Not that I can do any real *jiggety jigging*....LOL! My trip to the emergency room last weekend, turned into a real pain....in more ways than one. I was seen quickly and was running a fever. Sure sign of some kind of infection, which I suspected was my appendix (and I was partially right). After a CT scan of my abdomen, I was fortunate enough to get an ER doctor that went with *gut* feelings and they did some exploratory work before automatically going for the appendix as the primary problem. Turns out the doctor was right. I had a 3 inch section of my colon that was dead and necrotic. The surgeon (my favorite one was on call, thankfully) removed 4 inches of the colon and stitched it back together (then starved me for three days to allow healing). He then took out the infected appendix also. This was not a fun surgery. Every cough, and they ensured THAT with four daily breathing appts. with medication, was sheer torture even with an IV drip that included morphine.
I got round the clock antibiotics. I was getting continuous saline solution but my mouth and lips were so dry, I would have killed for a single ice cube. I couldn't even sit up by myself. Turning was out of the question. The PCA's turned me to prevent sores and braced me with pillows. My coughing brought tears to my eyes each and every time. THEN...to make things even worse, they had me doing those damn breathing exercises where you have to breath IN to move the damn pressure block up and each time, my torturer kept telling me to breath in harder. Yeah! Right! This was made bearable only by the intellectual knowledge that I WOULD eventually heal and feel better. I just wasn't sure I wanted to live that badly.
The nurses took pity on my and brought me these swabs that were filled with biotene, a dry mouth rinse that allowed me to reach all the horribly dried areas of my mouth and tongue. I couldn't swallow it but the relief was incredible. And my breath smelled better, I am sure. LOL.
I only weigh (now) 120 lbs soaking wet but it took two strong nurses to get me out of bed and into a chair for an hour twice a day for each of the first three days. When the doctor finally allowed me to have clear liquids, I could have kissed him. Even the jello tasted wonderful and I ordered whatever I could have. Two more days and I was allowed *liquids*, which meant I could actually have milk and ice cream. It took me back to the days when I had my tonsils removed. LOL!
Of course, the doctors and nurses all were concerned about my bowel movements (if any). I had a catheter until the very last day even though we knew by then that my bowels were working well. I sure got tired of PTA baths and eventually wet a washrag and scrubbed my head with it to get rid of the sweat. That's when I realized I forgot to pack a brush but the nurse grabbed the one out of my bathroom (regular stuff they give you when you check in). I had no idea it was there since I hadn't been near the bathroom at all.
They finally allowed me to actually take a pain pill instead of the morphine (phew!) and I got solid food, too. I could order anything since my bowels were working. I laughed and told the doctor I was suddenly having people ask me about them after all those years of being told it wasn't fit conversation material.
I actually made my one doctor laugh out loud when he heard me tell the Beast that I could go home as soon as I pee'd so he could come down and squeeze the piss out of me. I guess he never thought he would hear this sweet old woman say that to her hubby and it took him totally by surprise. I think he almost fell on the floor laughing. I hadn't seen him so much as smile before then.
He laughed and told me it was good to keep a sense of humor and I told him what else could I do? It's not like I could do anything more than survive to live another day. He was still laughing as he left the room. A couple of the nurses just HAD to know what I did to make him laugh and they got a good laugh out of that when I told them. Guess he's not a real cheerful fellow most of the time. But my surgeon? He's got one hell of a sense of humor and we always had a good laugh when he came in to see me. He thinks *I* am funny.
I avoided taking any pain pills the day before I hoped to go home so there would be no reason to keep me that I could avoid. All I wanted was to go home. Of course, I got sick in the car on the way home (nausea from the pain) and I took a pain pill as soon as I walked in the door and laid down to rest. I can usually avoid vomiting if I lay down and fight it for a bit. Then my stomach calms down and I relax. Today was no exception. I am saving the new pain pill prescription for taking before bedtime so I can sleep. I already slept for six hours so I am good for a bit longer before I have to get more rest. At the hospital, I was not able to sleep for almost 3 days. Every 15 minutes, someone was coming in to take blood, give me shots, something. I kid you not. I actually got cranky from lack of sleep. Not fun.
So now I am home. I had my first good cup of coffee (Kauai coffee...we have been hoarding the last of our beans) and I will have enough to share with my sisters when they come to spend the day with me on Tuesday. On Monday they are going to look at a house to rent nearby my house. It will mean we will be able to spend time together more often than if they moved to a different area. It's going to take them a while to get used to the differences of living in this area compared to the zoo they lived in down in the Ft. Lauderdale area.
I'm just so happy to be home, I can't begin to tell you. My son, Mustachio, had no idea I was in the hospital. Figures the Beast wouldn't even THINK about informing our kids. Sheesh. It also explains why I hadn't heard from them at all. Mustachio wouldn't have known except that Bratfink left him a note on YIM when she saw him pop on and off it a couple times a night while I was in the hospital.
Time to post this missive so anyone who has missed me knows what went on and why and also that I am home again. Love you all. Oh, and I had a great day to come home. It got up to 70 today and was bright and sunny out. I enjoyed all 30 minutes of my ride in it. LOL! Be good, stay healthy and ***hugs***
Glad you're home and on the mend. How nice you'll have Baby and Cee to visit. Love you!
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