It's been awhile since I last updated. I'm sorry about that, but I've been rather busy. There's so much I'm trying to do, and so much that I want to do, that is keeping me occupied. Add in the few free bits of time I have are being taken up by facebook apps.... Yes I am addicted to them. Though I've deleted most of them fairly recently.
I'm mostly healed from surgery now. On the outside I'm pretty much fully healed, but internally at times I still feel twinges. I've been told this is normal, and as long as I continue loosing weight (while using low impact exercises), sticking to my gluten free diet, and don't lift more than 20lbs for a few months, I should be fine. Which is good news. My belly button is now an inner one, and full of scars, but hey, I'm hernia free.
And now it's October, the month of Halloween. I've already begun decorating for it. Yes it's early, but hey I love the holiday. :)
I've got a gazillion things to do today, so I shall end this here. Hopefully I'll be back soon to chatter at you all.
To all my friends, I love you. *hugs to you all!*
Showing posts with label surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surgery. Show all posts
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Umbilical Hernia Repair
So yesterday was the day. I've officially had my first surgery, and I wish I hadn't had to go through with that. But I did need to get it taken care of. :(
The doctors and staff at Virginia Mason Hospital were nice and informative. They did do their best to make me as calm about it as possible, and they certainly kept me in the loop. They were even nice enough to do a local nerve block around the area that was going to be operated on that would last well after the surgery for about 12-24 hours so I'd be more comfortable right after. Believe me, as I've felt it wear off, it was effective, and I'm sad it doesn't last longer! Ugh.
They were even kind enough to do a topical numb for the IV they gave me. When I was in labor the nurses, while nice at Northwest (which IS one of the best hospitals in the area) weren't as kind for that. Heh.
Anyhow things went fairly smoothly except when they were in the process of knocking me out with general anesthesia. Before I was out every muscle in my body suddenly cramped up, I had the sensation that I couldn't breathe. I was breathing, as it turned out, I just couldn't tell, and I couldn't talk to tell them, all I could do was move my hands a tiny bit. Last thing I remember hearing was "I didn't think she'd react to the anesthesia like that!" Then I was out. I could be wrong, but I think my it was from my body fighting off the ansethesia. I guess the surgery took roughly 30minutes as I woke up about 4pm and they said I'd been in recovery for a couple of hours. It took me longer than anticipated to come out of medically induced sleep. Though I have been told I briefly woke up long enough to rip off the oxygen mask in recovery, then was right back out. I didn't even open my eyes. Sounds like something I'd do. It was likely during that period of time I had weird wacked out dreams. I won't be going into those.
They then gave me jello, water, and apple juice. Jello due to the gluten free diet, water cause it was what I wanted, and well, they wanted juice in me to help wake me up more, from the sugars in it. They then had me take two vicodin pills. I was nauseated, but at the time just attributed it to the whole just had surgery bit. I later realized it was the vicodin that made me feel ill. I wasn't told much about the operation, except that things went well. Which is good. When I see the doctor on the 11th I'll ask more details perhaps.
So I was sent home that evening, and got home after we went through a pharmacy drive-thru for my prescriptions, at about 6pm. I then promptly went to bed. Nathan brought me my laptop, so I could do a quick update to people and I had a small snack and dozed for awhile.
Now when I left the nurses suggested I eat before taking a vicodin. Most people get sick if they don't. Only everytime it was time for me to take them, and I ate, I'd throw up. I ended up throwing up three times, and was nauseated almost the entire night. Until I took a dose without food. I still feel a little queasy, but I'm not tossing my cookies either. It seems I'm a weirdo, and have to do the opposite of most people. Told the nurse this when they called today to check up on me, and she got a bit of a chuckle. Heh. And instead of taking two every four hours, I take one, every five. I'm not completely numbed, but I'd rather have a bit of discomfort than throwing up.
Biggest side effect I have now, aside from pain in the area that they operated on, is well my whole body aches. Likely from the anesthesia. Hopefully I feel less bleah tomorrow, as Nathan goes back to work and I'm on my own. At least the munchkin is with my sister. I don't have to worry on how I'll take care of him too. I miss him, but I'm not in any shape at the moment.
Tomorrow I hope I can manage to sit up on my own too. It's a bit tricky as I have to use my abdominal muscles as little as possible. Add in the pain, stiffness, and soreness. Meh. But tomorrow afternoon/evening I do get to take a shower finally, and to remove the main bandaging. I'll probably feel a bit more human then.
And I'll leave it at that I suppose. I'll keep details on how I feel as it goes along in case any of you need a surgery like that. :P Hopefully you won't though.
The doctors and staff at Virginia Mason Hospital were nice and informative. They did do their best to make me as calm about it as possible, and they certainly kept me in the loop. They were even nice enough to do a local nerve block around the area that was going to be operated on that would last well after the surgery for about 12-24 hours so I'd be more comfortable right after. Believe me, as I've felt it wear off, it was effective, and I'm sad it doesn't last longer! Ugh.
They were even kind enough to do a topical numb for the IV they gave me. When I was in labor the nurses, while nice at Northwest (which IS one of the best hospitals in the area) weren't as kind for that. Heh.
Anyhow things went fairly smoothly except when they were in the process of knocking me out with general anesthesia. Before I was out every muscle in my body suddenly cramped up, I had the sensation that I couldn't breathe. I was breathing, as it turned out, I just couldn't tell, and I couldn't talk to tell them, all I could do was move my hands a tiny bit. Last thing I remember hearing was "I didn't think she'd react to the anesthesia like that!" Then I was out. I could be wrong, but I think my it was from my body fighting off the ansethesia. I guess the surgery took roughly 30minutes as I woke up about 4pm and they said I'd been in recovery for a couple of hours. It took me longer than anticipated to come out of medically induced sleep. Though I have been told I briefly woke up long enough to rip off the oxygen mask in recovery, then was right back out. I didn't even open my eyes. Sounds like something I'd do. It was likely during that period of time I had weird wacked out dreams. I won't be going into those.
They then gave me jello, water, and apple juice. Jello due to the gluten free diet, water cause it was what I wanted, and well, they wanted juice in me to help wake me up more, from the sugars in it. They then had me take two vicodin pills. I was nauseated, but at the time just attributed it to the whole just had surgery bit. I later realized it was the vicodin that made me feel ill. I wasn't told much about the operation, except that things went well. Which is good. When I see the doctor on the 11th I'll ask more details perhaps.
So I was sent home that evening, and got home after we went through a pharmacy drive-thru for my prescriptions, at about 6pm. I then promptly went to bed. Nathan brought me my laptop, so I could do a quick update to people and I had a small snack and dozed for awhile.
Now when I left the nurses suggested I eat before taking a vicodin. Most people get sick if they don't. Only everytime it was time for me to take them, and I ate, I'd throw up. I ended up throwing up three times, and was nauseated almost the entire night. Until I took a dose without food. I still feel a little queasy, but I'm not tossing my cookies either. It seems I'm a weirdo, and have to do the opposite of most people. Told the nurse this when they called today to check up on me, and she got a bit of a chuckle. Heh. And instead of taking two every four hours, I take one, every five. I'm not completely numbed, but I'd rather have a bit of discomfort than throwing up.
Biggest side effect I have now, aside from pain in the area that they operated on, is well my whole body aches. Likely from the anesthesia. Hopefully I feel less bleah tomorrow, as Nathan goes back to work and I'm on my own. At least the munchkin is with my sister. I don't have to worry on how I'll take care of him too. I miss him, but I'm not in any shape at the moment.
Tomorrow I hope I can manage to sit up on my own too. It's a bit tricky as I have to use my abdominal muscles as little as possible. Add in the pain, stiffness, and soreness. Meh. But tomorrow afternoon/evening I do get to take a shower finally, and to remove the main bandaging. I'll probably feel a bit more human then.
And I'll leave it at that I suppose. I'll keep details on how I feel as it goes along in case any of you need a surgery like that. :P Hopefully you won't though.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
365 Days.... until I turn 30.
And since I have that many days, obviously today I turned 29. I of course have some people poking fun that next year they need to through a black and white party for me. To them I say ":P tthhhpppttt". Hehehe.
However today's been busy, but good all the same. It started off with me being all zombiefied in the morning (like usual), while getting the kid fed for the morning. Though he was sweet and made sure to wish me a happy birthday, all bright-eyed and bushied tailed. We then ran off to his swimming lessons.
Now he's in preschool 1, has been for.. believe it's his third week (I'm horrible at keeping accurate count of these things), and I wouldn't be surprised if he's in it again next week. He can do what they want him too, he just never seems to want to do it in class. I'm not entirely certain he's completely comfortable with the water as of yet. But he's gradually getting more used to it. Hopefully he's at least moved up to preschool 2 by the end of summer. :\ Especially since I know he'll be missing a couple of weeks of it, at least, soon. (I've got an impending surgery coming up.) He's also got a new friend that he's taken all of his classes with so far. Cute little 3 year old, who's name I shall not publish, as well she's not my kid. However he basically ordered me to give her mom my info so he could at some point play at a park, or some such with her. At first I was going to just give her my phone number, but he was very serious in his concern that it wasn't enough information, and promptly demanded I give her my e-mail address, and other forms of contact. What five year old asks these things?!?
Of course then again at the age of four he was asking me things like, "Mommy, did you remember your driver's license?" Hehe; quite the little ham.
After swimming lessons we stopped off at starbucks, where I got a coffee, as I hadn't had any yet. Well, that and I have their gold card, who sent me a birthday card coupon for a free birthday coffee. :) I don't care what anyone says about the "evils of a large company" they have seriously awesome customer service, and their coffee is not only quite tasty, but is one of the few that does NOT make me ill. Many places I go, and I don't know if it's an additive, or something starbucks does in their processing, but I get horrible stomach cramps, and well I shall not give further details, but needless to say it's not pleasent. And yes, when back east Dunkin Donuts didn't sit well with me either. I missed starbucks when I lived there. Badly.
We then came back, enjoyed our drinks (I got him a kid's hot chocolate, which he calls "My kids hot coffee!!"), then prepared to go out for lunch with my Grandmother. I've always gone out to lunch on my birthday with Grandma cept during the time I lived back east. She had been quite upset that year, the only year we did nothing. And the year I went to Japan. Though we went out the day before so.... yeah. But all other years we've had lunch. It's our thing. Anyhow normally when she wants to do so she picks the place. She has taken into account that I am gluten free, and tries to find a place that will have something I can eat, but it's always her choice. Except for my birthday. :) So I was able to finally make my way over to the Da Vinci Cafe and Bakery on Greenwood! Though they're about to change the name to Wheatless in Seattle. Probably so people going by will realize it's a gluten free spot, and those who can't (or don't) eat anything with gluten will stop in. The food was awesome. There's also a fair bit of vegan stuff, so if any vegans want a small place to go too for breakfast, or lunch, I highly suggest it. :). I do plan to go back again. I had considered to go to the Flying Apron Bakery, but their closest location is currently in Fremont, and I can't see my Grandmother enjoying going all the way to there. The only draw back was a small loaf of cinnamon bread (gluten free of course) was $9.95! I'll stick to making my own. :) Unless the owner makes sourdough (I heard she used too). I am a sucker for sourdough. We bought three fudge vegan cake slices for after dinner as my birthday cake. :P Next time I'm making my own I think, if the kid demands it again. Hehe.
After lunch, came back home, and relaxed until it was time for CJ to go to tae kwon do. He loves it there, and I think for him that'll be the hardest thing for him to miss for a week or two. I know for a week for sure. Hopefully I can find a way for someone to drive us up there a week after my surgery. I won't be fit to drive yet though, so we'll see. Still he had fun. :)
And after that we went back to starbucks, for something cold and hey I had this nifty treat reciept for quite the discount. In which my kid starts to tell EVERYONE it was my birthday.... I promptly told him not everyone needed to know. However the barista thought it amusing, and as she wasn't the morning one, she gave me my drink for free. :) And the kidlet wanted ice cold water, extra ice so that trip I paid nothing. Woo!
Then we got home, and I cooked dinner, which was simple tonight. Soup and rice... I cooked put rice in the bowl, and poured soup on top. Gluten free soup by pacific foods. For me it's a comfort food, and I'll do this with various flavors as well as mix flavors together. Tonight was tomato, butternut squash, a bit of milk, and a tid bit of salt mixed in. Simple and tasty. After we ate and let that settle, we decided to have the cake. Which beyond the first small bite I couldn't eat. It was far too sweet and rich. I am not a big fan of overly rich and sweet. Never have been. I am more of a fan of the savory. Ah well, the kid enjoyed it, as did my Grandma. When they called it a fudge cake... they meant fudge... vegan fudge. Heh. My roomie just got the rest of it, and he liked it well enough, so it didn't go to waste.
CJ and I then ran up to the park up the hill, at the library for their 7pm concert as sponsered by the Shoreline Arts Council. It was nice, and CJ had fun playing with the other kids there. :)
And then we came home, and he went to bed. :P I chilled for a bit, and now I'm here typing this up.
So on to other things. I realized I forgot to update about CJ's screening for aspergers. The doc said he didn't have it. He does have a social delay, yes. However he pointed out that in some kids the academic portion of the brain advances so quickly, that the parts to handle social lag. And feels that social direction, and help while he's still young (which he'll get at school) should help, and he'll catch up eventually. He also reccomended martial arts, hence him going to tae kwon do now. :)
As for surgery for me, well... I've got a hernia. An umbilical hernia. Doc told me that due to the placement she's pretty sure I was born with one. A LOT of people are. However that a combination of when I had CJ (the pregnancy was great, but the labor was long, and not without problems), and my weight that it grew. And it's now giving me problems. Painful problems. Which are getting slowly but progressively worse. So my appointment with a surgeon is on the 22nd. Meet, greet, and probably making sure I'm fit enough to have it. The doc did point out that if I continue to loose weight (which I have been, slowly) that I'll have less of a chance of it re-occuring. Which would suck beyond all telling. It should be done on an outpatient basis, though I'll be pretty much on bed-rest (save going to the bathroom, and getting something to eat) for five days, and the second five I'll still be in pain and unfit to drive. I'm not to lift much of anything for a month or so, and no more than 10lbs for the next several months.
Joy.
I'm scared of surgery, almost to the point of being phobic (though not quite). But... I shall do what I must.
Luckily my sister and brother in law agreed to watch CJ for 2-5 days the first week, depending on how he does.
But other than that life's going well... Oh and the Fourth of July was awesome. I may post more about that later.... or maybe not, who knows. :P
However today's been busy, but good all the same. It started off with me being all zombiefied in the morning (like usual), while getting the kid fed for the morning. Though he was sweet and made sure to wish me a happy birthday, all bright-eyed and bushied tailed. We then ran off to his swimming lessons.
Now he's in preschool 1, has been for.. believe it's his third week (I'm horrible at keeping accurate count of these things), and I wouldn't be surprised if he's in it again next week. He can do what they want him too, he just never seems to want to do it in class. I'm not entirely certain he's completely comfortable with the water as of yet. But he's gradually getting more used to it. Hopefully he's at least moved up to preschool 2 by the end of summer. :\ Especially since I know he'll be missing a couple of weeks of it, at least, soon. (I've got an impending surgery coming up.) He's also got a new friend that he's taken all of his classes with so far. Cute little 3 year old, who's name I shall not publish, as well she's not my kid. However he basically ordered me to give her mom my info so he could at some point play at a park, or some such with her. At first I was going to just give her my phone number, but he was very serious in his concern that it wasn't enough information, and promptly demanded I give her my e-mail address, and other forms of contact. What five year old asks these things?!?
Of course then again at the age of four he was asking me things like, "Mommy, did you remember your driver's license?" Hehe; quite the little ham.
After swimming lessons we stopped off at starbucks, where I got a coffee, as I hadn't had any yet. Well, that and I have their gold card, who sent me a birthday card coupon for a free birthday coffee. :) I don't care what anyone says about the "evils of a large company" they have seriously awesome customer service, and their coffee is not only quite tasty, but is one of the few that does NOT make me ill. Many places I go, and I don't know if it's an additive, or something starbucks does in their processing, but I get horrible stomach cramps, and well I shall not give further details, but needless to say it's not pleasent. And yes, when back east Dunkin Donuts didn't sit well with me either. I missed starbucks when I lived there. Badly.
We then came back, enjoyed our drinks (I got him a kid's hot chocolate, which he calls "My kids hot coffee!!"), then prepared to go out for lunch with my Grandmother. I've always gone out to lunch on my birthday with Grandma cept during the time I lived back east. She had been quite upset that year, the only year we did nothing. And the year I went to Japan. Though we went out the day before so.... yeah. But all other years we've had lunch. It's our thing. Anyhow normally when she wants to do so she picks the place. She has taken into account that I am gluten free, and tries to find a place that will have something I can eat, but it's always her choice. Except for my birthday. :) So I was able to finally make my way over to the Da Vinci Cafe and Bakery on Greenwood! Though they're about to change the name to Wheatless in Seattle. Probably so people going by will realize it's a gluten free spot, and those who can't (or don't) eat anything with gluten will stop in. The food was awesome. There's also a fair bit of vegan stuff, so if any vegans want a small place to go too for breakfast, or lunch, I highly suggest it. :). I do plan to go back again. I had considered to go to the Flying Apron Bakery, but their closest location is currently in Fremont, and I can't see my Grandmother enjoying going all the way to there. The only draw back was a small loaf of cinnamon bread (gluten free of course) was $9.95! I'll stick to making my own. :) Unless the owner makes sourdough (I heard she used too). I am a sucker for sourdough. We bought three fudge vegan cake slices for after dinner as my birthday cake. :P Next time I'm making my own I think, if the kid demands it again. Hehe.
After lunch, came back home, and relaxed until it was time for CJ to go to tae kwon do. He loves it there, and I think for him that'll be the hardest thing for him to miss for a week or two. I know for a week for sure. Hopefully I can find a way for someone to drive us up there a week after my surgery. I won't be fit to drive yet though, so we'll see. Still he had fun. :)
And after that we went back to starbucks, for something cold and hey I had this nifty treat reciept for quite the discount. In which my kid starts to tell EVERYONE it was my birthday.... I promptly told him not everyone needed to know. However the barista thought it amusing, and as she wasn't the morning one, she gave me my drink for free. :) And the kidlet wanted ice cold water, extra ice so that trip I paid nothing. Woo!
Then we got home, and I cooked dinner, which was simple tonight. Soup and rice... I cooked put rice in the bowl, and poured soup on top. Gluten free soup by pacific foods. For me it's a comfort food, and I'll do this with various flavors as well as mix flavors together. Tonight was tomato, butternut squash, a bit of milk, and a tid bit of salt mixed in. Simple and tasty. After we ate and let that settle, we decided to have the cake. Which beyond the first small bite I couldn't eat. It was far too sweet and rich. I am not a big fan of overly rich and sweet. Never have been. I am more of a fan of the savory. Ah well, the kid enjoyed it, as did my Grandma. When they called it a fudge cake... they meant fudge... vegan fudge. Heh. My roomie just got the rest of it, and he liked it well enough, so it didn't go to waste.
CJ and I then ran up to the park up the hill, at the library for their 7pm concert as sponsered by the Shoreline Arts Council. It was nice, and CJ had fun playing with the other kids there. :)
And then we came home, and he went to bed. :P I chilled for a bit, and now I'm here typing this up.
So on to other things. I realized I forgot to update about CJ's screening for aspergers. The doc said he didn't have it. He does have a social delay, yes. However he pointed out that in some kids the academic portion of the brain advances so quickly, that the parts to handle social lag. And feels that social direction, and help while he's still young (which he'll get at school) should help, and he'll catch up eventually. He also reccomended martial arts, hence him going to tae kwon do now. :)
As for surgery for me, well... I've got a hernia. An umbilical hernia. Doc told me that due to the placement she's pretty sure I was born with one. A LOT of people are. However that a combination of when I had CJ (the pregnancy was great, but the labor was long, and not without problems), and my weight that it grew. And it's now giving me problems. Painful problems. Which are getting slowly but progressively worse. So my appointment with a surgeon is on the 22nd. Meet, greet, and probably making sure I'm fit enough to have it. The doc did point out that if I continue to loose weight (which I have been, slowly) that I'll have less of a chance of it re-occuring. Which would suck beyond all telling. It should be done on an outpatient basis, though I'll be pretty much on bed-rest (save going to the bathroom, and getting something to eat) for five days, and the second five I'll still be in pain and unfit to drive. I'm not to lift much of anything for a month or so, and no more than 10lbs for the next several months.
Joy.
I'm scared of surgery, almost to the point of being phobic (though not quite). But... I shall do what I must.
Luckily my sister and brother in law agreed to watch CJ for 2-5 days the first week, depending on how he does.
But other than that life's going well... Oh and the Fourth of July was awesome. I may post more about that later.... or maybe not, who knows. :P
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