Surgery scheduled for March 11, 2015 at 67

[Marianne]

My time is getting closer and I am both relieved and nervous. I will be fused T10 - S 1 with pelvic fixation, by Dr. Wilson in Toronto.
I have been reading and rereading a lot of your threads and am very thankful to all the regulars that take the time to post on this forum.
I am trying to reorganize everything and give my house one last spring cleaning before I go and will stock my freezer full of home made meals.
We have ordered a daybed for the main floor as our bedroom is upstairs. Even if I make it up stairs it will be good to have for naps and watching TV.
I have always gone to aqua size at the local pool but the last few weeks I am just finding it too painful.
I know I need some exercise but walking is also very difficult so not sure what to do these days. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

[Susie*Bee]

That is exciting to have your date set and to be getting ready! Plus it can give you that roller-coaster ride of being a little nerve-wracking also... The exercise I did to prepare was using a stationary bike. If I had my "druthers" I would use a recumbent bike so I would have support for my back. The thing my doctor wanted was to work my heart. Of course, it is also good to have your leg muscles and arm muscles strong if possible, as they are going to be doing some work for you after your surgery. I would just say work your heart and keep your arms and legs strong

[susancook]

Hi, Marianne: My suggestion may seem like an odd one, but I suggest that you write down just how much you hurt and what you cannot do right now. I say this because sometimes post-op when you are down and feel like crap and wonder if you really should have done the surgery, those entries on how BAD, PAINFUL, and LIMITING your life was before surgery will refresh your memory on exactly why you had the surgery. That has been helpful for me. In spite of all that has happened to me in the past 5 months, I am still grateful for the surgery. While I am certainly handicapped now [but improving!], I would be headed to a wheelchair permanently if I had not had spinal surgery. My spinal cord injury was a rare fluke.

I wish you well. Susan.....still rollin' along

[Marianne]

Thanks Susie I will work on my arms and legs.
Susan great suggestion writng down my aches and paines and the things I can not do anymore.
Just got a new Diary and will start with that. I am glad to hear that you would still have the surgery if you had to do it all over again.