Off the Transplant List Again

I'm off the lung transplant list again. So much has happened since my last update so I will just share the highlights:

I was feeling, breathing and moving great until I picked up something too heavy and hurt my back. Fifteen years of prednisone has done some damage to my bones. X-ray revealed a collapsed L4 and a whole lot of other damage. I was in severe pain. It was also discovered that I have been working out in rehab and living with another fracture in my back for over a year. That explains all the stiffness and limp I thought was a hip issue. So, there were three places where the discs pushed into my spinal cord, which caused the pain. Oddly, I never had back pain. The severe pain was sciatica down my right leg. Even with all the meds and patches, the pain would bring me to tears and I am not one who cries often.

My primary sent me to a local doctor who is outrageously wonderful and also a musician!! Love when that happens. Besides playing violin and guitar, he asked me about the ukulele last week. Did I think he could learn to play it? My response, "Ten minutes!" He bought it last weekend, followed YouTube videos and was entertaining his young children within minutes.

He does everything from surgery to X-rays to testing nerves. I see him twice a week for acupuncture with little electric charges attached to the needles. Last week, I mentioned that I was beginning to feel the sciatica rearing its ugly head. No problem. He placed two pins in my leg and I have not had any pain since then.

He also is trained in the process of taking my blood, spinning it in a centrifuge, then collecting the platelets to be shot into the problems in my back. That is down the road.

But first, a month of rehab, which will begin in about two weeks.

He offered 5 mg Hydrocodone, which got me through the worst of the pain along with back patches. I have been off the drug for over two weeks and began driving again yesterday. I am still using a walker but have begun walking in some stores or short walks out in the world. Hopefully, the walker will be in my rear view mirror in a couple of weeks.

Michael. Sweet Michael. He would not let me lift a finger. My job was to heal. He learned to make the bed, load and turn on the dishwasher, cook meals, clean the kitchen while he continues to do the laundry and all the gardening. He never makes me feel as if I am a burden. He did mention the other day that when I am better, he really doesn't want to make the bed or run the dishwasher. I promised to return to those jobs as soon as possible!

Mom:  She gave her 30-day notice at the assisted living place on June 1 and is moving home. Lots of drama and lots of concern.