Did a bit too much yard work yesterday.  Push mowed a bit and used my small weed trimmer.  Today I had a small pinching feeling in my upper abdomen.  The doctor said it sounds like a muscle from over doing it and that I should wait until 4 weeks to try that again.  

Tonight for dinner I tried some egg beaters w/ low-fat shredded cheese.  It was great but I think I ate it too quickly or maybe a bit too much.  I didn't try to fit it in my medicine cup!  Having what feels like indigestion high up.  I hope it doesn't get too bad.

  Finally, some nice weather!  I went to the doctors on the 22 and had lost 11 lbs since my last weight there.  I was doing blended cream soups because I wasn't hungry and I was told not to do them.  They want me to follow their plan exactly so I am.  Had some mushy tuna w/ lite tuna, loved it.  I have tried the refried beans w/ a tiny bit of low-fat cheese on it.  That was good as well.  Going back to work Tuesday.  Going great so far. 

  It's amazing how a few days can make a person feel so much better.  That and no longer being constipated!  I was blessed with no pain but last night when I was laying on my left side there was a slight pinching feeling and I was afraid I was pinching my internal parts or that one of my air holes were going to blow.  So I propped my head up some more and got some sleep.  I have been trying the Unjury (sp?) protein samples that I bought...do not like them.  I tried some diet Snapple but it was toooo sweet even when I cut it half and half with water.  Chicken broth is going down really nice.  

I noticed the other day that when I was allowing myself to see if one of the soaps I use to watch had changed any that it seemed to trigger a head hunger.  I realized taht when we were always growing up it was a soap that my Mom watched and we would always eat lunch either right before or during it at 12:30.  I never thought of memories or really old habits could have such a food effect.  Strange...maybe it's all in my "head!"

Time to get ready for next week when once again, food of some very soft and mushy form can be consumed.  I'm almost afraid to do it.  Best of luck to everyone!! 

Monday was the day. I got there and everything went fine until they tried to put my IV in. Keeping in mind that my right wrist is where they did my catheterization and I had 3 puncture wounds already on my left from 2 IV's and a blown spot from Friday. The two nurses each tried one in each arm, no luck. They called the IV specialist..she stuck me once..no luck. So, the anesthesia team came in and tried my foot and 2 other spots. Finally, Jesus (I guess he was on my side literally) got one in my hand. It hurt like hell but was enough to put the meds into me to knock me out.

It has always been a fight coming out of anesthesia and this time wasn't any different. While I was out they did put a new IV in me and it was next to the arm pit on the outside of the arm, don't know if that makes any sense. I got to my room at 4:30 and by 6:30 I was sitting in one of those hospital chairs. By 7pm I was walking the halls and with no pain. I was light headed and hated the catheter but other than that I was doing pretty good. I took advantage of the pain pump to help me sleep in a new and crazy place. My older roommate was setting off buzzers all night long and had to get up and down constantly. My second day was similar. Up and walked, napped alot, no pain, people surprised how well I was doing but I felt like a dizzy balloon. I think I may have pushed it and around 8pm I got a bit of nausea and it kind of scared me because I was doing so well. They gave me some IV meds and after a nap I was better.

Wed morning they told me I could go home. (after their friendly suppository...which I was told later that they would let me go even if I didn't have a bowel movement. Once I was home it was strange because you don't have all the nurses around to help you and I began feeling a little sad because I feel weak and tired and afraid that I may not get in enough liquids and hoping I am doing things right. I took my first shower last night and when I saw myself naked I cried like a baby. I had the yellow-orange iodine stuff all over my belly and purple marker marks as if they let some child come in and draw roads on me while I was sleeping. Andy bruises..OMG...they must have tried a few more spots for the IV plus all the bruises from the heprin (sp) shots.

Today, feeling a little better. Still dizzy and weak and gassy. I still feel like I have a cold. I am trying to keep a written list of what I am doing and what my BP is so that I can take it with me to my Dr. next week to see what I need to do differently. The crushed meds in Jello this morning were very gross. Hopefully I can find some other way to take them. I pray this all gets better soon. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope that someday this will help others to know what they could possibly expect. So long for now....

MY HEART IS FINE!! SURGERY IS ON FOR MONDAY!!