Saturday, October 31, 2009
Word of advice on the stick blenders...
...unplug them before you go sticking your greedy fingers in there to scoop out the egg salad (or whatever concoction you are craving) because otherwise your big fat palm could hit the on switch while your finger is in there and send you to the emergency room. Not so very much fun that trip was! Good news was that no stitches - the 1/3 of the nail that was cut through and the tip will eventually fall off and until then will serve as a "biological bandaid" according to the ER doc. I have received endless ribbing from family and friends on this subject...I mean how bright does one have to be to blend ones own finger?! LOL Anyway, I have passed on the warning...and haven't touched the thing since! :)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
One Week Out Today
Hola!
So it's been one week from today since my surgery. Things went pretty well!
I was very nervous when I got to the hospital and opted for the nerve stuff the anesthesia guy offered. I don't remember anything about the recovery room except that they told me I needed to keep breathing...and I remember some pain and telling them I was in pain and them telling me that until I started breathing regularly they wouldn't give me anything more. I don't remember getting to my room, only that I slept a lot that first night. They didn't make me walk, but did get me up in a chair.
The second day was a bit more eventful. I had had two albuterol treatments the first night and no issue...but the third one about mid morning the second day was not a good thing for me. My heart rate went up to 155, the rapid response team had to come in and I was hooked up to all sorts of monitors. Of course my mom had arrived for her visit about 10 minutes before all that happened so I royally freaked her out. Because my heart rate didn't come out of 130's within the allotted time, I bought myself a day and night in the ICU unit but not before they ruled out everything else but the breathing treatment (they did a contrast ct scan for a leak, chest xrays, etc). I had to keep refusing the breathing treatments because I knew they'd do the same thing and even had the lung doctor come in and chide me a bit and each time I had to use the little inspiratory breathing thing to show them I was ok so that was kinda annoying.
I was released Saturday night late and had to get all my prescriptions before heading home and that was also kinda annoying. Things have been really kinda ok since getting out. I didn't get my fluids in Sunday but have everyday since then. I'm struggling with protein shakes because they are sooo sweet and gross. I have a whole thing of the unjury chicken soup but it killed me the first night so I'll have to try it again tomorrow morning to see if I have the same reaction. I have only been able to get about 1 and a half in a day. A whole one for breakfast and then a half after "dinner" - I'm on liquids for two more weeks. Supplements are ok - I haven't gotten a full day but I've gotten at least a dose of everything in and today might be my first day for getting everything in.
First impressions....my stomach makes the most ungodly noises when I eat something it doesn't like. I mean it literally sounds like a toilet flushing inside me. Gross. I can't imagine having that happen in a meeting. I've had maybe 3 incidences of paint peeling gas..otherwise it doesn't really smell like anything yet. Poos were liquidy early out and then hard to where I took some fiber. I'm hoping they come out somewhere in the middle but I think it's too early to tell yet. I don't go frequently but again, I think it's probably too early to tell what they will turn out to be on average.
I find I'm lactose intolerant right now - I made the mistake of having two ounces of cottage cheese for lunch and I swear it is going to perforate my seams of my stomach with all the bloating and gas UGH. Won't do that again! :)
So all in all, I'm alive, switched and have dropped 16.5 lbs in a week. Whooo hooo!Hola!
So it's been one week from today since my surgery. Things went pretty well!
I was very nervous when I got to the hospital and opted for the nerve stuff the anesthesia guy offered. I don't remember anything about the recovery room except that they told me I needed to keep breathing...and I remember some pain and telling them I was in pain and them telling me that until I started breathing regularly they wouldn't give me anything more. I don't remember getting to my room, only that I slept a lot that first night. They didn't make me walk, but did get me up in a chair.
The second day was a bit more eventful. I had had two albuterol treatments the first night and no issue...but the third one about mid morning the second day was not a good thing for me. My heart rate went up to 155, the rapid response team had to come in and I was hooked up to all sorts of monitors. Of course my mom had arrived for her visit about 10 minutes before all that happened so I royally freaked her out. Because my heart rate didn't come out of 130's within the allotted time, I bought myself a day and night in the ICU unit but not before they ruled out everything else but the breathing treatment (they did a contrast ct scan for a leak, chest xrays, etc). I had to keep refusing the breathing treatments because I knew they'd do the same thing and even had the lung doctor come in and chide me a bit and each time I had to use the little inspiratory breathing thing to show them I was ok so that was kinda annoying.
I was released Saturday night late and had to get all my prescriptions before heading home and that was also kinda annoying. Things have been really kinda ok since getting out. I didn't get my fluids in Sunday but have everyday since then. I'm struggling with protein shakes because they are sooo sweet and gross. I have a whole thing of the unjury chicken soup but it killed me the first night so I'll have to try it again tomorrow morning to see if I have the same reaction. I have only been able to get about 1 and a half in a day. A whole one for breakfast and then a half after "dinner" - I'm on liquids for two more weeks. Supplements are ok - I haven't gotten a full day but I've gotten at least a dose of everything in and today might be my first day for getting everything in.
First impressions....my stomach makes the most ungodly noises when I eat something it doesn't like. I mean it literally sounds like a toilet flushing inside me. Gross. I can't imagine having that happen in a meeting. I've had maybe 3 incidences of paint peeling gas..otherwise it doesn't really smell like anything yet. Poos were liquidy early out and then hard to where I took some fiber. I'm hoping they come out somewhere in the middle but I think it's too early to tell yet. I don't go frequently but again, I think it's probably too early to tell what they will turn out to be on average.
I find I'm lactose intolerant right now - I made the mistake of having two ounces of cottage cheese for lunch and I swear it is going to perforate my seams of my stomach with all the bloating and gas UGH. Won't do that again! :)
So all in all, I'm alive, switched and have dropped 16.5 lbs in a week. Whooo hooo!
So it's been one week from today since my surgery. Things went pretty well!
I was very nervous when I got to the hospital and opted for the nerve stuff the anesthesia guy offered. I don't remember anything about the recovery room except that they told me I needed to keep breathing...and I remember some pain and telling them I was in pain and them telling me that until I started breathing regularly they wouldn't give me anything more. I don't remember getting to my room, only that I slept a lot that first night. They didn't make me walk, but did get me up in a chair.
The second day was a bit more eventful. I had had two albuterol treatments the first night and no issue...but the third one about mid morning the second day was not a good thing for me. My heart rate went up to 155, the rapid response team had to come in and I was hooked up to all sorts of monitors. Of course my mom had arrived for her visit about 10 minutes before all that happened so I royally freaked her out. Because my heart rate didn't come out of 130's within the allotted time, I bought myself a day and night in the ICU unit but not before they ruled out everything else but the breathing treatment (they did a contrast ct scan for a leak, chest xrays, etc). I had to keep refusing the breathing treatments because I knew they'd do the same thing and even had the lung doctor come in and chide me a bit and each time I had to use the little inspiratory breathing thing to show them I was ok so that was kinda annoying.
I was released Saturday night late and had to get all my prescriptions before heading home and that was also kinda annoying. Things have been really kinda ok since getting out. I didn't get my fluids in Sunday but have everyday since then. I'm struggling with protein shakes because they are sooo sweet and gross. I have a whole thing of the unjury chicken soup but it killed me the first night so I'll have to try it again tomorrow morning to see if I have the same reaction. I have only been able to get about 1 and a half in a day. A whole one for breakfast and then a half after "dinner" - I'm on liquids for two more weeks. Supplements are ok - I haven't gotten a full day but I've gotten at least a dose of everything in and today might be my first day for getting everything in.
First impressions....my stomach makes the most ungodly noises when I eat something it doesn't like. I mean it literally sounds like a toilet flushing inside me. Gross. I can't imagine having that happen in a meeting. I've had maybe 3 incidences of paint peeling gas..otherwise it doesn't really smell like anything yet. Poos were liquidy early out and then hard to where I took some fiber. I'm hoping they come out somewhere in the middle but I think it's too early to tell yet. I don't go frequently but again, I think it's probably too early to tell what they will turn out to be on average.
I find I'm lactose intolerant right now - I made the mistake of having two ounces of cottage cheese for lunch and I swear it is going to perforate my seams of my stomach with all the bloating and gas UGH. Won't do that again! :)
So all in all, I'm alive, switched and have dropped 16.5 lbs in a week. Whooo hooo!Hola!
So it's been one week from today since my surgery. Things went pretty well!
I was very nervous when I got to the hospital and opted for the nerve stuff the anesthesia guy offered. I don't remember anything about the recovery room except that they told me I needed to keep breathing...and I remember some pain and telling them I was in pain and them telling me that until I started breathing regularly they wouldn't give me anything more. I don't remember getting to my room, only that I slept a lot that first night. They didn't make me walk, but did get me up in a chair.
The second day was a bit more eventful. I had had two albuterol treatments the first night and no issue...but the third one about mid morning the second day was not a good thing for me. My heart rate went up to 155, the rapid response team had to come in and I was hooked up to all sorts of monitors. Of course my mom had arrived for her visit about 10 minutes before all that happened so I royally freaked her out. Because my heart rate didn't come out of 130's within the allotted time, I bought myself a day and night in the ICU unit but not before they ruled out everything else but the breathing treatment (they did a contrast ct scan for a leak, chest xrays, etc). I had to keep refusing the breathing treatments because I knew they'd do the same thing and even had the lung doctor come in and chide me a bit and each time I had to use the little inspiratory breathing thing to show them I was ok so that was kinda annoying.
I was released Saturday night late and had to get all my prescriptions before heading home and that was also kinda annoying. Things have been really kinda ok since getting out. I didn't get my fluids in Sunday but have everyday since then. I'm struggling with protein shakes because they are sooo sweet and gross. I have a whole thing of the unjury chicken soup but it killed me the first night so I'll have to try it again tomorrow morning to see if I have the same reaction. I have only been able to get about 1 and a half in a day. A whole one for breakfast and then a half after "dinner" - I'm on liquids for two more weeks. Supplements are ok - I haven't gotten a full day but I've gotten at least a dose of everything in and today might be my first day for getting everything in.
First impressions....my stomach makes the most ungodly noises when I eat something it doesn't like. I mean it literally sounds like a toilet flushing inside me. Gross. I can't imagine having that happen in a meeting. I've had maybe 3 incidences of paint peeling gas..otherwise it doesn't really smell like anything yet. Poos were liquidy early out and then hard to where I took some fiber. I'm hoping they come out somewhere in the middle but I think it's too early to tell yet. I don't go frequently but again, I think it's probably too early to tell what they will turn out to be on average.
I find I'm lactose intolerant right now - I made the mistake of having two ounces of cottage cheese for lunch and I swear it is going to perforate my seams of my stomach with all the bloating and gas UGH. Won't do that again! :)
So all in all, I'm alive, switched and have dropped 16.5 lbs in a week. Whooo hooo!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Surgery!
I'm alive! I made it through surgery! I had it on the 21st of October. I didn't get much sleep the morning before so was very tired and anxious by the time I got to the hospital.
I checked in and had to wait about 15 minutes before I was called back. I had to strip down to a paper gown, and D was allowed to come back with me. I was pacing, and generally very nervous. I kept telling him it wasn't too late to run! The medical professionals could tell I was very on edge and offered me some adavan to calm my nerves, which I took. I don't remember much after that. I remember going to the "kissing corner" and kissing D goodbye. I remember getting rolled in to the OR and seeing all the monitors and as soon as I slid over on to the table, them giving me the good stuff and I was out like a light.
The next thing I remember is being in pain in recovery. Very white hot pain but I was sooo sleepy that I don't remember agony but rather it was just there. I kept telling them it was painful and they kept telling me when I started breathing correctly, they would up the pain medicine. I could hear the machines beeping each time it picked up I had stopped breathing and they would yell from where ever they are "Jade, start breathing honny" and that kind of thing. I don't remember coming out of recovery, or getting to my room. I slept a LOT that first day. My hubby had on Glee, and I remember bits and pieces of that. Eventually they made me get in a chair and I did that for about 10 minutes or so before I wanted to lay down and sleep. I have no idea how people walk the same day - crazy!
They were very worried about my asthma right from the get go. They gave me two breathing treatments that evening and I was fine. I could do the lung inspiratory just fine. The next morning, my mom showed up to give my hubby a break so he could go let the dogs out. I had just finished a breathing treatment and D had just left to let the poor dogs out. My mom being around put me SO on edge that I had a mini panic attack. It was not good. My heart beat went up to 155, which is not good. Everything started to turn white, which made me panic even more. They called for the rapid response team but it was not rapid. By the time they made it there, I was back down to about 129 beats per minute, which was still high but not "the white light is coming" high. They were about 10 minutes getting to me and I'm sitting here thinking now, what if it was really bad and I went in to cardiac arrest? Would they have a responded quicker to a code blue call? Anyway, that was really my only gripe about the whole stay is that one piece of it.
So they hook me up to a heart monitor thing, EKG maybe?, to see what was wrong with my heart. They kept saying it was sinus rhythm that apparently was a good thing. Having been so educated pre-op, I knew that a rapid heart beat could be a sign of a leak or a pulmonary embolism. Because my heartbeat stayed so elevated for longer than it should have (it basically stayed above 130 for over 30 minutes), I bought myself a day in the ICU. But before they took me there, they did a full CT scan of my chest and abdomen to rule anything out and it was clear. I remember they put me before a guy who had fallen 23 feet and had broken bones - that scared the shit out of me because if that guy was that bad off, how bad off did they think I was?? It was pretty fucking scary. That set the tone for the anxiety I had throughout my hospital stay.
I don't remember much about the ICU on Thursday. My bff Katie came to visit for a couple hours so D could go home and let the poor dogs out. I'm eternally grateful for her support in all of this - I couldn't have done it without her.
Once I got out of the ICU on Friday, I developed a pain in my upper thigh. I mentioned it to the nurse and she told the doctor who sent me down for an ultrasound stat. I told them it felt like it was sore from getting in an out of bed and such but they sent me any way. It came out clean too.
Finally Saturday, they gave me the option of staying the night or going home. At that point I wasn't getting my fluids in and told the doctor so. He said to work on them and see if I could get them. I tried really hard and made it so I told them I wanted out. I got home about 10:00 pm. So far so good!
I checked in and had to wait about 15 minutes before I was called back. I had to strip down to a paper gown, and D was allowed to come back with me. I was pacing, and generally very nervous. I kept telling him it wasn't too late to run! The medical professionals could tell I was very on edge and offered me some adavan to calm my nerves, which I took. I don't remember much after that. I remember going to the "kissing corner" and kissing D goodbye. I remember getting rolled in to the OR and seeing all the monitors and as soon as I slid over on to the table, them giving me the good stuff and I was out like a light.
The next thing I remember is being in pain in recovery. Very white hot pain but I was sooo sleepy that I don't remember agony but rather it was just there. I kept telling them it was painful and they kept telling me when I started breathing correctly, they would up the pain medicine. I could hear the machines beeping each time it picked up I had stopped breathing and they would yell from where ever they are "Jade, start breathing honny" and that kind of thing. I don't remember coming out of recovery, or getting to my room. I slept a LOT that first day. My hubby had on Glee, and I remember bits and pieces of that. Eventually they made me get in a chair and I did that for about 10 minutes or so before I wanted to lay down and sleep. I have no idea how people walk the same day - crazy!
They were very worried about my asthma right from the get go. They gave me two breathing treatments that evening and I was fine. I could do the lung inspiratory just fine. The next morning, my mom showed up to give my hubby a break so he could go let the dogs out. I had just finished a breathing treatment and D had just left to let the poor dogs out. My mom being around put me SO on edge that I had a mini panic attack. It was not good. My heart beat went up to 155, which is not good. Everything started to turn white, which made me panic even more. They called for the rapid response team but it was not rapid. By the time they made it there, I was back down to about 129 beats per minute, which was still high but not "the white light is coming" high. They were about 10 minutes getting to me and I'm sitting here thinking now, what if it was really bad and I went in to cardiac arrest? Would they have a responded quicker to a code blue call? Anyway, that was really my only gripe about the whole stay is that one piece of it.
So they hook me up to a heart monitor thing, EKG maybe?, to see what was wrong with my heart. They kept saying it was sinus rhythm that apparently was a good thing. Having been so educated pre-op, I knew that a rapid heart beat could be a sign of a leak or a pulmonary embolism. Because my heartbeat stayed so elevated for longer than it should have (it basically stayed above 130 for over 30 minutes), I bought myself a day in the ICU. But before they took me there, they did a full CT scan of my chest and abdomen to rule anything out and it was clear. I remember they put me before a guy who had fallen 23 feet and had broken bones - that scared the shit out of me because if that guy was that bad off, how bad off did they think I was?? It was pretty fucking scary. That set the tone for the anxiety I had throughout my hospital stay.
I don't remember much about the ICU on Thursday. My bff Katie came to visit for a couple hours so D could go home and let the poor dogs out. I'm eternally grateful for her support in all of this - I couldn't have done it without her.
Once I got out of the ICU on Friday, I developed a pain in my upper thigh. I mentioned it to the nurse and she told the doctor who sent me down for an ultrasound stat. I told them it felt like it was sore from getting in an out of bed and such but they sent me any way. It came out clean too.
Finally Saturday, they gave me the option of staying the night or going home. At that point I wasn't getting my fluids in and told the doctor so. He said to work on them and see if I could get them. I tried really hard and made it so I told them I wanted out. I got home about 10:00 pm. So far so good!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Couple of hours left until I'm on the bench
Just a couple of hours left before I head to the hospital. I'm anxious but still pretty calm. Not sure I'll sleep tonight but I'm going to try. I did get a nap in earlier. I'm worried the bowel prep didn't work. I was told it needed to be clear but it's not and my tummy is still gurgly so I'm thinking it's not done yet. I'm worried I didn't empty out enough. :(
I went and got my picc line today and that effing sucked. They 'missed' the first time because the vein was too far buried in my fat meats so they had to go in again. It hurts and it sucks. I cannot wait to get some pain meds in me to relieve the pain. I'm going to wrap it up with plastic and tape and shower just before I go to the hospital.
Other than that the bags are packed, and I think I'm ready to go. I'll see you on the bench/dark side.
Thanks much to my angel Harris77! She kept me sane today after my mom bailed/failed on going with me to the picc line install. Love you girl!
I went and got my picc line today and that effing sucked. They 'missed' the first time because the vein was too far buried in my fat meats so they had to go in again. It hurts and it sucks. I cannot wait to get some pain meds in me to relieve the pain. I'm going to wrap it up with plastic and tape and shower just before I go to the hospital.
Other than that the bags are packed, and I think I'm ready to go. I'll see you on the bench/dark side.
Thanks much to my angel Harris77! She kept me sane today after my mom bailed/failed on going with me to the picc line install. Love you girl!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Madwoman
There is a madwoman on the prowl...I am crazy today! I'm wrapping things up at work, turning on my out of office, etc. I emailed Dr. Smith too regarding some hemorrhoid issues I had Friday. I've had them off and on since I went on the prilosec. I had told the hospital people but not sure why I didn't mention to Dr Smith. We even talked about the hard stools so I had my opportunity but didn't bring it up. Too shy I guess? Well of course that night I had an issue with them. *sigh* So I agonized over the weekend about whether to tell him since I had told the hospital. I had this horrible scene play through my mind that it came up on the OR table and they told me they couldn't do surgery because of them so I emailed him. He answered right away and said it was fine. So that was one more load off of my mind.
Tomorrow I work from home, get my PICC line, and do my bowel prep.
Tomorrow I work from home, get my PICC line, and do my bowel prep.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Red Bracelet Reminder
I went Friday to my pre-op appointments. They said that they needed to take some blood and they could either take it today or I could come back next week. Well, surgery is on Wednesday and Monday and Tuesday are going to be crazy doing last minute things so I told them to do it. They said that I had to wear a bracelet until surgery and if I took it off, they'd have to draw the blood and test it all over again.
So I've been wearing the red bracelet since Friday afternoon. My husband said I look like an escaped mental patient. LOL It is huge and unattractive. I tried to wear long sleeves and colors to blend with the red but haven't had much luck.
The purpose it has served so far has been a constant reminder of what is to come. I'm really good at pushing things I don't want to think about out of my mind but with the bracelet, it's a constant reminder and is very in my face. I think it's been both good and bad. Good in the sense that it is making process what's going on, bad in the fact that my anxiety is through the roof because it's constantly getting in the way.
T-3 days and counting...
So I've been wearing the red bracelet since Friday afternoon. My husband said I look like an escaped mental patient. LOL It is huge and unattractive. I tried to wear long sleeves and colors to blend with the red but haven't had much luck.
The purpose it has served so far has been a constant reminder of what is to come. I'm really good at pushing things I don't want to think about out of my mind but with the bracelet, it's a constant reminder and is very in my face. I think it's been both good and bad. Good in the sense that it is making process what's going on, bad in the fact that my anxiety is through the roof because it's constantly getting in the way.
T-3 days and counting...
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