I always used to laugh about the Hobbits' meal schedule -- first breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, luncheon, afternoon tea, supper, dinner, etc.  Now I seem to have become a hobbit, but cakes and ale are not on my diet.  I still can only eat about a 1/2 cup at a time, although if it's soup, I can eat about a cup.  So I have to eat often.  Sometimes I worry a bit that I might be grazing, but I do have periods between meals where I'm doing nothing but sipping water!  LOL  Ah, the life of a weight loss surgery patient. 

I am having trouble with my back again.  I did make good on that promise to try running and the results were not good.  I guess I injured my spine badly enough when I fell in May to have things be a bit precarious in my back.  The day after I ran, I could not pick up my left leg to put my pants on, or to drive my car (I have a standard transmission), so I went to see the neurosurgeon.  I had been told by a neurologist that, if the spinal injections I received didn't work, I could go in and have a piece of disc shaved off and the pressure on my nerve path would go away.  Well, when I talked to the neurosurgeon, she wanted to put rods and pins in my back.  She said I have scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, and the sciatica.  Now, at 53 years old, I know I'm no spring chicken, but I'm not exactly a geezer either.  So yesterday I went to physical therapy.  Oh my!  I have a very HOT physical therapist, but I do believe he's married.  Not that it would matter, because he's working on a fat old lady, but it does put a spring in a girl's step.  Actually, it is a bit embarrassing to have a good looking man working on your body.  I just kind of stare at the wall and try to pretend he isn't there while he's torturing me.  I'll continue on with this as long as I can stand it and pray that I avoid the pins and rods in my back.  I'm too young for that stuff.  The pain is manageable now.  Last week it threatened to send me into the upper stratosphere, but I think I'm gonna live now!

3 Responses to "Linda the Hobbit"

• I'm sorry you have these pains and problems with your back but it is no small reward to have a handsome PT. Man mine was a Barbie. She seemed like she would blow away. Wanna trade?

  Building A Cocoon commented on 10/24/07 10:45 am

• I had back surgery in July (on Friday the 13th), and I wish I had done it 3 years ago.
  I didn't have as many problems as they are saying you have. I had a bulging disc that was hitting the sciatic nerve. (Sciatica) Doc went in and trimmed that disc, leaving the rest. No pins, rods or anything else. It has definately made an improvement. The only concern is more of it bulging back out, causing the same problem. Hopefully getting a couple hundred pounds off my frame will help lessen that possability a lot.
  
  I think the Scoliosis is what my mom had in her upper back. That is where you get a build up of calcium? deposits or something that start closing off the inside spine tunnel. If that is the same thing, please be careful. If you start having numbness or lack of strength in extremities, get it checked again. If it closes up to much it can be very dangerous and lead to paralysis...or worse.
  
  Be safe and take care of yourself....

  Wolfgore commented on 10/24/07 1:05 pm

• Linda, I'm sorry to ear about your back and will hold good thoughts that physical therapy will help to rid you of your pain. My mother-in-law has had 3 back surgeries, with the last one being 2 years ago. It helped her tremendously. If you must go that route, I am hopeful that it will be a successful operation!

  The Contessa commented on 11/17/07 2:45 pm