Home - in stitches! (Slightly OT)

Trish Brown wrote:

melinda wrote:
I like using mine for milkshakes, and it scrambles eggs up so much quicker.

--
Melinda

Oooo yes! I love my little Bamix! Every time I make pumpkin or cream of celery
soup, I think how lucky I am to have it! It's also handy for making breadcrumbs
and squashing nuts, making ice chips and frothing milk for a cappucino (which we
in Oz call 'cabbage Eno').

Here's my favourite recipe using my Bamix:

Open a large can of apricot halves and Bamix the tripes out of it until it
becomes apricot puree! (NB. No need to decant the apricots: just Bamix 'em in
the can!) Add in a tablespoonful of dried onion flakes (more if you like) and
two tablespoonsful of chicken stock powder. Bamix a bit more.

Now, pour all this lot over a panful of chicken pieces and sliced veggies
(carrot, celery etc). I like breast pieces, but my DH prefers thighs - rude man!
and cook for an hour or so in a moderate oven until chicken is well done. (You
can do this with pork spareribs as well, but boil them - the ribs, I mean - for
twenty minutes on high in the Michaelwave first to get some of the fat out. Or
not, if you are skinny...)
Serve on a bed of steamed rice or noodles.

I do something very similar with chicken/boiled ham stock, raw onions,
dried apricots, and boiled ham!

My Mum likes to add a can of apricot nectar into the mix, but I don't: it's too
sweet!

It would be for me too!

What I do is boil the ham, dried apricots and onions together (with a
little mace and cinnamon, or a clove or two), fish the meat out and
Bamix the bejazuz out of the rest until it makes a lovely smooth sauce.
If there is some left for another meal, the sauce is very good for
re-heating the sliced meat. It goes really well with mash and sprouts!

A propos of gall bladders, can I tell my cholecystectomy horror story?

Snipped horrific story, but the way you tell it did make me giggle!

Yikes! How are you supposed to know that you are allergic to something
if you have never had it before? I had a bad reaction to codeine last
time I was in the hospital (did sweet nothing for the agony, and I saw
brown fish swimming in the walls!). My family has a history of allergy
to penicillin - grandmother and mother both have/had violent histamine
reactions, just like yours to the anaesthetic, BUT little sis showed no
reaction until her late teens, when she had a mild one. This was noted
in her medical notes, and she told them of her allergy to it AND to wool
when she had her first varicose vein op at the tender age of 21... So
they gave her penicillin and wrapped her legs in wool crepe bandages
after the op! GRR! There are now BIG RED LETTERS all over her notes at
the Dr's and in all her hospital records, and I keep telling her and Ma
they should wear MedicAlert tags like the DH does for his diabetes!

--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Kate Dicey wrote:
This was noted
in her medical notes, and she told them of her allergy to it AND to wool
when she had her first varicose vein op at the tender age of 21... So
they gave her penicillin and wrapped her legs in wool crepe bandages
after the op! GRR!

I had a similar experience - I am allergic to lidocaine, the most common
local anesthetic over here. I was getting cortisone shots for a thumb
injury. I asked what was in the shots, and was told "just the steroid".
8 hours later when I was in agony and the red swollen streaks were up
to my elbows, I called again, talked to a different nurse, who looked it
up and informed me that there was also xylocaine in there. Xylocaine is
a brand-name for lidocaine. I called back 10 minutes later and talked
to a third nurse who read back to me the list of my drug allergies on my
file and confirmed that lidocaine was on there. I hung up, logged
online and reported the idiot to the state medical board! THEN I called
a nurse friend of mine to ask if she knew any really good hand
specialists....

------------------------------------------------------
Wendy Z Chicago, IL (Moo)
Wench Wear Costumes http://pages.ripco.net/~zski
Minstrosity www.minstrosity.com
Wench #525 AIM=wendylady525
http://www.livejournal.com/users/wendyzski/
"Though she be but little, she is fierce"
"It's the little ones you have to watch out for..."
"I'm not short - I'm concentrated"
--------------------------------------------------------

Ah! ... Didn't realize you were having surgery and was wondering where
you've been. Glad you're recovering now. May you heal fast and well!

--Heidi

http://community.webshots.com/user/rabbit2b


"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
I got home on Christmas Eve, and my sister delivered the lad home
shortly after. HE, naturally, had had a lovely time. Mine was less
fun...

It was touch and go for a moment or three on the keyhole, as the stone
was almost too big to allow it! As a result, I have 'Church Door'
keyhole! The hole the stone came out through is over an inch long.
'Expect everything to take a little longer to settle', they warned.

Everything is settling down ok, though I'm still on fairly big doses of
pain killers, and I have to take it easy for a few days more... GA's
always take an age to wear off me - I wasn't really awake until midnight
- 13 hours after going down for the op! Yesterday morning was painful,
but be last night things were better. The only trouble is that the GA
has left me with a throat that is liable to produce dry patches and
coughing fits at no notice, and coughing is the very LAAAAAST thing I
want to do! OUCH doesn't begin to cover it! Still, all things
considered, the copious gas eruptions included, it's not as bad as
June! A lot less painful than having my wisdom teeth out, for sure!

The stitches are very neat and of the dissolvable variety, so will leave
little scarring. Not that I ca wot are 4 small scars compared to the
pain of gallstones? NOWT! I go back in 3 months for a check up.

I got most of the things I was supposed to do before Christmas done, as
did DH. He also did a great job with the Christmas dinner. Venison and
vegetables cooked to perfection! Yummy! We still have a few things to
get ready for Yorkshire and the New Year, but most things are done.

I have the most elegant and sexy (NOT!!) surgical stockings to wear for
the next 6 weeks as part of the NHS's drive to reduce post operative
DVT... The leg bit fits OK, but how they expect me to walk about with
6" of fabric flappin' round me toes, I reeely cannot say! Shoes? NOT
wiv these fings! And I'm supposed to wear them for all but an hour a
day... Good stuff! They only gave me one pair! I shall have to see
about getting a second pair, and a couple of pairs of Flight Sox fer
evenings out! Otherwise washing them could be amusing... They might
get a bit grey and wiffy!

Here's wishing you well for the season: if you don't see me as much as
usual, it's probably because I'm still asleep! I also have a couple of
new cookbooks to work through, a new kitchen gadget to play with (a
Bamix wand mixer), and plenty of new sewing stuff, including some
Fiskar's Dressmakers Sheers!
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Home - in stitches! (Slightly OT)

(Trish=A0Brown)
snip recipe--thanks, Trish, I'm looking forward to cooking!
... Being that I'm a long-winded sort of person, you may not want to
read it, but for those who take an unnatural interest in the guts of
others (as I do!), please read on!
snip the lively, entertaining tale of Trish's near murder by an inept
hospital mob
---
One should never derive so much entertainment--nay, amusement--from
another's NDE, but what a well-told tale, Trish! And it's glad we are
that you survived such tender ministering by trained medical
professionals.
Cea

wrote:

One should never derive so much entertainment--nay, amusement--from
another's NDE, but what a well-told tale, Trish! And it's glad we are
that you survived such tender ministering by trained medical
professionals.
Cea

Thank you, Cea dear.

Y'know, when it came time for me to have my staples out, my GP determined that
she would remove them herself rather than entrusting the job to her nurse. She
got a pair of pliers - er - forceps - and seized hold of the first staple,
ripping it out of my abdomen by main force!!!! I told her: 'If you do that
again, I *will* hit you!' and got up to go, thinking I'd remove the blessed
things myself at home. After a hurried consultation with the nurse (which I
overheard, including the shocked rejoinder 'You *didn't* pull it out with
*forceps*? There's a special tool you have to use...!') I was left alone to
smart for a while. Then, the nurse came with the required tool and took out the
remaining five staples painlessly. The doctor apologised, but not profusely
enough to assuage my acute annoyance!

I will not be having gall bladder surgery ever again, thank goodness!

Come to to think of it, I can't really recommend Caesarian operations either...
mine was a shocker!
--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Trish Brown wrote:

Come to to think of it, I can't really recommend Caesarian operations either...
mine was a shocker!

Did you have anesthesia? My first one, I didn't. It was
memorable.
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.

Pogonip wrote:

Trish Brown wrote:

Come to to think of it, I can't really recommend Caesarian operations either...
mine was a shocker!

Did you have anesthesia? My first one, I didn't. It was
memorable.
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us


Oh yes! I had an epidural block and then some! But, please, do tell how you came
not to have any!!! I need to know! =:-0

--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Trish Brown wrote:

Pogonip wrote:

Trish Brown wrote:

Come to to think of it, I can't really recommend Caesarian operations either...
mine was a shocker!

Did you have anesthesia? My first one, I didn't. It was
memorable.
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us



Oh yes! I had an epidural block and then some! But, please, do tell how you came
not to have any!!! I need to know! =:-0

It was an emergency. With hemorrhage, and the gas-passer
did an epidural, but used an anesthetic that doesn't work
on me. But there was no time to do anything else plus the
risk of overdose, so they proceeded and as soon as they
had my son out, they knocked me out with gas.

Seven years later, I had a planned one, met with the
anesthesiologist beforehand, he was familiar with the
problem and made plans to avoid it. I'm glad to say that
it went off flawlessly.

The first time was a placenta previa (before ultrasound)
and given the contemporary mortality rates, both my son
and I were very, very lucky. I don't think this happens
anymore with ultrasound to spot the problem ahead of time.
Had the anesthesiologist met me before the surgery, he
would not have used what he did.

--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.

Pogonip wrote:

It was an emergency. With hemorrhage, and the gas-passer
did an epidural, but used an anesthetic that doesn't work
on me. But there was no time to do anything else plus the
risk of overdose, so they proceeded and as soon as they
had my son out, they knocked me out with gas.

Seven years later, I had a planned one, met with the
anesthesiologist beforehand, he was familiar with the
problem and made plans to avoid it. I'm glad to say that
it went off flawlessly.

The first time was a placenta previa (before ultrasound)
and given the contemporary mortality rates, both my son
and I were very, very lucky. I don't think this happens
anymore with ultrasound to spot the problem ahead of time.
Had the anesthesiologist met me before the surgery, he
would not have used what he did.

--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us


Gee, you *were* lucky Joanne! I'm glad the second delivery went a lot more
smoothly for you!

My Caesarian ought to have been OK, only just at the very moment I was about to
be wheeled in to the delivery room, the helicopter disgorged a woman who had
been labouring away all morning in Dubbo (far western NSW) and whose baby was in
acute distress. I was given the option of letting her go first or having my own
delivery (which would have delayed her access to emergency resources for an hour
or more). What could I do? I said 'Of course, do all you can to help this
woman!'

So, while waiting, my epidural kept wearing off. 'I can feel my toes!' I'd say
and the anaesthetist would top up my epidural (assuming that we could be called
into the delivery room at any second). Next, my tongue would go numb and I'd be
unable to speak! 'Ugghugghuggh!' I shrieked at Fred (the anaesthetist)! He'd
give me something (dunno what it was) and I'd begin shuddering and shivering so
badly that I shredded my tongue! DH said I looked as though I'd been eating raw
meat (which, I suppose I sort of had...)

Finally (three hours later), we were called in to deliver DD. By then, I was a
basket case, having felt my toes and suffered paralysed tongue and shivered and
bitten my tongue for all that time. The experience of having a Caesarian Section
was not, for me, a pleasant one. I felt the sensation of every slice, cut and
julienne (although the sensations were not painful, they were very eerie and
made me feel sick!) The final closure of the incision was horrendous! It felt as
though I were being drawn up to the ceiling by the threads in my abdomen! Urk!

I have to be honest and say that if I hadn't been delayed, the whole experience
would have been *quite* different for me! I was well-prepared for everything
that could possibly happen (beyond having the ups and downs of an
on-again-off-again epidural!) and was looking forward to being delivered of my
baby. It was just a sorry mix-up. The saddest part was that the lady from Dubbo
lost her baby! Owing to privacy regulations, we never got to meet her, although
she sent us her thanks and best wishes.

When my own DD was born, she was an 'at risk' baby and spent four weeks in the
NICU, so I had lots to occupy my thoughts and quickly forgot the details of the
Caesarian. It was only later, when I finally had the leisure to recall them,
that I got to ponder over the awful details! Isn't Nature amazing, the way she
lets you forget these things when you need to?

--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Trish Brown wrote:

Pogonip wrote:


It was an emergency. With hemorrhage, and the gas-passer
did an epidural, but used an anesthetic that doesn't work
on me. But there was no time to do anything else plus the
risk of overdose, so they proceeded and as soon as they
had my son out, they knocked me out with gas.

Seven years later, I had a planned one, met with the
anesthesiologist beforehand, he was familiar with the
problem and made plans to avoid it. I'm glad to say that
it went off flawlessly.

The first time was a placenta previa (before ultrasound)
and given the contemporary mortality rates, both my son
and I were very, very lucky. I don't think this happens
anymore with ultrasound to spot the problem ahead of time.
Had the anesthesiologist met me before the surgery, he
would not have used what he did.

--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us



Gee, you *were* lucky Joanne! I'm glad the second delivery went a lot more
smoothly for you!

My Caesarian ought to have been OK, only just at the very moment I was about to
be wheeled in to the delivery room, the helicopter disgorged a woman who had
been labouring away all morning in Dubbo (far western NSW) and whose baby was in
acute distress. I was given the option of letting her go first or having my own
delivery (which would have delayed her access to emergency resources for an hour
or more). What could I do? I said 'Of course, do all you can to help this
woman!'

So, while waiting, my epidural kept wearing off. 'I can feel my toes!' I'd say
and the anaesthetist would top up my epidural (assuming that we could be called
into the delivery room at any second). Next, my tongue would go numb and I'd be
unable to speak! 'Ugghugghuggh!' I shrieked at Fred (the anaesthetist)! He'd
give me something (dunno what it was) and I'd begin shuddering and shivering so
badly that I shredded my tongue! DH said I looked as though I'd been eating raw
meat (which, I suppose I sort of had...)

Finally (three hours later), we were called in to deliver DD. By then, I was a
basket case, having felt my toes and suffered paralysed tongue and shivered and
bitten my tongue for all that time. The experience of having a Caesarian Section
was not, for me, a pleasant one. I felt the sensation of every slice, cut and
julienne (although the sensations were not painful, they were very eerie and
made me feel sick!) The final closure of the incision was horrendous! It felt as
though I were being drawn up to the ceiling by the threads in my abdomen! Urk!

I have to be honest and say that if I hadn't been delayed, the whole experience
would have been *quite* different for me! I was well-prepared for everything
that could possibly happen (beyond having the ups and downs of an
on-again-off-again epidural!) and was looking forward to being delivered of my
baby. It was just a sorry mix-up. The saddest part was that the lady from Dubbo
lost her baby! Owing to privacy regulations, we never got to meet her, although
she sent us her thanks and best wishes.

When my own DD was born, she was an 'at risk' baby and spent four weeks in the
NICU, so I had lots to occupy my thoughts and quickly forgot the details of the
Caesarian. It was only later, when I finally had the leisure to recall them,
that I got to ponder over the awful details! Isn't Nature amazing, the way she
lets you forget these things when you need to?


Good grief! The things we go through - and our
well-meaning medical attendants who often create more
problems than they solve! I know exactly what you mean
about how we deal with the experience. I felt the
incisions, and remember them mentally, but not viscerally,
if you know what I mean. It was like tinies building
campfires along a nice straight line - and I recall that
the scalpel was so sharp and had no nicks in it to drag.
The OB-GYN pulled out my son, and I could have sworn he
was pulling my spine through in preparation to snatch me
inside out. Then I was offered the gas, which I sucked up
with great gusto!

My son's APGAR was low, so he was in an isolette for a
while, and meanwhile I developed an infection, probably
due to the anesthesia used for the epidural. Who else
gets infections from cocaine derivatives? So when he was
able to be out, I couldn't see him. Plus they kept giving
me Demerol, which doesn't work other than to make me
exceedingly nasty. It's a wonder we get through these
things, isn't it?

It's so nice to have these little things behind us and to
be able to enjoy the offspring as adults. I've had both
sons here this week, both are now men, and I am constantly
adjusting to that.
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.