will begin to feel less acute.

You are so brave girl! :hug:
I'm SO glad you posted last night!

I won't bombard u with questions....you just rest.
You've got your movies by your side......drift off to sleep as your body speaks.
I'd be amazed if you could get thru an entire movie withOUT drifting off! :)

Your doctor sounds amazing!
Everything seems in your favor! I'm excited for you!

Protect those battery pockets! I found some pretty cool 'Triple-layer non-stick' pads by Johnson and Johnson.....

God is with you, my friend
TTYS
Rae
:grouphug:

Yea Fiona!!
 

You posted last night! Praise to your doc for one incision!

Follow nurse Rae, and REST,
:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:
Mark56 :)

Great to hear its all over with now Fiona. And one incision!!! I can concur that the pain at the site of the wound is worse but that will subside....Im just two weeks over my surgery now and its getting better. Still a bit stiff.......havent ventured too far yet, just a short walk and that was enough for now!!!
Take care and speedy recovery to you

Jackie

Husband busy between taking care of me and working from home. Wanted to communicate with ya'll, and right now feel like I have a small window here before returning to bed and trying to sleep away the pain. Dang, these incision sites are sore!! Makes is very difficult to sleep as I'm a side sleeper and turning over is one big, painful task.

Have been running a fever and been having bad ch ills, but dr. office says is usual and not to worry unless it goes on for a few more days or gets up to 101...I've been able to reach 100.8 but just can't make that 101 mark, so no trophy for me. Walking like in the days of old...a slightly hunch back old woman. My face looks like...well, we'll just say my facial expressions certainly do convey one who is in pain. Tried to eat some toast but only got one piece down before feeling like hurling. Found out another good thing for post-surgery....pads to put down on your bed so the blood/ooze from incision sites don't get on bedsheets. I don't have any gauze/padding over incision sites, just some sort of wierd glue stuff.

Well, back to bed. Talk to you all later.

Any tips on dealing with pain of incision sites? Can I use ice packs?

Hi Fiona

Sorry to hear your still feeling quite sore. I didnt use ice packs but I do believe Ive read that others on the site have. Its not easy dealing with this pain on top of our regular pain, but it will get better. Im now 15 days over my surgery and I can honestly say the sites are slightly better. Very stiff in the morning but after some meds it 'oils' up. I do hope you can get a good nights sleep. Our husbands are terrific looking after us, unfortunately, I like to be my own boss so this fetching and carrying he has to do just isnt helping me ,(dont get me wrong he is fantastic)but I feel so redundant and so lazy, but Im told it has to be this way until all settles down ie 6/8 weeks!!!

Look forward to hearing how you are doing throughout your recovery and If I can be of any help just let me know

Take care:)

Jackie :grouphug:

My implants are on now!
 

Almost forgot to say, I'm able to have my implants on now...keeping them on low setting so as not to make things more sore than they already are. My left implant incision is much sorer than the right one for some reason. Also, have some major muscle soreness in other areas...I think this is due to the weird positioning they had me in on the surgical table. I was laying on my stomach with about 3 pillows positioned in various places under me, and my face was put into some sort of weird piece of foam. I begged for them to remove them as the best position for me to remain pain free is perfectly flat with no pillows anywhere, but they said they were necessary for doc to do his surgery. So, quite a few areas of my body (mainly muscles in neck/head area and chest area) are hurting just as bad as the incision sites. When woke up in recovery could hardly open my jaw as that surgical positioning really affected my TMJ. Seems to be getting a little looser now.

Boston Sci. rep. came in and worked with me before surgery and after surgery, before I left hospital. In this haze of pain, have to pay close attention to use the correct remote.

Any suggestions on marking them/making them different from one another so I can tell at a glance which one is cervical remote and w hich one is lumbar remote?

Maybe some smiley stickers might do the trick!!? :winky: then every time you look at them you know that with your SCS in time it will keep you smiling!!

Wow
 

Fiona! You are on already?

WOW

AS a child, I read Dr. Seuss whose twins, Thing 1 and Thing 2 wrought all sorts of havoc. Howabout paint or mark 1 on a remote and 2 on the other? Twins you know. HAH! Could even be the names of yours Thing1 and Thing 2.

Rest,
Mark56 PJ :)

Marking your remotes
 

Very easy. I used blank labels .... marked one CERVICAL and the other LUMBAR and taped them on the back.

Hope your healing goes well ;) :hug:Vanna

Oh Vanna!
 

You are going to be SOOO helpful to Fiona!
Having the TWINS!!

I SO appreciate you being here! You've had your implants for well over a year now.......so we're gonna dub you the 'Veteran' of the bunch! :grouphug:

I recall how very VERY helpful you were to me before this SCS forum was formed. We were sharing on the RSD forum.
BTW there are SO many wonderful folks over there!
Several of them have had the SCS and/or Pain Pump.

They've been my 'Saving Grace' and they put up with several of my 'rants' back when i was going thru my ordeal.......
They embraced me with a comradere~ i never knew possible.....

Blue Gel Packs
 

Hi Fiona- Reread and thought about your post. First, I used flexible Blue Gel Packs we keep on hand in the freezer for headaches, muscles aches, and applied a towel between the packs and the wounds. It helped control wound achiness.

I can't figure your fever and chills, but defer to your docs. Mine did not leave me with such an issue and sent me home chock full of antibiotics and a scrip for more they demanded I take due to over caution about infection.

My wounds were good sized and sutured closed not glued this time. Gauze dressings were applied, mandated, and a change of dressing schedule was provided so weeping of the wounds was neither a clothing nor bed issue. I am glad you are working on using a work around the care of wounds issue.

Prayers for you,:smileypray:
Mark56 PJ:):hug::grouphug:

Fever is coming down. Husband off to CVS to pick up Lidocaine patches to cut up and put around the incision sites...supposedly will help dull down the pain. I'm taking Cipro for a week, post-surgery. Having a hard time sleeping, what with trying to roll over and feeling the incisions. I put a sticky on one of the remotes as someone suggested (sorry, can't remember who did) and is helping a lot in helping me distinguish between them. I'm using a small make-up bag to keep them in as is easier to carry them both around.

Keeping the remotes' strength low right now. I can feel the batterys' placement in my hiney, and am a little concerned about their placement...feels like they're right below, if not on, my waist line. Hope it doesn't interfere with wearing jeans and such. Wonder if they'll "drop" once the swelling/inflammation goes down. The dr. said he created pockets for them to sit in, so maybe they will sink lower down once the inflammation goes down? Hope so, as I certainly wouldn't want to go through this again.

Sure am glad someone recommended that pick up stick. I don't know if I just never noticed how much stuff I drop or if I'm just dropping more now due to being in pain and on pain meds.


Dr. said I could maybe start PT in a couple of months. He said I could drive whenever I felt up to it and not heavily medicated. I am not, however, allowed to look over my shoulders while driving...is going to be difficult as I've developed a habit of doing that when I switch lanes due to vehicle's blind spots.

Gonna go and lay down. I have some of those blue gel packs, Mark, so will try those to help the incision pain.

Thanks, all :grouphug:

Feel Better Fiona
 

Feel better soon, Fiona! Those patches should help a good deal along with the gel packs. Just be careful to put them 20 min on and 20 off. You don't want to freeze that skin.

I waited on driving until off of the morphine as I never wanted to be on a witness stand saying "why yes, I was taking meds at the time..... morphine." I guess I am a fraidy cat, but safe better than sorry.

Driving now though and next Wednesday I am at full discontinuance of ALL pain management meds. This should be something to see. My surgeon, Dr. Jatana, says no patient he knows has succeeded in weaning all of the way off of the meds.

All of the best to you and your husband,
Be well,
Mark56:grouphug:

Good to hear from you Fiona
 

Hi Fiona

Good to hear from you. I hope your pain subsides soon. Im now 15 days over surgery and feeling a bit more 'myself' today. But the site of the incisions is still quite sore. Never thought to put my Lidocaine patches on them!!!! must try that one especially at night.
I have been advised NOT to drive until the 8 weeks are up. Like that I too would look over my shoulder when driving or reversing occasionally. That in itself is a major feat even without my implant.
When I was discussing my implant with my Dr he told me that he would put the battery 'below' my belt line, ie waist of jeans etc, but I dont think thats where it acutally is. I still have bandages on it, as was recommended, to curb infection and also my clothes rubbing off the sites. Like you Im hoping that once the swelling subsides that the batter wont 'feel' as obvious as it does now.
Make sure you rest as much as possible and keep up those meds too.

Jackie :grouphug:

Pocket Sites
 

I too was concerned about this when I got mine.....
but as the swelling went down....to be honest I completely do NOT realize my battery is there!
Took a bit of getting used to , but I'm wearing regular clothes again and life is getting better every day!

I doubt you'll have any regrets on the pocket location. Your Dr has put many of these in and am certain he knows where NOT to put them!
I truly do feel this is gonna be very very good, once this 'fresh out of surgery' feeling goes away......
You'll see.....
:hug:

It's true as Rae stated, someday you will be able to be comfortable with pants around your waist. Although, with having the two implants, I did feel much 'bigger' than when I had the one (My surgeries were 6 weeks apart). The one thing I noticed, is if my pants are a little TOO SNUG, I will get nerve pain -usually in the form of sciatic- down my leg(s). No doubt the natural cushioning of the soft body fat is easier on your spinal column than the hard thickness of a battery implant :(

And, the placement of the battery is truly ideal. Especially when it comes time for charging it. I tell my husband and kids that they need to 'leave me be' while I relax in the recliner for an hour ;)

:hug:Vanna

The Lidocaine patches are marvelous :D . Helps the incision pain sooo much. I cut one patch in half, and then into strips and placed a strip above and below each incision. The down side is that you can only have them on for 12 hrs., so opted for during the day so I can be a somewhat "normal" human being around husband. So, here I sit at almost 2 a.m., in pain, as incision sites have forced me out of bed...just so dang hard rolling onto other side without aggravating them...grrrrr.

Mark, I heartily agree with you about posture. The rep. told me that the cervical implant may be the same way as it was during the trial in that I would probably notice some type of change in the stimulation whenever I moved my head or neck in certain positions. He said that because the neck is so mobile (unlike the lumbar area), that I have to learn to feel unexpected surges in stimulation. I have noticed that keeping my posture is key to helping the stimulation keep at the right level cervically. In a way that's good for me as I can tend to slouch too much. I get "buzzed" as a reminder I need to get back into a good posture.

The twilight sleep, for me, has always been a bit hairy. When I had it 3 yrs. ago for my endoscopy it didn't work and I was awake through the whole procedure and the nurses had to literally hold me down while he stuck the camera tube down my gullet and looked around. I was NOT a happy camper about that, let me tell you. They didn't even find a license plate :Sob:...at least it would have been worth it if they'd found something interesting down there.


Well, when I heard it was twilight sleep for this procedure I made sure to let everyone who would listen know what happened last time I had anesthesia that way. Unfortunately, despite reassurances from the anesthesia guy that he wouldn't let that happen again, I did waken up several times through this procedure :eek:. I can remember feeling the pain of whatever they were doing and yelling out several times. They must have then given me more anesthesia because I fell back asleep. Unfortunately this happened about 3 or 4 times and I can remember one time trying to move off the surgery table, to get away from the pain, and they had to yell at me not to move. I don't hold any hard feelings as I know it's a tricky procedure to do, anesthesia wise. Keeping one sedated and then being able to wake them up when the surgeon says "Hey, we need to talk to her for a few minutes", and then putting me under again until he says once again, "wake her up for a while". Hate, Hate, did I say I hate twilight sleep. :mad:

Fever is getting better. Have started to notice some improvements for which the SCS's ("the twins") were meant to do: burning/aching in hips and lower back much improved, tricep pain gone, pain in inner knees gone, cramping in feet has reduced, and the overall pain/soreness I had from the surgical positioning has gotten better at a much faster rate than if I didn't have the twins in. So that's very encouraging even though still dealing with the surgical pain.

Again, thanks to the inventor of the reaching stick...I'm trying to figure a way to permanently attach it to myself so I don't have to keep looking for it....boy am I dropping a lot of stuff.

Signing off and going to watch some R2D2 until I feel sleepy enough to try to go back to bed.

Yayyyy!
 

Thank YOU! What a great update!
Sounds like things are going as a 'textbook case' <<<---that's the word they used to describe how mine went.......:) sounds so ..'formmmmal'
So glad the Lidocaine patch is helping!

Yeah, the 'Twilight Terror'....... :rolleyes: oh my
I too felt completely 'awake'......comPLETEly ! Every time I whimpered 'ouuuuch'.....I heard doc say 'Local'....and he'd shoot more local anesthesia at the site he was working on.....
The thing my doc said that kept me from moving on the table was......"Keep dam still! Unless u want a CSF Leak" :eek: I've heard how horrible those headaches can be and how long they last.......boy you can bet your hiney I kept straight as a board and hardly even breathed! I stuffed my face into that wonderful little 'face pillow thingy' (which I insisted on bringing home as a trophy) :)

Well, it's all gravy now, my friend. You are on your WAY! :hug:

http://dl4.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...u90ay2zrnx.gif<<<----LOOK! :) i found a little 'R2D2' in my left pocket! How precious! :icecream:

Yea Fiona!
 

More healing coming your way, yea Fiona!!!!!!

Rae, where DO you find those things in your pocket??

Mark56:)

Got a few hours sleep last night even though incison sites still very sore. Having fun watching R2D2 (where did you find that,Rae?) Feeling a little less sore today once I was allowed to put the Lidocaine patches back on around the incisions. Am amazed at how much they knock down the incision pain. Have been able to back off on the pain meds. a little. Was able to take short shower. Had so much iodine (?) on my back, looked like self-tanner washing off. Note to self: Licodaine patches do not like getting wet and become mushy mess by end of shower.

Realized this afternoon that my rep. had given each remote 4 programs, so drove myself crazy trying to figure out which of the 8 programs works the best...two remotes are a little too much to play around with as I soon forget which programs are the best. Oh well, my follow up at 10 days will be when we really try to start fine tuning the remotes. Keep dropping stuff...what's a bummer is the times I drop the picker-up stick...how does one pick THAT up??? Do I need an emergency one, encased in glass, just in case I drop my first one again? :confused:

Haven't zapped myself yet due to the remotes having little stickies on them. Found the temporary "do not go through scanning machine" cards. I'm guessing they'll mail me permanent ones? Looking forward to the day of regular bowel movements (this one's for you, Mark :))

Signing off...R2D2 calls....

Hey!
 

I had a moment of enlightenment!
Ok, don't laugh....but i was trying to figure a way you could potentially 'simplify' your remotes and tell me if this is possible? :rolleyes: I don't know how the Boston Sci's are designed, but is there a way you could like put a rubber band around the both of them back to back? So in essence you'd have 'one' unit?
They would be facing back to back and the controls would be on each side.
Or not?
I use an extention with the antenna thing that reaches to my battery site (left behind) and hold the controller with my other hand. Is yours like this?
So, I thought with 2 units, just tape (or rubberband) them together and then you'd have your 2 antenna things hanging from them.....

AND during my time off while recovering I just found the biggest pair of 'fatpants' I could find (sweatpants) WITH pockets and walked around the house with my controller in my pocket, my cell phone in the other, and that seemed to be pretty self-sufficient. :)
And maybe this would make it easier on you and you won't drop things as much perhaps. I dunno.....
Just a thought

Sooo, which episode are you on? R2D2 .... :cool: that could be a good name for your remotes

Velcro
 

Would be easy to Velcro the remotes together. They only need access in the rear to change to AA batteries which run each remote, and they last a LONG time. Even so, the remote needs to be identified as to whether Cervical or Lumbar, a simple labler at the office supply would do. Heck I would make Labels and mail them if had an address. But the use of different colored sticky dots would do just fine too.

Now, even in a med induced haze of post surgery, you can keep a note pad to note the program for each area and the intensity most pleasing, then as you develop more acuity with the program use, time will make it old hat. This will pass. Don't give your remote to R2D2, or you might wind up with some transformer wannabe.:D

Still Praying for healing and that rest becomes more easy,
This will pass,
Mark56:)

Been playing around with the different settings and now have myself totally confused...which one DID work better??? I think I've been given too many choices and I'm just confusing myself here. Another problem I'm running into is that the cervical leads can also affect my lumbar area, so hard to tell if it's the cervical leads that needs to be adjusted, or the lumbar leads themselves as my lower back is pretty sore.

Going to call my rep. and see if he can just get me back to the lumbar and cervical programs he had me on when I was discharged from the hospital as they seemed to work pretty good. While one surgery for both implants was better infection wise (and certainly money wise), I think it would be less confusing to have one implant put in at a time. That way I would have had time to work on one area of the body rather than both at the same time.

I'm carrying the twins around in a small make-up case I have that I've never used. Is my favorite color, blue, and is easy to carry and looks pretty too. It also has a couple of pockets inside and I've got my temp. "do not go through airport screener or get nuked" cards in them. Keeps everything in one place and is more pleasing than carrying around two black, bulky objects. I have a sticky on the front and back of the cervical remote, so I can easily identify it from the lumbar one.

I'm at the part where in the saga where Senator Amidala and Anakin Skywalker have set off to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi after he followed the bounty hunter who tried to assasinate Senator Amidala (no, I'm not that good of a speller, I just read the names off the cover :D)

However, I am frustrated in that I have yet to come across an opportunity to use the "picking nose smiley" so, with your kind permission, I'd like to use it now ...here goes...:picknose: Ahhhh...I feel better now. I think I have too much time on my hands now that I'm no longer allowed to pick things up off the floor.

OH and HOW did I miss your BM comment!?!
 

Now that just takes the "cake" a perfectly placed BM comment and I walked right by it!! Oh well...... Hey, by the way Fiona, do you know what happens when you STOP taking morphine???? Ha Ha.....

Permanent cards will come, nice BLUE color with the Boston Sci name and all sorts of data about how you would be advised to avoid the airport scanner stuff and huge electromagnets [well, nothing like in a wrecking yard anyway]. I got two, gave one to Cleo in case I happen to be knocked cold and someone has a brain @#$% about giving me an MRI test to check me out. Nice heavy plastic will last beyond our bodies type cards. We could probably use them to break into 007's office or something like in the movies.

Doncha be picking anything up!!!!! There, I said it.
Heal well,
Mark56:)

Spent time today with my two remotes as I had myself all confused as a result of having played around with them too much. Having 8 programs can be a little too much, so I took Mark's advice and sat down with pen/paper and tried them all out. Think I've come across the best programs for now.

What's weird is how the cervical leads are affecting my lower body. For instance, when I slouch, I can feel the stimulation increase in my upper legs. Something else that's happening is that when I cough or sneeze, the cervical stimulation in my neck or one of my arms temporarily increases. All rather odd and unexpected sensations to get accustomed to.

The Lidocaine strips around my incision sites are making a big difference. The first day they hurt horribly but after I put the lidocaine strips close by, it cut the incision pain down by a good 70%. I'm so glad that someone on another forum (sorry....I'm a lurker in other forums :lookaround:) mentioned that they used them and I was able to get my PCP write a rx. for them in case I needed them.

Get to recharge my implants for the first time this Thurs. Even though my remotes are showing I don't need to, the rep. advised me to get into the habit of doing it on a weekly basis until I have my programs finally set and have a better idea of how long a charge will last me.

I've noticed something that's rather odd, possibly a side benefit of having these implants. I feel that emotionally I'm not as edgy, or irritable or as easily frustrated as usual. Maybe it's a result of my body having less pain to deal with? Did/has anyone else has this happen to them? It's like my body is breathing one big sigh of relief. I actually enjoy being around myself these days...hopefully my husband can say the same:D

Fiona.....how great.........
 

:)
Fiona....how great to hear that you are getting some relief now from your pain and also your incision sites. These early days are very trying. Im nearly 3 weeks over mine now and its only now Im getting some relief around the incision sites. I get quite 'stiff' at times.

I have the SCS in my lower back and I also get these odd sensations elsewhere when I move in different directions. If I stand up the sensations rushes to my feet and its the oddest feeling ever trying to walk :winky: If I lean forward or arch my back it can send the SCS wild!!! and often I have to turn it down somewhat:Dits a matter of getting used to it Im sure.

Im sure it must be quite confusing with 2 remotes to handle all the programmes. One is bad enough:confused:
In my package there is a diary. So each day I write down which programmes(I have 5 at present)that I am using for that day . What level of pain I have ( 0-10)while I have the implant on. What amplitute I have the progamme at and how I feel while having this programme on, eg, comfortable, uncomfortable , relaxed, in pain, etc. I can then go back and check what I had each day and how I felt with each programme. Which then means I dont have to trawl thru all of them again to see which one suits me better when I lie down, or walk, or sleep. I hope that helps a bit.

I too feel very 'relaxed' since I got my implant. With me I feel at long last there is light at the end of the tunnel. Why oh why didnt I have this years ago!! Its still new to me and early days but I definitely feel more 'me'. Im hoping that in time I will be able to get rid of my meds too, like Mark, and get back to leading a ' normal' life again pain free, or at least as pain free as I can get. I hope that you will get to a stage where you too are at ease with your pain:)

Jackie:grouphug:

Thanks, Jackie. I have to admit that I haven't looked in my SCS boxes to see if they have a diary in there to keep. I know there was one in the trial boxes. I came home from the hospital with 4 boxes (2 were for remotes and 2 were for the rechargers) and felt a little overwhelmed with the stack of boxes, so just sorted through what was duplicate and pitched the rest. Will look and see if there is a diary as you have. Would certainly make it a lot easier to track from day to day.

I think I remember reading somewhere that as time goes on and the scarring gets better than we won't feel the changes in sensation as much when we move...am I right?

Glad to hear you, too, are getting positive results. You are a few weeks ahead of me so I'll be watching your progress and learning from you as I'm sure we're both doing with Mark.

Hi Fiona
 

Hi Fiona

I think after a while , as you say, once the healing process is over etc, that it should 'settle down'. Well Ive heard, from my rep, that the tissues will grow around the leads and will stop them from actually moving around, Im sure thats why the sensation changes. But at times , OH MY GOD, Ive literally been jumping because Ive moved, or esp when I go to bed after having it lovely and relaxing while Im on the couch and WALLOP I lie down and I nearly hit the roof, (not literally:winky:)

Im 3 weeks tomorrow!!(Thursday) although I do find this convalescense a tad BORING!!! I like to be control and with not being able to drive , dont bend, dont do this dont do that approach Im cracking :D, Im told I should ENJOY all the attention, yeah right, so roll on OCTOBER 5th....thats my 8 weeks over :wink:

Im not surprised you just chucked those boxes aside. I came home with 2 and between all the wires and straps for the charger were daunting enough. But over time and when your feeling a bit stronger Im sure you will delve in. I love all the literature that comes with gadgets. Even if its just a new iron ahem....now sad is that....so I got stuck in asap:winky:

Its great to hear everyones stories and those who are ahead of us and how much they have progressed, its terrific. Its great to read the updates:)

Take care

Jackie:hug:

How are the Twins?
 

Hi Fiona-

I have been thinking of you, praying for you, hoping you at last have some better rest as you strive to sleep. Anyway, I have read of your work to come to grips with the dual remotes. Hope that is evening out. So, how are the twins?

Mark56 PJ :)

The twins are certainly there. Is weird to reach back and feel them, but also reassuring. Fortunately they both don't need recharged at the same time or I'd look like a gunslinger at the OK Corral :cowboy2:

I had my first post-surgery follow-up yesterday. All incisions are looking good. The rep. spent some time reprogamming my lumbar remote but we decided to leave the cervical one alone as I wasn't sure where/if I needed better coverage. Is a lot to focus on having two remotes.

Today, however, I'm not so sure the reprograming of the lumbar was that beneficial. Fortunately he left the remote with the program that I had originally found to be most useful right after surgery, so I'm playing around with the new programs to see if any of them achieves the desired effect. Unfortunately I'm finding that being on the "wrong" setting or strength can make me sore so I have to allow time for that soreness to dissipate before I can try something else. Sometimes feels like a crap shoot.:Dunno:

Tried to drive yesterday but found that my driver's foot was feeling sore after a short time so husband took over. Enjoyed being driven around but concerned about why driver's foot is problematic. Can't say for sure if it's due to the new reprogramming as it was the first time I tried to drive since before surgery.

My next appt. isn't for another month so not sure if I'm to just give my body another month to heal and talk to the rep. next time I'm scheduled to go in, or if I should make a special appt. to go in before that to just see the rep and go over my programming again. :confused:

Any thoughts, anyone?

Go for it!!!
 

Hi Fiona:)

Good to hear that you are finally getting to grips with your remotes.

As regards making appointments.....Im nearly 4 weeks (THurs)over surgery and Ive had a couple of appointments for wound reviews. Im meeting with my Consultant again on Friday for another review. I asked him a few weeks ago when I would see the rep to get 'reprogrammed'. He said he would be over 'sometime' in September (as he has to come from Great Britain). But in the meantime I wanted to get some more relief from stim and use its full potential so I rang my Consultants secretary to schedule an appointment as early as possible as I definitely need my stim reprogrammed. Its working great when sitting /lying but not too effective when Im walking. So lo and behold, I got an appointment for Thurs 9th Sept woohooooo:D So Im really pleased.

I think if I was you Fiona that I definitely would ask for another appointment if your not happy with the programmes given. I take it its easy to get an appointment? With me as I live in Ireland I have to wait til the reps come over from GB which is approx every 4/6 weeks. If you feel that a month is a long time and you might get more relief if you were tweaked some more, then go for it:hug:

By the way you drive???:confused: I was told I cant drive for approx 6/8 weeks. I feel like a prisoner in my house at times:( My husband is good for driving me around and also my daughter, although she has her new baby so tied up a lot, but there is nothing like having your freedom whenever you want!!........

Jackie

Hi Jackie...I was told I could drive when I felt up to it...I think they meant that it wouldn't damage the implants in any way, not that I would "feel" up to driving right away. I just tried driving yesterday out of curiosity to see how I'd do. Think it'll still be a while for me to feel up to driving. They did warn me not to look over my shoulder when driving, as I mentioned previously.

Mark...when did you first drive, post-surgery? How did you do? How far did you drive?

You Gun-Slinger You!!
 

Man Fiona, I must say I am AMAZED at how far you've come in this short time! I feel like such a weenie, as I recall the first time I rode (not drove) out to check the horses (hubby was driving) but ohhhhhmyyyy Lordy have mercy each and every bump in the road felt like my body was ripping apart! :eek:......... so i got a pile of Danielle Steele books (large print :o) at a garage sale and became a homebody for the next couple of weeks until i felt 'tough' enuf to start driving the kids to school again.

Hat's off to you! You are comin right along
We better send out a special secret service 'posse' to keep you and Mark and Charles in line, or next thing ya know y'all will be doing skydiving......just make sure Mark doesn't pack your parachute :ROTFLMAO::icon_eek:

Good on you! Fiona
 

Thats interesting about you driving, my goodness. Ive only just started to go out for my walks and trying to get used to that. I still have some discomfort around the incision sites but I also feel some pain higher up in my back:confused:not sure if thats maybe where the leads end:eek: but it has 'caught' me a couple of times. I asked my Consultant whether I could drive, but he said no. To leave it for 6/8 weeks and once Im fully recuperated. As it is I dont drive that much anyway, as I find it too uncomfortable. Plus I cant look behind me I have to use my mirrors and I depend on them a lot. So taking my time now! :) Its not like I have the energy to go out much anyway:D