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Old 02-28-2018, 10:46 AM   #1
DrKMcK
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Default I am (Thankfully) Back!

I know it's been a long while since I've been on. I wound up with serious health problems and am currently recovering from surgery. It's been hard to use my hands so the computer has been difficult. I now have screws in my neck and can't move my head from side to side at all. I need to turn my whole body to see to my left or right. IT also means I can never drive again. I had to give up my car.
It's from spinal stenosis and what happened is my spine was actually starting to separate from the base of my skull. It usually only happens in accidents where the stress and strain from a person's head whipping back and forth damages the spine. My doctors don't know for sure why this happened. If you google internal decapitation you'll see what it is. They tell me that if I hadn't had such bad pain in my shoulders they wouldn't have realized what was going on. The shoulder pain is called referred pain and was caused my the spine problem. Go figure! I was slowly losing the ability to lift my hands higher than my shoulders or reach behind myself. I couldn't lean on a table or lift anything heavy. They told me that because my spine was actually moving up and down it was interfering with the base of my brain and I could have gone to sleep and not woken up. That completely freaked out my sister.

This all happened right after I moved. I decided what was important to me...my music (albums, cd and my keyboard sheet music), my pets, my knitting and crochet, my plants and my cooking and baking. I had lots of help from friends and my sister to go through all my stuff and get rid of what was no longer important. Of course, a huge part of what I kept was for hamsters.
I still have Laddie Boy, my dwarfie. He's still very active. I have never been able to hold him, although I can pet him in his cage. I've never had a hamster who absolutely refused to be picked up. But I let him guide me. He's getting old now but you would never know it by how busy he is.

Thankfully, it turned out that the trouble I was having with my shoulders has completely disappeared since the day of the surgery. The healing has taken a lot of time and they tell me it will be at least 6 months to a year for full healing. But I can do things that I thought I wouldn't ever be able to do again. It's amazing. I can't wait for Spring. I can garden again!

It's only been about 2 weeks since I started baking again. House cleaning will be next, although my sister tells me to slow down. She's been great. She takes me to any doctor appointments, comes and cleans up after the dog, takes out the garbage and shops for me if I need anything. She was the one who took care of Yoda and Laddie while I was in the hospital and the rehab. I can't imagine what I would have done without her.

So, life is definitely looking better. I will try to keep up here, but I'll start slow...my hands still get numb after typing for a while. No matter what, hamsters will always be a part of my life.
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Old 02-28-2018, 12:41 PM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

So lovely to see you back Dr McK! What a rough time you have had - it sounds very scary - but so glad things are much better now and you have settled into your new home. Yes roll on Spring! I was just thinking last week - lighter nights, nearly Spring - and now we have heavy snow and Blizzards forecast and virtually snowbound!

I have two new Hamsters. Not sure if you knew about Newt (one of Souffle's Halluperts litter), who is and adorable red eyed cream. And we also have Nugget the Robo - I finally have a Robo. Who has only been out of his cage once! I haven't tried very hard to tame him yet and he hates hands, but seems quite happy talking to you through the glass.
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Old 02-28-2018, 01:01 PM   #3
souffle
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

It's lovely to see you back DrK. I do hope you heal more and things get easier for you. Good to hear also that Laddie and Yoda still keep you busy.
Looking forward to hearing more of your news too!
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Old 02-28-2018, 01:12 PM   #4
Coco61
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

Warmest welcome back DrK even from a snow covered London! You have really had a very testing time with your health. What an ordeal. Lovely to know that Laddie and Yoda are well. Looking forward to your posts when you are able to use the computer.
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Old 02-28-2018, 01:15 PM   #5
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

You really have had a rough time of it DrK, good to hear you're on the mend now after your ordeal & lovely to see you back here again.
Lovely to hear that little Laddie & Yoda are both doing well too.
Look forward to hearing more from you when you're up to it.
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Old 03-01-2018, 02:12 AM   #6
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

Welcome back, sorry to hear you've had so much trouble with your health after you moved, but I'm glad to hear you are recovering well.
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Old 03-01-2018, 06:47 AM   #7
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Welcome back Dr McK, sorry to hear of all the problems you have been having, good to hear that you are on the road to recovery
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Old 03-01-2018, 08:58 AM   #8
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

Welcome back, I am so sorry to hear such a rough time with your health. It sounded very scary and a worrying time you have been through but I'm glad to hear that you are now on the mend.
Pleased to see you back on the forum and it good to hear that Yoda and Laddie are still doing well.
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Old 05-05-2018, 01:00 PM   #9
dreamtree1234
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

Welcome back! I'm so very sorry that you have experienced so many health issues, but I'm glad that you are recovering. It is so wonderful that you have your sister to help you and your beloved Yoda and Laddie to comfort you, too. I look forward to seeing you around the forum and hearing more about your little ones whenever you are feeling up to it. Take care and know that I am sending you my very best wishes.
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Old 05-05-2018, 02:09 PM   #10
hellobg
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Default Re: I am (Thankfully) Back!

Welcome back, it's good to see you recover, this is the first time I heard of that before.. I'm glaf you have a family member to help you. Please do slow down on your doings as your sister have said.
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