Looks like I might make it after-all?

17-NOV-2006:

I was hoping to write at least a few quick words over the last two days, but it sure as hell didn’t happen. Somehow, I turned around, and found out that today is Friday, and that I can probably leave the hospital anytime Saturday, Sunday, or even Monday.

I am not so sure that I can summarize and/or note anything over the last few days, but I am (obviously) going to try.

Tuesday (surgery day): Thankfully, I don’t really remember much from Tuesday, other than being in the surgery room, and being reassured to not be frightened, and then being given oxygen. Later, I do vaguely recall bits and pieces of Tuesday after that, but they all pretty much were ‘why the hell did I do this? I hurt so freakin’ much that I don’t think that I can move without severe pain’.

Wednesday: This was actually a very tough day for me. The hospital staff decided to cut me off of their pain medication, and told me (I am pretty sure) to start taking mine again. Of course, being in the pain (and drug haze) that I was in, this really didn’t register until later in the day, at which point, I was really crashing and burning – BIG TIME. Fortunately, Anita helped sort it all out, and once I started taking my meds again, I was much better off.

Thursday: Strangely enough, I guess I lost a day somewhere, because I thought today (Friday) was Thursday. I do recall at some point in time being brought my lumbar support belt, and also FINALLY being able to go to the bathroom on my own and take a shower (the shower was definitely today though). Every day I go for a walk (at least 3x per day), or try and do my exercises in the bed, I try to keep telling myself  that ‘slow and steady wins the race’, as sir Alastair is so fond to note

Friday (today): I have really gotten at least a little better every day since Tuesday. Hard to believe that the new scar on my stomach still doesn’t mean that I can’t (and shouldn’t) be out and about as much as I feel able. I am hoping that I feel well enough to leave the hospital tomorrow, as I have been given permission to do so, and see no real reason to stay any longer than necessary.

Some general notes so far:
–Knowing German is helpful, but not absolutely necessary. Most (if not all) of the doctors seems to speak English, and most of the nurses have at least a passing knowledge as well. Ute (sp?) seems to know English the best, but she keeps pushing me to speak German instead (when I felt really shitty, I didn’t have the energy to speak German)
–The nursing staff here is excellent, willing to help in any way shape or form possible. Basically, you just hit your nurse call button, and they talk to you over the intercom concering what you need might be, even if it is something simple like ‘please close the window’.
–Doctor Bertagnoli said that I was a very typical patient, so I hope that means that if I take it easy over the next couple of months, my recovery will be excellent. For the most part, my back pain is gone. My primary complaint right now is my incision pain, and how easily I get winded walking down 3 flights of stairs (good exercise though).
–Eckard Kummrow (Hotel Romerhof) is also extremely helpful, especially in terms of having my German prescriptions taken care of (and delivered) for us. Of course, he has a good relationship with Dr. Bertagnoli, so it is in his best interest to be as helpful as possible (his English is quite good as well)
–I found it interesting that there was a cervical patient here from the U.S. that had several cervical procedures done in the U.S. that hadn’t worked for him. To top it off, the gentleman is a Pain Doctor in Michigan! (so if he can’t deal with the pain, that is definitely an interesting thing to note)
–I have probably said this before, but Anita is definitely extremely helpful to have around. She definitely helped me personally figure a few things out, but more importantly, she helped reassure and guide my parents almost every step of the way..
–Overall, the first couple of days were hellish-ly bad, but ‘I got better’ (as in, ‘she turned me in into a newt’, ‘a newt?’ ‘well, I got better’

I guess time will tell how well I end up feeling after this procedure. I wonder if I will ever be able to ride again, but I also wonder if it is worth taking the risk or not  .