PRICELESS...

... not long back from annual rendez-vous with my surgeon. Couple of x-rays showed that 15 months on, my Dynesys remains stable and doing what it says on the tin! On a long-term monitoring programme so thankfully it's carry on as before for another 12 months! Just cannot put a price on the change in my life since the op.

ps. Ruth from Stroud - just read your comment on my previous post. Unfortunately I am unable to reply via the Blog but if you become a member of the Facebook Group called Dynesis: stabilising back surgery - a support community (Dynesys) you can talk to me and another 70+ spineys who have undergone Dynesys surgery. Facebook is free, as is the group. I look forward to catching up with you.

Happy New Year!

May 2010 bring everyone peace, happiness, prosperity and a lot less pain. Happy New Year folks x

Time marches on...

Long time, no speak... but it really is a good thing. Lots of activity in the household what with our up-coming move to different shores. As you can imagine loads and loads to do. Finding it challenging to strike a balance between running (metaphorically speaking) around like a headless chicken trying to get everything in order for emigration AND staying focussed on my usual routine - exercise, not overdoing it, with some rest chucked in for good order! 18 months ago we could not have contemplated such a move, what with the parlous state of my back, healthcare considerations etc. Funny and darn wonderful really, how fast life can change. Big, nay HUGE, nod of thanks to Mr Shepperd, surgeon extraordinaire.

Fair to say I've never been one to take the well travelled path... you know, stay with what's easy or comfy or known. I've constantly challenged myself. Made mistakes it's true. Been reckless some might say. Hungry for knowledge and experiences. Not one to settle for mediocrity. My mum said "be the best that you can be" and that is what I'm striving to do.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost)

Life's bloody good. O Canada... bring it on!!!

Getting it all into perspective...

Below is an extract from a dear friend's story regarding CANCER. As I am at the one year stage regarding Dynesys, I quote her at the same stage in her recovery (thankfully she is celebrating 2 years in remission this month). I include this because there are times in our lives when it doesn't do any harm to put our own shyte into perspective...

QUOTE
So, what happens when everything finishes. Certainly no trumpet fanfare, but I have to say everybody keeps their eye on you. My headaches continued resulting in a brain scan. Niggling pain in my shoulder resulting in X-ray. Urine infection resulting in Bladder and Kidney scan. All accompanied with sirens and whistles in my head each time I have to wait for the results. This panic when awaiting results, will hopefully diminish in time, but will probably never completely leave me.

It is now a year on. I have had my mammogram, everything is fine. I frequently think of the past year and during the early months would have given anything to have my body and mind back as they were pre 20/07/07. It is such a cliché, but, without a doubt everything has to happen for a reason. Making sense of the reasons can be hard. Something had to happen to slow me down. Yes, I would rather have sprained my ankle, but, as my mum said ‘It would take more than that to stop you’. I would have carried on with crutches!!

Why me?

Well, I just know I really could not have coped if my children or family members were given the diagnosis of cancer. And, the same for my friends who are lucky enough to have not been directly affected by Cancer…

I was the best person for the job…

It just had to be me…
UNQUOTE

In awe! Floored!

You're one special lady J who deserves THE BEST and ALL that life has to give x

The witching hour approaches...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOLKS!!

Here's hoping that all family, friends and spineys out there have a fun and safe evening.

1 year on...

Can't believe it... 1 year post op today! Feeling pretty good. Thought it deserved a little treat from Hobbs... so last night I managed to pour myself into a size smaller than usual dress and jeans. Tempted fate even further this morning by jumping on the scales, to reveal an overall 11lbs weight loss. RESULT. Slimming World Green and all the exercise is finally doing it for me (and Dr Vic who's lost 13lbs)!

As for celebrating champagne-stylie - well I'm not in much of a celebrating mood on account of sad news this morning that one of my closest pal's dad has died... yet another good life taken by that evil disease cancer - how I despise it! God Bless Mr T.

Coming up to a year!

Can't believe I'm coming up 12 months post-op. Pretty much everyone asks me if it was all worth it and I can say without hesitation that it has been. I believe though, that my response says a lot about my expectations from the outset. You see, my surgeon was always very clear about the potential outcomes/risk of Dynesys, so I knew that following the op I could be :-

1. pain-free
2. in less pain
3. the same, or
4. worse off

I was always optimistic of the outcome but law of averages told me that I would be pretty lucky to come out completely pain free. It's interesting though, that the Facebook group (now numbering 62 members) pretty much divides as above - we have members who are completely pain-free following the recovery period, as well as others for whom there has been no change, or failure...

So where do I fit? Well I fall solidly into the 2nd category. I'm pretty much drug-free but not pain-free. I still experience pain daily, but it is wholly manageable. It's not the jump out the window, no sleep, can't do anything type of pain. I continue to exercise daily either in the pool or Pilates and when I don't exercise, I know it. I still have an afternoon siesta. I am mindful of the things I do, and for how long I do them. But I can do more than before. Sure, I have my moments but a handful of paracetamol /co-codamol seems to do it for me. One thing for sure though, the recovery was lengthier and far more difficult than I ever imagined. To this day I still have to be extremely disciplined and work hard to maintain my 'new' back - exercising daily and forcing myself to rest when things are not so great is crucial.

Overall, Dynesys has been a resounding success for me. I feel more like the old me - 46 instead of 96! The reduction in pain obviously plays a massive part but I hadn't realised 'til a few months ago how the cocktail of drugs had affected me. How 'un-me' I've been! Not nasty, horrible or anything, just "The Kelster" but 'dampened down', if that makes sense.

Now... gggRRR, there's a tiger in my tank (again), and I've got a million and one things going on in my head!! I've just had to accept that I will never downhill ski again (my passion), but look forward to cross-country, snow-shoeing and bedding down at the Ice Hotel in Quebec! As for heels girlies, well they don't agree with me any more. I salivate over Manola, Lamboutin & Choo but the reality is I'm wearing Fitflops, MBTs, New Balance, Ecco & Clarks!!! None of which do anything for "me ol' street cred" LOL xxx