alligatorob
Respected Member
Painkillers must be taking effect. I can see I missed ~200 calories of a half of a cheese sandwich on homemade bread. Things are getting hard to remember. Better get to bed while I still know where it is...
Alligatorob's Diary
- Thread starter alligatorob
- Start date
Careful of your head posture (especially while typing/reading on your phone) and don't try any feats of strength but other than that I don't see being more active than the doctor expected you to be able to endangering your grafts. (What a monstrous sentence but I'm sure you understand.) You're very likely fitter than the average patient getting this surgery. Glad everything went so well!
alligatorob
Respected Member
Thanks Llama, and I have been trying real hard to maintain posture since you first recommended it. I think this may give my posture a bit of a reset, probably for the good.
I know my neck went in pretty strong. For the past 5 or 6 months I have been doing neck weight lifting on an extension machine. 3 sets, 4 positions, 3 days a week. My neck got a lot stronger, it may have been some of the reason my neck pain got a lot better, but no help with the pinched nerves. I am sure the other PT exercises helped too. I am told the machine is rare, my gym has one because the owner is a chiropractor with a bad neck, and I think he and I are its only user. I assume it will be a while before I can safely go back to it.
So wonderful the surgery went so well, and I agree, what a serendipity that you had just the workout machine to strengthen your neck muscles. Having taken care of my mom after her knee surgery, I really get how important it is to maintain strength and flexibility in all our muscles to avoid injury and to make it through surgery if needed. That's so weird they gave you that shot in your eye just before a big surgery. As if you didn't already have enough stress! Glad both procedures went so well!!
So glad to hear the surgery went so well and that you've come out of it a lot better off than expected. So inspiring to keep up with exercising for good out outcomes like that!
LOL that made me laugh. I've never heard of a hospital where you can't even get a cup of coffee! I'm glad a nurse took pity on you!
alligatorob
Respected Member
In the late 60s my family moved to Utah, I was 16 and it was real culture shock. I'd never heard of a Mormon, or seen snow...
My mother taught Jr High English at that time coffee was not allowed on school property. She was an avid coffee drinker, and not a good rule follower. She would hide a thermos in her purse and lock herself into a back room to drink coffee undetected. Things have gotten better since then.
My parents only lived in Utah for 2 years, but I stayed on a bit to go to school. Been in and out ever since.
Wet macular degeneration is not something to play around with if you want to keep your eyesight. I'm going to guess a lot of people simply wouldn't come back if they got a couple of weeks to think about things (due to surgery/recovery) after being told they need injections into their eyeballs so it makes sense to do the first one as soon as possible. Like Rob said the horror factor of eye shots went down after actually getting one so now he's more likely to keep coming back for them.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Absolutely, once you know you need one the quicker the better. Dr asked if I wanted time to think about it, or even a countdown to the poke, I just said no do it right now. Glad I did, and though I am not looking forward to it I will be less apprehensive the next time, just have more time to think about it. I think I am already seeing a little better, the wet is starting to go away, hopefully.
Cate
Long term member
What a week for you, Rob! Glad the op went so well. I think I had better concentrate more on my neck. It’s been really hurting lately. Yow for eye injections 
but good for you tackling any health problems that come your way. I think my bifocals look similar with the size of the reading part. Did it take you long to get used to them. I have to raise my head up in the air to read anything & really lower my head to see anything at my feet. They may end up in a drawer.
Hope you keep recovering quickly xo
but good for you tackling any health problems that come your way. I think my bifocals look similar with the size of the reading part. Did it take you long to get used to them. I have to raise my head up in the air to read anything & really lower my head to see anything at my feet. They may end up in a drawer. Hope you keep recovering quickly xo
alligatorob
Respected Member
Today was a day... my eating wasn't great but not too many calories in the end. Its been a real low energy day, slept much of it. I think I am still feeling the effects of the general amnesia. Pain is less, but stiffness has increased, probably just swelling. I did not take any painkillers today except for Advil, but am thinking of a muscle relaxer tonight to make sure I sleep. I was planning to try to get to the gym tomorrow morning and do the only thing the doctor allows, easy riding on a recumbent bike or treadmill walking... But right now I am not sure I'll be up to it, may wait another day.
Thanks, it has been an interesting week, not one I hope to repeat anytime soon...What a week for you, Rob! Glad the op went so well. I think I had better concentrate more on my neck. It’s been really hurting lately. Yow for eye injections
I've only needed prescription glasses for about 5 years, and have not gotten used to glasses at all. I want my old eyes back! I tried the variable focus lenses and really disliked them, never could find the right spot to focus on things and the peripheral vision was bad. Bifocals are only marginally better for me, but at least I can see distant things well with a wide field of view. Problem is that mid range, like this computer screen. I have gotten some mid-range glasses that I use for the computer, am wearing them now. So long as I remember to change glasses when I get up that works ok. In the car the dashboard is not easy to focus on, but I can read most if it, just a bit blurry... I think glasses are all a trade off.
Thanks Marsia, wet macular degeneration is bad, but if caught quickly is usually treatable. Only if you can stand getting stabbed in the eye though... Untreated it can lead to significant loss of vision, and will become untreatable. Dry macular degeneration, which I have had for several years, is usually much less problematic. Also more common.
Be careful of muscle relaxer pills after general anesteshia. I had cosmetic surgery this spring and 2nd night after surgery i took muscle relaxer instead of painkiller bc it did not hurt much and i wake up after hour grasping for air and could not breath. I forgot how to breath for few long seconds. Can you believe that? Anyway it take time until your body is cleaned from general anesthesia. Go slow and take good care of yourself
You normally do so much in a day, I wondered if you have trouble sitting still and resting? Is your area good for taking some nice long walks? I am surprised, I thought I was the only one who found glasses annoying and that each situation seems to need a different type of glasses. Darn!
Cate
Long term member
When I read this I thought you were joking. Please take a break, Rob xo
alligatorob
Respected Member
Not a great day, just read on line to expect pain to get worse for 3 to 5 days. Ending day 2 and that seems to be the case. Not tracking food or doing real well, but I think I am under 2,000 calories today, maybe less.
It will have to wait a while, I really wanted to go this morning but there was no way and its not getting better. The doctor was vague about driving, he said that if I wasn't taking pain meds and I felt good enough I probably could. Not there yet...
Thanks for the warning, my breathing is a bit labored, especially when I am sleeping. I'll avoid the muscle relaxers, but will probaby do a painkiller tonight...
I will, but right now it doesn't feel very relaxing. May do another mental run at the gym Saturday, but will only go if I am feeling better.
That is part of the problem, I really want to get out and do things... but can't. I did manage a short walk today, more of a meander really. Did not feel good enough for much more.
Thanks Emily, good to hear from you. I guess I am healthy except for that damned neck...
It can be amusing, and living here we learn to work around them, but it can be a bit of a shock to visitors. It's not as bad as it used to be, we even have legal Starbucks now.
I will, I guess the gym was more wishful thinking than a practical plan. However I remember after my knee surgery I was doing PT the first day and back at the gym for some things in a week. This surgery is not as major, but I think I am struggling more with the effects of the anesthetic this time. And the pain is increasing... that worried me at first but then I found it's normal...
Sorry to hear the pain has increased Rob, but yes i can imagine that would be reassuring to hear that is totally normal and to be expected. I hope you are feeling better soon.