Week 2 (second time around)

Hello summer....it's hot here. I really had no idea a week had gone by since I last blogged.  I've been pretty busy for a person recovering from surgery two weeks ago.  While on that subject I'll say things are really going well.  On Monday I had to see my primary care doctor and I had her take a look at my incision.  My husband had taken off the strips that the surgeon put on at my one week check and I wanted an opinion since I was there anyway.  I was concerned about a couple of areas.   She said the "little black" areas I was concerned about was simply scab and also glue.  

I met up with Mr. R yesterday to pick up my new battery charger and work on a new program.
We took forever to connect because he has been traveling for work a lot.  I told him just find me one to work better and I'm out of here.  I was feeling horrible.  We were able to get something in 30 minutes and I went straight back home. He asked me first thing when I saw him yesterday how did the new battery feel?  Great I told him.  As soon as the incision soreness is gone I won't even know it is there.  Unless I touch the incision or roll over on it at night, I don't even feel the battery.   A huge improvement.  He was thrilled to hear me say that.  I asked him about the "glue" my PC doctor mentioned.  He said they literally use glue (almost like superglue) on the incision.  Next Wednesday I see my PM doctor for one last check so he can release me to be a little more active and let me in the POOL!  That's what I'm looking forward to most.  Also, trying to get back to what exercise I am capable of doing.  

Yesterday made a week I've been fighting a nasty cough keeping me awake at night.  The only symptoms I had were the cough during night and first hour I was up in the am.  I also would loose my voice at night and into the first few hours of being up in the morning then it would return. No sore throat, head ache or fever.   That's what brought me in to see the doctor on Monday.  After no sleep over the week end and all the coughing at night,  I'd had enough.  My chest had started to hurt that morning so I decided I better go ahead and get checked.  I was lucky to get an appointment that afternoon and get checked out.  No infection, all allergy.  Amazing that can make you feel so bad.  A short dose of antibiotic, 5 day Z pac as precautionary.  Cough pearls and Mucinex D.  Both of which I was already using since it started.

Last Friday I finally got that mammogram I've been saying I was going to do.  I was confidant I was a year or two past due.  I was informed the last one was 08.  Boy, was I shocked.  The Woman's Hospital here in BR is new.  It used to be on the side of town we lived on and this new one opened shortly after we moved into this area.  I hadn't been yet so I didn't have the best experience finding where I need to go.  It was pretty busy but I was in and out in 45 minutes.

On Tuesday they gave me a call and asked me to come back for more views of left side.  I wasn't really concerned because the first time I had one they asked me to do that and I let if freak me out and it was nothing.  I understand it's pretty common if they see the least little thing/change they don't take any chances.  They want to see it closer and at a different view.  Monday the doctor and pharmacy, Mr. R on Tuesday, now Wednesday back to Woman's.  

My phone had stopped working on Tuesday.  No audio at all so I decided to go ahead an schedule an appointment with Apple since I had to go back to town for the additional views at the hospital.  The phone was not repairable and sadly I have two more months to be eligible for a replacement at an "upgrade" cost.  If it would have been 2 weeks I might have considered waiting but two months was to long.  I left Apple with another phone and went to get the additional views at the hospital.  The radiologist looked at them before i left and they said everything was fine.  They do have a second radiologist view for second opinion and that would be done today.  I think that's a great method. 

The day I heard from the hospital I also heard from my OB/GYN doctor.  I've been seeing him for 29 years.  Since my baby was one.  He asked me to schedule an appointment with a breast specialist no matter what the findings of the additional views.  He said he asks any of his patients with family history have something new show up to do this.  I hung up thinking I'd do it as a second opinion if they found something.  If it's good, I didn't think it was necessary.  I thought about it more after returning home and at the end of the day decided to call and schedule the appointment.  I'm a complaint patient with all my other doctors so why not be complaint with him also.  What's one more appointment?

Today is the first day I haven't been out most of the morning and I've enjoyed being home.  A lot of friends/family have asked me about this surgery working and is my back better?  This surgery was to fix one thing only.  The battery I had was to big for me to start and after it moved positions it had become very uncomfortable and I was having trouble charging due to the shift in position.  I agreed to the surgery because the back pain was enough.  Dealing with the battery issue really was starting to make me feel like I had made a huge mistake having the implant done last year.  I had no idea I'd add pain.  The plan was to reduce it.   The first half of the year that plan worked.  The second half everything went down hill.  So far the surgery has been a huge success but no changes for the back pain.  I do seem to get more relief from the stimulator now that I'm not dealing with the additional pain of the old battery.

Unfortunately I'm still dealing with the hives.  I'll go two days max without any then bam the following day their back.  I have two today.  I hope to know one day what causes them to appear but I may never know.  

Last Sunday my husband and I went to my friends home for a family gathering for her sons 30th birthday.  He is same age as my daughter.  We met when her son and my daughter were one but ended up across the street from each other the summer before kindergarten.  We went to his birthday parties as a little boy and they came to my daughters as well.  They caught the bus together together for many years.  When they reached high school age my friend moved to Baton Rouge ( I moved later in BR in 2005) and they went to different high schools.  We still kept in touch though. 

My daughter and grandson came for  awhile also.  My friend asked my daughter to take her picture with her son since she turned 30 in April.  Neither my friend nor I can believe we have a 30 year old.  She also is privileged to be a grandmother.  It was odd seeing our babies, babies play together.   It was a nice afternoon and I enjoyed getting out of the house.  Little did I know then I'd be out the next three days in a row.  

Instagram picture
1988 @ age 5/ 2013@ age 30

Our babies with their babies <3

My friend of 29 years!

Tomorrow Dallas is having surgery to remove bladder stones.  My vet tried a 2 week dose of antibiotic but it didn't clear the blood in his urine so they took an x ray to discover the stones. We're hoping this surgery will go much smoother than the one he had last fall.  

My daughter, SIL and P
Mothers Day

Sorry this post is so long.  I just had so much to share with you since last time I wrote.  There was so much to share since I last posted.  My granddaughter's mom graduated from Nursing school.  We're so excited for her.  It's been a long hard road for her but it will now pay off.  She already has a job at the hospital where A was born.  She'll be in the ICU.  Not a place where many rookies land. 

Her pinning ceremony was last Thursday night and Saturday was graduation.  I really hate I had to miss it.  A's grandmother sent a picture from Thursday night and some pictures of the playhouse that Paw Paw G built for her.  She loves to pretend to cook and play house with her dolls so I know many hours of fun she will have there.  I hope to get a picture of graduation so I can share that with you also.  

Great job M....I can't imagine how proud your parents are of and for you.  I hope life gets easier and easier for you from here on out.  You deserve it!

M and A night of pinning ceremony

Having fun in her playhouse

Mommy daughter picnic :-)

I guess I'm carrying on to long now.  I'll save the rest for next post.  

H.O.P. E.
Theresa

Be(YOU)tilful

It's over!

I'm so glad today is over with.  I tried to sleep in as late as I could.  It seems forever when you can't have anything to eat or drink.  My husbands coffee smelt so good.  Honesty I wanted water more.  When I fist wake up the first think I do is drink a glass of water.  I always feel dehydrated from no fluids overnight.  Then I dive into the coffee.  

We had to be there at 8:30, surgery time 9:00.  We were home at 12:30.  The lady that checks you and and takes your payment is very sweet.  She knows me.  Every time I'm finished signing a million papers and giving her money I tell her I hope this is the last time I see her.  They are very efficient there.  They always bring me back right on time and some time early.  The nurses get all their work done and if I'm not heading back to the "ice box" it's not because they are up to speed.  Their waiting on the doctor.  

After they brought me back and did the run down on the questions the fun part of starting IV came.  They always have trouble with that.  It usually takes two times.  I had to laugh because D fixed himself another cup of coffee as soon as we were settled in the waiting room they called me back pretty quick.  He brought his coffee along and the nurse working with me fussed at him for drinking it in front of me.  I'm not sure she made him feel bad but she sure tried.  She did well.  Got it in on the first try.  Once that is over I can relax a little.  The most I can, feeling dehydrated, no pain or anxiety medication.

Mr. R came in next to go over a few things with me.  The revision plan and to show me the battery that would replace the one I have.  I've seen it before but it's been some time.  A year ago to be exact.    He told me it's not uncommon for SCS patients to need a "revision" surgery at some point. 

Silver is one I have now.  White one is the one they took out!

Then Dr. G came by to explain again to D and I exactly what his plan was.  He said that he hoped to be able to put a little deeper and with the smaller size everything that was bothering me should be better.   He said being the pocket was already there it should be as tough recovery as the first time.  One incision.  They would not be fooling with the leads at all.  Then back we went.  It's always so cold in the surgery room.  As soon as they positioned me on the table they brought in a warm blanket to drape over my upper back and shoulders.  Man whatever you call that brown stuff the clean you off before is so cold.  I could feel it running everywhere.  Oxygen in the nose and the juice plugged into my hand.  For the longest time I could hear them talking.  I commented in their conversation a few times just to make sure they knew I was WIDE awake.  Apparently he juiced it up a bit more because I heard Dr. G's voice then nothing after that until what seemed like hours I heard a lot of people talking up a storm about anything and everything you could think of.  At one point they apologized for all the talking.  I don't think they had any idea I was awake.  They moved me off the table and onto the rolling bed and brought me to recovery.  As we where wheeling past the clock I noticed it was 10:10.  Doc had told me husband around 30 minutes so we were close.

still shivering

I still couldn't stop shivering after leaving the "ice box" room.  They brought me a few more warm blankets.  No, I didn't put them in that arrangement.  They did!  Of course my husband needed another picture of me.  Mr. R came in to get my stimulator control.  He said they would transfer any programs I wanted or we could just clear and start over when we meet to do some adjustments.  I let him know numbers of the two I use most of the time.  Of course when they wiped everything out and just kept 3-4  the numbers changed.  When I'm feeling up to it I have to go through them to see if any will work for me temporarily.  He forgot I'd need a different charger for the new battery.  Unfortunately it doesn't use the same on as previous battery.  Luckily I shouldn't need it before I see him to get it.  Most likely Monday.  He will be out of town at my one week check next Wednesday.  

The battery I had I only needed to charge once a month.  He said most likely as much as I use it I will probably need to charge once a week.  If things turn out better I'll be happy to charge weekly! Things are going just as the first time.  When Doc came by to talk to me before they released me he asked how I was feeling.  I told him pretty good.  Couldn't feel anything.  Not even any back pain.  He said it should feel that way a while but not to over do it because I wasn't feeling to bad at the moment.  He said he was able to put it deeper so I would have some soreness from that.  If he went any farther he was afraid the paddle would make a connection with the battery.  He also mentioned some sort of tie or anchor that was behind the battery that was possibly causing some of my discomfort.  He moved it out of the way and hopes that will make a difference also.

When we got home I did a few things and of course had that cup of coffee even though it was past lunch.  Then I decided to lye down a while.  I was still feeling pretty comfortable but knew at some point it would hit me.  I actually drifted of for about 45 minutes which is so unusual for me.  I heard Dallas barking and then heard my daughters voice.  She stopped by to check on me.  We had a nice visit and I had a "late" lunch while we caught up on some things.  

After she left I piddled around doing some easy things that didn't require any straining, bending, or squatting.   I had a salad later on around 6:45 and it was very obvious that the numbing medicine they used at surgery site had worn off.  I took 4 ibuprofen and it just continue to get worse.  Throbbing and very uncomfortable to walk.  I couldn't believe how drastic the change was from several hours ago.  
At  9 pm  I started with some ice on and off but that is very uncomfortable to have touching me but I know it will probably help so trying to suck it up.  It's now after 11 and I don't know how in the world I will sleep.  I took some pain medicine at 9 but haven't felt any difference yet.  Not very confidant I will sleep any tonight.  If it goes like last time the next day was worse but every day after that it started to get a little better each day.  Lets hope thats what happens again.  

I got a lot of texts this morning from friends and family wishing me well.  Thank you all.  My grandson prayed for me last night and my granddaughter this morning.  I truly feel blessed to have so much support.  I'm off to see if I can tolerate another round of ice before trying to get comfortable in bed and get some sleep.  Sleep is so important in getting better.  I'll be around home for sure the next few days so I'll have an update soon.  

Hopeful...Theresa

"Before you act, listen.

Before you react, think.

Before you spend, earn.

Before you criticize, wait.

Before you pray, forgive.

Before you quit, try"

                           Ernest Hemingway




























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































D when take him tomorrow na,.