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I'm a bit depressed

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Yooper, take it from a man with a bad back. Listen to the docs. I've had four surgeries on my lower back. Two on S1-L5, two on L5-4. I got no more disc back there to repair. Next one's a fusion. I have a permanent drop foot on my left side and haven't felt my left foot in a year. This is nothing to screw with. FWIW, I avioded narcotics as well. I figured the pain reminded me of what not to do. I still ended up where I'm at now.

Be careful. That recovery from back surgery's a real bitch.
 
Yooper, take it from a man with a bad back. Listen to the docs. I've had four surgeries on my lower back. Two on S1-L5, two on L5-4. I got no more disc back there to repair. Next one's a fusion. I have a permanent drop foot on my left side and haven't felt my left foot in a year. This is nothing to screw with. FWIW, I avioded narcotics as well. I figured the pain reminded me of what not to do. I still ended up where I'm at now.

Be careful. That recovery from back surgery's a real bitch.

Yes, even though we're joking around that's what is really on my mind. I mean, the thought of not picking up my grandson, ever, kills me.

But I recognize that if I follow orders, and do what I'm supposed to do (and walking is one of those things, and I enjoy it), then the doctor told me I should be 100% healed in 18 months but with a scar on the disc. The pain should stop WAY before then.

That means I can do everything I want to do, except carry a toddler around. It's worth it, I know. Thank you for the reminder.

The good news is that I'm thin and fit, so there isn't any excess weight to make it worse or aggravate it. But no hockey (probably forever or at least a LONG time), no exercise for a while, and not even working for a while, along with no brewing makes me feel a bit pathetic right now.
 
But no hockey (probably forever or at least a LONG time), no exercise for a while, and not even working for a while, along with no brewing makes me feel a bit pathetic right now.

I hear ya there. I had to quit trucking for a living after 22 years and over 2 million miles on the road. (Guess I should change my name to ex-truckndad, huh?). And had to recruit my son to help with the brewing because I couldn't lift the five gallons. Still on the temporary disability and not able to work yet. That's why I was saying to listen to doc. You sure don't want to end up here.
 
I've been there, too. Follow orders, get better so you can have Quinnday again.

I hope you get better soon!
 
Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

Thank you! And thank you all for the good wishes.

I changed up my dinner tonight, so I can still enjoy cooking up the dinner. Instead of roast leg of lamb in the oven, I'm doing a braised lamb in the slow cooker. The "sauce" has burgundy wine, homegrown herbs, and a bit shot of oatmeal stout. I'll have no problem making mashed potatoes, and Bob is in charge of the vegetables.

The table is semi-set already, with the centerpiece and the candles ready.

I'm worried I won't make church tonight at 9:00 PM. Since the family will be here for dinner, I won't probably get to lie down first and I doubt I can sit if I can't. We'll see, though! I just might make it.

I have a feeling that Santa brought me a new pH meter. If I can't brew, I can go around and check the pH of all my wines currently in secondary. I have a catawba/concord grape wine, a zinfindel, a chokecherry, and a crabapple, all in secondary. I have a hopbursted "Evil Twin" beer in secondary, and for fun I could take the pH and sample it. :D
 
Here's some interesting news- Bob suggested brewing together!

He said he'd do all the work, and I can do my "princess" routine. He's never suggested even been in the same house before during a brew session. He must be thirsty!
 
Yooper- you frickin crack me up. I home my wife is like you when she matures. She's on her way with hunting, cheese and soap making, and gardening. Now if we can work on her making beer and enjoying some edmund fitzgerald...

Get better soon.
 
You have a bulging disc?

I remember when that happened to Maurice Hurst, of the Patriots.....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-cq0WG_qSA]ESPN Blooper - YouTube[/ame]

(if that doesn't cheer you up, at least for a minute, I don't know what the hell will).
 
Yooper said:
Thank you! And thank you all for the good wishes.

I changed up my dinner tonight, so I can still enjoy cooking up the dinner. Instead of roast leg of lamb in the oven, I'm doing a braised lamb in the slow cooker. The "sauce" has burgundy wine, homegrown herbs, and a bit shot of oatmeal stout. I'll have no problem making mashed potatoes, and Bob is in charge of the vegetables.

The table is semi-set already, with the centerpiece and the candles ready.

I'm worried I won't make church tonight at 9:00 PM. Since the family will be here for dinner, I won't probably get to lie down first and I doubt I can sit if I can't. We'll see, though! I just might make it.

I have a feeling that Santa brought me a new pH meter. If I can't brew, I can go around and check the pH of all my wines currently in secondary. I have a catawba/concord grape wine, a zinfindel, a chokecherry, and a crabapple, all in secondary. I have a hopbursted "Evil Twin" beer in secondary, and for fun I could take the pH and sample it. :D

Dinner sounds great! I hope you're feeling well enough to enjoy everything. Remember, you are a yooper and we're tough! Merry Christmas.
 
Yooper said:
Here's some interesting news- Bob suggested brewing together!

He said he'd do all the work, and I can do my "princess" routine. He's never suggested even been in the same house before during a brew session. He must be thirsty!

Now I think you're just faking it...but it's working out for you!
 
Now I think you're just faking it...but it's working out for you!

Oh, that's right! I did the princess routine at your house for a brewday, didn't I? I do believe I stirred the mash (maybe?) and did one or two hop additions.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, as well! I know your house will be insane tomorrow. Let's get together after the holidays for a few beers.
 
Yooper said:
Oh, that's right! I did the princess routine at your house for a brewday, didn't I? I do believe I stirred the mash (maybe?) and did one or two hop additions.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, as well! I know your house will be insane tomorrow. Let's get together after the holidays for a few beers.

You were the mash stirrer/hop/IT gal. My least favorite brewday things really. I think we made a good beer though.

It will be insane...can't wait! Yes, lets get together. Dinner and beers before you and Bob nest for the winter.
 
You were the mash stirrer/hop/IT gal. My least favorite brewday things really. I think we made a good beer though.

It will be insane...can't wait! Yes, lets get together. Dinner and beers before you and Bob nest for the winter.

Well, I found out why Bob wants to help me brew! He got me some brewing stuff for Christmas, and I know he wants me to get the chance to play with the pH meter.

I sort of guessed at the pH meter anyway, but the Blichmann beergun was a surprise! I guess now he expects me to fill a few bottles for friends. Especially because he wants YOU to have the Belgian!!!!! :D
 
Yooper said:
Well, I found out why Bob wants to help me brew! He got me some brewing stuff for Christmas, and I know he wants me to get the chance to play with the pH meter.

I sort of guessed at the pH meter anyway, but the Blichmann beergun was a surprise! I guess now he expects me to fill a few bottles for friends. Especially because he wants YOU to have the Belgian!!!!! :D

I had no idea about the gun. Lucky! You know I won't refuse a bottle of beer. Thanks Bob!
 
Get well soon! I luckily haven't had back issues, but I have heard they are the worst pain of all.
 
Yes, even though we're joking around that's what is really on my mind. I mean, the thought of not picking up my grandson, ever, kills me.

Hey Yooper,
I really hope the best for you and your back. My wife is recovering from her 2nd back surgery. L5-S1. She had several bulges that "just appeared". Crazy stuff, but really, take care of yourself. We have two little ones, ages 2 & 3 and it is killing her not being able to pick them up when they want to be picked up. Back problems suck to say the least. Good luck in the recovery!
 
Hey Yooper,
I really hope the best for you and your back. My wife is recovering from her 2nd back surgery. L5-S1. She had several bulges that "just appeared". Crazy stuff, but really, take care of yourself. We have two little ones, ages 2 & 3 and it is killing her not being able to pick them up when they want to be picked up. Back problems suck to say the least. Good luck in the recovery!

Thanks!

I'm hurting too bad to brew today even with my "brewboy" willing to do all the work. So, he's mixing up wine under my direction. We've got 5 gallons of crabapple and another 5 gallons of chokecherry going. He's really NOT interested in the process but he likes winemaking more than brewing.

The funny thing is, I was teasing him about how much he needs me now that he's a beer snob. I said, "You know, most guys tell their wives to 'Go make me a sammich!' but you're telling me to 'Go make me an IPA'! I can never stop brewing because you will never go back to commercial beer." Bob just laughed and said, "Well, I can make my own sammich. But I can't make my own IPA. So, yeah, I need you."

I told you he adores me! :D
 
My sympathies, Yoop.

I fell down some stairs in May of 2010, just after bottling my first batch of homebrew, and spent the entire summer with my leg in a cast unable to do much except hobble around on crutches. It was VERY very frustrating. Took about 6 months for it to heal up to the point of where I could actually put any sort of stress on it (didn't stop me from brewing as soon as I got the damned cast off my leg - which is probably why it took so long to heal completely).

I hate having to rely on people to "take care of me" - goes against my extremely independent nature. I also hate being told what to do - especially if that includes words like "be a princess" :ban:

Hang in there, give your back time to heal. Back problems are no joke, and are pretty darn difficult to heal unless you listen to doctor's orders.
 
I fell down some stairs in May of 2010, just after bottling my first batch of homebrew, and spent the entire summer with my leg in a cast unable to do much except hobble around on crutches. It was VERY very frustrating. Took about 6 months for it to heal up to the point of where I could actually put any sort of stress on it (didn't stop me from brewing as soon as I got the damned cast off my leg - which is probably why it took so long to heal completely).

That's sort of how "Broken Leg Brewery" got started, actually. I broke my leg playing hockey (my own teammate tangled up in my skate) and I was laid up in a wheelchair off and on for 18 months. So I started brewing, since winemaking was taking too long and I needed a new hobby! I could stand, usually, when I wasn't in a regular cast, but couldn't walk without crutches. I went crazy by day two, so it was a really really long year and a half for me! But I was able to extract brew in my kitchen until my leg was well enough for me to do AG.

I'm going to see how I feel tomorrow and see if my brew-boy will feel like hauling my stuff around for me. I have a nice setup with pumps so as long as I don't lose prime with a pump and Bob helps me dump the MLT and clean the BK (I could never lift it in this shape), I will try to do it.

I can't put any beer in the kegerator, but I can stand by Bob and point to what I need him to do, so I'm hoping to put a keg of Janet's Brown Ale on tomorrow.
 
Pain management is very important for the healing process. I used to use the pain killers at night to be able to sleep but I could only sleep 15 to 20 minutes max at a time, with pain waking me up to turn over, just to do it again in 15 minutes or less. Not fun. After 15 years, a friend gave me the book MIRACLE OF MSM. With some research on MSM, I now get 3 to 4 hours of sleep at a shot. There are other benefits that go along with MSM. If you have any questions PM me to talk. Oh yeah, this relief costs a whopping 11 cents a day.
 
Oh bloody hell, Yoop, stop all this whining! Suck it up and and stop complaining! What the hell kind of man are you!!?? Go and shoot a deer or something.

Oh, and get well soon. Nothing makes me weep like a six year old girl as much as a bad back. Lie back, get some vegetables inside you and get back to being yourself soon. :)
 
Oh bloody hell, Yoop, stop all this whining! Suck it up and and stop complaining! What the hell kind of man are you!!?? Go and shoot a deer or something.

Oh, and get well soon. Nothing makes me weep like a six year old girl as much as a bad back. Lie back, get some vegetables inside you and get back to being yourself soon. :)

Well, thanks for the loving and kind words. I knew I could count on you!

Tomorrow, Bob is going to be the Assistant Brewmaster. I will give him instructions, and he is doing a 10 gallon batch of my DFH clone. I get to use my new pH meter, and supervise. Hopefully we like being that close for that long!
 

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