Re: Re: New, cooking question

[Guest guest]

So, wow, SB, you don't cook!

You must have some great family supports !

If I were to rely on my 9yo for cooking, we'd have some interesting meals!

Here is her menu plan: eggs and cheese for breakfast, mac and cheese for lunch, spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.

What do you think?

How about the rest of you...

how do you handle cooking and grocery shopping post revision surgery?

If you respond to this question, it would be helpful to know how far post revision you are, and what your doc recommended (what restrictions for how long) post surgery in terms of bending, twisting, lifting and ....cooking.

Just trying to get a range of realistic expectations.

Thanks so much.

Carol

"No storm can shake my inmost calm, when to that Rock I'm clinging........ "

-----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of SBSent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:21 PM Subject: [ ] Re: New, walking improvements after flatback?

I don't cook. I did make some chocolate frog lollipops to take to a party in January and my family was amazed to see me standing in the kitchen all day!> >> > Wow! SB,> > Thanks for taking the time to send me this detailed and informative > reply.> > It really is encouraging and also informative to see that you > worked so hard> > at walking, with so much success. > > You said you had flatback immediately after your first surgery. > Have you> > felt any symptoms of flatback trying to creep in at all following > your> > revision? > > How long ago was that revision done, and can I ask how old you > are? I was> > forty something (but felt like 30something going in. Post surgery > I felt> > like I went overnight from feeling in 30's to feeling in 80's, and > the> > feeling remains. > > I'm curious that you are walking so well and such long distances, > but you> > say you can't twist or bend yet. Is this because you are advised > not to> > try..... just to work on walking. Or is it because it is > impossible to do?> > Following my scoliosis surgery I was pretty much told not to do any > heavy> > lifting at first, but after that, he said I could do anything I > could> > manage.... i.e. if I could bend over to pick things up I could do > it if it> > was not impossible or too painful. I wonder if the things I did > made it> > worse. I found I could do a lot of gardening as long as I stayed > down, just> > crawling around. To this day I am great at washing the floor on my > hands> > and knees... it is just the getting back up that is so tough, and > it seems> > that the longer I sit or crouch, the harder is is to get > straightened up> > afterwards. > > Did Dr. Bridwell advise you to do all the walking, but not to twist > or bend?> > Also, how is cooking..... I found that to be the worst.... just > that little> > bit of reaching forward seems so impossible... it throws me all off > balance.> > I used to love cooking, now it is a sacrifice to cook each meal. I > lean,> > and literally hold myself up with my elbows when I was dishes. If > I could> > cook with my arms behind my back, I'd be able to balance!> > > > Carol > > > > > > > >>

[Guest guest]

Carol, I was actually surprised how much I could do post-revision.

When I had been home for one week I hosted a couple of friends for

dinner, and couldn't resist doing the linen and china thing! I had

already made a big batch of pesto with basil from my garden that a teen

friend helped me harvest. But I did the rest of the cooking that

evening, and washed the dishes by hand. I was a bit sorry I had to

launder the tablecloth (Hubby was helping with laundry, but I didn't

want a stain to set, and didn't think I'd push it with him), but I

managed ok, reaching it out of the dryer with my grabber.

Indeed, I used grabbers for most everything, including loading and

unloading the dishwasher. I found a way to do that without bending,

twisting, or lifting more than 5 lbs., and my doctor said it was fine.

And a lightweight rechargeable sweeper kept the carpets and floors tidy

between bi-weekly visits from a cleaning lady.

This isn't to say I was cooking every meal. We relied on a lot of

frozen dinners. But when I wasn't in bed I found I was more

comfortable standing, so why not do a few simple chores, within my

restrictions? I even baked a little, with Hubby's help getting stuff

in and out of the oven.

But since my one-year check-up I'm able to handle pretty much any

chore, and have begun putting things back into the low cabinets.

Sharon

c-e-cole@... wrote:

So,

wow, SB, you don't cook!

You

must have some great family supports !

If I

were to rely on my 9yo for cooking, we'd have some interesting meals!

Here

is her menu plan: eggs and cheese for breakfast, mac and cheese for

lunch, spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.

What

do you think?

How

about the rest of you...

how

do you handle cooking and grocery shopping post revision surgery?

If

you respond to this question, it would be helpful to know how far post

revision you are, and what your doc recommended (what restrictions for

how long) post surgery in terms of bending, twisting, lifting and

.....cooking.

Just

trying to get a range of realistic expectations.

Thanks

so much.

Carol

"No storm can shake my inmost calm, when

to that Rock I'm clinging........ "

[ ] Re: New, walking improvements

after flatback?

I don't cook. I did make some chocolate frog lollipops to take

to a

party in January and my family was amazed to see me standing in the

kitchen all day!

> >

> > Wow! SB,

> > Thanks for taking the time to send me this detailed and

informative

> reply.

> > It really is encouraging and also informative to see that you

> worked so hard

> > at walking, with so much success.

> > You said you had flatback immediately after your first

surgery.

> Have you

> > felt any symptoms of flatback trying to creep in at all

following

> your

> > revision?

> > How long ago was that revision done, and can I ask how old

you

> are? I was

> > forty something (but felt like 30something going in. Post

surgery

> I felt

> > like I went overnight from feeling in 30's to feeling in

80's,

and

> the

> > feeling remains.

> > I'm curious that you are walking so well and such long

distances,

> but you

> > say you can't twist or bend yet. Is this because you are

advised

> not to

> > try..... just to work on walking. Or is it because it is

> impossible to do?

> > Following my scoliosis surgery I was pretty much told not to

do

any

> heavy

> > lifting at first, but after that, he said I could do anything

I

> could

> > manage.... i.e. if I could bend over to pick things up I

could do

> it if it

> > was not impossible or too painful. I wonder if the things I

did

> made it

> > worse. I found I could do a lot of gardening as long as I

stayed

> down, just

> > crawling around. To this day I am great at washing the floor

on

my

> hands

> > and knees... it is just the getting back up that is so tough,

and

> it seems

> > that the longer I sit or crouch, the harder is is to get

> straightened up

> > afterwards.

> > Did Dr. Bridwell advise you to do all the walking, but not to

twist

> or bend?

> > Also, how is cooking..... I found that to be the worst....

just

> that little

> > bit of reaching forward seems so impossible... it throws

me all

off

> balance.

> > I used to love cooking, now it is a sacrifice to cook each

meal.

I

> lean,

> > and literally hold myself up with my elbows when I was

dishes. If

> I could

> > cook with my arms behind my back, I'd be able to balance!

> >

> > Carol

> >

> >

> >

> >

>