90 days in the hole, chapter 1

So I've finally gotta have this surgery.
Ms. Donna gloats on the fact that she TOLD ME not to move that dog pen without her help.  But I wanted to make a chicken compound and waiting for a woman, although often worthwhile, is oftener very time consuming.  So I moved it and have been struggling with back pain ever since.  That was seven or  eight years ago. 


I've done physical therapy and have kept stretching and have kept walking and swimming and drugging but just recently my butt and legs and feet have been numbing out on me.  So the doc gave me my third MRI and announced that the longer I put off surgery the greater the chances of permanent nerve damage.


I have a heart valve problem (a murmur that kept me out of Viet Nam) and so we're working with the cardiologist right now to get clearance.  I'll get it, they just need to update stuff so that they can have a reason in case I die.


I have arthritis (sound old don't I?) and they're going to do something with that while they're messing around in there anyway.  They'll also do something about a bone spur on a vertebrae and they'll put some pins in.  It's a fusion.  I wasn't worried about it until Ms. Donna said, "I'm sorry you have to go through this." 
"What?" I said.  "Why do you say that?"
"Well it's a tough surgery."
Oh great.


They say I'll recover in the hospital for five days.  But I'm sure that's just a standard answer for my type of thing.  Actually I don't expect to spend very much time there at all since I think I'm in very good shape.  I walk a mile most days and I swim a mile twice a week. 


Then they said I have to recover for three months.  No driving for three months.  WHAT?????  I have to wear a 'corset' for three months.  WHAT?????


Ms. Donna is going to mow the two acre lawn?  WHAT?????


I'll keep this blog informed.


Don't have a date yet but I want to do it ASAP since I want to be recovered before summer fully blooms.