Hi all,
I need to share yet another milestone with you. I haven't gone diving since before my surgery and was VERY concerned how I was going to be able to accomplish this in the future. Since my surgery I have not been able to carry or lift the amount of weight I was use to in the past. With your air tank and weights in your BC (Air vest.) on your back it is pushing around 60 lbs! Usually you sit and strap yourself into your vest, stand and walk to the end of the boat and jump in. Well I knew there was NO WAY I was going to be able to do that without straining my back. I talked to an instructor about my dilemma and she said I just needed to learn to get into my BC in the water. I scheduled pool time with her and learned it was SIMPLE to do! I can't tell you how much that relieved my anxiety. My Husband and I just went to Cancun for our 24th anniversary and I went diving with no problems!!! The guys on the boat obviously have had people who needed to get in this way on past dives. I realised then that many people have different types of problems to overcome, not just me. I was concerned what the others on the boat might think, but it was no big deal at all.
I want those of you who are thinking about what you may or may not be able to do after your surgery to know there are different ways to do the things you did before. Granted there are a few things I will never do again either by choice, (Is it worth the discomfort...) common sense, (Do I REALLY want to water ski again? The ONLY thing Dr. advised against.) or due to surgery. (No back bends.) But, for the most part, I can do all I choose to do. Next up is rollerblading... I do snow ski and have no problem. I feel that I have WAY more control as I go down then I ever did while water skiing. (For those of you who wonder why one and not the other.) I did need to be reminded constantly by my Husband to leave the luggage lifting to him. I could feel a bit of an ache in my lower back when I forgot this. Plus, I know lifting and twisting is a no no. (Luggage was 40-47lbs.)
Surgery 2/22/06 @43yr L49* now 8* T10 to L4
P.S. I saw my 1st SHARK!! It was a nurse shark about 6ft.
I need to share yet another milestone with you. I haven't gone diving since before my surgery and was VERY concerned how I was going to be able to accomplish this in the future. Since my surgery I have not been able to carry or lift the amount of weight I was use to in the past. With your air tank and weights in your BC (Air vest.) on your back it is pushing around 60 lbs! Usually you sit and strap yourself into your vest, stand and walk to the end of the boat and jump in. Well I knew there was NO WAY I was going to be able to do that without straining my back. I talked to an instructor about my dilemma and she said I just needed to learn to get into my BC in the water. I scheduled pool time with her and learned it was SIMPLE to do! I can't tell you how much that relieved my anxiety. My Husband and I just went to Cancun for our 24th anniversary and I went diving with no problems!!! The guys on the boat obviously have had people who needed to get in this way on past dives. I realised then that many people have different types of problems to overcome, not just me. I was concerned what the others on the boat might think, but it was no big deal at all.
I want those of you who are thinking about what you may or may not be able to do after your surgery to know there are different ways to do the things you did before. Granted there are a few things I will never do again either by choice, (Is it worth the discomfort...) common sense, (Do I REALLY want to water ski again? The ONLY thing Dr. advised against.) or due to surgery. (No back bends.) But, for the most part, I can do all I choose to do. Next up is rollerblading... I do snow ski and have no problem. I feel that I have WAY more control as I go down then I ever did while water skiing. (For those of you who wonder why one and not the other.) I did need to be reminded constantly by my Husband to leave the luggage lifting to him. I could feel a bit of an ache in my lower back when I forgot this. Plus, I know lifting and twisting is a no no. (Luggage was 40-47lbs.)
Surgery 2/22/06 @43yr L49* now 8* T10 to L4
P.S. I saw my 1st SHARK!! It was a nurse shark about 6ft.
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