Day Nine. Stage 2 food and venting

Today is Day 9.  I have successfully arrived.  One day at a time is the only way to approach this journey!   The first week was basically pretty uncomfortable.  Lots of pain, meds, and of course that fun trip to the ER. (all because of nausea!).  I am still wearing my 'binder' that they gave me at the hospital. I swear by it!  It's basically like a back support brace, but just stretchy and 'holds' you.  I lovingly call it my GIRDLE. ha ha  It keeps things from getting bounced around and ultimately OUCHY.  And, it's great when the kids want a hug and come running. I don't fear it.

I've been trying to be a really good girl and walk at least a 1/2 mile every day.  Yup. Go me.  The only real fall back that I've been dealing with is the "house guests".  I cannot really go into detail here out of respect to them.  But, lets just say I am learning to not kill people in their sleep.  I've had to tape my trigger finger with duct tape to all my other fingers...just to be safe. (or is that just to keep them safe?)

I've really been having an issue with the smell of food.  Not BAD smells, but Oh MY GOODNESS, the smell of PIZZA just about undid me.  I thought I was going to pull out my hair and well...all I know is, the smell of GOOD food is so cruel!  It's like Pavlov's dog....I smell it...I want it!  I know it tastes good...but I can't HAVE IT. Oh the evilness.

You see, I was on the 'liquid' diet for the first day prior to surgery, and then the first Week after surgery. Wow. THAT is hard when you've got PEOPLE in your house that have to actually eat. hmmmmm  Probably why I shipped the kids off to sister for 8 days!  However, others in the house must EAT, and even though I CAN'T it does not seem to matter. 

Now I am on Week 2 and 3 stage II diet.  This means, I can eat creamy soups, pudding (sugar free), cottage cheese, instant mashed potatoes, applesauce (unsweetened), and any liquids except pop or caffeine.  OH and jello. Yippie.  I have two weeks on this.  Cooking for the kids (who are now home) is really not an issue for me as they are little innocence to me.  They don't understand, so they are off the hook on the responsibility end of things.  Their little tummies must be fed.  I get that. I love them.

However, 'others' in my house do not share this 'get out of jail free' card. So basically I am trapped in my own home. In my back bedroom.  Shutting the door when 'others' need to eat.  I cannot go out to my living room/kitchen area because I have NO idea when 'they' will eat.  That first night with the pizza was my undoing.  I knew I could not eat it, I knew it would kill me, I knew I was on that darn liquid diet, I also knew I wanted to kill all of them for eating it IN MY HOUSE...where I could Smell it.

I think there is only ONE more day of this torture.  Cherry season is almost over, and the 'family' will be packing up and taking off back to their respective home.  I'm trying so very hard to be good.  Those of you that know me best, know that two days of guests is about all I can handle.  I'm a very private person in my home, and rarely have people here.  I think there have really only been 3 friends who've actually come stay w/ me. LOL  I love you, but two days is my limit.  Hey, I'm honest!  This however, has been an almost 8 day stretch of 'guests'.  I'm fresh out of surgery, can't eat, kids to care for, and guests.  You can imagine my level of stress at this point.  And, if you can't imagine my level of stress, well...I won't go into detail as it may hurt someone.

So, ONE MORE day (I think).  I was up until 11pm last night venting to Mr. Eye Candy.  He's a saint by the way to listen to me go on and on and on.  His family really is a piece of work though.  THAT could be a book! wow.  I could seriously write a BOOK on the life and times of the Schaubs in Leelanau County. eek!  There are plenty of days I wish we'd used MY last name instead of HIS. Oh yeah...I kid you not.

Ok...so enough of my crabbing.  I am feeling well.  Sore.  At first it was like I'd been hit by a truck, but now it's just muscle sore and a few twinges when I try to bend over to pick something up. I can now drive my van (thank GOD), and walk walk walk.  No lifting though (no more than 10 lbs).   Wish me well on this final ...please...day of guests.  I am losing my schmidt. I want my house back.  I can't really relax in my own home.  Which means, I am not truly healing after surgery.  I need rest and relaxation.  Not stress.  I am looking forward to next week with GLEE.

Day Five - seeing light

Ok, so it's day 5.  I am finally starting to think maybe...just maybe there is a light at the end of this big wide tunnel. ha  Yesterday was a lesson in humility to say the least!  I have ranted a bit at my Mr. Eyecandy because he LEFT me alone.  He is humbled and attentive and has not left my side since taking me to the hospital.  Swear it is so.

Having to go to the Hospital was a NO FUN experience. Yuck and double yuck!  It took them over an hour to get me into a room and on my way to an IV into my arm w/ fluids and pain meds rushing their way to a more comfortable ME.   Let's just say...NO ONE told me that the nausea was going to (or could be) THAT BAD!!!! wow.  It was horrendous.  You know how you get when you have the Flu? It's soooooo bad, and yet you are trying soooo hard not to throw up ? Well yup...that was me yesterday for about 5 hours.  The nausea actually started the day before (friday), but I just thought it was because I was having a rough time getting in water.  Nope.  I was having a reaction to the pain medication. Turns out, you're supposed to EAT when you take this pain med! LOL wow...go figure!  I can't EAT, I can only SIP liquids.  So, here come the nausea.  Just wish the surgeons office would have warned me about it.  AND, after the nausea set in...you guessed it, so did the PAIN.  Oh yeah. Felt like I'd been hit by a truck. No lie.

Also, I truly think they sent me home a day too soon.  Sure, I felt good, but darn it! I was on nausea meds at the hospital!!! You'd THINK they'd send me home with some! wow...DUH.  Can we say DUH?

I have my follow-up appointment on wednesday, where they take out my drainage tube...and you guessed it...Lana is gonna get a little vocal.  I will tell them they sort of dropped the ball and forgot to mention that I could have NAUSEA at HOME too! wow.  I keep saying WOW because after ALL the surgeries that this team does.....you'd THINK they'd have a handle on it.

Sure they check in on you the two days your in the hospital.  After that...you're on your own until the follow up date.

Thank GOD for ER nurses!  The one we had was a gem.  He sure made it a point to check in on us every few minutes.  The guy gets 5 stars!  He had a rough time getting in my IV and had to reuse the spot in my right arm that I had the old IV in from surgery.  I have to give him a lot of credit, I'd been crying non-stop for about 45 minutes by the time he could administer the meds.  He never flinched at my tears...just kept telling me it was going to be OK.  I think we should adopt him.

After the 'scare' was over, and the meds were doing their trick...it was off to the pharmacy to get the GOODS.  Nausea meds!!!  I actually slept the entire time Eric was driving around. He even bought lunch at BK and I slept through all of it. LOL

Now, it's Day 5.  I'm on the mend.  Not feeling like walking or moving much today though.  I took a two hour nap. Yeah...that was good.  I take my meds every 4 hrs like a good little girl.  I hope to wean off of them in the next couple days, at least set the times farther apart on when I take them. 

We plan on going to get the kids from my sisters house on Wednesday!!! yeah!!! We spoke to them today, and Ethan says he wants to come home....just not right now! LOL They are having a great time!  I'm grateful from the bottom of my heart that my sister and her hubby and kids stepped up to help me on this one.  I have not worried ONE MINUTE about the kids.  I know they are safe, happy, and loved.

But for all you wls folks out there...waiting for your surgery dates...waiting to get on that losers bench...I have ONE thing to tell you....MAKE THEM prescribe NAUSEA meds BEFORE you leave the hospital!!!!  You Do Not want to end up in the ER like I did. No fun at all. TAKE YOUR MEDS!!!!! ok..enough on that. LOL

I'm off to eat another popsicle. :)