What's wrong with you?

[mustang1]

I'm annoyed at myself coz I eat too much damn junk food out of self pity and whatever other excuse i can muster. I usually blame life pressure but others have it far worse than me and then I feel selfish for making up these excuses, but I still do, and I still eat the junk. I kind of yoyo between getting slim(mer) or putting on weight. ATM I'm doing the latter. Grrr.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I guess I've been obvious by my prolonged absence which has little to do with being in Australia and more to do with my body trying its hardest to kill me.
Last winter it was double pneumonia, 6 days on life support, another 6 days in ICU, 12 in total there, and 2 months in hospital.

I'd just about got back on my feet (March this year) and found out what life was for when I ended up having emergency surgery on my elbow of all things to save my life. It had gone septic and I was hours off being back in ICU. Another stay in hospital.

Then just over a month later, I woke up with my right arm partially paralysed and all the strength gone from both arms. It took 2 hands to hold 1/2 a plastic glass of water to be able to drink anything. Investigations followed and I was told I would be dead by the end of the year without surgery. C5-C6 & C6-C7 had collapsed and were not only badly compressing all and every nerve root that left at those levels on both sides, but also my spinal cord. It was compressed by "more than 50%". Surgery followed within 3 weeks also finding that C6 vertebra needed removing and reconstructing, so basically my head was taken off and put back on again 5mm higher than it was before surgery (3mm on one disk and 2mm on the other). Another (short) stay in ICU. That was June. There have been complications and I'm still in inpatient rehab. I've now officially lived in this hospital longer than our new home. I have to live with those complications sadly, but I do get to live.

I get out of hospital on Thursday.

I said enough was enough. I can just about walk with the crutches and have decided I'm going home. I have a lot of outpatient rehab to follow before I'm back on my feet again and the closest I will come to cycling for a while yet will be my recumbent exercise bike.

I can't complain - we've had a full life up until now, OK I'm only 45 years old but its been fit, active and we've taken all the opportunities that have come our way. Now my health is catching up with me.

Oh well - big sigh. At least I am getting to go home.

 

[roadrash]

bloody hell emma , I feel 100% healthy after reading that, I don't know how you keep up your outlook on life and stuff, I wish you all the luck in the world and hope things turn out as well as could possibly be, all things considered

 

[The Crofted Crest]

Struth, that's some serious issues there, SatNav. At least you sound positive. Hope all goes well from now on.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Oh well - big sigh. At least I am getting to go home.

Sorry to hear all that get well soon

 

[ianrauk]

big hugs @SatNavSaysStraightOn

 

[raleighnut]

I guess I've been obvious by my prolonged absence which has little to do with being in Australia and more to do with my body trying its hardest to kill me.
Last winter it was double pneumonia, 6 days on life support, another 6 days in ICU, 12 in total there, and 2 months in hospital.

I'd just about got back on my feet (March this year) and found out what life was for when I ended up having emergency surgery on my elbow of all things to save my life. It had gone septic and I was hours off being back in ICU. Another stay in hospital.

Then just over a month later, I woke up with my right arm partially paralysed and all the strength gone from both arms. It took 2 hands to hold 1/2 a plastic glass of water to be able to drink anything. Investigations followed and I was told I would be dead by the end of the year without surgery. C5-C6 & C6-C7 had collapsed and were not only badly compressing all and every nerve root that left at those levels on both sides, but also my spinal cord. It was compressed by "more than 50%". Surgery followed within 3 weeks also finding that C6 vertebra needed removing and reconstructing, so basically my head was taken off and put back on again 5mm higher than it was before surgery (3mm on one disk and 2mm on the other). Another (short) stay in ICU. That was June. There have been complications and I'm still in inpatient rehab. I've now officially lived in this hospital longer than our new home. I have to live with those complications sadly, but I do get to live.

I get out of hospital on Thursday.

I said enough was enough. I can just about walk with the crutches and have decided I'm going home. I have a lot of outpatient rehab to follow before I'm back on my feet again and the closest I will come to cycling for a while yet will be my recumbent exercise bike.

I can't complain - we've had a full life up until now, OK I'm only 45 years old but its been fit, active and we've taken all the opportunities that have come our way. Now my health is catching up with me.

Oh well - big sigh. At least I am getting to go home.

 

[fossyant]

Best wishes @SatNavSaysStraightOn What a heck of a time you've had. Bet you are looking forward to getting home.

 

[DCBassman]

Much good vibes to @SatNavSaysStraightOn , wow...
Me: L3/4/5 fused with SS/Ti, after four, count them, four, botched attempts at nerve root decompression.
Various arthritic problems, mainly caused by the passage of time.
Permanently trashed right shoulder due to off on wet leaves.
In all honesty, after reading @SatNavSaysStraightOn 's post, I feel pretty lucky at 65!

 

[ColinJ]

[Huge list of very scary health problems!]

I can't complain - we've had a full life up until now, OK I'm only 45 years old but its been fit, active and we've taken all the opportunities that have come our way. Now my health is catching up with me.

Oh well - big sigh. At least I am getting to go home.

On no - I had been wondering what you were up to 'down under'!

That's terrible news, but you have done way more in your 45 years than I have in my 62, and (to misquote Tennyson) ...

'Tis better to have loved lived and lost
Than never to have loved lived at all.

Good luck with whatever recovery you can make.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I guess I've been obvious by my prolonged absence which has little to do with being in Australia and more to do with my body trying its hardest to kill me.
Last winter it was double pneumonia, 6 days on life support, another 6 days in ICU, 12 in total there, and 2 months in hospital.

I'd just about got back on my feet (March this year) and found out what life was for when I ended up having emergency surgery on my elbow of all things to save my life. It had gone septic and I was hours off being back in ICU. Another stay in hospital.

Then just over a month later, I woke up with my right arm partially paralysed and all the strength gone from both arms. It took 2 hands to hold 1/2 a plastic glass of water to be able to drink anything. Investigations followed and I was told I would be dead by the end of the year without surgery. C5-C6 & C6-C7 had collapsed and were not only badly compressing all and every nerve root that left at those levels on both sides, but also my spinal cord. It was compressed by "more than 50%". Surgery followed within 3 weeks also finding that C6 vertebra needed removing and reconstructing, so basically my head was taken off and put back on again 5mm higher than it was before surgery (3mm on one disk and 2mm on the other). Another (short) stay in ICU. That was June. There have been complications and I'm still in inpatient rehab. I've now officially lived in this hospital longer than our new home. I have to live with those complications sadly, but I do get to live.

I get out of hospital on Thursday.

I said enough was enough. I can just about walk with the crutches and have decided I'm going home. I have a lot of outpatient rehab to follow before I'm back on my feet again and the closest I will come to cycling for a while yet will be my recumbent exercise bike.

I can't complain - we've had a full life up until now, OK I'm only 45 years old but its been fit, active and we've taken all the opportunities that have come our way. Now my health is catching up with me.

Oh well - big sigh. At least I am getting to go home.

I was wondering why we hadn't heard anything from you lately, my best wishes for a quick recovery and good health in the future.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Holy crap, have a hug from me as well - actually, don't have a hug as it would probably result in another hospital stay for you...

 

[SpokeyDokey]

@SatNavSaysStraightOn

Nice to see you back but sorry to hear about all the problems you've been having.

Good luck with your rehab'.

 

[cosmicbike]

Lovely to see you back @SatNavSaysStraightOn , hopefully things are on the up...

 

[Electric_Andy]

Dodgy back/posture from sitting at a desk for 10 years. I can't stand for too long in the same position, and have to be careful what sort of chairs I sit in, otherwise it's ibuprofen for the next 12 hours. Slowly getting better due to posture exercises at home, but it's a long road.