NEW GUY

[hambone]

HELLO ALL, MY NAME IS RON AND I AM NINE MONTHS PAST SURGERY. NUMB FROM THE WAIST DOWN. DEALING WITH DAILY PAIN. NERVE DAMAGE STUFF. LOVED READING ALL OF THE POSTINGS. SO MANY COMMON THREADS. HEAVY LEGS WAS GREAT.I TRY TO KEEP A SMILE ON MY FACE BUT SOME DAYS ARE DEFINITELY HARDER THAN OTHERS. IS INCONTINENCE RELATIVELY COMMON WITH US. I AM IN CHARGE OF OVER THIRTY EMPLOYEES AND SOME OF THE SITUATIONS I HAVE FOUND MYSELF IN HAVE BEEN VERY EMBARRASSING. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN SELF CONFIDENCE. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE EXPERIENCES.

[cindylee]

Hi Ron, nice to know you. For almost a year and a half after my surgery, if I did not beat a quick path to the bathroom, it was yellow river time. It was especially hard in the morning when I just woke up and had to run to the potty. Well, I couldn't run, so there were many wet mornings. I used to get so frustrated. But I am at the 2 1/2 year mark and it has got better. I don't have the holding power pre-surgery that I had, but I do pretty well. I think it just takes time. Hang in there. And welcome!!! Cindy

[peilynne]

Hi Ron,
welcome to our wonderful forum. There is a wealth of information on here. I used to have a really urgent need to go and sometimes I could not control it. It is very embarrassing, it is what it is. I saw my urologist and I'm on a medication called detrol. It really helps to control the urgency. I take 1 "little blue pill' a day. No side effects. I still void the normal amounts, the pill just gives me a lot more time to make it to the washroom.

[8338]

Hi New Guy,
Welcome to our family. Yes, before my surgery I had "going" problems but mine was that I couldn't go. Now that has cleared up but if I don't go when I get the urge I can just about get there. I wear pads just to be sure. What the heck, no one knows :-)
I had and have now bowel problems. That has not improved. What a job trying to get myself to go a couple of times a week !
You didn't tell us whrere your tumor was and if it has affected your walking. My tumor was from t1-t6.
What are you still able to do?
Time to go to bed, talk tomorrow z;-)
Barb

[rugger8]

Hi Ron,
Welcome to the group!! The numbness is quite frustrating but you're in good hands here... we all suffer from it in one way or another. Just know that you still have plenty of recovering to do at 9 months out. Unfortunately its a very slow process.
Getting to the toilet on time is a common problem for some of us.
This may sound terrible but this is a woman talking....maxi pads come pretty darn small/thin these days and very absorbant....might be worth a try???
Hope things get better soon.

Kristi

[throeback]

I cant touch the last post Hambone. Just dont get caught doing the Maxipad thing..... your employees may go from being somewhat concerned to very freaked out!!!!!

New Guy arent you really 'Seabass' from the movie Dumb and Dumber..... besides if your name is 'Hambone' does'nt that make your kids name 'Porkchop'? Welcome to our little house of fun.

Throeback
aka Ron

[hambone]

THANKS FOR THE GREETINGS EVERYONE!! 8338 TO ANSWER A FEW OF YOUR QUESTIONS. I WALK RELATIVELY WELL WITHOUT AID OF A CANE OR WALKER BUT I WOULD BE LYING IF I SAID MY BALANCE WAS ALL THAT GOOD. I FALL DOWN AT TIMES. I'VE LEARNED TO LAUGH AT THAT ONE. SURGERY WAS T1-T4. WE DIDN'T GET ALL OF IT. ROUGHLY 90%. THROEBACK, GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR. LAST NAME'S HAMMOND SO THATS WHERE HAMBONE CAME FROM. WHATS YOUR SITUATION. WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH. GOOD LUCK, ALL

RON

[Jack]

Hambone,
As a guy I have had some close calls at work. I too have numbness from chest down to feet. Have had some "accidents" in the first year after surgery due too not feeling "the call of nature" fast enough. Flattulance in a meeting was a problem since I could not feel much and very embarrassing to say the least. I am 1.5 years post surgery and my feeling has gotten better in regards to bathroom activity. I find I pee less frequently than I used to and I can hold it much longer because I probably can't feel my bladder telling me too go. Exercise has helped me to get the feeling back. I do pelvic tilts and squeeze the stomach muscles tight and this has actually helped with my bowel issues. I went to a urologist and he also gave me some exercises to practice to help with issues. Hang in there and welcome to the forum. It is very educational and entertaining at times. I come here when I need to pick my head up and stay strong and get through the day! ;D
Jack

[rugger8]

Jack, I'm there with you on the whole flatulence thing....can be terribly embarrassing!!! I guess I take comfort in the fact that there are others out there with stories just as funny/embarrassing as mine.
We should start a 'Farters Anonymous' club. We could even make shirts!
Kristi