better schedule ASAP.
Sounds like the best thing to do.
sending healing thoughts your way.
bizi

motor vehicle test...
 

as if i don't have anything else to occupy my attention...

the DMV required me to have my dr fill out a form to summarize my medical condition and whether she thought i could drive safely. so she did. i just got their letter back today which says i have been granted driving privileges by the review board BUT

i have to take a vision, written and driving test. i just printed the FL driving handbook out on my computer and it's over 100 pages! how am i supposed to remember all that? i know i can drive, it's the written test that spooks me.

and, i have to do it by 30 days, then they will send my dr another form for next yr. just shaking my head back and forth. oh well, this too shall pass.

my friends think this is harrassment because they know i have MS and i'm on a lot of meds (which they required my dr to divulge). i already took a driving test the yr i got to st. augustine and passed.

do old people get repeated requests to take driving tests? written tests?
i'm calling my lawyer monday to ask him. even tho i don't think it will make any difference.

i have to do all this by one month. and i'm planning the surgery by another 4-6 wks. this is ridiculous. i really do feel like they're singling me out.
will let you know. anyone else go thru this?

oh my goodness...
i stressed and studied the 100pg FL driving handbook for a month.
i finally went for the test and took 2; failed both. each test took me 45 min.

went home and in 6hrs read the whole handbook again. went back the next day and passed the 1st time! whew! then took the driving test and passed. that took about another hr.

i didn't know how stressed out i was until i passed and it was over. i studied like i was back taking a college course. let me tell you it wasn't easy. by the time i left i practically knew all the ladies behind the counters.

well, safe for hopefully more than a yr. i'm filing the handbook so i can find it again easily. :)

if anyone else has to take a written test i urge you to read every word in that book, then read it again.

congratulations!!!!!
well done!
bizi

saw neurosurgeon today
 

he said i definitely need the L4-5 back surgery.

there's been a fair amount of nerve damage already. the EMG on my left leg shows that most of the problems with my leg stems from my back and not the MS.

he will do the surgery from the back and the front so 2 incisions. and he wants a cardiac surgeon present (he's worked with him before) as they have to work around major blood vessels.

i will see him again for a pre-op visit. in the meantime i have to see a couple of my docs to get pre-op clearances, then see my pcp and have labs done etc.

he said about 5 days in the hosp, then home with nursing care.
it all sounds icky to me because i know all too well the pitfalls of being hospitalized.

on the bright side, i won't have all this pain anymore and i might even get some function back in my left leg. gosh, wouldn't it be nice to walk faster than a turtle.

looking at having the surgery sometime next month.

wow nancy I am hoping for a wonderful outcome. I would try to have somebody there while you are in the hospital to check on things for you.
You may be in pain and not able to stay on top of things....just a thought.
Maybe you have already thought of that.
keep us updated.
bizi

thanks biz,

yes, my friends and i have thought of that. my best friend catherine is going to the hospital with me and will be staying with me 24/7 for at least 2 days. she has my medical and legal poa. we've been friends for 54 yrs. we can finish each other's sentences. if she was a guy i would have married her. but....she's not so i keep on looking. ha, ha.

my family and i have experienced some really bad hospitalizations so we know what to look for and how to cover our bases. however, new things always seem to pop up.

sounds like a very good friendship!
thank goodness!
bizi

i'm baaaaaack
 

i'm finally home. the hospital was a bad experience. when you're in terrible
pain and flat on your back helpless the last thing you want your CNA to say first thing in the morning is "i have 12 pts all by myself today so i'll do the best i can". yikes. they told me to pee in the bed and they'd change it because they couldn't get into the room fast enuf to get me up.

thankfully i then went to the rehab facility. the staff was very responsive and very quick to address pain issues. they were top notch with rehab and i thankfully did well, better than my dr expected. all in all i was there about 3 wks.

now i'm home. in a fair amt of pain and trying to medicate myself accordinly.
catherine had her nose surgery and is out for the count. her sister patty is with her 24/7. i have some pretty great neighbors who have made themselves available to help me. they are the best. i've even gotten to see my little pal Linus the daschund. made my day!

can't sit here long but wanted to check in. :)