Hey man. Congrats on your step! I had a question in regards to wfh.
1. How are you able to code with all the pain meds you will need/currently taking? I assume first 3 days you’re on narcs, and after release you will still be on narcs, right?
2. Reading other patients diaries they mentioned that at least for the first month they were mostly in bed, so are you planning on coding in bed or do you think you could pull off in a desk with a wheelchair?
3. How many days did you take off?
In general - I’d love to know as much as possible regarding your WFH situation and how you can code and make this work. This is the only drawback for me as I don’t want to take 1+ entire month off completely. I also feel like as much of my life is “normal”, ie incorporating stretch 3-5 times a day while working, the recovery process would be less boring/easier
Dr. Rozbruch stryde 27th Jan 2021!
I have taken 15-20 days off work. 10 sick leaves + 2 floating leaves, 1 long weekend and a couple more weekends in between.
Oxy should not diminish your ability to work and I think I will have to code in bed for some time, until at least I am able to comfortably move in and out of my wheelchair. I am not starting work until atleast 15 th feb, although I feel healthy enough too, I mean in terms of mental strength.
Returning back home felt good initially but pooping today was probably the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. The room is ADA compliant, but I have no idea why they have the pot so far down, it's almost as if it's buried inside earth to make life difficult for people with disabilities. I might have to order something that can extend above it so that I get a decent height.
It took me roughly 2 hours to get out of that hellhole, but I finally did manage to get out, thanks to the railings right next to it. It did feel better after pooping haha, I was able to get all the out of my system(literally).
After that I had an oxycodone and was pretty much not in the state to stay up, and passed out. Woke up a few hours back and watching some TV. Trying not to think about my legs today since I have done enough exercise and I should just let my limbs rest. I ordered some food and might do some stretching later in the day, but as of now it feels like I have accomplished enough for the day.
Took a quick walk for about 30 feet. Feels like I got some good exercise on my femurs and arms. My arms are getting stronger by the day and definitely learning how to make do with limited leg function.
I ordered some food too and got my daily dose of meds right after it. I think the more you stay in a hospital, the more you get dependant on 24*7 care. Even without any nurses being around, me and my brother have done really well for a day 1. Kudos to him for getting all my meds and other stuff.
For blood thinners, they have me on aspirin. Did anyone of you get a stronger med to prevent embolisms? Or does aspirin work fine. A little more concerned now since the both of us are by ourselves at the hotel in the event that anything happens. But generally my pulse and temperature feel okay today, as compared to last night at the hospital, where they had to put an IV to make it go down.
With stryde an aspirin is fine. Xalrelto was given with the old nails, but because there is more mobility allowed with stryde, an aspirin is suffice to reduce potential unneeded side effects of xalrelto. Some still give xalrelto with stryde. Paley does not rozbruch does not
Quote from: Chemistryde on January 31, 2021, 06:03:28 AMTook a quick walk for about 30 feet. Feels like I got some good exercise on my femurs and arms. My arms are getting stronger by the day and definitely learning how to make do with limited leg function.
I ordered some food too and got my daily dose of meds right after it. I think the more you stay in a hospital, the more you get dependant on 24*7 care. Even without any nurses being around, me and my brother have done really well for a day 1. Kudos to him for getting all my meds and other stuff.
For blood thinners, they have me on aspirin. Did anyone of you get a stronger med to prevent embolisms? Or does aspirin work fine. A little more concerned now since the both of us are by ourselves at the hotel in the event that anything happens. But generally my pulse and temperature feel okay today, as compared to last night at the hospital, where they had to put an IV to make it go down.
That is really great you have your brother for help! Do you know any other fellow patients there who don't have family with them? How do they make do?
Chemistryde..What reason have you told your manager? Does MS have a leave of absence program just in case?
Got it, thanks ghkid2021.
Realistic, I told my manager that I have an elective surgery and will need sick leaves to recover from it. I used up all my available sick leaves for the year and in addition to that I'm taking a couple floating leaves. This way I don't lose out on any vacation I have accumulated.
Sorry for not posting for these three days, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. They were all pretty much the same. I woke up, brushed my teeth, used the washroom. I did all of this by myself from getting out of the bed and making it back. I was also able to take a shower all three days, again with the help of my walker. I also did the PT exercises they suggested and watched a lot of tv lying down.
Today I was able to turn 360 on my own and lie down on my stomach too. Apart from that I tried to keep my diet light and healthy and stalked up on some home breakfast from the store.
Pain was manageable at all times the past 3 days. I was also able to reduce my oxy from 4 to 2 to 1 tablet today. Same goes for Tylenol, 8 to 4 to 2. But I think the real challenge starts tomorrow when I start lengthening. Will post regularly everyday until I finish lengthening and keep you guys posted.
My lengthening is supposed to be 0.2mm 4 times a day starting 3rd Feb until I reach 8 cm.
Go get it Chemistryde! Will be following your journey here and hopefully in reality soon; sent you a PM. Good luck and stay strong 💪
Everything is going so smoothly for you 
it makes me really consider Rozburchh over Paley
Thanks (GOOD) Vibes!
Thanks L8GrowthSpurt =) I'll checkout your PM, and all other PMs tomorrow once I have laptop access.
Lengthening Day1 and Day2 Update:
Total Lengthened 0.2*4 + 0.2*4 = 1.6mm
Both yesterday and today have been okay so far. I had to take 2 oxys yesterday and zero oxys today (Note that I am also on meloxicam 1x a day which helps with pain)
Same routine: was able to shower, move in out of bed, move in out of wheelchair and use the restroom independently. (However I needed my brothers help to get me up on the bed the last time, my legs were too tired).
I signed in to my work account and cancelled my vacation, yes I am planning to start work tomorrow. I have realized that I am watching Shameless for more than 9 hours a day in a single position, so I am just going to work for those 9 hours instead in the same position, nothing changes. The other 15 hours shall be used for PT, moving, sleeping, cribbing (
)
I did have some pain on my upper left femur yesterday due to rotating yesterday, so I have not rotated yet and I am planning to defer that exercise to mornings 9:00 am so that meloxicam (10am) helps take care of that pain.
On 2/3 I lengthened at 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
On 2/4 I lengthened at 12:00 pm, 3pm, 6pm and 11:30pm(pending)
Pain after lengthenting was Nil, but I am assuming that this is just the beginning and as lengthening increases so will the pain.
I have decided to fly from NYC back to Redmond on 2/18 after my first post op appointment on 2/16. The plan after that is to have alternate appointments (virtual and in-person) for the next 3 months. The hospital next to my house in redmond as reasonable employee discounts for radiology. I am also planning to buy some sort of special chair which will allow me to orient my legs in whichever way I want while working once I reach back. You guys can save a lot of money by not staying in a hotel in NYC and also having someone to help you here. The rates for everything are crazy and I just order food worth 40 bucks everyday for me and my brother. Once I move to redmond I'll save a lot of money, have more room to move around and not be stuck in a hotel room, have 3 monitors to work on and do justice to the eye, and will also have much comfortable mattresses and chairs to live on.
Right now, one minor hiccup is that I am not able to flex my knee to 90 degrees -- sitting (which Dr. Rozbruch says I should be able to) so I am constantly working on that. The hope is that with more work, and more chair time this will improve.
The other issue is my constipation 
I need the regular dose of senna that HSS ordered + Miralax -- 1 adult dose which the hospital recommended in case the senna is not enough. I hope this will improve once I move around more and sit up more during work.
I spent roughly 2 hours on a wheelchair today, trimmed my beard, shaved, and just moved around in the hotel room trying to arrange my stuff/make coffee without my brothers help. My plan is to not walk unaided and not even try until my first post op appointment i.e. 2/16.
Regarding money, I see a charge on my insurance but the claim has not been processed yet. Will let you guys know asap regarding my resposibility + insurance cover. So far 30K has gone out of pocket which was the initial deposit for the surgery.
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