I'm starting this diary as a supplemental viewpoint to the other
information on the web. I'll add updates every week or so until I
have nothing else significant to offer.  On Labor Day 2005, (~6 months)
I'll consolidate all my postings and add a final opinion on my
experience.  Hope this helps.

Profile:
Age: 36
Weight: 130 lbs
Height: 5' 7"
Pretty fit and active
Live in Wisconsin
Probably injured my back 13 years ago on a leg press weight
machine...(trying to show off).
Lived with pain on and off ever since.   Increasing more on than off
last 4 years.
Had physical therapy, then xrays, MRIs, and CT scans.
Had 2 doctors suggest L5-S1 back fusion.
On 3-11-2005, I had the 5.5-hour surgery. The Dr. restored 80% of the
disk space, inserted a biosynthetic disk, fused the vertebrae with
titanium hardware thru an 11-inch incision.  No nausea from anesthesia.

Day 1
Scratched my eye in recovery.
Felt groggy in my hospital room...could hear and understand people
talking around me but could not respond
Two hours after surgery, I asked my son about his field trip. (Amazed I
was so coherent)

Day 2
Fitted me with back brace...painful process.  They should have waited a
day or so...until I could get of bed.
They wanted to give me one unit of my blood back, so they disconnected
my PCA IV (morphine) to administer.  Bad Idea.  I had 1 hour of intense
pain and they never were able to give me the blood.
Started taking oral pain pills.
Physical therapist got me to stand.

Day 3
Got a sponge bath.  Felt very good.
Disconnects urinary catheter and wound drain tube.
Took my first walk with a walker down the hall...about 50 feet.
Later to 2 more walks.  Each one longer and easier than the previous.

Day 4
Walking was easier.
Able to sit in a chair and eat.
Had First Shower.
PT made sure I could walk up stairs and get in and out of tub.
Dismissed from hospital...went home with walker and raised toilet seat.
Teeth rattling chills.

Day 5
First walk down the driveway 75 feet to mailbox.  2nd to cul-de-sac (2
blocks).  I tried the walker...did not work outside.  Never used again.
3rd and last trip was to the same as second.
Slept a lot and laid in bed when I was not eating or walking.

Day 6
Walked to end of street.
Stop using pain killers.  Kept using muscle relaxers.
Depressed at bedtime.  Had headache.

Day 7
Mentally had a hard time getting of bed.  Why?  Not allowed to do
anything.
Showered...felt better.
Did my walks...increased distance and speed.
Only one dose of muscle relaxers.
Stopped using raised toilet seat.
Extreme thirst went away when I stopped taking the medicine.
First bowel movements.
Slept on stomach for an hour or so...have not been able to do this for
years.  1st evidence, surgery might have benefited me.

Day 8
Did not walk in the Wisconsin rain.
Husband drove me to grocery store and walked.
No prescription drugs.
First day I spent more time out of bed than in it

Day 9
I walked collectively over 1.5 miles and could have done more if the
weather would have permitted.
Still hard sitting in a chair for extended periods.
Feel very good but bored to death...still can't do anything.
Still getting extreme chills and hot flashes.