11 Months, 2 Days Post-Op

It's been awhile since I've posted an update, and since I know a few people still check back here I thought I would do so today. After I last posted I had my part-time team member out of the office unexpectedly for many weeks, plus with a business acquisition - my life has been work, work and more work.

I had an interesting email sent to me a few weeks ago. A girl about my age had read about what I had gone through with the implant reaction on one of the spine messages boards I frequent, and she was less than a month away from getting an artificial disc replacement. She took action, contacted the lab that did my blood work, and had the test done herself. Fourteen days later she received the results, and she - like me - had a very high reaction to nickel and a slight reaction to several other of the metals used in the artificial disc implant. Now opting for the fusion, she sent me an email thanking me for sharing my story and all of the contact information I had as it probably saved her a path similar to my own.

I'm not going to lie, as the last thing I wanted to do with my life was to be a guinea pig/test subject for others. However, I have always said that if something good could come from what I've been through then I could come to terms with it all and move forward. The email brought me a large sense of satisfaction knowing that a person was likely spared from the same path I was dragged down unwillingly. I'm able to now bring awareness to this issue so those who are contemplating the procedure can make as educated of a decision as possible given the complexity of this "simple" surgery.

So where do things stand with me? Well, my last platelet count a few weeks ago was 331,000, which is extremely healthy. My physician put it best when she said "Whatever auto-immune thing your body was going through appears to have resolved itself, or its in remission." Can you tell she is one of the skeptics when it comes to implant reactions? She is, but at least she still treats me like a person and is more open-minded than others I've come across. It's hard to believe that back in February my platelet count was 9,000. That is a huge jump, and the only difference is that now I am nickel-free. Physicians might doubt my pain levels, but blood work doesn't lie.

Pain-wise I'm definitely better off than I was a year ago, but I have a long ways to go. My body took a beating for over three years, I can't expect it to clear up overnight. At least now I'm starting to have 20-30 minute periods a few days a week where I feel close to perfect. No pain, nothing. It usually comes when I'm at work; I'd rather have it during my down time, but I won't complain! Tylenol arthritis has been a big friend of mine lately, as well as glucosamine even though it likes to shred my stomach. The big ingredient is shellfish, which I'm allergic to, but because I feel it helps with the joint pain I continue to take it.

I had been dealing with some unexplained foot pain for at least a year now, separate from what I dealt with before the surgery. I finally broke down and saw a podiatrist recently who confirmed that I have plantar fasciitis, which can often be caused by spine problems. I'm in a severe state, but it can luckily be treated with stretching - lots of stretching. It's something I'll likely deal with for the rest of my life, but already I'm noticing a difference by simply stretching several times throughout the day.

I go back to Baltimore for my one-year follow-up in December with my spine surgeon, so I'm hoping he's pleased with the results so far. It's hard to believe exactly one year ago tomorrow I was packing up and ready to head to Baltimore when I received the news from The Cleveland Clinic that my platelets were way too low (32,000) and they wouldn't approve me for surgery. It was one of the lowest days of my life, and the only time I've ever yelled at a doctor (though it was greatly deserved). What a difference a year makes.

Some days I feel like the progress isn't where I wanted it to be, but realistically I don't think I could be much better at this point. Day-to-day it's hard to see changes, but when I look at it month to month, or year to year, the changes become clearer. I am a long ways away from having the health I had prior to all of this mess back in May 2005, but I don't feel it's unobtainable. It will just take time.

With Thanksgiving coming up, it's a great time to reflect upon what you are thankful for. I am thankful for a husband who is my best friend and biggest supporter, and has helped me find strength even when I didn't think I had any left. I am thankful for parents who are always there for me, day or night. I am thankful for a brother who I know is always there, even when his schedule is ridiculous and we can rarely talk. I am thankful for my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who have provided a huge net of love and encouragement. I am thankful for the people I call my friends who provide me with an outlet to just be "normal", have fun, and enjoy life as much as possible. I definitely have a lot to be grateful for.

I'll try to post an update when I have my one-year follow-up. Depending on the outcome, I'm thinking I may close out this blog at the end of 2009 and go back to my regular one instead. I'd like 2010 to be a life that is not so impacted by "my failed ADR experiment." It feels like it's time to move on.