- My incision/scar is mildly itchy in general, but goes through periods of intense itchiness which drive me crazy!
- I tried sleeping in bed last night, but discovered it's too soon for that.
- I'm able to cough and sneeze with only a minimum of discomfort.
- I didn't take any medicine yesterday!
- Putting together a salad (of pre-cut vegetables) was hard work yesterday, but I did it all by myself.
- Three more things I can do by myself now: check the mail, put on socks, turn on the lamp next to the sofa.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Odds and Ends
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Night on the Town
Normally on Tuesdays we go to my mother-in-law's house for dinner and scrapbooking, so Jonathan decided to vary my recent routine by taking me there last night. My nieces were coached ahead of time that they weren't allowed to hug me and I was given a dining room table chair with arms. Luckily dinner was pizza, so I was able to eat it in a fairly reclined position.
After dinner we went to Wal-Mart for a few odds and ends. I knew I was already tired out from the effort of getting in and out of the car twice, but I decided that I could trudge into the store...and that was utterly exhausting. (Not to mention that it increased my pain level a bit - bad idea in retrospect.) The plan was for Jon to push me around in a wheel chair, but all they had were electric ones, so I ended up leaning back while Jon worked the controls and steered as he walked. That was still terribly hard work since there wasn't any head rest and I could hardly keep my eyes open as we headed for the exit.
I slept until 9:15 this morning, which is late for me even as I've been recovering, so I think that it will be awhile before I try adding so much excitement to my life again.
After dinner we went to Wal-Mart for a few odds and ends. I knew I was already tired out from the effort of getting in and out of the car twice, but I decided that I could trudge into the store...and that was utterly exhausting. (Not to mention that it increased my pain level a bit - bad idea in retrospect.) The plan was for Jon to push me around in a wheel chair, but all they had were electric ones, so I ended up leaning back while Jon worked the controls and steered as he walked. That was still terribly hard work since there wasn't any head rest and I could hardly keep my eyes open as we headed for the exit.
I slept until 9:15 this morning, which is late for me even as I've been recovering, so I think that it will be awhile before I try adding so much excitement to my life again.
Monday, September 28, 2009
VIP Treatment
The staples are out!!! It hurt alot less than I thought it would - in fact, almost none at all. There are SteriStrips along the incision now to help it stay together. They're alot more comfortable than the staples were!
I felt pretty special when they ushered me in through the back door, gave me the exam room two steps inside the door, and showed Jon to the lobby to sign me in. The only thing missing was a red carpet. I even received a gift bag to take home: the nurse gave me all 21 staples plus the staple remover wrapped up in the fanciest brown paper bag she could find.
I felt pretty special when they ushered me in through the back door, gave me the exam room two steps inside the door, and showed Jon to the lobby to sign me in. The only thing missing was a red carpet. I even received a gift bag to take home: the nurse gave me all 21 staples plus the staple remover wrapped up in the fanciest brown paper bag she could find.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Operation
I finally posted pictures this evening. www.photobucket.com/jerusha1102 In addition to some before and after photos, there are three photos from during the operation, so if you don't want to see them taking this thing out of me, don't look at these pictures.
The operation lasted for 42 minutes, 15 of which was spent waiting for results from a test on a biopsied piece of the cyst. Then I spent an hour in the recovery room. My surgeon said this was as simple as possible - they found exactly what they expected and there were no complications. The cyst measured 19x12x9 cm and weighed about three pounds.
The operation lasted for 42 minutes, 15 of which was spent waiting for results from a test on a biopsied piece of the cyst. Then I spent an hour in the recovery room. My surgeon said this was as simple as possible - they found exactly what they expected and there were no complications. The cyst measured 19x12x9 cm and weighed about three pounds.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Eventful Day & How I'm Doing
I bet that none of you had a day as exciting as mine. Not only did I wake up and change my clothes, but I went on to take a walk and later I even took a shower!
The walk was from our patio door, around the end of the building to the main entrance and back to the sofa. It even included a small hill in the sidewalk - boy did I get my exercise! Total distance: maybe 1/16 of a mile, if that.
The shower was way more work than I ever expected, but I sure feel better now! Of course, with all that excitement, I didn't get any pictures posted, so maybe I'll get to it tomorrow.
In the hospital, I was allowed to start eating solid foods at breakfast time on Wednesday. I had a Dilaudid drip and something else in the IV until about mid-morning or so, then they took all of the IV away and gave me ibuprofen and oxyIR. The surgeon came in and talked with me around lunchtime and shortly after the nurse took off my bandage, leaving only the staples and a very wide velcro belt they call a binder.
I first got out of bed around 6:30 on Wednesday morning and used the bathroom on my own. It was pretty rough and the binder plus a pillow came quite in handy! Shortly after dinner the surgeon came in and said I could leave that evening and by around 9:00 or so I was being wheeled to the front door of the hospital. I still miss the hospital bed that did all the work of sitting me up and laying me down, but I'm definately glad to be home.
Yesterday and today I've been rather sleepy, but getting up and down is getting easier. I may actually be growing some arm muscles! Various people have been helping me out this week and people are planning to be here until the end of next week to help while Jon's at work. I surely couldn't make it through a day without all of this great help. Plus I've had a few phone calls and emails from people. So far I haven't talked for too long, but it's nice to hear from people. Thanks everybody!
The walk was from our patio door, around the end of the building to the main entrance and back to the sofa. It even included a small hill in the sidewalk - boy did I get my exercise! Total distance: maybe 1/16 of a mile, if that.
The shower was way more work than I ever expected, but I sure feel better now! Of course, with all that excitement, I didn't get any pictures posted, so maybe I'll get to it tomorrow.
In the hospital, I was allowed to start eating solid foods at breakfast time on Wednesday. I had a Dilaudid drip and something else in the IV until about mid-morning or so, then they took all of the IV away and gave me ibuprofen and oxyIR. The surgeon came in and talked with me around lunchtime and shortly after the nurse took off my bandage, leaving only the staples and a very wide velcro belt they call a binder.
I first got out of bed around 6:30 on Wednesday morning and used the bathroom on my own. It was pretty rough and the binder plus a pillow came quite in handy! Shortly after dinner the surgeon came in and said I could leave that evening and by around 9:00 or so I was being wheeled to the front door of the hospital. I still miss the hospital bed that did all the work of sitting me up and laying me down, but I'm definately glad to be home.
Yesterday and today I've been rather sleepy, but getting up and down is getting easier. I may actually be growing some arm muscles! Various people have been helping me out this week and people are planning to be here until the end of next week to help while Jon's at work. I surely couldn't make it through a day without all of this great help. Plus I've had a few phone calls and emails from people. So far I haven't talked for too long, but it's nice to hear from people. Thanks everybody!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I'm Home Now
I actually came home around 9 last night, but I've been pretty tired since then. The operation went nice and smoothly and the surgeons didn't find any surprises. I have some pictures that I will post on my Photobucket site tomorrow. I'm pretty tired right now and jon is about to bring me some dinner, so I'll write more when I ahe more energy.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Feeling better
The pain is managable and she getting up on her own to make small trips to look out the window and use the bathroom. The hospital has supplied her some games to keep her occupied. She says she actually enjoys the hospital food...lol I guess I really need to step my game up! They have removed the IV and pain meds and now she is using standard pain meds in pill form.
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