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I had my last physio pool session on Friday. We did a few more exercises than the first session and it lasted a bit longer. Since I was doing so well, the physio said I would only need a few weeks of pool sessions before I could move onto land based physical therapy. Mr. Boeree had mentioned this as well in our last consult.

After the pool session, I had my staples removed. She put some steri-strips across the wound to hold things together for the flight home. It is nice to have the staples out as it does not pull as much. However, since the incision is directly across my waistband line, it has been a bit uncomfortable to wear jeans. I wore them on the flight home, and had some bleeding through the dressing which is probably also partially due to the blood thinners they have me on to prevent blood clots. I may try to round up some more steri-strips for some extra support. If I had it to do over again, I would have bought a pair of track suit pants and wore those instead of jeans.

The trip home was a long day. I was not in much pain, however. I took some ibuprofen and some tramadol preemptively which I think helped. Luckily, the traffic was not bad and it took about an hour to get from eastleigh to heathrow. I found a bench in the airport and was able to lay down for the hour and 45 mins before our flight boarded. I had a business class flight with a lay flat seat which I think is required after a surgery like this. Even so, you need to be upright for take offs, landing, and if you want to eat without getting food all over yourself. Then it was a short drive to my house and I was home. I didn't end up using the wheelchair in the airport, but I would have if I hadn't been able to tolerate standing around for security/customs etc.

I got back home and was a little sore and very tired, so I took another ibuprofen and went to bed. I still get tired pretty quickly, and as you might imagine, the day wore me out pretty good. Today my parents helped me with some grocery shopping before they took off. It is nice to be home and to have all the planning and worrying over for now. I'm off work until sept. 19th so I can concentrate on getting better.

There is a therapy pool at the hospital not far from where I live and they have a low back program that I am going to try to have my surgeon here sign the papers for to get me in.

Once again, I want to say thanks for all my well wishers. I appreciate the support and hope the best for those who are recovering from a similar back surgery, or are planning on one.