Hi Jennifer,
We will know the sex of the baby in a few weeks and then....I"M ON IT! I have a vintage baby bassinet that I inherited recently from another family member. It is from around 1970 and it's in perfect condition. I'm going to ask them if they would like it. And I will not only make the baby quilt but decorate the bassinet with the same fabric. The first thing it needs is a good coat of paint. Then the little mattress, sheets, etc. They can wheel the b aby around in their small home for a few months. It's a big one too but you can only use it till the baby can't sit up anymore. It's just so adorable, I can't wait!
I know the recovery is going to be a challenge and I may face the fact that my neck may not move like normal.
I'm just praying it works for me and there won't be anymore surgery needed. The other challenge is my L5-S1. He told me it's a mess and it's going to be very delicate to fix it. The doctor said he can fix it but there is more potential for bleeding in that area. So many factors involved here but he kept telling me, he can fix it. He said it's so unsual and thinks it may even be a birth defect. I've never been told that before. My prior lumbar work stopped at the L5-S1 and I developed segmented disc disease. Before I met my new Neurosurgeon, I visited with the doctor that did the XLIF L4-L5 with laminectomy L3-L4, L4-L5 Lumbar Stenosis , fusion 4-5, posterior decompression Lumbar 3-4 Translateral interbodies . Fusion 4-5. He told me that they were going to have to make an anterior incision and take out the old rod and put in a whole new rod that would support the S-1. My current doctor said that is not necessary. I can't even imagine that kind of surgery and the recovery would be horrible. Anyway, he's not addressing this issue right now because we need to get past the neck fusion surgery.
Basically, I'm a mess and I need to be put back together again. It's going to be months of recovery to get both problems solved. I'm in really bad pain every day from the S-1 nerves. I've been in pain for almost 2 years and it wears on you after awhile. I'm so relieved that I've got a great doctor who can get me through this. But even great doctors can't fix everything.
You're right about looking down, it would pull the muscles that support the head. I'm going to be wearing a cervical collar for a while and not doing very much except for PT. I'm even thinking I may go to a rehab after? I wonder how that works? Would Medicare pay for it? Of course my husband and kids will help me out. But do I really want to depend on them to get me through this in the beginning?
I really appreciate your input Jennifer , you bring up some great points. I am eating healthier, getting more rest,
and lowering stress levels by trying not to make a big deal over the small stuff. This is time for me to do the best I can so that when I go into the opeperating room I'm feeling ready for what comes next.
Jan