Another update - see #21 - I'm back in DE

[Freedom]

I'll be in the hospital for 3 - 5 days and perhaps some rehab after that, but that will be decided after the procedure. I'm saying no to that if at all possible - they can arrange some in home therapy until I can get out on my own!!!!!

Please re-think this bit, Ellie. Residential rehab is much more intensive and gives a better outcome for most surgeries. While some of it does depend on the facility, in general you get MORE PT, regular meals (which won't happen when you initially get home and aren't feeling 100%), have folks around you and all in all it is lots better. Most post-surgical rehab is at least 2 hours per day, 5 days per week, possible 6 days per week. One hour of PT and one hour of OT. After 12 plus years of caring for my Dad I've learned: if they offer residential Rehab TAKE IT. Just my 2 cents.

I agree, a novel is what you need to work on!

[pomtzu]

Please re-think this bit, Ellie. Residential rehab is much more intensive and gives a better outcome for most surgeries. While some of it does depend on the facility, in general you get MORE PT, regular meals (which won't happen when you initially get home and aren't feeling 100%), have folks around you and all in all it is lots better. Most post-surgical rehab is at least 2 hours per day, 5 days per week, possible 6 days per week. One hour of PT and one hour of OT. After 12 plus years of caring for my Dad I've learned: if they offer residential Rehab TAKE IT. Just my 2 cents.

I agree, a novel is what you need to work on!

Well, it's not a definite at this point anyway - doc was just tossing possibilities at me. I have been in rehab twice before - the first time was in 2006 after the cervical spine surgery and I was an in-patient for 2 weeks, and then again in 2008 after I fractured my hip and was in-patient for about 10 days. Of course it's more beneficial than just plain p.t., but it's not home. When I had the lumbar surgery in 2010 I didn't need it, so since this is not much more than a repair of that, that got "messed up", I'm hoping I won't need it again.

And no - no book on the horizon. It probably would be therapeutic and maybe I could finally bury all the memories of a nasty situation, but I'm trying to just let it die on the vine. And like I said - I doubt that most people would believe it anyway.

[Asiel]

Was just reading all your updates Pom and I could hardly believe the stuff you still have to go through with that back injury. But, all in all, I guess it's best to take care of everything before it gets worse. You sound just like me... hospitals are not in my "favourite places" to be. I've signed myself out quite a few times so they expect it of me if I do land back in. Nothing that they do, matter of fact they go overboard being nice but I just can't get used to hospitals, never will.
Of course with the big changes out here our hospital is not what anyone would call a hospital so I have to go to another city, my doctor doesn't want me near this one
Make everyone happy and start on that novel... or should I say "series"----- sounds like there's plenty of material there to do it.
I hope everything will get back to normal in a hurry now that you're back home . I was so glad to hear you were coming back where you really longed to be...

[emily_the_spoiled]

You might want to consider getting the stuff shipped up to you. That would save you a lot of driving and discomfort. For small or unusual stuff I have used:http://www.uship.com/

In the past I have had cats transported from NC to the DC region. It generally isn't that expense and they will deliver right to your door (or meet you someplace easy to get to).