I’ve started a video group on Viddler. If you have webcam and microphone, please come on over and share your experiences. Viddler is free, it actually works and it’s a great way to share info and to put a face with a name.
Please come join us at darmorrow | http://www.viddler.com/groups/backsurgery
Well, it looks like the surgery is definitely going ahead. My Mom and Dad’s anniversary (and my niece’s) has taken on new meaning. Video posted on Viddler
Trying to make all the arrangements. Dr. Gul will be doing the surgery. They have one brand new neurosurgical OR at Lion’s Gate Hospital and I’m hoping I get slated there. Apparently there’s a nice big screen to show the MRI and whatever else is going on.
Dr. Gul wants me to see the anesthesiologist again because this surgery is going to be longer. Bill’s worried, I’m worried, my sisters are worried…be glad when this is done.
I found out that it’s about $22/hr for someone to come in and do stuff around the house. Emptying the dishwasher, making meals, changing the bed, light housekeeping, that sort of thing. 2 hours is their minimum and I figure that’s all I’ll need them for. And maybe just a couple of weeks…
Thelma is going to come down for the surgery. She wanted to know if she should come the day after the surgery so I could have one more day of “care” from her. I kind of think that she should decide if SHE wants to be here then. I’ll be lights out. Bill would certainly appreciate it but it’s a bit crazy.
I was looking at flights and it’s about $500 with taxes. If she stayed one extra day, the fair was $80 plus taxes cheaper but she couldn’t manage it. She does have the office and her hubby. No kids.
I guess should be appreciate that she’s coming. It is the third time… I don’t know why I don’t feel more grateful…something’s bugging me.
Joan is coming out from Holland, too. I think that she should come around Bill’s birthday. It’s going to be different when she’s here. She doesn’t know how to get anywhere. I’m totally happy that she’s coming but I need to be a little stronger than right after the surgery.
She was there in Holland after I had a 7 hour operation. That was too weird. The operation. I lost one whole day…woke up at what I thought was right after the surgery and it was one day later. I was still right out of it. And everyone was speaking Dutch – which I don’t speak-so that helped me feel like I was in outer space. Don’t get me wrong- the nurses and all the patients could speak English but of course they spoke their native tongue when they thought I wasn’t part of the conversation.
Anyway, Hannah aka Joan, did a great job of taking care of me. And it was almost 18 months. I was sick, sick, sick and that translates into crouchy, unreasonable and just plain rude. 
OK- that’s enough for today. Bill just called and he’s on his way home. Stopping at the liquor store to pick up his booze for his 3 day getaway. I’ll be curious to see if he needs a crane to lift it up. Just kidding.
More later.
Dar
Results of the CT Scan, the visit to the hematologist and results from the Internal Medicine specialist.
Click here if the video does not autostart.
A discussion about the results of not doing forward flexion in my matwork or my pilates and why would I choose to eliminate those. Osteoporosis is a silent disease until you have a vertebral fracture and then it hurts. And how much it hurts depends on other conditons of your spine.
Forward flexion is eliminated in the case of osteoporosis. Is evidence based conclusions the answer if you do not take into account patient history and other factors. How did doctors manage all those years ago without all the gadgets? OKay, maybe not as well as we do but is it possible that we rely too much on technology and elimate the patient from the picture.
Open the back of the shoulders. Click here if the video doesn’t play automatically.
Shoulder Stretch Series – Stretch number 1. Posture clasp. Opens the front of the shoulders.
Click here is Video doesn’t play automatically. Video recorded by user’s WebCam on Sat Mar 15 08:09:31 MST 2008
CT Colonoscopy Preparation #2
Do not use this preparation if you have had a recent heart attack, kidney failure, severe diarrhea or bowel obstruction. If in doubt, consult your Physician.
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Requirements: From Surgeon or hospital: 1 Bottle of Ez EM Readi Cat 2.1% w/v
1 bottle of Telebrix (60mg)
From the Drugstore: 2 bottles of Citro Mag (magneusium citrate), 1- 10mg Ducolax suppository
Day before Exam
NO Solid Foods
Clear fluids that are not red in colour
Coffee and tea okay without milk – no dairy
At 3PM- one bottle of citro mag. Stick close to the bathroom. Drink at least 4 large glasses of fluids
At 6PM- Drink 250mL Readi Cat. Drink remaining bottle of citro-mag. Drink at least 4 large glasses of fluids throught the evening.
At 9PM- Mix the Telebrix with fluids and drink it. You may continue to drink clear fluids until midnight.
The day of the exam
NO fluids or food until after the exam.
2 hours before the exam insert the Ducolax suppository. Retain at least 15 minutes.
After the exam resume normal diet and drink extra fluids.
for Video recorded by user’s WebCam on Thu Mar 13 08:08:19 MST 2008
Sending MRIs to other countries for more feedback.
Removing the ligamentum flavum.
Video recorded by user’s WebCam on Tue Mar 04 17:34:32 MST 2008
