A Month Post Surgery

The most exciting thing is that I don't have to be wheeled around in a chair. It comes and goes; but overall good. Dave and I are walking everyday a little -- not huge mileage, but still better than nothing. Neurosurgeon seems to think that swimming may help, and send me to a physical medicine guy. Oh yeah... i am back at work!

He prescribed 4 weeks of PT. With luck, I will be able to get the therapist who runs, or the manager....

NIKE still is going to be a go... if it kills me!

Back Home

Back home from the hospital a few days earlier than expected. LOTS weeker than i ever imagined.... i just want to sleep. NOt moving too swiftly today, but its gonna be better.. i am sure! can't wait to have the drain taken out of me, it really hard to move with something confining the neck in one position all the time.... there i still tons of liquid and gunk being drained from the surgery site... Have an appointment with occ health folks on friday, so hopeful i'll be able to go back to work sooner rather than later. i miss everyone there, and everyone has been awesome to me...

Can't wait to get back into the swing of things.... esp the running.

The countdown is on... surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. BUT not without any drama. I went to see my neurosurgeon yesterday, and he told me that the insurance had not approved the procedure at Moffitt, and I had to get the procedure done at St. Joe's by another NS. THis lead us bringing all the film to the other NS. MY neurosurgeon told me that he would talk to that doc about the case. IT is NOT your typical procedure. Basically, we needed a NO from the JOe's guy to have the insuance give its blesing.

THis morning, i started to worry when i did not hear anything from Dr.Louis (MY neurosurgeon), so I called the customer service rep handling everything who gave me the good word that everything is set to go for the morning. Lets just say that sleep is not a commodity these days....

Sugery is scheduled for 1315, and i have to be there for 1115. Surgery is expected to take 4 hours, and then i will be in ICU for the night. Not sure about visitors tomorrow, but I am supposedly going to be in a 'normal' room for a couple of days. THey tell me 3 days. Dave is predicting 2. Dave is going to update everyone, either via phone, email, twitter or facebook..... so everyone will know what is going on. Again, his cell is 813-545=0290. My cell is going to be forwarded to him, so he'll be answering.

I'm a little scared at this point, but I do know all will be good after. I'm anxious to get back to work, and running.

PUBLIC thanks goes out to Jack... who is going to be Dave's wingman for a good chunk of tomorrow... coming out from the east coast of the state. If any local folk want to hang out with dave or get a quicker update, just call... i'm sure he won't mind!! Thank you again for all the prayers, love and support. It mean more than anything to us. talk to ya'll on the flip side of this ride.

THursday is almost upon us!

The countdown is on; i just can't wait any longer to be able t0 move around really well! It really gets on my nerves that I can't do what I want to do... when i want to do it. I have a little bit of motivation to getting better fast... what else, run. Not only run, but do a race. There is a race at Moffitt that is happening two weeks post surgery. My real goal is the ultra (12 hour) that is happening.... there is also a 5 miler that is happening that i am willing to do but the ultra is my real goal... yeah, i'm crazy....

but you know, i know all i going to be better!!

I'll post again before the surgery date...

BTW: Dave is the best....

Six Days and COunting.... Can't wait to get the whole thing done...

A couple of thing to my readers:

* Surgery is on 4/23 at 1315
* Supposed to take 4 hours
* Gonna be in hospital 3-5 days
* Insurance is being STUPID
* I'm scared shitless

A Surgery Date at Last

It has been a long and difficult time. THere are days that are really, really good and that I can get around well and others where i cannot get around good. Today is a good day.

I have to first of all thank all of our friends.. virtual, twitter, real life... for their love and support. I couldn't have done it without Dave either. He's been incredible and means more to me than anything in the world.

I went to Moffitt Cancer Center and saw someone in their Neuro clinic. I know I'm in good hands, as between this doc and the neurosurgeon i saw a few weeks ago the surgery on 23 april will go well. the Moffitt sees to think that i'll be on my feet in no time. Dave's big joke i that i'll be running home from Moffitt. I can see that happening.....

I'm a little scared, but think all is going to be OK. I can feel the love from everyone. I'll describe the process in another post once i get to know it myself. All I know is that they are going through the neck, moving some stuff around and then perhaps getting a rod put into my neck for extra support.

I cannot wait to get back on the road again. So much so that i already have a planned marathon for the fall...

Guess I should update everyone

OK, lots of stuff going on.

I am on FLMA now... balance stuff is really getting to me; but will be OK. Walking a little but can't do too much.

TO catch everyone up.... saw a new neurosurgeon and even he thinks the diagnosis one neuro gave me was crap. BUT I am going to see a bunch of folks at Moffitt Cancer center. Makes me feel so good that folks really care.

More MRI's today and a couple more tomorrow (had a cervical spine x ray, today as well) BUT was able to walk a few miles on the dreadmill this morning, and on the bike this afternoon...

More later, I promise

Getting Back into it

Hey, guys...

One of the 'resolutions' i made for the new year was to blog three times a week. Well, that just did not work out the way I wanted to.

Lets just say the past three weeks have been hellish. I lost my balance and fell at home about three weeks ago. I got this HUGE gash on my head... one of these days I'll be brave enough to post the before picture... seven stitches later.... I had a CT scan done almost right after, to make sure I didn't have a concussion, and was admitted to the hospital right after. I went through batteies of MRI's, and a bunch more other type of tests, all pretty much came out negative.. except for the stuff to be expected from neurofibromatosis. Two days later, I was discharged, still not really knowing what was wrong with me. I left with a script for iron pills and cholesterol meds. (The low iron was to be expected as it was 'that time'... yeah TMI)

A week later, I went to the neurologist for a follow up, he gave me a seemingly devasating diagnosis, but he 'wasn't sure'. More MRI's ordered. I went back to the office and made an appointment with another neurologist (coming up on Tuesday). One of the greatest folks I work with was awesome and advised me to get FLMA paperwork going.. I received it prob in the nick of time. Dr. Neurologist said I couldn't work until i had the second set of MRI's done. My awesome boss managed to get it done three days before i had it scheduled for. except it took FOREVER to finish. The kicker was going back the next day for more. By Friday, I was going stir crazy until Dr. Neuro called to say I could go back to work on Monday... not that I'm 100% or anything, i'm psyched to go back in the AM. I have WAY too much to do in the next three weeks before the cruise. A big thing is that I am working out again. We bought a spinning bike, so i can do that at home.

Dave has been the best. Spending the week with him was great, he really is the best.... reminds me how much i really do love him. Yeah, sappy... but after 20 years of being together its a good thing!

Its been interesting; going to get copies of the last set of MRI's in the morning. Everyone has been giving me their theories on what is wrong with me. NONE of them are the neuro's. Most of them make tons of sense. The neurofibromatosis is a given... but the others are really close to what i have been going through. I have a bunch of calls to make in the morning, along with tons of catching up to do. I really need to get some answers, and soon.

RUnning wise, its gonna be OK. I really miss doing the longer miles, but i'll be fine. the balance stuff gets to me, but its getting a little better everyday.

On the TNT side of things, kick off is THursday. I'm very excited; esp since that i'm going to mentor again... First workout is Saturday.... we'll see how that goes!

More later. I promise. We are working on the real blog being back up soon.