![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Greg on October 23, 2000, at 19:45:05
All,
The surgery went very well. He repaired all the damage and I should mend quickly. To be honest, I already feel better than before the procedure. I can put weight on it and am walking without crutches or
a walker. The pain I feel is more of an ache that actual pain, but we'll see what tomorrow brings. I'll be working at home until Thursday so expect lots of posts from me :^) The game plan now is to take 3 days off, behave myself and do my exercises as instructed. I'll see the doc next Tuesday and we'll determine then if Physical Therapy is needed.One thing I wanted to share. I've often seen people who are paralyzed from the waist down and wondered what it must be like for them. The Valium put me to sleep thru the entire procedure and I didn't wake up
until about an hour afterwards. When I woke and realized that I could feel nothing from my waist down it scared me in a way I had never been scared before. I tried desperately to move my legs and feet. I
couldn't even wiggle my toes. I felt so helpless that it made me cry a couple of times. I was never so grateful for anything as I was when the feeling finally started to return.I have always respected those who have to live their lives without the use of their legs, but could only imagine what it was like, now I know. I have always taken for granted being able to walk, run, have an active sex life. You don't know what you've got until
it's gone. What a difference 5 hours can make in your life huh? I only wish it hadn't taken something like this to make me realize it.My thanks to all that sent their well-wishes and kept me in their thoughts. I am grateful for you all.
Greg
Posted by Cam W. on October 23, 2000, at 20:24:08
In reply to Surgery went well, posted by Greg on October 23, 2000, at 19:45:05
Nice to see you made it through fairly easily, Festus. - Cam
Posted by shar on October 24, 2000, at 0:11:05
In reply to Re: Surgery went well » Greg, posted by Cam W. on October 23, 2000, at 20:24:08
Yea! Glad to hear it. Don't forget to follow dr's orders and not overdo it. Appreciate your time in bed, being waited on hand and foot (knee?). I'm impressed that you were able to have a realization about others, when you were dealing with surgery/discomfort/pain yourself.
Take it easy!!
Shar
Posted by Angela5 on October 24, 2000, at 0:18:27
In reply to Re: Surgery went well, posted by shar on October 24, 2000, at 0:11:05
I'm very glad to hear that it went well, and I hope that your recovery goes even better. :)
It really is amazing the things that we take for granted, isn't it?
Angela
Posted by Racer on October 24, 2000, at 2:22:33
In reply to Surgery went well, posted by Greg on October 23, 2000, at 19:45:05
Yippee! It's over!
I can't believe you're walking without crutches! Congratulations. (Think of it: wow, he's walking already! And he's only ??? how old? You can tell everyone this is your second toddlerhood -- but only if you're as warped as I am...)
Glad to hear you're up and around. Good recovery to you.
Posted by chdurie2 on October 24, 2000, at 11:41:28
In reply to Does this mean we're not going dancing Friday?? » Greg, posted by Racer on October 24, 2000, at 2:22:33
> Yippee! It's over!
>
> I can't believe you're walking without crutches! Congratulations. (Think of it: wow, he's walking already! And he's only ??? how old? You can tell everyone this is your second toddlerhood -- but only if you're as warped as I am...)
>
> Glad to hear you're up and around. Good recovery to you.Greg- guess we're not going to blow leaves together either, huh??
just adding my good wishes to everyone else's above.
i find it really ironic that surgery is really easy; it's life that's the hard part.
sounds like you'll be blowing leaves and dancing in no time. Can I have the first dance? (after racer, of course!)
caroline
Posted by Greg on October 24, 2000, at 11:54:23
In reply to Re: Does this mean we're not going dancing Friday??, posted by chdurie2 on October 24, 2000, at 11:41:28
My dance card is wide open! Of course I'll have to only dance the slow ones for awhile....
Greg
> > Yippee! It's over!
> >
> > I can't believe you're walking without crutches! Congratulations. (Think of it: wow, he's walking already! And he's only ??? how old? You can tell everyone this is your second toddlerhood -- but only if you're as warped as I am...)
> >
> > Glad to hear you're up and around. Good recovery to you.
>
> Greg- guess we're not going to blow leaves together either, huh??
>
> just adding my good wishes to everyone else's above.
>
> i find it really ironic that surgery is really easy; it's life that's the hard part.
>
> sounds like you'll be blowing leaves and dancing in no time. Can I have the first dance? (after racer, of course!)
>
> caroline
Posted by Racer on October 25, 2000, at 2:11:53
In reply to Re: Friday sounds good...., posted by Greg on October 24, 2000, at 11:54:23
Of course I'll have to only dance the slow ones for awhile....
>
> GregOK, this has got to lead to the survey question we've all been hoping for:
What is your favorite ever slow dance song?
In fact, let's make it your top three favorite slow dance songs.
How many vote for "You're still a young man"? What's that, EVERY woman here voted for it? Doesn't surprise me! And "Miracles" as a close second? Yeah, that's my prediction. What's number 3? (Time in a Bottle? At Seventeen? Come Saturday Morning? You know what? I don't have a third favorite slow dance tune... C'mon, someone suggest one!)
Posted by Cam W. on October 25, 2000, at 6:48:46
In reply to Re: Does this mean we're not going dancing Friday??, posted by chdurie2 on October 24, 2000, at 11:41:28
> sounds like you'll be blowing leaves and dancing in no time.I'm not even going to ask. - Cam
;^)
Posted by Noa on October 25, 2000, at 14:20:32
In reply to SURVEY!!!!!!!! C'Mon, we needed one!, posted by Racer on October 25, 2000, at 2:11:53
Racer, when I was in Junior High, it was Can't live if living means without you...by Nielsen? I think?
Posted by dove on October 25, 2000, at 14:59:28
In reply to Re: SURVEY!!!!!!!! C'Mon, we needed one!, posted by Noa on October 25, 2000, at 14:20:32
((((Greg))))
I send my best wishes, and have been keeping you close to my heart. You are such a unique individual, and I'm so grateful for your ability to share honestly and from your heart, even in the face of scary things like surgery and depression :-)
Great big hugs going your way ((((Greg))))
~dove
Posted by dove on October 25, 2000, at 15:08:29
In reply to Re: SURVEY!!!!!!!! C'Mon, we needed one!, posted by Noa on October 25, 2000, at 14:20:32
Here's my vote for #1, and yes, this song made its debut long before I was born. It has been my misfortune to have never had the opportunity to actually dance to this one, but it moves me to tears whenever I hear it.
So now, without further ado, my pick for Slow Dance Song Number 1:
"Till We Meet Again" as sung by Vera Lynn sometime around 1939.
Posted by Cindy W on October 25, 2000, at 21:40:04
In reply to Re: Does this mean we're not going dancing Friday??, posted by Cam W. on October 25, 2000, at 6:48:46
>
> > sounds like you'll be blowing leaves and dancing in no time.
>
> I'm not even going to ask. - Cam
> ;^)Cam, you have an amazing sense of humor!
Greg, hope you're skipping around in no time.
Posted by Snowie on October 26, 2000, at 7:09:34
In reply to Surgery went well, posted by Greg on October 23, 2000, at 19:45:05
Greg,
Congratulations, and I'm sure you're relieved that's behind you! I'm happy to know your surgery went well, and that you're on the road to recovery. Best of luck!
Snowie
> All,
>
> The surgery went very well. He repaired all the damage and I should mend quickly. To be honest, I already feel better than before the procedure. I can put weight on it and am walking without crutches or
> a walker. The pain I feel is more of an ache that actual pain, but we'll see what tomorrow brings. I'll be working at home until Thursday so expect lots of posts from me :^) The game plan now is to take 3 days off, behave myself and do my exercises as instructed. I'll see the doc next Tuesday and we'll determine then if Physical Therapy is needed.
>
> One thing I wanted to share. I've often seen people who are paralyzed from the waist down and wondered what it must be like for them. The Valium put me to sleep thru the entire procedure and I didn't wake up
> until about an hour afterwards. When I woke and realized that I could feel nothing from my waist down it scared me in a way I had never been scared before. I tried desperately to move my legs and feet. I
> couldn't even wiggle my toes. I felt so helpless that it made me cry a couple of times. I was never so grateful for anything as I was when the feeling finally started to return.
>
> I have always respected those who have to live their lives without the use of their legs, but could only imagine what it was like, now I know. I have always taken for granted being able to walk, run, have an active sex life. You don't know what you've got until
> it's gone. What a difference 5 hours can make in your life huh? I only wish it hadn't taken something like this to make me realize it.
>
> My thanks to all that sent their well-wishes and kept me in their thoughts. I am grateful for you all.
>
> Greg
Posted by Rzip on October 26, 2000, at 21:53:44
In reply to Surgery went well, posted by Greg on October 23, 2000, at 19:45:05
Greg,
I hope that you are recuperating well. Peaceful and relaxed?
I was wondering if I can trouble you with a question. How did you get the people on this board to like you so much? What is your secret (if you care to share).
- Rzip
Posted by Greg on October 27, 2000, at 11:10:05
In reply to Re: Surgery went well » Greg, posted by Rzip on October 26, 2000, at 21:53:44
Rzip,
I don't think I've ever had anyone ask me this question before. I tripped over my thoughts several times before trying to respond. I'll do my best.
First, I don't think that everyone here particularly likes me. I lead with my heart. I have yet to find that common ground between mind and soul, but I'm trying. I tend to get very passionate about certain subjects, and during those times I can be less than tactful. I think this is evident in some of my recent posts. Once again, I am sorry about that. I could easily blame these times on my dis-ease, but that would be doing myself, you and the others here an injustice. I am ultimately responsible for what I say and do.
Bottom line? I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam (I love to quote Popeye) I just try to be myself. I don't expect everyone to like me. I try to be honest, caring and compassionate. I try to reach out to others when I think I can help. I try to be open and honest about who I am and let others get to know me. Does that open me up to get hurt? Absolutely. But I'd rather get hurt from time to time than lead a life that shelters me from the joys and happiness that are waiting for me, all I have to do is grab it. I haven't always been this way. I was at a time in my life, a very cold, calculating, miserable person. I saw only the negative things in life. I had no friends and didn't want any. This was when I was a practicing alcoholic. I finally hit bottom and decided to seek help. I didn't get it right the first time, I was in and out of recovery centers, AA and detox facilities on numerous occasions before it finally soaked in. I finally found the real Greg and decided I liked him. On Jan 3rd of 2001 I will celebrate my 13th birthday of sobriety. I am very proud of that.
Probably the most important thing I can tell you is to just be yourself. Be honest about who and what you are. Be true to yourself. Be prepared that sometimes you will get hurt, but if you're lucky like me, you will find a wealth of riches in your family and friends that will last you a lifetime. And you'll feel better about yourself too. Remember that the rebuilding process starts inside of you. Once you become OK with who you are you will have more friends than you ever could have hoped for. My Grandmother once told me "The greatest injustice you can do to yourself is to try to be someone that you're not". She was a very wise woman.
I wish you the best in your journey for peace and contentment. If there is anything I can do to help, just ask. My e-mail is at the top of the page if you'd like to write me.
Peace,
GregP.S. I'm one of those people that if you ask me what time it is, I'll tell you how to build a watch. Sorry about the lengthly response.
> Greg,
>
> I hope that you are recuperating well. Peaceful and relaxed?
>
> I was wondering if I can trouble you with a question. How did you get the people on this board to like you so much? What is your secret (if you care to share).
>
> - Rzip
Posted by Racer on October 27, 2000, at 16:37:04
In reply to Re: Just be yourself » Rzip, posted by Greg on October 27, 2000, at 11:10:05
Greg is popular here, both for the reasons he mentioned above and for a few others:
Greg quotes the true philosophers, like Popeye, and assists us in our search for Truth, Love, Light and Spinach.
It helps that he has a sense of humor he shares with us.
Greg is very generous with his time, in responding thoughtfully to posts, and his emotions, by caring about what others are going through.
Maybe Greg is smart, too, but I think that's not really why he's popular. I think it's nice that he is, but mostly it's the caring and generosity that make him popular.
And as a note to Rzip, I think the most important point in all this is that he isn't self-referent in his posts. It sounds as though you're still in that phase of life or depression where a lot of the world revolves around you. That's not a slam, since most of us have experienced just that, but it is a factor in popularity.
I think, if you go back and read a bunch of Greg's posts and responses to other people's posts, you'll find that he only mentions himself in two ways: he has a way to help someone else, or he needs direct, specific help himself.
Greg is a very special individual, not many people are able to think so much of others when they're in pain themselves. Still, he's not a bad role model for all of us. Looking at the world around us and the other people in it can help us all.
Kinda like Buddha's mustard seed: a young mother brings her dead baby to Buddha, sobbing and unable to bear her loss. He sends her to the nearest village for a mustard seed from a household which has never experienced pain or loss such as hers. You can figure out what happened, right? ;-)
Posted by Rzip on October 27, 2000, at 17:30:03
In reply to Re: Just be yourself » Rzip, posted by Greg on October 27, 2000, at 11:10:05
> Thank you Greg and Racer,
I am so envious of the maturity and the acceptance that you guys display through your posts.
I hope one day I will be as enlightened and forgiving as Greg. It is still very hard for me to admit that I am not mentally healthy. It is just such a shock for this to be a chronic problem.
-Rzip
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.