Well, I had surgery on March 5. It was a double discectomy and fusion between C5-6 and C6-7. There were some complications. The C6-7 nerve was so excited about being released from the pressure that it ‘fired’ for quite a few minutes after the spur was eliminated. Then, as they were suturing me up, it fired again for about five minutes. As the surgeon said the next day, “I’ve never seen anything like it!!” And she’s been doing neck and brain surgeries for 18 years.

So, anyway, back to the recovery room. When I woke up, my left hand was completely paralyzed. There was nothing I could do to make my fingers move. That was pretty scary. It reminded me of maybe how a stroke victim feels. The next day I could move my fingers a little bit, so we knew things were on their way back. At this point, one month later, I can type a little with my left hand. It still hurts, and two fingers are still numb. But, I keep exercising it. And I’m functioning. I’m driving. I’m getting to work. I can get myself to singing rehearsal. Hey! I can still sing! I asked them to be careful with the tubes they were going to put down my throat before the surgery. They did a good job. I was able to sing the day after the surgery, and it was a couple days before I could swallow solid foods without gagging. I also have a kind of neuropathy on my right side. Can’t feel pain or temperature. At this point I don’t know if it’s from the nerve thingy, or the medications I’m still taking. My physical therapist has a call in to the surgeon to see what might be going on.

So, diet-wise……..hmmmmm. I can’t say I’ve been very diligent. It seems that I’ve reverted back to a mostly B-nonnie diet. A lot of black dot avoids have come back. Eggs, yogurt, bananas, walnuts, almonds. Easy comfort foods for me. And, I’ve slipped back into coffee. It is such a help in getting things moving in the morning. I promise I’ll quit again. As soon as I’m off the pain meds. I promise!