Love it when I'm right

So yes, I definitely turned the corner today and am feeling much better.  Still taking my pain meds on schedule, especially due to the pain of yesterday without them, but starting Monday morning, I have to go without them during the day anyway.  But by then, I should be pretty good and only need them at night to help me sleep comfortably.  I miss sleeping on my side (Tried again this afternoon, but still way not comfortable even with the meds), but the pain pills allow me to sleep on my back.

Along with my turning the corner today, I have had the worst case of spring fever ever.  I am longing to get outside to bike ride, garden, clean out my shed, keep a chair in the back of my car to stop at the park on my way home from work to read, etc.   I would also love to try my hand at hiking and there are still those horseback riding lessons to consider.

We are also planning our vacation for this summer to be to California, which excites me to no end.  We are talking about flying into San Francisco, and I have never been there, and then driving the coast to San Diego, where my brother and his family lives.  I have not been home in so long and I am just really excited about this trip.  It would also be a long vacation for us; probably two weeks. It would also include plenty of ocean, which is one of my favorite things and lots of great stuff to photograph.

I just think this summer is going to be one of the best in my life.  Last summer, I was just beginning to lose weight after my surgery, but now I am a completely different person physically and a bit mentally as well (just ask my mom ).  I am able to do more and my confidence is so much better.  Summertime is also puts me in my element; warmth, so I'm just really looking forward to doing and feeling some things I never have before.

Does that make any sense?

Big Plans for Tomorrow

When I had my RNY surgery, I mentioned that I stayed in the hospital for four nights.  When we were driving home after that surgery, I remarked to The Brit that were it not for being in Baltimore, I would have never known I'd had surgery four days ago, because I felt so good.

Tomorrow will be the magical four days since surgery, so I'm hoping the same formula works this time too.  I'm ready to start feeling more like myself.  I did have two little outings today; the first one was stopping in at the church to copy some stuff to my flash drive to work a bit from home.  So, my driving meant no pain meds this morning.  At least I got a real solid idea of how my body was really feeling while it wasn't being disguised by percocet.  Ouch.  Not unbearable, but getting in and out of the car pretty much sucked.

Late this afternoon, we did the whole Walmart ordeal and as The Brit went too, pain meds were included thankfully.  He's been very sweet and very protective.  Would not even let me carry in any groceries, not even the light bags.  Hey, I'll take it while it's being offered!  

My belly is still a bit distended on the left side but there is noticeable improvement since coming home.  I still look really swollen all through my belly, which sucks, but I know it will go away soon.  I am actually missing the YMCA and am eager to get back!  I have a goal of getting down below 200 pounds before the mission trip!

My pee problem is fairly squared away and tonight is my last dosage of the two medicines, so hopefully by tomorrow night, I won't be seeing bright orange.

Thank you all for the encouraging comments.  They mean so much.  And Leisl, thank you for the card; that was very sweet! 

Crawling My Way Back

Recovery is a slow process.

I feel better today; still some pain and soreness, but the percocet is keeping it in check, though it makes me loopy as hell.  The urinary tract infection is also better, though the one pill that keeps me from feeling that horrible pressure to go, makes things turn bright orange, if you know what I mean.  A bit disconcerting.

I nested today.  Vacuumed ( as if you had to ask) and slow cooked dinner in the crock pot.  Took a nap, watched television and read.  And somehow I am now exhausted but have to wait until 11:00 to be able to take my pain meds.  I could try to sleep without them but I am not a back sleeper; I always fall asleep on my right side and that is out of the question right now.  So in order to assure sleep, drugs are in order to keep things comfortable.

Bloggy friends, I have not really been at the computer today other than now and to check email earlier.  I will get caught up on my reading soon.

We were going to go to Lancaster tomorrow for wine (my favorite wine comes from there and I'm out) but we're going to put it off a week.  I need to do some walking around Walmart tomorrow for some groceries and I'm pretty sure that is going to kick my butt.  I would enjoy the trip much more in a week, I think.

Glad to be home but still not happy

My hospital time this time was awful.  Apparenty either being in the hospital or being under anethesia makes me have major meltdowns.

Got out of surgery and didn't feel too bad.  Sore, but still pretty much out of it.  The Brit stayed till 8:00, then I watched TBL and after that, I decided to go walk.  Apparently, I had till midnight to pee and no peeing had been happening.  I had a cathetar for my surgery which was removed immediately after at 4:30.  If I didn't pee by midnight, they would have to put a cathetar in while I was awake and of course, the thought of it freaked me out. 

I walked and walked and drank and drank and though the pressure was there to go, I just couldn't.  At 11:45 I had a total meltdown out of fear, exhaustion and hunger.  Earlier, my dinner consisted of chicken broth, full sugar jello and full sugar ice cream.  Yeah.  I drank the broth and left the rest.  So, one of the very kind nurses, sonogramed my bladder as I bordered on hysterics and she was able to talk the doctor into giving me to 1:30am to pee.  So more walking and walking and drinking and drinking and I was so damn tired, I was almost ready to just tell them to do the cathater so I could sleep.  But finally at 1:15 I produced and was able to go to bed. 

I slept off and on from 1:30am till 4:00am and then was up.  A nurse came into to tend to my roomate and decided that switching on all the lights at 4:00 was a jolly good idea.  No more sleeping for me though my roomie had no problems going back to sleep.

From 4:00 on, all I wanted was breakfast.  I had explained to my night nurse that the full sugar stuff I couldn't have and she promised to sort it out for me.  When breakfast finally came at 8:30, I had another meltdown, this one I blame on lack of sleep.  Really, I am not a cry baby; I hardly ever cry, but something about hospitals bring out the big ole baby in me.  They had brought me vanilla yogurt (I love every single other kind but vanilla.  Cannot hack vanilla) and a freaking protein mix and milk and ya'll know how I feel about protein drinks.  I didn't touch any of it.

The discharge nurse came to see me around 9:30 and was alarmed that I hadn't eaten, so I explained to her what had happened last night and what had happened this morning.  She was completely annoyed because my night nurse had put me in for a meal equivilent for a brand new RNY patient.  No, no, no.  So she got me some cereal and a lemon yogurt and I felt much better.

However, on the hour and a half drive home, I had to make The Brit stop three times for me to pee, as the pressure on my bladder was unbearable.  I was actually getting alarmed and it didn't improve at home either.  I took a three hour nap and had to get up twice to pee and when I'm awake, the pressure builds about every twenty minutes.  I called the resident on call and she believes I have a urinary infection caused by the cathater, so she has called me in two more meds to go with my percocet.  Ugh!

My stomach looks awful and creepy.  Five incisions, and the left side of my tummy is oddly distended, which they said was normal but it creeps me out to look at it.

I'm in pain and I have to pee.  This feels worse than the RNY for me but I think that is because I was in the hospital for four nights with my RNY, so by the time I came home, I felt pretty good.  Not feeling so swift this time.

All is well

Staying the night at hopkins but surgery went well. A little sore and
very sleepy. Would give my right arm for coffee but they won't let me
have any. Thanks for the prayers and more tomorrow once I'm home

Musical Theater in the Blood!

Last night, JJ was up in his room doing homework and he has to write his spelling words ten times each.  He has been up there forever, but sometimes he is slower and sometimes faster about getting it done.

Finally at about 8:15, he comes downstairs in tears.

Me:  What's wrong, dude?

JJ: (sniffling) I have five more words to do but *sob* I can't get them done because I can't stop singing!

I'm telling ya'll, he and I will one day do a show together.

Responsibility

I need to learn that I cannot be responsible for what anyone else does.  I don't have to like it, it might make me feel about half sick when I fear old habits are resurfacing, but I have to accept that it is not my issue. 

Sometimes opening one's mouth to say something can be worse than just letting things go as they are.  It sucks and I hate it but sometimes people have to figure things out for themselves.  Keep reminding me of this, ok?  I'm praying every day that things will turn around soon and I'll see improvement.  Yeah, I know this is cryptic, but it needs to be.

I have to be in Baltimore tomorrow morning at 11:10 and my surgery is scheduled between 2:10-4:15.  I'll post a note on Facebook for Friends only with The Brit's cell number for anyone who wants to check in, but wait until at least 5:30 to call, I'd say.  One of us will also be updating the blog.  I don't foresee any issues, but ya'll know that going under anesthesia is always a risk.

Say a little prayer for me if you will!  I'll see you on the other side of Tuesday!