The Light at the End of the Tunnel...

I can see it...finally...it might be only a flicker at this point, but there is a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. I was initially undecided on the title for this blog posting and was toying with "When it rains, it pours", but I opted for a more positive theme. I realize an update to the blogsite is long overdue, so I'll do my best to recap the events of the past two weeks.

Mike's mom was kind enough to take me to my neurosurgeon appointment on Monday, June 15th. The intent of the visit was to discuss the results of the epidural steroid injection (i.e. little pain relief and minimal improvement) and to determine next steps. As had been the case with the past 3.5 weeks of appointments with this neurosurgeon, he was extremely indecisive. So, the following day, I had an appointment with a different neurosurgeon to seek a second opinion. His approach was as different as night-and-day. He took the time to thoroughly examine me and to review the results of the MRI by specifically pointing out the problem area. His message was absolutely clear - I needed surgery. He expressed his concern with the increased weakness, numbness and pain in my left foot and the risk of permanent nerve damage which could potentially lead to a 'drop foot'. Both Mike and I felt good about this doctor and my gut told me that a change was in order. He checked his schedule and as a result of a recent cancellation, he had an open operating room available for me the very next morning. For those who know me well, this was great news as I had limited time to worry, stress and develop a massive cold sore. The morning of surgery was a bit chaotic because there was no time for a pre-operative check-up the day before, so I'm pretty sure at least 4 nurses and 2 doctors listened to my heart and lungs to confirm they were healthy and clear. One of the six of them were supposed to draw blood for lab testing, but each one of them assumed the other completed that task and after the drama of a University of Nebraska nurse in her first month of schooling trying to kill me as she attempted her first IV insertion, I was the last person in the room who was going to remind them of the forgotten blood draw. Thank goodness Mike was there to provide some much needed comic relief. Mike's mom rounded out my support system for the day. I was taken into surgery at 9:30 and woke up in recovery at 11:25. After a dose of morphine to make me comfortable, I got back to my regular room around noon. After we accomplished drinking a glass of water, a trip to the bathroom and a few steps down the hallway (without the walker, mind you), I was cleared for release around 3:00. My at-home nurses (Mike and his mom) took great care of me the next few days. We all become experts at the 'log roll' to get me on and off the couch for bathroom breaks. As wonderful as it is to have pain relief in the hip/butt, the left foot continues to cause me issues with numbness, pressure and pain. The doctor reassures me this is to be expected. Although the "pinch" was removed, there is still swelling in that area (as a result of surgery) and the nerve itself will take some time to heal. Progress is slow, but sure. However, it should be noted that on Sunday afternoon, I put my contacts in, applied a little make-up and wore something other than sweatpants and a t-shirt for the first time in more than a month! My parents arrived on Sunday (to help us out for a few days) and we had a wonderful evening celebrating Father's Day with my parents, Mike's parents and the Fosters.

I should better explain my discarded title of "When it rains, it pours".
Lefler Dilemma #2:
The week before my surgery, Mike saw his doctor for an abscess on his cheek that had been bothering him for a few weeks. The doctor agreed it was terribly infected and needed to be immediately lansed. So, Mike experienced a small incision of his own and had the wound packed with medicated gause for 4 continuous days (even had to go to the lab on Saturday and Sunday). Three days after that, he was tasked with having to do the gause packing on his own. Thankfully, it is healing very well (and quickly) and the scar should be minimal. (My incision scar beats his, but at least mine is only noticable during bikini season...oh, that's right...I don't wear a bikini...so who's kidding who...mine ain't so bad.)
Lefler Dilemma #3:
Sunday morning, Mike woke up and came to check on me sleeping on the couch. We both heard a burst of water and assumed it had to be coming from the washing machine or dishwasher. To our dismay, it was, unfortunately, coming from the basement. Sometime during the night, the PVC piping attached to our sump pump busted - sending gallons of groundwater flooding into our storage and family rooms (we got a little over an inch of rain overnight). I was, of course, no help with the task of removing things from the affected area. When Mike rearranged several totes and furniture items, I quickly hit the phone to dispatch ServiceMaster to the rescue. Thankfully, they arrived within a few hours. They ripped up the carpet pad, but were confident the carpeting could be salvaged with a few days of drying. Good news is the last fan was removed today and the carpet should be re-layed in the next week or so. Who was the wise guy who picked the high-deductible homeowner's insurance policy? I guess if we're going to meet medical deductibles this year, we might as well go for the double play and meet the homeowner's deductible as well!

I can't close without expressing heartfelt gratitude to our parents for the help and support through the past few weeks. Also, I have simply been touched beyond words with all of the cards, flowers, food, gifts, emails and calls of concern. I will tell you this...pain pills are great, but the greatest source of healing is all of the well wishes I have received. They truly keep me going each day - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Cruise Photos

Just wanted to share with you some of our favorite photos from our cruise to the Bahamas and Key West. Hope you enjoy!

Our cruise ship...Enchantment of the Seas


Mike and Lisa at Atlantis in the Bahamas


The centrum area of our ship


Key West


Sunset from the ship

Remember to pause and smell the flowers

Over the last month, I've learned a valuable lesson. Never take for granted the little things in life...things like a good night's sleep, walking, good health, independence.

My pain started the evening of May 8th. I finished a Tae Bo aerobic workout (the DVD has since been destroyed) and about an hour later, felt the pain begin in my hip/butt. Over the course of the next two days the pain increased considerably and led me to see the my regular doctor on May 11th. Without any testing, she shrugged off my pain as a injured hip muscle (piriformis syndrome). She gave me a pain pill prescription and told me to stretch a lot. The next 10 days were slow going, but I started to improve and was progressively able to walk more, with less pain. So, we decided the Memorial Day weekend Royal Caribbean cruise/vacation was something I could handle - rest and relaxation - what could be better healing, right?

The first day of vacation was spent in Fort Lauderdale and we had a great time hanging out at the beach - very relaxing. The second day of vacation, we boarded the cruise ship and enjoyed touring all that it had to offer. I was starting to hurt again, but we took lots of breaks to sit down and let me rest. The first full day of the cruise was a stop in Nassau, Bahamas. We had planned on a beach day excursion at the Atlantis Hotel. It was a fun day, but much more walking that we had anticipated. By the time we returned to the cruise ship, I was in trouble. We made it to the Captain's Dinner and show that night, but by the next morning, I was shaking in pain. I spent the next two days of the cruise completely bedridden, aside from 4 trips to the medical facility for anti-flammatory injections (6 total). It was a bit unsettling when the only available medical personnel was a 60 year-old Polish doctor dressed in a Captain's suit (not sure if he was steering the ship in his free time or what?) Fortunately, getting home was an interesting, yet surprisingly pleasant, experience. I had a wheelchair ride off the ship, which budged us through long lines and sped us through customs. After a short taxi ride to the airport, American Airlines was able to put us on a stand-by flight that ultimately got us back to Omaha five hours earlier than scheduled. They had wheelchairs available to get me through security and the second I stepped off the plane for the layover in Dallas and again when we arrived in Omaha. Just when I thought we were on the home stretch, I attempted to get into the Acadia in the Omaha airport parking garage and felt a burning sensation run down my leg, deep into my foot, much like I would imagine it might feel like if I had just been struck by lighting. Since then, not only have I had pain in my butt (literally), but it runs all the way down my leg into my foot.

Immediately the next morning, we took a trip to Urgent Care and they gave me two more shots to help with the pain (8 is the new total, if anyone is counting with me). They recommended an immediate MRI, which I had done that same day. The results reflected two bulging discs in my low back (L4 and L5). Next step was to consult with a neurosurgeon who felt that we could avoid surgery by treating me with steroids in an effort to decrease the inflammation. I had an injection of steroid into my arm and then took a regimen of oral steroids the first weekend in June. A week later, with little improvement, we tried another round of the oral steroid. Still no improvement. Yesterday, I went to the neurosurgeon again and he was concerned to see that my reflexes and strength in the left leg had actually gotten worse, instead of better. He recommended an epidural steroid injection to get some novicane and cortisone directly into the area where the nerves are inflammed. I hate needles, but was willing to do anything to make this wall of pain subside. The procedure really wasn't too bad. My wonderful husband agreed to come in the room with me (he had to put on the lovely radiation vest due to the x-ray equipment used to help guide the needle). I didn't feel immediate relief as I had hoped, but am able to report that the hip/butt pain is definitely better today. The foot is another story, but we've got to start with progress somewhere. If anyone was curious of the pricetag of an epidural steroid injection, it is a mere $1,200 - not your everyday shot!

In a nutshell, I have not been able to walk since May 23rd. I haven't seen the kitchen since then either. I can't do anything for myself. I can't sleep. I can't shower (thank goodness for baths). I'm not hungry. I haven't worn my contacts or make-up for over 2 weeks. I haven't slept in my own bed for 3 weeks. I have cried nearly every day for the past 2 weeks. I haven't been outside the house for 2 weeks aside from 5 doctor appointments. If it wasn't for the walker (borrowed from family), I wouldn't be able to get anywhere. The walker at least enables me to go from the couch to the bathroom and back to the couch. I wouldn't wish this kind of pain on anyone.

The bright spots...
My husband has accompanied me to every doctor's appointment and has rearranged lots of meetings to make sure I am getting the treatment that I need. He comes home every noon to make me lunch and helps me up and down the stairs with my clunky walker. He gets up in the middle of the night when I can't sleep and helps to re-adjust pillows to try to make it stop hurting.
My parents came this past weekend and cleaned bathrooms, scrubbed and vacuumed floors, dusted, did a ton of laundry, brought us some delicious meals and gave Mike a 2-day break from having to wait on me.
Mike's mom is coming to help me tomorrow while Mike is in Kansas City and she will be coming again on Saturday when he is in Omaha.
Marica/Casey, Ann and Cindy have been great about calling to check in on me - sure means a lot.

Thank goodness we have great family and friends to lean on! It's truly kept the sanity in check at this house! Keep the prayers coming. I want to be able to walk by next week - even if it's just to the mailbox and back.

I'll post some cruise pictures tomorrow. Mike captured some great shots!