Re: More about me, and another lite question or two

July 25, 2006

Kathy, me again - Ruth. I have two dogs and basically took care of

them myself while I recovered. It was very difficult but I did it.

I used the " Gopher " thing I talked about to pick up the bowls. I

also put the bowls up on a stool so they were easier to get. I put

the dog food in small containers and kept them on the counter. To

put the water bowl on the floor I had to squat which was VERY

difficult because you can't bend your back at all and it is difficult

to get back up. That's why having the bowls " up " helped. My little

one spent a lot of time on my bed or the couch. Laying on your back

will be very difficult and even painful so expect to sleep on your

side. Make sure if you have your battery put in your buttocks that

it is NOT put on your " good " side. It's painful to sleep on it for

quite awhile. I was able to drive in 2 weeks. I had to. I don't

have a lot of help from others either. The doctor said it was

okay,so I did, but you have to be VERY careful, again, because you

can't turn or twist to look behind or to the side of you. So I only

did what I absolutley had to do.

Bra was no problem but pants were. I had to wear sweat pants and

shorts that were not tight because of the swelling and pain. That is

down now and I can wear just about anything now. It's been almost 4

weeks. It still hurts but it's much better.

You are absolutely right about being pro-active. I feel that an

ignorant patient is a danger to themselves. I learn as much as

possible (usually) about what is being done to me or what illness I

have and how to take care of it and stay up to date. God is also a

big part of my life. More spiritually than religously.

Take care of yourself and I'm praying for you,

Ruth

>

> Thanks to those who have helped me with my questions regarding

upcoming SCS

> surgery. I just wanted to tell you a little more about myself and

then ask

> another question.

>

> I am 43 and was diagnosed with a congenital anomaly of the

reproductive

> system when I was age 17. Then at age 28 I was diagnosed with mixed

connective

> tissue disease (for me that consists of Sjogren's Syndrome, with

bits of Lupus,

> Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Scleroderma). At age 30 I had a lumbar

discectomy at

> L5/S1 that required 3 months of physical therapy afterwards to be

able to walk

> unassisted. As I mentioned in my previous note, I have a great deal

of scar

> tissue from that surgery-which has tethered my spinal cord and

invaded the nerve

> root. I have symptoms in the low back, the legs, and perhaps the

bladder (not

> sure if it is connected or not). I have muscle cramps in my legs

and feet,

> and neuropathy. And more.

>

> But what I learned a LONG time ago is that an educated, proactive

patient is

> a stronger patient who feels more in control. And a patient with a

positive

> outlook and a faith-filled life is a patient who has HOPE. So, any

questions I

> have are not motivated by fear or dread, but just a way to educate

me so I am a

> more informed patient.

>

> So, here is my little ol' question for today. Women-were you able

to wear a

> bra during the trial stage of the SCS? Or what did you do? And

during the 6-8

> week recovery period from the implantation surgery-was there a part

of that

> time that you couldn't wear a bra?

>

> Since it's summer, I can't really layer clothing to disguise going

braless,

> so I was just trying to figure out what to do since I'm modest when

I'm out and

> about. I have several options in mind, but don't want to go spend

money

> unless I have to.

>

> Oh-one more question. I have a very bouncy, energetic 8 month old

Boston

> Terrier. How did you all do after surgery if you had pets? This is

my 10th surgery

> in life, but I've never had a dog who was so hyper and a mama's

girl like

> this darling one. I can't afford to hire someone to stay with me

all the time,

> and my husband has to work sometime (he is a music pastor and also

does whatever

> else the church needs, so he puts in between 60-70 hours a week at

church).

> My family will not be coming to help me during recovery-they live

too far away,

> and frankly, they do not offer a lot of support, but my church

family does.

>

> Your input is greatly appreciated!

> Kathy W. in KY

>

July 26, 2006

Hi Kathy, Ill try and answer your questions. If I leave anything out, its not on

purpose. First let me say that I dont know how youve dealt with the pain for so

long. Its only been 8 for me and if this stim. doesnt work I honestly dont know

what I will do. Ok, for your questions. As for wearing a bra during the

trial, I had a bit of trouble getting my arms to stretch enough for it to really

be comfy. My trial leads became misplaced the first day so it didnt really

matter. Now after my implant surgery I didnt even bother to mess with my bra.

That said I had my surgery in Feb. and didnt leave my home for 2 weeks. My

advise is not to push it, if you feel tugging, pulling, or pain forget the

stupid bra. Its not worth having to have another surgery to fix the leads. my

suggestion is to find a good sports bra try it out to see if its a keeper and

wear it all the time. Or have your husband put it on and take it off for you. As

for the hyper boston, I have no clue. My

grandmother has had bostons over the years

[willisway@...] wrote:

Thanks to those who have helped me with my questions regarding upcoming SCS

surgery. I just wanted to tell you a little more about myself and then ask

another question.

I am 43 and was diagnosed with a congenital anomaly of the reproductive

system when I was age 17. Then at age 28 I was diagnosed with mixed connective

tissue disease (for me that consists of Sjogren's Syndrome, with bits of Lupus,

Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Scleroderma). At age 30 I had a lumbar discectomy at

L5/S1 that required 3 months of physical therapy afterwards to be able to walk

unassisted. As I mentioned in my previous note, I have a great deal of scar

tissue from that surgery-which has tethered my spinal cord and invaded the nerve

root. I have symptoms in the low back, the legs, and perhaps the bladder (not

sure if it is connected or not). I have muscle cramps in my legs and feet,

and neuropathy. And more.

But what I learned a LONG time ago is that an educated, proactive patient is

a stronger patient who feels more in control. And a patient with a positive

outlook and a faith-filled life is a patient who has HOPE. So, any questions I

have are not motivated by fear or dread, but just a way to educate me so I am a

more informed patient.

So, here is my little ol' question for today. Women-were you able to wear a

bra during the trial stage of the SCS? Or what did you do? And during the 6-8

week recovery period from the implantation surgery-was there a part of that

time that you couldn't wear a bra?

Since it's summer, I can't really layer clothing to disguise going braless,

so I was just trying to figure out what to do since I'm modest when I'm out and

about. I have several options in mind, but don't want to go spend money

unless I have to.

Oh-one more question. I have a very bouncy, energetic 8 month old Boston

Terrier. How did you all do after surgery if you had pets? This is my 10th

surgery

in life, but I've never had a dog who was so hyper and a mama's girl like

this darling one. I can't afford to hire someone to stay with me all the time,

and my husband has to work sometime (he is a music pastor and also does whatever

else the church needs, so he puts in between 60-70 hours a week at church).

My family will not be coming to help me during recovery-they live too far away,

and frankly, they do not offer a lot of support, but my church family does.

Your input is greatly appreciated!

Kathy W. in KY

July 26, 2006

Kathy, my cell phone cut me off, as I was saying about the dog. My grandmother

has one now that is a huge pain in the back side!! I would love to see a

picture. I hope this helps. Keep your head up, JC