Well, for one reason or another, I've not been too good at keeping up this blog the past two weeks.
I've suffered with lots of gas and abdominal pain, but that's to be expected. Overall, I think I am doing really well and way ahead of the progress of last summer.
My girlfriend came to visit at the two-week mark but I was left totally exhausted after her visit. She left as she said she could see me pale in front of her. I just suddenly started to fade. As I've said before, visitors and telephone calls are draining. I don't like then until at least the four week mark.
Having the runs all the time becomes very painful. Thankfully, last summer the surgeons office suggested using baby wipes and diaper cream and they really do help a lot! Epsom salts in the bath are good too but you can't have a bath at first.
The runs were so bad I called the Surgeons office and asked if I could go back on the cholorestramine yet? Thankfully the answer was yes, but he didn't say how many times/day. Trial and error...
Day 17 was a rough one. Tired, lots of pain, feeling hot and nauseous etc and about 10:30 that night I had a mjor meltdown. I cried for a very long time and in spite of taking a sleeping pill and 10:30 was still awake at 1:00am
This has been the only really rough time this year. Last year there were several days of depression so I guess this is good!
Day 21 I was finally able to sleep on my side again, rather than always being on my back which I don't like. In the morning my stomach was sore and tender but hey, I'd been on my side for the first time, all night!
Day 24 I was running a mild fever. My runs looked a little reddish and I didn't know if I should be heading to the hospital or not. Maybe it was something I ate the night before? I don't know but the fever stopped so I decided to pack it in for the night and just go to bed. Seemed ok the next morning.
After four weeks of being contained to the house I went for a car ride about a mile away to my son's for a short visit.
Day 26 and it was time for my follow-up appointment with my own Doctor. I was 150 lbs on his scale! Down 40 lbs in all from last summer pre-surgery. He explained to me that the opening in my intestine should be about 4 (cm or mm?) and mine was 1.2 so no wonder I was still having troubles with blockages. He hopes this now does the trick and no more problems in future! Let's hope!
The worry though honestly is that every time I want to go somewhere, I will worry wondering if it will happen again and I'll end up once again in the hospital somewhere. At some point in time I know I will relax and accept that maybe I am now healed. Hopefully. If all goes well!
The other issue is that I am anemic now. I'd had my blood tested pre-surgery and was fine but now things have changed so he's started me on iron supplements and already after 3 days I notice a big difference. I am to have my blood tested again in one month and see how I am then.
Day 28 and I finally graduated (at least this one time) to a thin shaped poop! There is hope! I am on Cholorestramine twice a day now and I think it may be too much so will try again with just one/day.
On Day 29 enough was enough and my husband drove me to my hairdresser who coloured and cut my hair. I felt human again at last! That white streak made me look like a member of the skunk family although I was pretty good at camouflaging it.
Day 30 and I feel great! I'm past the 4-wk mark and feeling pretty good and have even been cheating a little on foods. I've had a few small pieces of dark chocolate, some banana bread and last night Hawaiian pizza and a couple of potatoe chips. No problems so far!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
One step forward, one step back.... In other words, slow down you'renot "Wonder Woman"
Yesterday I got up about 8-845 after lying in bed. Made myself a poached egg on toast and at 9:00 am lay on the sofa. Dozed for a few minutes a couple of time. Made an egg salad sandwich for lunch and then back to the sofa.
I was totally, completely exhausted. Had trouble late afternoon catching my breath. I don't know when I've ever felt this level of totally drained.
Obviously two visitors, a shower and talking on the phone the day before were to much to handle.
I guess I should know better but had felt so good yesterday!!
Even after vegging out all day and evening, I went to bed early.
But then I woke at 12:10 with a nightmare in it I was screaming and having trouble talking. I was in a hospital and terrified of the things they were doing. Two if the Doctor's were drunk and one collapsed face down across the end of my bed. Needless to say the nightmare really shook me up. So, I read for a bit but did fairly quickly get back to sleep.
Unfortunately the night was disturbed again when I awoke at 5:00 to go to the bathroom.
But, first mushy oatmeal-type poop since home! I feel so much better knowing the system is working.
No sooner though was I back in my bed I had to get up again as I was in pain.
This time it was the runs and one tiny piece. Let me tell you, there are way too many times when just one little piece of poop can be excruciatingly painful to pass!
Now, to try once again to sleep!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
One step forward, one back? Or - don't overdue!
Two nights ago I awoke in such pain. I don't know why but can only guess I rolled onto my side in my sleep.
The next day I was fine in the morning but after lunch was in pain. By late afternoon I caved in and took a painkiller. Last night when I went to bed I felt as though I had a knife in my side. If only I understood the cause of some of this, maybe I could make some changes in activities or diet.
Today I felt pretty good so had a lovely shower and washed my hair. What a wonderful feeling to feel clean all over again. Get rid of that weird "hospital" smell.
I relaxed on the deck and had a visit with a friend. Unfortunately, one visit/day is exhausting enough but another friend dropped in.
May I suggest that if you ever visit someone who is ill, or recovering, limit your visit. Fifteen-thirty minutes maximum please! Talking/visiting can be exhausting. The same goes for talking on the phone.
It can exhaust the patient.
I was exhausted after the second visit and fell asleep on the sofa but it was to be a very short nap then I was called to dinner.
Several times today I ran to the bathroom but not much happened and it was very painful. I would say it was constipation but I had the runs and passed "little bits". I remember this all too well from the last surgery. Keep Cottonelle Wipes and even Pantene diaper cream handy! They will help.
Tonight the pain is mild but I am exhausted. I will have to be sure to have a quiet day tomorrow! One more day and it will be two weeks!
LOL I was told recovery time is 4-6 weeks. We'll see!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Rough afternoon
Felt good this morning, but perhaps the half hour I spent on the computer drained all my energy.
This afternoon I've been in pain, to the point I broke down and took a pain killer although just one helps but not a lot.
Have had two naps, lots of pain and "runs" (sorry for being graphic but one of the main parts of recovery is the bowels learning to function again)
It's days like this that really bring you down and it's good to have my notes from last year to remind me that there are not just days, but weeks like this still to come but I know I WILL get better! In time ...
My Medical Journeys: Waiting game
My Medical Journeys: Waiting game: Sitting in the hospital waiting to go into surgery. They gowned me, and I have a funny little hat and booties and thigh-high compression s...
Surgery over and now to recover...
Today is the first day I've been up to using a computer, or being able to sit at my desk. The good news is that it was a few weeks before I could do this last summer after my surgery. Why is it different? NEW TECHNOLOGY!
On the day of my surgery I went to the hospital where I changed into a gown, compression stockings (thigh high) and sat in a small waiting room. I was called in to review the surgery that was to be done, the Doctor stopped by to talk to me and before I knew it, my name was called and off I walked, right into the surgical room. It was really large and there were a lot of people but the "operating team" was all introduced. I was given an IV in my hand and an epidural block in my back. I don't remember much other than we made a few jokes, there was laughter and I felt very relaxed which surprised me as I thought I was terrified. Next think I knew, I was in recovery.
Apparently this time they removed the end of the small intestine, the valve between the two intestines and a small part of my large intestine. This means that food is slowed by the little "fingers" of the small intestine, and then when it hits the large, there's little to slow it down so it goes right through. This results in the runs, and smaller absorption of nutrients, so will require a new diet and medication (Cholestyramine - powder form*) to aid with the issue of the runs.
Other medications I know I was receiving after surgery were Morphine (for pain) and heparin* for clotting. I took my shots in the arm as the thought of a needle in my tummy was horrifying to me.
I don't remember much about recovery which isn't any surprise. But new this time is that I was asked to chew sugar-free gum as soon as I woke up. (You are asked to bring your own gum to surgery) This is supposed to help the gut.
The other thing is that they now put an IV Epidural into your back and it keeps the abdominal area numb for several days. This is a hug boost in recovery time as without pain, I could sit up almost right away and was up and walking in no time. As you use the muscles in that area immediately, it speeds up recovery and when it's removed a few days later, the pain is minimal as you've already been moving. I wish they had left it in one more day though.
I was up and walking laps of "3 East" the floor that I was on. First it was one lap, then two and finally I made it to three. I was standing up straight, not hunched over as one usually is after abdominal surgery. I was truly amazed at the speed of recovery.
Then they introduced food back into my diet. Unfortunately, my tummy didn't like the food. I would have terrible cramps and pain after every meal and it appeared to be getting worse with each meal I ate. Suddenly I went from doing three laps around the floor, to barely making half my hall. I spend the day in bed, feeling exhausted and in pain and the Morphine that I was on was doing little if anything to help. Apparently after surgery of this type the surgeon usually prescribes Pantoloc* and this time he'd forgotten to do so.
*Pantoloc is a Gastric acid pump inhibitor & antiulcer agent -
Pantoprazole is indicated for short-term (up to 4 weeks) treatment for symptom relief and healing in patients with active duodenal ulcer
Once I got onto the Pantoloc, the pain was a little less each day. I am now on Day 12 post-op and now seem to be able to tolerate food. Unfortunately, I have a lot of "runs", more than before.
By the way I was released from the hospital on Day 11. It was an exciting day as not only was I finally home (I'd expected to stay just 5-7 days in hospital), but our son and his wife had a baby boy that day!!! It was also July 1st, a National Holiday.
I should mention that I have lost about 6-7 pounds this past week. I met with a Dietician in the hospital, twice, and she said that as I'm not absorbing the nutrients as I should be that weight will be an issue and I must be careful to not lose too much. After the last surgery I lost 30 pounds which I certainly can't afford to lose this time. Also, as the body had such a shock last summer, with the surgery and getting C.Diff, I lost about half my hair. It was terrifying the day in the shower when it began to come out in my hand. Thankfully, I had very thick, fine hair and other than myself, my Doctor and my hairdresser, no one really noticed. This time I've not enough left to be losing more but I've noticed the past 2-3 days that a lot seems to be coming out so here's hoping this is a short temporary issue this time!
After last summer's surgery it was about 3 weeks before I could even sit up, this time I am already sitting at the table for meals. Last night I even cooked part of our dinner! I didn't do that for about 1 1/2-2 mths last summer.
One thing now that I've got "the runs" my bottom gets raw so I use Cottonelle wipes and they just soothe the skin.
I take chewable vitamins now... as they are better absorbed. I also eat Arrowroot and other children's cookies which are also more easily digested.
I am not to drink with meals as it tends to "flush" the food through my system too quickly. I've a new diet and must eat a lot of foods you might think not as healthy but are easier to digest (i.e. eat white bread not whole wheat and white rice not brown or wild) No raw vegetables allowed. No sweets, sugars etc. I remember last summer my birthday was 11 days post surgery and I was determined to eat a cupcake to celebrate my birthday. I kept it in the freezer for weeks and when I finally did eat it, I suffered with pain for 24 hrs. afterwards.
So, it is one day at a time. Some days will be better than others but no matter what, the worst is behind me and now it's time to heal and take control of my life again. I did this last year and can do it again. I am determined to be once again able to host dinner parties and go out to a restaurant to eat.
Here is the information on my diet that I must now follow, compliments of "The Ohio State University Medical Center":
https://patienteducation.osumc.edu/Documents/short-gt.pdf
On the day of my surgery I went to the hospital where I changed into a gown, compression stockings (thigh high) and sat in a small waiting room. I was called in to review the surgery that was to be done, the Doctor stopped by to talk to me and before I knew it, my name was called and off I walked, right into the surgical room. It was really large and there were a lot of people but the "operating team" was all introduced. I was given an IV in my hand and an epidural block in my back. I don't remember much other than we made a few jokes, there was laughter and I felt very relaxed which surprised me as I thought I was terrified. Next think I knew, I was in recovery.
Apparently this time they removed the end of the small intestine, the valve between the two intestines and a small part of my large intestine. This means that food is slowed by the little "fingers" of the small intestine, and then when it hits the large, there's little to slow it down so it goes right through. This results in the runs, and smaller absorption of nutrients, so will require a new diet and medication (Cholestyramine - powder form*) to aid with the issue of the runs.
*Cholestyramine is used to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood. This may help prevent medical problems caused by cholesterol clogging the blood vessels. Cholestyramine is also used to remove substances called bile acids from your body. With some liver problems, there is too much bile acid in your body and this can cause severe itching.
Cholestyramine works by attaching to certain substances in the intestine. Since cholestyramine is not absorbed into the body, these substances also pass out of the body without being absorbed. - from Mayo Clinic
Cholestyramine works by attaching to certain substances in the intestine. Since cholestyramine is not absorbed into the body, these substances also pass out of the body without being absorbed. - from Mayo Clinic
Cholestyramine powder is a bile acid sequestrant. It works by increasing the removal of bile acids from the body. As the body loses bile acids, it replaces them by converting cholesterol from the blood to bile acids. This causes the blood level of cholesterol to decrease. - from Drugs.com
Other medications I know I was receiving after surgery were Morphine (for pain) and heparin* for clotting. I took my shots in the arm as the thought of a needle in my tummy was horrifying to me.
Heparin is an anticoagulant commonly used after surgery. It prevents the blood from clotting too easily. It is also used to treat blood clots when they do form, helping prevent the clot from increasing in size and preventing additional clots from occurring. Surgery increases the risk of blood clots and Heparin is an important preventative measure after your procedure.
Why Is Heparin Given After Surgery?
Heparin is often given after surgery, particularly in patients who remain hospitalized for several days after surgery, to prevent blood clots from forming. Patients who are unable to get out of bed in the days following surgery are at greater risk of forming clots, making heparin a commonly used drug in intensive care units.
Heparin is given subcutaneously, meaning it is injected into the body in an area such as the abdomen, and also given intravenously (IV).
The compression socks I wore during surgery and for several days after, are also to reduce the risk of clotting.
I don't remember much about recovery which isn't any surprise. But new this time is that I was asked to chew sugar-free gum as soon as I woke up. (You are asked to bring your own gum to surgery) This is supposed to help the gut.
The other thing is that they now put an IV Epidural into your back and it keeps the abdominal area numb for several days. This is a hug boost in recovery time as without pain, I could sit up almost right away and was up and walking in no time. As you use the muscles in that area immediately, it speeds up recovery and when it's removed a few days later, the pain is minimal as you've already been moving. I wish they had left it in one more day though.
I was up and walking laps of "3 East" the floor that I was on. First it was one lap, then two and finally I made it to three. I was standing up straight, not hunched over as one usually is after abdominal surgery. I was truly amazed at the speed of recovery.
Then they introduced food back into my diet. Unfortunately, my tummy didn't like the food. I would have terrible cramps and pain after every meal and it appeared to be getting worse with each meal I ate. Suddenly I went from doing three laps around the floor, to barely making half my hall. I spend the day in bed, feeling exhausted and in pain and the Morphine that I was on was doing little if anything to help. Apparently after surgery of this type the surgeon usually prescribes Pantoloc* and this time he'd forgotten to do so.
*Pantoloc is a Gastric acid pump inhibitor & antiulcer agent -
Pantoprazole is indicated for short-term (up to 4 weeks) treatment for symptom relief and healing in patients with active duodenal ulcer
Once I got onto the Pantoloc, the pain was a little less each day. I am now on Day 12 post-op and now seem to be able to tolerate food. Unfortunately, I have a lot of "runs", more than before.
By the way I was released from the hospital on Day 11. It was an exciting day as not only was I finally home (I'd expected to stay just 5-7 days in hospital), but our son and his wife had a baby boy that day!!! It was also July 1st, a National Holiday.
I should mention that I have lost about 6-7 pounds this past week. I met with a Dietician in the hospital, twice, and she said that as I'm not absorbing the nutrients as I should be that weight will be an issue and I must be careful to not lose too much. After the last surgery I lost 30 pounds which I certainly can't afford to lose this time. Also, as the body had such a shock last summer, with the surgery and getting C.Diff, I lost about half my hair. It was terrifying the day in the shower when it began to come out in my hand. Thankfully, I had very thick, fine hair and other than myself, my Doctor and my hairdresser, no one really noticed. This time I've not enough left to be losing more but I've noticed the past 2-3 days that a lot seems to be coming out so here's hoping this is a short temporary issue this time!
After last summer's surgery it was about 3 weeks before I could even sit up, this time I am already sitting at the table for meals. Last night I even cooked part of our dinner! I didn't do that for about 1 1/2-2 mths last summer.
One thing now that I've got "the runs" my bottom gets raw so I use Cottonelle wipes and they just soothe the skin.
I take chewable vitamins now... as they are better absorbed. I also eat Arrowroot and other children's cookies which are also more easily digested.
I am not to drink with meals as it tends to "flush" the food through my system too quickly. I've a new diet and must eat a lot of foods you might think not as healthy but are easier to digest (i.e. eat white bread not whole wheat and white rice not brown or wild) No raw vegetables allowed. No sweets, sugars etc. I remember last summer my birthday was 11 days post surgery and I was determined to eat a cupcake to celebrate my birthday. I kept it in the freezer for weeks and when I finally did eat it, I suffered with pain for 24 hrs. afterwards.
So, it is one day at a time. Some days will be better than others but no matter what, the worst is behind me and now it's time to heal and take control of my life again. I did this last year and can do it again. I am determined to be once again able to host dinner parties and go out to a restaurant to eat.
Here is the information on my diet that I must now follow, compliments of "The Ohio State University Medical Center":
https://patienteducation.osumc.edu/Documents/short-gt.pdf
Friday, June 21, 2013
Waiting game
Sitting in the hospital waiting to go into surgery.
They gowned me, and I have a funny little hat and booties and thigh-high compression socks.
They just gave me a shot if heparin to avoid blood clots. The first nurse did something wrong and the heparin poured down my arm not into it so another nurse came to give me the shot and this time it didn't hurt!
Ran into a friend here who is having day surgery today.
He was diagnosed with bladder cancer at same time as my husband.
About to get an epidural which will remain in my back for several days to control pain. Have never had that before!
Also, I was told to bring sugarless gum which they will give me to chew as soon as I wake up in recovery.
Feeling nervous and anxious but doing ok. Feels funny to know I can get up and walk around just fine but in a few hours that will be impossible.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
The time has come...
Tomorrow I have to be at the hospital at 11:15am and surgery should be 2-3 hrs later.
We've had incredible rainfalls for days. My sinuses are stuffed so I really hope they don't cancel my surgery as a result.
I've been on clear fluids since 11:00am today which meant jello for lunch, jello and beef broth for dinner. We have four house guests, so I had to prepare lunch and dinner for everyone then sit and watch them eat.
My friend suggested I have a massage per-surgery to relax me and my muscles. Thankfully they called with a cancellation so at 2:00 I was able to get a half-hour massage (would have loved a longer one but thankful I got anything!)
So, here we go again.
Hope all goes well tomorrow with my surgery!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Here we go again...
It was just eleven months ago when I awoke in the middle of the night in pain. I thought I had a bad case of gas to tried to go to the bathroom then tried to walk it off. Nothing was helping. I returned to bed and then the pain seemed to move a bit and then got worse. I guess subconsciously I knew it was bad because I got up and packed a small bag to take with me to the hospital... then went back to bed. At 2:30am I finally woke my husband saying "I'm really sick and need to go to the hospital" and like a shot he was out of bed and dressed and we were racing to the hospital.
To make a long story short they didn't know what was wrong with me. They thought it might be appendix as that's the area where I said the pain was... but then later I said it was higher. That Doctor thought I was crazy I'm sure. Three Doctors later and about 22 hours later, a new surgeon asked if he could do a laparoscopic exploratory surgery as he just didn't know what was wrong. He warned that if he found trouble, he'd have to "open me up" but by then I was so sick I was willing to agree to anything. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as he got in there he found trouble. Apparently there was an adhesion from my hysterectomy over twenty years ago. Part of my small intestine had wrapped itself around the adhesion and "died" as a result. The surgeon had to remove three feet of my small intestine.
I was in the hospital for a week, nicely doped up on morphine and lots of antibiotics etc. I was told I also had a lung infection (perhaps because the lungs were being "squished" by the build-up of "stuff" in my abdomen. I had noticed in the couple of months pre-surgery that my stomach was getting bigger, yet my weight didn't seem to be changing. I couldn't figure out why I was getting so big. Well, I was backed up inside! There are little "bubbles" in your lungs and mine were collapsing or lots were already collapsed I gather as a result of this bloating?
Upon my return home I wasn't really recovering the way I thought I should be but not having been through this before didn't know just what if anything was wrong until my follow-up appointment with the surgeon. He discovered that while in hospital I'd contracted "C-Diff" and if you know what that is, it's nasty.
So I was put on really strong medication and thankfully it cleared things up for me. I was told that I contracted the C-Diff because of the multitude of strong antibiotics I was on while in hospital Who knows. What I've read is that you catch it from things in the hospital not being sanitary. I was tested several times over the next few months to be sure I was okay.
Well, come November, four months later, I ended up in ER and this time was told the intestine was in spasm, given some medication and send home.
In February I left on a cruise and the first night at sea, ended up in the Ship's Hospital where I stayed three days. I apparently had a blockage so was kept on antibiotics because my white blood cell count was high, and so I am one of the few who lost weight while on a cruise ship - over 5 pounds. Honestly, it was terrifying. We were at sea the first three days of the cruise. If they had to air-lift me off the ship, the cost "starts" at $100,000.00. There were no ports on this cruise where there were good hospitals. I was so relived when I was allowed to return to my cabin and enjoy the remainder of the cruise, in spite of living on jello, soup and water throughout the entire cruise.
It took me a long time to recover but all through this past year I've had cramps, gas, diarrhea, etc. etc. It's been a nasty year of little energy and feeling like c*ap.
Finally my Doctor decided to send me back to the surgeon. He put me on a new medication for two weeks and at the end of the two weeks I reported feeling better than ever, able to eat almost anything finally, and no more diarrhea which meant I could go out of the house!
Wham ! The next afternoon I had pain. By early evening it wasn't letting up and off to ER we went. They did a CT Scan and came to me to say I had to be admitted and would require surgery. NO! Please NO.
Well, I spent a week in hospital and was allowed to go home so my intestines could rest before they do more surgery. It appears that where they rejoined the intestine the joint is too tight and causing blockages. After great thought, the surgeon feels it's important to give me back some quality of life and the only way to do that is to operate - again.
Another summer with a long slow recovery. I just hope it's worth it and "does the trick".
Last time I found someones blog and I was so thankful that they described what they went through, the feelings, the level of recovery etc. It helped me so much so this time around, it's my turn to share. If you are interested in following my journey, check back later.
My surgery date is June 21st, 2013.
To make a long story short they didn't know what was wrong with me. They thought it might be appendix as that's the area where I said the pain was... but then later I said it was higher. That Doctor thought I was crazy I'm sure. Three Doctors later and about 22 hours later, a new surgeon asked if he could do a laparoscopic exploratory surgery as he just didn't know what was wrong. He warned that if he found trouble, he'd have to "open me up" but by then I was so sick I was willing to agree to anything. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as he got in there he found trouble. Apparently there was an adhesion from my hysterectomy over twenty years ago. Part of my small intestine had wrapped itself around the adhesion and "died" as a result. The surgeon had to remove three feet of my small intestine.
I was in the hospital for a week, nicely doped up on morphine and lots of antibiotics etc. I was told I also had a lung infection (perhaps because the lungs were being "squished" by the build-up of "stuff" in my abdomen. I had noticed in the couple of months pre-surgery that my stomach was getting bigger, yet my weight didn't seem to be changing. I couldn't figure out why I was getting so big. Well, I was backed up inside! There are little "bubbles" in your lungs and mine were collapsing or lots were already collapsed I gather as a result of this bloating?
Upon my return home I wasn't really recovering the way I thought I should be but not having been through this before didn't know just what if anything was wrong until my follow-up appointment with the surgeon. He discovered that while in hospital I'd contracted "C-Diff" and if you know what that is, it's nasty.
So I was put on really strong medication and thankfully it cleared things up for me. I was told that I contracted the C-Diff because of the multitude of strong antibiotics I was on while in hospital Who knows. What I've read is that you catch it from things in the hospital not being sanitary. I was tested several times over the next few months to be sure I was okay.
Well, come November, four months later, I ended up in ER and this time was told the intestine was in spasm, given some medication and send home.
In February I left on a cruise and the first night at sea, ended up in the Ship's Hospital where I stayed three days. I apparently had a blockage so was kept on antibiotics because my white blood cell count was high, and so I am one of the few who lost weight while on a cruise ship - over 5 pounds. Honestly, it was terrifying. We were at sea the first three days of the cruise. If they had to air-lift me off the ship, the cost "starts" at $100,000.00. There were no ports on this cruise where there were good hospitals. I was so relived when I was allowed to return to my cabin and enjoy the remainder of the cruise, in spite of living on jello, soup and water throughout the entire cruise.
It took me a long time to recover but all through this past year I've had cramps, gas, diarrhea, etc. etc. It's been a nasty year of little energy and feeling like c*ap.
Finally my Doctor decided to send me back to the surgeon. He put me on a new medication for two weeks and at the end of the two weeks I reported feeling better than ever, able to eat almost anything finally, and no more diarrhea which meant I could go out of the house!
Wham ! The next afternoon I had pain. By early evening it wasn't letting up and off to ER we went. They did a CT Scan and came to me to say I had to be admitted and would require surgery. NO! Please NO.
Well, I spent a week in hospital and was allowed to go home so my intestines could rest before they do more surgery. It appears that where they rejoined the intestine the joint is too tight and causing blockages. After great thought, the surgeon feels it's important to give me back some quality of life and the only way to do that is to operate - again.
Another summer with a long slow recovery. I just hope it's worth it and "does the trick".
Last time I found someones blog and I was so thankful that they described what they went through, the feelings, the level of recovery etc. It helped me so much so this time around, it's my turn to share. If you are interested in following my journey, check back later.
My surgery date is June 21st, 2013.
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