Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

Whew! (big sigh of relief) You certainly have an interesting life.
So glad they let you out -hospitals are necessary sometimes, for sure,
but they do make you sick.
Please remember that the 10-pound lifting thing probably includes
lifting *yourself*, i.e. things like bending over. Let your family do
for you! It will make them feel better!
Roberta in D

On Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:16:41 +0000, NightMist
wrote:


I am returned!

The hospital finally let me out and I bolted for home.
Well, close anyway. They said I could leave and I kind of gimped into a
wheelchair and rolled out the door.

My stay was full of trials and travails.
At first they said I was doing great and could probably go home last
Saturday. Then they started fussing about my blood pressure. I wound up
wearing one of those detachable cuffs like it was jewelry and getting
woke up every half an hour so they could measure my pressure. Apparently
70/30 is low enough to send medical people into a bit of a panic. The
next time I woke up they were giving me blood yet again. If this keeps
up I am going to have to get me a half dozen cabana boys just to act as
blood donors.
When they finally got enough blood into me that I had blood pressure they
decided to feed me. Yay! Between pre-surgical stuff and not getting fed
while they fussed I was more than ready for some food, even if it was
sloppy stuff. Alas, my tummy was of a different opinion. That little
bout of excitement earned me a nose hose and an entire day without even
water. I tried to be good about having the nose hose installed, but
apologized just in case I actually did bite the pretty little resident
who put it in. Apparently when everything was all squished up because of
the growth, my upper gastrointestinal tract took some damage which was
aggravated when everything unsquished. So I had 24 hours of absolutely
nothing in my tummy, followed by another 24 of clear fluids. FYI, jello
is a clear fluid. I do not want to see another bowl of jello before New
Years! When the clear fluids stayed down, the nose hose came out and I
was allowed to eat sloppy stuff again. When the soft foods stayed down
they decided I could probably go home.
Of course that night my incision started bleeding.
Fortunately it is just a wee spot, and though they pondered mightily
about it, they decided to send me home anyway.
I have been saying they a lot because while the one doctor is The Guy
when it comes to all decisions, I also had a whole gaggle of residents
that answer to him puttering over me.
Apparently I am an interesting and unusual case.
They are pretty sure that it is ovarian cancer, but it is not your
"normal" variety. They are still waiting on lab results on the tumor,
and I imagine that I will learn more about what exactly is going on and
what kind of follow-up treatment I will be looking at when I have my next
visit at their clinic.

Apparently one of the local yarn shops has a knitting club that puts
together knit squares into lap afghans for patients at Roswell Park.
The fellow who wheeled me out coordinates and promotes the effort with
his wife. He made sure I got one on my way out.
The shop is www.embraceableewe.com
I'm going to check them out here shortly.

This has put me a week behind on my Christmas stuff!
I shall be able to manage my knitting, but with a ten pound lifting
limitation quilting is going to be out of the question for a while. The
only quilts I have left to do before Christmas are queen size or better.
*pout*

Ash just got home.
He is apparently very pleased to see me home!
I have gotten many hugs, nose to nose rubs, he took a minute to do a
giggling little happy dance, and then more hugs and nose rubs.

NightMist

On 12/10/2011 3:16 PM, NightMist wrote:

I am returned!

The hospital finally let me out and I bolted for home.
Well, close anyway. They said I could leave and I kind of gimped into a
wheelchair and rolled out the door.

My stay was full of trials and travails.
At first they said I was doing great and could probably go home last
Saturday. Then they started fussing about my blood pressure. I wound up
wearing one of those detachable cuffs like it was jewelry and getting
woke up every half an hour so they could measure my pressure. Apparently
70/30 is low enough to send medical people into a bit of a panic. The
next time I woke up they were giving me blood yet again. If this keeps
up I am going to have to get me a half dozen cabana boys just to act as
blood donors.
When they finally got enough blood into me that I had blood pressure they
decided to feed me. Yay! Between pre-surgical stuff and not getting fed
while they fussed I was more than ready for some food, even if it was
sloppy stuff. Alas, my tummy was of a different opinion. That little
bout of excitement earned me a nose hose and an entire day without even
water. I tried to be good about having the nose hose installed, but
apologized just in case I actually did bite the pretty little resident
who put it in. Apparently when everything was all squished up because of
the growth, my upper gastrointestinal tract took some damage which was
aggravated when everything unsquished. So I had 24 hours of absolutely
nothing in my tummy, followed by another 24 of clear fluids. FYI, jello
is a clear fluid. I do not want to see another bowl of jello before New
Years! When the clear fluids stayed down, the nose hose came out and I
was allowed to eat sloppy stuff again. When the soft foods stayed down
they decided I could probably go home.
Of course that night my incision started bleeding.
Fortunately it is just a wee spot, and though they pondered mightily
about it, they decided to send me home anyway.
I have been saying they a lot because while the one doctor is The Guy
when it comes to all decisions, I also had a whole gaggle of residents
that answer to him puttering over me.
Apparently I am an interesting and unusual case.
They are pretty sure that it is ovarian cancer, but it is not your
"normal" variety. They are still waiting on lab results on the tumor,
and I imagine that I will learn more about what exactly is going on and
what kind of follow-up treatment I will be looking at when I have my next
visit at their clinic.

Apparently one of the local yarn shops has a knitting club that puts
together knit squares into lap afghans for patients at Roswell Park.
The fellow who wheeled me out coordinates and promotes the effort with
his wife. He made sure I got one on my way out.
The shop is www.embraceableewe.com
I'm going to check them out here shortly.

This has put me a week behind on my Christmas stuff!
I shall be able to manage my knitting, but with a ten pound lifting
limitation quilting is going to be out of the question for a while. The
only quilts I have left to do before Christmas are queen size or better.
*pout*

Ash just got home.
He is apparently very pleased to see me home!
I have gotten many hugs, nose to nose rubs, he took a minute to do a
giggling little happy dance, and then more hugs and nose rubs.

NightMist

Welcome home! I am wishing you a sunny nook where you can relax and heal.
Take care,
allison

On Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:33:11 -0500, Polly Esther wrote:

Bringing up the rear here. We're putting new floors in the bathrooms
and foyer. To celebrate the occasion, I've developed a raging case of
sneeze, drip and drown. It affects my sweet disposition. Tried
everything but rat poison to cure it or at least dry up a little.
That said, I've noticed lots of things going on with our NM. One.
The blood transfusions. Have you noticed any changes in your
voice or beard?
Two. The 'other side' here who would be 'spoiled' by their family.
My
family's notion of spoil a surgery patient is to help them up the front
steps. After that, you're on your own.
Something makes me suspect that you are not a patient patient. Try
to
be. You've been through one whale of an experience; be as kind to your
body as you possibly can. When you need just a little distraction, one
of the silly things I enjoyed was the online place where you can do
jigsaw puzzles. No lifting required, nearly no brain and if you take a
lot of time - who cares?
We're doing this with you. When you want to rant, whine or Growl,
we'll
join you. Holding you close. Polly

Gosh but I hate the drip and drowns. Besides the gagging and the coughing
there is the inevitable sore throat and possibly sore sinuses besides. I
have found that echinacea helps, as does a tea of ginger and eyebright
with honey. If your throat gets sore from the drip add some fenugreek
seeds to the tea. Fenugreek is tasty, sort of mapley, you can cut back
on the sweetening when you use it. Slippery elm actually works better
especially on a harshly sore throat, but it can be kind of nasty because
of the texture.
Marsh mallow or angelica comfits are both good, they are also good as
just plain treats G

I haven't noticed any changes in voice or hairiness, but I have been
shying away from sunlight lately...

My lot here are still hovering. I figure I have maybe a week left of
them doing that, so long as I don't suddenly turn inside out or something.
If it had been just fibroids or something they would probably be asking
why I wasn't out clearing the back 40 yet, but the doctor said the "C"
word so I am still a fragile flower for now.

You are obviously very astute in determining that I am not a patient
patient! I have been informed that I am also a grumpy convalescent.
DH's number one phrase this month has got to be "Stay still and let me do
for you!". I think he may soon be adding "or I will tie you up to make
you be still!" on to that, just judging by his escalating tone of
frustration.
I am trying to be good, truly.
Rest and relax are not my best things. I get bored.
I am pretty flattened so I do manage to stay still for up to half an hour
at a go. Sometimes I even take a nap.
Since I am still at the stage wherein percocet is a very dear friend I am
not exactly rampaging about though.
Boy you sure don't realize how much you use the muscles in your back or
belly until they are damaged. With a big old vertical "S" incision down
my middle I surely do notice now!
I am trying to get up and walk about every hour or two to see if that
helps get rid of the swelling I am having. Everything from the waist
down keeps puffing right up. Sitting down is fairly easy, standing up
and walking about is not too bad, the transition from one to the other is
very owie though.

NightMist

--
I'm raising a developmentally disabled child. What's your superpower?

Damned bad health! That said, I'm so glad you're past the surgery and in the recovery stage. I ditto everything Polly said, and most everybody else too. I've been worried about you. You are an important part of the 'family' and I'm happy to see you back to your old form. Grumpy? Bah ... that's just over-sensitivity on the part of others. But do let them do for you. Who knows, maybe they will forget that they're ever supposed to do otherwise. Housework is so much easier when somebody else does it.

I also do those simple jigsaw puzzles online when my brain is frizzled out and my body can't handle much else. Or just rest. Look at all the pretty new fabric out for fall. Some of it is amazing.

Hugs to you and your household. I'm keeping you close to my heart, dear girl.

Sunny

Welcome home!! As a quiet reader here, I did find your saga gripping.
You really ought to take up blogging as a permanent gig because you
have a way with words. I feel like the stereotypical theatre critic,
"I laughed, I cried!". Glad to hear you are making progress and will
be back to crafting quickly! Moni in Illinois

Nightmist is home...Nightmist is home (singing quietly)

Body needs SLEEP as that's when the most healing takes place. If you're
tired and can't sleep, just simply rest. Better days are coming.

IF you 'behave' you might get a reprieve like I just did. At my last Dr
visit: "Stay off the foot with the exception of heel use for balance when
absolutely necessary". I did it and because of it...I got the cast OFF one
week early. YAY! Das Boot is back with strings attached.....I still have to
stay OFF the (R)foot for the full week...and then I can start with bits of
whole sole pressure. I go back in 3 weeks..hopefully, he'll let me start
taking a few steps then. DD decorated it with butterflies...their wings are
suppose to help me carry it

So if *I* can do it...you can, too.

Don't tell me I have had lots of practice...it's still HARD to stay quiet,
maybe harder, as this has been going on for months. When it's over I shall
be able to walk normally

Butterfly ( now go take a rest--I 'll join you in a min or so)