It works!

Yesterday was a good day... one of those you look forward to. They took my cathater out and I not only peed on my own, but the rest of the plumbing worked too. Life is good!!!!

Part of the reason for celebrating is that the doctor thought he might need to go back for a third surgery. Phew! Maybe tomorrow they'll let me eat something. I'm only managing a couple bites of jello a day right now. I could eat a horse.

Each day, another experience!!!!

Jennie

Life just keeps repeating itself....

Well, they put the ole nasal/gastro tube down my nose last night. This time it was done by a resident (as in baby doc, as opposed to fellow patient of this hospital ward) and an ICU nurse who has done it bunches of times. She had to use a pediatric tube because my nostril is so delicate.... I guess the size on the outside has no relationship to what is on the inside. ;)

I was in a LOT of pain last night. Poor Perry deserves much praise and a heart felt thanks for hanging in there with me screaming so loudly. Did I mention that it started back up again this morning around 5:30? The good news for Perry is he had to leave by 6:00 so he could go to the beach. Somehow I didn't believe him when he said he was sorry he had to go. ;)

The doctor came by this afternoon and told me my belly is distended and I wouldn't be eating until I passed all that gas. I look 3 months pregnant. My urine is brown.... so I'm in the hospital and still dehydrated. Whatever.. I'm just glad the pain is gone. Babysteps.

It looks like this time around is mimicking the last one. I just hope it doesn't mean I'll be here for 13 days again. The good news is I still have plenty of books to read and games to play. The bad news is I have the tube down my throat so I can't really talk much.

Feel the love,

Jennie

Slow recovery

I had the illeoscomy bag removed on Monday and am now hooked up to go the old fashion way. That's the good news. The bad news is nothing is going the old fashion way. Each day I remain hopeful that the plumbing will all start working again. I haven't eaten, or had anything to drink since Sunday. I'm thinking groundhog day, the movie. Heck, I'm living it.

I had a fever yesterday, but that's gone. I'm just trying to do what I can to get to the next phase. I'll let y'all know when I get there. In the mean time, Perry and Margaret have been spending nights with me and I have been trying to keep phone calls at a minimum.... too dehydrated.

I look forward to returning home. I've heard reports that I have flowers blooming in my yard. I can't wait to see them for myself!

Hugs,

Jennie

Staying in the hospital this weekend

I'll not be going home today, but rather will stay in the hospital this weekend and be here on Monday for my next surgery. This ensures that I will be hydrated when I go in for the surgery and will have the best chance for a good outcome. The surgery will be mid morning on Monday. It should last 1-3 hours. They may not have to open me up all the way again. All good news. The recovery is supposed to be 3-5 days.

Life is indeed good!

Jennie

New surgery planned

Well, the latest is that I will be going in for surgery to remove (or Take down) my oscomy bag on Monday. The dye job showed no leaks in my new setup. I'm still VERY concerned about keeping hydrated, since even on the maximum amount of meds, I'm putting out too much liquid.

I may be going home on Friday, then return on Monday for the procedure. The writeup on the takedown surgery says 3-5 days recovery at the hospital, so by all accounts, I'll be home for good by the end of next week. Aren't I just the optimistic one!

I'd like to thank all of you for your calls, visits, notes and prayers. It has meant a lot to me. I'll keep y'all up to date on my progress through this blog.

Feel the love,

Jennie

Talked to the doctor....

I talked to my surgeon this afternoon. He wants to pump some dye into me to see if there are any leaks in his new creation, and if not, he will schedule my take down surgery for next week. I'm apprehensive, but what the hell. ;)

The dye job will be either Wednesday or Thursday. I can see the reasoning behind it. I'm just a bit gun-shy.

On the good news side, I'm hydrating right up.... I talk normally, instead of that weird voice I took on when I was so dehydrated. I feel like I have a bit of the old me back. I just wish the nausea or acid stomach would go away. The doctor thinks it's because I'm grossed out by my oscomy bag. What an idiot. (oops... fill that in with something more politically correct. I just can't in my current mindset.)

Jen_girl

Back in the hospital, AGAIN.....

Well, I'm back in the hospital again. I came in last night around 7:00. I'd lost 16 pounds since I left the hospital Thursday a week ago, but 10 of those pounds were the fluids they had pumped into me during my stay. Not good. In fact, the not goods, keep mounting. This morning the resident on duty told me they are thinking about doing the take down operation while I'm here in the hospital this time. For those of you scratching your heads, the take down refers to the removal of my ilioscomy bag and the reconnection of my intestine to my new anus. Now I know a lot of you have been lobbying for that, but I have great trepidation when it comes to the next phase. Could that be because I've read a lot of studies from other hospitals siting quality of life issues after the take down operation... Duh!!!

Whatever.

My phone number at the hospital is 966-3514. I stopped using my cell phone because I got a bill for $250 for the month of January.

For right now, I'm not a happy camper, but I'm still aware how very lucky I am so the happiness quotient will rise again as soon as I quit whining.

Hugs,

Jennie