Rifreakindiculous!

It is 103 degrees outside right now! We're only one week into summer. W-O-W

Conniption Fit

I had myself a little breakdown yesterday... it wasn't pretty. My doctor was concerned that due to my recent surgery and all its post-op complications/infections along with lack of rest and stress from school and work, my body just isn't coping and healing well. I got some new sleeping pills and am happy to report that I actually slept through the night yesterday!

I am a happier camper today :)

Oh Mr. Sandman... where are you?!?!

I have been awake since Tuesday, with the exception of about 3 hours. Last night I didn't sleep at all... not even 5 minutes. This insomnia is getting ridiculous... My little green pills have failed me and I feel like I'm about to snap. Not sure what else to do with myself for the next hour until my doctor's office opens up, that's why I'm here posting something that probably doesn't even make sense to anyone other than myself... my apologies.

That is all.

Girl In The Bubble

That's my official new title... even here at work. I wasn't feeling well earlier this week (after retrning to work) and while I expected that to happen, turns out I ended up with a fever (again) and am now on antibiotics for yet another infection... woohoo! My doc knows I tend to get secondary infections whenever I'm on antibiotics (especially in combo with the steroids) so he's pre-empted another call from me and called in a sleuth of other meds just in case... lol. Seriously, this 2nd Lap was supposed to be easier than last time and it's turning into just about the same, if not worse!

Work is going... school is going... I'm still plugging along, and just telling myself things will get better... eventually! Some days I just have to laugh at myself because its just all too ridiculous!

Ben is my hero... he is such a trooper. I would have chucked me out to the side of the street by now if I were him... Thanks babe! :)

My hubby is the BESTESEST!

Just had gush about how wonderful Ben is! He's been taking excellent care of me these past few weeks since my surgery and it has really helped. He's also taken on a 2nd job (part time) every morning, so the poor thing is working 7am to 9pm most days, even on his day off! He wants to help us save up for my tuition this fall and once I'm in the program so I can quit working full time since clinicals will be rough. He is my hero! I wish I could do more but he says I'm doing too much already and he just wants to help me make it through the program quickly. Isn't he the best?!?! I love you baby!!! :)

On a side note: Yesterday was my first day back to work. It went better than I thought but by the end of my shift (9PM) I was in worlds of pain and while I still take Percocet at night I am only getting about 3 hours of sleep due to insomnia problems caused by the high dose steroids I'm on. Today I didn't quite make it through my whole shift at work, the combination of no sleep and pain was just too much. *sigh* I'll have to make up the hours tomorrow (my normal day off) but my doc has put me back on my little happy green pills (for sleep) and said I need to rest as much as I can while not working because sleep deprivation will definitely increase the pain and drag out my recovery. So hooray for sleeping pills.... :)

Clothes are SO overated

Seriously... oh to be a baby and be able to run around in the buff all the time! *sigh* I'm still covered in blistery goodness and very very oh-my-gosh beyond itchy, despite the steroids and creams.

Hmm... not so sure about returning to work this week if it means having to get completely dressed. :)

Liars liars, pants on fire!

Medicines taste nasty, even the "flavored ones!" I wonder why they even bother to try and make the patient think its going to taste any better than the poo it actually tastes like? Nasty or not, we have to take it right, so why lie? Do they think we're that dumb?

Take this Nystatin for instance. (I got a particularly nasty case of thrush from the intubation) Last time I had this surgery, the pharmacist was like, "Oh, this is the butterscotch flavored kind, you're lucky!" Seriously? Um... still tasted nasty. This time it was "minty cherry" flavored, woohoo... still tastes like poo.

Normally I wouldn't whine because you just plug your nose and swallow quickly, but unfortunately this Nystatin solution has to be swished around for at least 2 minutes, then gargled for another 2 minutes, and then swallowed... It's a battle not to puke the whole time, lol!

Minty cherry my behind... blegh! :P

Second verse same as the first?

Two years ago when I had my first Lap, I encountered a few bumps in the road during recovery. I developed a couple of secondary infections and a horrendous rash all over my belly, chest, and thighs due to what we *thought* was the Dermabond or surgical glue used on my incisions. Prepared with this info, we went into this surgery knowing not to use that and my doc just stuck with regular sutures to close the wounds. I was beyond relieved since that rash (more so than any of the other things) had been the worst of my post-op complications.

Guess what showed up a few days post-op? Oh yeah... the rash. (Not to mention another bout with those other 2 secondary infections again) Are you freaking KIDDING me?!?! I tried hydrocortisone cream for a few days hoping it would just go away but to no avail. I talked to my doc today and he was really surprised to hear about it because not only had he not used the Dermabond, but he'd also switched to a different kind of antiseptic surgical wash that is more hypoallergenic, just in case it had been a combination of things that had caused the rash. I am just as flabbergasted as he is... what in the world is causing this? No clue! Unfortunately, whatever it was is wreaking havoc on my body and it looks like I'm going to have to go back on steroids to make it go away, like last time... which took weeks to clear up :(

Argh...

Since I may never get to experience the real deal...

I thought I'd take a picture of myself sporting a fake baby bump, courtesy of my swollen guts at 2 days post-op! Mind you, this is WITH the abdominal binder ON which helps support everything and keeps your tummy tightly bound up against you.

And because I just couldn't resist...

I'd make a cute pregnant lady, huh? *sigh* Oh well, Ben and I had our laughs, now I'm ready for the swelling to go down because this huge belly is no fun. Thanks Tiff for the maternity pants, I can't even imagine trying to squeeze this into my regular jeans/pants... ouch!

PS> Healing is going slowly... The gas pains in my shoulders/neck/ribs are murder but I've been a good girl and have walked around the house a lot which seems to have helped... a little. My belly is all bruised and hideous looking, but the incisions seem to be healing nicely. Night time is the worst by far as the pain gets crazy and I have to sleep upright, so I don't get much rest, but it'll get better. Just gotta have patience :) Ben is doing a fantabulous job and I am very well taken care of. My hubby is the greatest!

Update

I'm alive folks! Surgery went well and I am now home. Thank goodness for morphine and demerol, I thought I was going to die when I woke up. Still in loads of pain, but its more manageable, phew. I got pretty pictures this time as well, and its amazing when can grow right back in just under 2 years. Endo is such a bum sucky!

More details to follow, for now I must go rest.