Eighteen Days Before Bliss

Suffering from two herniated disks for five years has been hell. This is my pre, during and post experience diary of ADR (Artificial Disk Replacement) with my companion.

[sabachu]

RUNNING IS A BLISS

During those days, with all the post recovery muscle treatments and rehab exercises, I have been realising that yes, it's true, I'm becoming a new person! With a slight pain from time to time in my back and legs, I am now feeling what it feels like to have a normal body without any of the back pain that I had before.

Two days ago was my one month check up with the doctor. The great news was not only the fact that I could stop some painkillers, but it was also the fact that I can actually start some running and swimming! Nathalie and I were so happy hearing those words! Running step by step could be boring for someone who's been running all of his life, but the fact that I'm not having any pain in my back is just enough.

Today was the first day I ran on the beach, with our precious new family member Takka. In fact it was only running after her, but It just felt amazing!

I cannot wait for my future plans and how will my body react in the next months, I am just grateful. It's true that nothing comes easy, recovery days are passing by slowly, but amazingly!

[sabachu]

After 19 days of post surgery pain, two trips to the emergency room (I will elaborate on how useless those were), insomnia due to the severe pain in my right leg... I can finally say that today is the day where I properly slept, today is the day where I could stand the pain because surprisingly it's getting less by the hour. I don't know if it's because of my Indiba sessions that I decided to take after no one offered me proper help.

I could sum up those almost three weeks experience by a bunch of advise to everyone. First of all, never trust hospital's emergency rooms (unless you are having a deadly experience, then they will offer you something decent). Especially that on our second encounter, Nathalie and I met the most pessimistic doctor at 4am in the morning, taking my pain for granted with her silly laugh and saying that I cannot go back to normal and that I will always have pain. Who says that?

After this nonsense leg pain getting worse with no explanation, I decided to take Indiba sessions for my body, and guess what? The physiotherapist found out that I had a contracted muscle due to my back's prosthesis and my extra 1,5 cm height. Besides that, I was taking Vitamin B complex. Did those treatments take one week to work? Or was it a miracle that the pain stopped?

Today I start my first physiotherapy, more updates along the way...

[sabachu]

EMERGENCY ROOM

We could pretty much say that yesterday was hell for both of us.

I left Héctor yesterday morning to run some errands for the house, he started his morning with severe low back pain going down to his right leg. He couldn't sleep that night. Once I was outside, I received a message from him claiming that he's losing strength in his leg and that he actually fell! And this was all due to the severe pain he's been suffering from after the surgery.

Héctor couldn't stand the pain all day, whether it was sitting down, laying down, walking around the house: the pain was overcoming his body even with the painkillers. With so much anxiety, we decided to go to the Quiron Hospital emergency (since all the doctors are usually in surgery on Wednesdays).

Briefly, we were advised to stay for two hours to control the pain with some painkillers, and thankfully the scans turned out fine, the disks are perfectly okay. But we were told by the nurses that this is completely normal after the surgery, and that the recovery takes time.

With so much anger and fear I am writing this post to all of those that have been through or that will go through an ADR surgery: first of all, expressing anger in Spanish is so hard, especially that the nurses are not willing to communicate with you if you do not speak in Spanish. So I had to stick to my Arab roots and naturally expressing the fear that I have inside of me. Is this normal? Is it normal not to be able to properly walk after the surgery? Is it normal to have so much pain worse than the pain you had before the surgery?

It breaks my heart seeing Héctor in pain and not being able to explain it to him or even help him. I'm grateful for what the doctors have done, but I am also furious that we were not told that this SEVERE pain might occur.

As we have an appointment with the doctor today for post surgery check up, I'm hoping that we will receive some explanation and some good news.

Another painful day and counting...

[sabachu]

THE DARK SIDE

Post surgery day 5: I'm in pain.

Day by day, after getting out of the hospital, I'm realising how much my body hurts after the surgery. Starting from a slight pain in the back then going around my stomach area then sliding down my right leg, then repeat. I really would love to feel better and start knowing how it feels to have a new back.

But then again I start to think of what my body went through during this surgery, it wasn't easy at all! I guess we have to wait for this pain to get less and less, especially with those constant horrible headaches. And believe it or not, once you go through this, you're going to wish that you don't go to the bathroom! Because that one hurts like crazy!

I can't walk for more than 10 minutes, I can't stand in one position for more than 5 minutes, and apparently once you start moving your body, you feel that the pain gets easier. But that's just plain tiring!

Let's see if all this post surgery pain is really worth it, because it looks like I'm placing another countdown for recovery!

[sabachu]

WELCOME HOME, BEAUTIES

When I first saw the scans, I couldn't believe it. It's true, I am Iron Man! Look at these beauties! I am so fucking happy!

Doctors and nurses were so happy to see my results, hoping that the recovery would be as easy as the surgery was. I can't be more grateful! I'm walking with a straight back, I feel fit, I have so much energy (something that Nathalie is against, because she wants to make sure I rest, every... single... minute).

Not only I'm welcoming my titanium species (M6-L Artificial Lumbar Disc) inside of me, but I'm also being welcomed home today. I was discharged today, and I can't be any happier. I'm so excited and I want to do everything already! I can't wait for those three months to pass!

And for those who are wondering, yes, I am dealing with a back pain that is going below my leg, but according to the doctors, that's completely normal and part of the recovery the first month. You will notice a bloated tummy, but that's also part of the process. In fact, not only I have titanium species inside of my back but it also looks like I have some alien inside of my tummy ready to come out any time soon. But who cares, I'm around 1 and a half cm taller!

[sabachu]

SURGERY'S SOUNDTRACK

The road to bliss has been tough and a one hell of a long road. But I can't deny it, it was fun. Tycho made it easier and blissful.

[sabachu]

LET'S WALK

Post surgery day number two: SUCCESS!

Héctor's recovery start has never looked so amazing. He woke up fresh and ready to go back to work! In the morning, the moment of getting out of bed has arrived. The nurses (who are super nice and careful) came and helped Héctor to walk baby steps and finally sit straight. Dizziness has occurred that's for sure, but other than that everything went smooth!

The big news is that the physiotherapist was so surprised to see Héctor walk this way. He was walking as if he didn't even have a surgery less than 24 hours ago! This brings so much joy to my heart, and I can see how Héctor is really proud!

I hope that anyone going through this surgery will have the same results and the same amount of happiness and gratefulness that we have. Thank you, Dr. Clavel.

"Honey, do you remember how we felt two weeks ago before the surgery?" I'm so proud!

[sabachu]

DAY ZERO

"Here he is! My brave love of my life!"

Sounds like a cheesy love movie title, but it's actually true. That's what I said when I saw Héctor coming in while waiting for him in the room. The surgery, to my surprise, took around two hours with two more hours in the recovery room to make sure that everything is perfect.

Once I received the phone call from Dr. Clavel, I had tears of joy (and probably fear). I waited outside the room because I was sick of jumping every time I heard a stretcher passing by. I even asked two different nurses if I could see him, even if he still hadn't woken up from Anaesthesia (don't judge an obsessed lover). Obviously by now, all hospitals have added a new policy after yesterday: you do not want to have a Nathalie enter your hospital, ever again.

Héctor's face tone was great, he was tired and had severe back pain that got less by the hour (with the help of Morphine) which, explained by the doctor, was normal because of the process of the surgery.

Héctor was joking, laughing, and I could see the happiness on his face. The fact that he had a big appetite was also great news, although he wasn't allowed to eat anything because of the fact that the surgery was through frontal organs, so it was important to be careful and have baby steps (I hope that no doctor is reading the medical terms I'm using).

It was a quiet night filled with happiness and relief, especially after Barça's awesome game. Héctor woke up with less pain and with a super awesome energy! We are so happy and grateful that we are getting over those painful days and starting day zero. Thank you to all of our friends' support and love, and according to a special friend, we are happy to welcome Héctor, the new Invincible Iron Man.

[sabachu]

THE NEVER ENDING WAIT

What is it about hospitals that makes them so damn depressing? Why do they fail to make a decent and fun waiting room? Honestly, what about installing a Wii where everyone can play instead of being anxious, like myself, and talking none sense so that my boyfriend feels less nervous?

Anyway, after waiting for around 6 hours, Hector and I were just laying down the hospital bed, thinking of how awesome it will be when he wakes up with a completely new back (basically…).

For any girlfriend, future wife, an obsessed companion, that has to deal with this: I feel you girl. It’s the hardest part of the whole thing, especially when it’s a rainy day in Barcelona. Makes it all depressing!

I have super high hopes for Hector’s recovery, and that’s what I’m focusing on now, which makes it a bit easier when you also focus on work during the longest waiting hours.

[sabachu]

IT'S TIME

The day has arrived. Wow, I can't believe I'm finally saying that.

I woke up this morning telling Nathalie to remember this moment: "This is the last time I will wake up with back pain!". I'm excited, actually I'm freaking out, almost shaking, but with excitement! It's actually one of those mornings where you don't know what the hell is happening around you.

But what's amazing is that we both know, Nathalie and I, that we're so scared yet we don't mention it at all, we actually joke about it!

I'm all ready now, ready to face this pain, in other words, this motherfucker! My 18th day is here, let's do this!

[sabachu]

RECOVERY MISSION: RUN FOR GALGOS

I'm so happy to discover this new project by Christina Azharian called Firefly 14mile/14K. It's a virtual race where you run for special cases of Galgos in need for help. 100% of proceeds are split between Galgos Del Sol and SOS Galgos, two organisations helping abandoned and abused Galgos in Spain. 

I chose this buddy right here, since the 14K cases were sold out. So now I have something awesome to look forward to after my surgery! I get to run 14 miles for an amazing reason and receive a medal that will be added to my medal collection! I'm so excited!

[sabachu]

FUN TIMES ALWAYS BEAT STRESS!

Work, meetings, moving to a new house, working on the weekend, getting enough sleep... It's hard fitting all of that in a super tight schedule, especially when you have a surgery ahead of you. Waiting for the day has never been so exciting until we realised that in exactly FOUR days my surgery journey with Héctor will begin!

With all the stress that we've been dealing with, there's no doubt that we've been having so much fun this past week before the surgery! Including the fact that we're receiving so many awesome vibes from people supporting Héctor's surgery, not to forget the awesome collaborations and great news at work! And that's what makes your life easier and also makes you adore your job and the fact that you have to work on the weekend! (not ALWAYS, but you know what I mean).

And what about the awesomeness of video games? Watching Héctor play a game of Tennis on the Wii U is an endless fun experience by itself! I love seeing him getting his mind off the surgery and spending his energy on fictional Tennis tournaments, in other words, FUN!

I'm scared, excited, super happy, nervous, so in love, grateful... This is my answer to your questions, ladies and gentleman, four more days and counting...

[sabachu]

LAST WEEK IS SPONSORED BY CRAZY WORKING HOURS, MIXED FEELINGS, AND MORE BACK PAIN

This is my last week before the surgery and it must be the most challenging of the whole countdown. I've been having mixed feelings of excitement and, believe it or not, fear. A lot of fear! 

Between working hours, meetings, the process of moving to another beautiful neighbourhood (a very useful process of my recovery that I will post in the upcoming days), I have to fit all of that in this short schedule. Not to forget to mention that my back pain is worse, but thanks to my chemical world of medicine, it's getting better more or less.

Sometimes you wonder how your body actually adapts to your current condition, as if it knows that you're going into surgery and it wants to get as bad as it can get before you fix it. Nathalie and I have been dealing with this week just fine, but we can sense the tension and the fear even if we never actually mention it. We joke about it, of course. But you know what they say, behind every joke there's a slight truth, no? (or something like that).

Seven days and counting, let's do this!

[sabachu]

"IT'S BEEN A BAD DAY... PLEASE DON'T TAKE A PICTURE"

Did you ever wake up feeling that today won't be your day? At all? I woke up suffering from nausea, a bad cold and a fever. Something that Héctor was suffering from last week (all week!)

Héctor's back pain was so bad today, and he only found out about it because he had to run for a meeting that he was late for. Can you believe it? He told me that he literarily feels that there's a knife stabbing him constantly in the back. It's devastating, you watch the person you care for the most suffering and you just wish you could do something about it. 

All this combined with my cold made us look like an old grumpy couple, both in a bad mood and looking for a solution to make each other feel better. But then again, what is a better remedy than to cuddle on the couch watching Harry Potter (yes, I'm making him experience my Harry Potter obsession) while eating frozen yogurt?

Nine days and counting...

[sabachu]

And finally, Nathalie speaks! Actually, I'm Nathalie and I'm finally posting a personal post.

Saturdays with Héctor are the best, we usually spend the morning walking, and what's a better way to spend a Saturday in Barcelona? Eating bocadillos off the market!

With all this fun, my heart breaks every time I see Héctor hiding his back pain. And today he finally told me that his back pain was unbearable (although I can secretly notice it). Which makes me count the days until the surgery every minute, and what's awesome is that I can finally count them on my fingers (well, sort of).

Putting the drama aside, I've been also (secretly) using Héctor's days before the surgery to cook for me his awesome meals. Today I asked him to cook another one of his specialties: Arrós al Forn! Damn I love his Valencia recipes! Thanks to my mama (Hector's mom) as well!

I just love Héctor's on going enthusiasm, I love the fact that he never complains about his back even though he's suffering, and most of all I love his yummy food! Eleven days and counting...

[sabachu]

HOW TO KILL TIME WHILE FIGHTING THE FLU 101

Not only waiting for the day of the surgery is hard enough by itself, but have you tried it while fighting the flu for 7 days in a row?

Staying home sick with less activity makes you think about all the surgery's possibilities, and yes, it makes the wait even worse because you notice your back problems by the second!

But I guess that shouldn't be a big deal if you don't mind sitting home all day watching movies. I'm a movie fanatic, Nathalie even makes fun of the fact that I buy every new release, even the worst movies. So with a collection of almost 2,000 blu-rays right now, killing time is easier and more fun!

I won't lie but with 12 days left for the surgery, anxiety is hunting me. Everything seems serious and real, which is really scary! 12 days before bliss, let's do this with the power of blu-rays!

[sabachu]

LEO, THE MAGIC AFTER THE SURGERY!

Leo has been a personal trainer, a friend, a colleague, and basically the guy that will help me with my recovery after the surgery. 

I met with Leo yesterday to discuss my main plan after the surgery, which is to work with him along with my physiotherapist. I feel comfortable working out with Leo and that's the main reason I want to include him in my recovery. He really does perform his magic in training which is something I've been missing ever since my back's been having problems! Leo's work outs are fun, entertaining and I'm sure he's the guy that will help with my recovery and make it faster.

Leo, Nathalie and I will be meeting with the doctor two days before the surgery to discuss the main steps and the schedule that I will be following during my recovery. 

So here's to another thing I'm counting for after my surgery: Leo, the super work out hero!