u/klmninca

Pet peeve time that I can’t really say anywhere but here. On August 6th, I’m having a revision of my existing L2-S1. The hardware that is only partially fused (L3-L5) will be removed and the hardware at L2 that failed completely will also come out. My new surgeon will also perform multiple osteotomies to correct my existing “flat back”. And then fuse from T10-pelvis.

And my wonderful best little girl, my Yorkie mutt is dying of advanced mast cell carcinoma. The oncology vet said she expected a week or two was all we had with her until she’d crash and I’d have to make that hard call. That was ten days ago. She’s still hanging in admirably. Being pretty close to her usual Yorkie self. We rescued her almost by accident! I’ve never liked small dogs before she came into my life and now, i can’t imagine my life without her. I’m her human. I will miss her terribly.

I’m not fine. My adult kids ask me, “how are you?” I’m. Not. Fine.

But I just can’t seem to say it. So I plaster a smile on my face and say the opposite of how I am, wondering why on earth they believe me?!

Thanks to you all for listening to my pity party. I’m not fine. But I’m really trying hard to remember that saying “everything will be okay in the end and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end”.

So I’m staring down the barrel of my third (or fourth?) fusion in August. I had L5-S1 done in 2021, L2-L5 in 2023 and now I’m having T10-pelvis with multiple osteotomies in August. I’ve also had bilateral SI fusion in 2024, knee replacement in 2022 and the replacement of the bottom half of that knee replacement in 2024. (Yeah. Been a crappy decade so far!

Back when I was young and optimistic and nervously awaiting my first fusion, my wonderful sweet husband bought me a recliner lift chair for my bday just before my surgery. And a lift chair is great for surgical recovery! Unfortunately this sucker is hard as a rock and while the lift portion helps a lot, it’s almost impossible to get comfortable and lay/sit on it for any length of time. I end up using it for a couple weeks and asking him to swap it back with the regular comfy lazy-boy I usually sit in.

I think i may need the assistance for a longer period of time and would like some advice on good cushions I could get to make this rock more comfortable? I can adjust the lumbar support on it, neck support etc but it’s just so hard it’s impossible to relax.