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Feeling crappy today. This foot is so bad I can hardly walk on it. So off to the ER I go reluctantly. I have to get some relief from this pain, at least until I see the neurologist.
Get to the ER at 10:17 am, get in pretty quick to see the Dr, about 30 mins later. This Dr I never met comes in and asks what he can do for me. I told him about my foot and he said , what did your dr say when you called them. I said I didn't call my Dr.I was hoping the pain would subside but it's getting worse. He didn't want to treat me. He said people have to learn that the ER is not just a place to come and get drugs. He made me feel like I was a druggy looking for a fix.I was insulted and I told him. I work here I know what goes on here.I am not here just to get a quick fix, I need some relief from the pain until I get to see my Dr. He went on and on, and finally told me only because I work here will he give me a script for flexoril, and tylenol 3 just to get me trough the weekend and then I'm to call my DR. I was so pissed. Then I sat there for TWO SOLID HOURS in that room before anyone came to even check on me. A few times I wondered out into the hall to see if I could find someone. I got the nurses attention and a few minutes later she was in with a needle . Then about 30 mins later the Dr popped his head in and said he wrote the scripts. I cried so much not just with pain but how he made me feel. A nurse comes in with the papers and discharge stuff. She wanted to take my blood pressure before I left, of course it was high and I said "I'm not surprised that it is high after what I've been through"
So 3 hours later, I'm on my way to get the scripts filled. We pick up a few things then its home . I took a pill and went to bed.

My eating and drinking was way off today as I spent so much time in the ER and sleeping. Not feeling good tummy wise either. Nauseated, etc.

Before bed I took a Tylenol 3.I'm hoping to get some sleep tonight.


to be continued

Happy 5th anniversary to me. :). Five years ago I had the most wonderful day. I would do it all again in a flash. I had family and friends around , it was so much fun.
Since we couldn't go out to a restaurant to celebrate, we took a drive to Canandaiguia . Elwin got his hair cut and we did a little shopping. I got an electric kettle and some color for my hair. It's in need of a color really bad.
My tummy is hungry today, I usually don't feel hungry but I guess I'm not eating enough, or drinking enough.

Took a nice nap this afternoon. We had supper, I had toast and peanut butter, Elwin had shrimp stir fry. I don't like shrimp anyway...lol

Foot is driving me crazy.

to be continued

OMG it's the first of September. Where did the summer go? Not such a good day today. My stomach hurts. I turned over last night in bed and felt this pain when I did. It still hurts. Plus my foot is non stop pain. I want to punch the wall it hurts so much. I thought I'd call the Dr but I can't get an appointment and they won't give you a prescription for pain killers over the phone. I still can't drive and even if I had the Dr's permission, I couldn't anyway with my eyes being the way they are. I have to find an eye dr and go see them. the glasses I have that I used for seeing far away, no longer work, in fact I see through my bifocals far away. It's weird. It's been like this since the surgery.
Tomorrow is our anniversary. We are going to go for a nice drive. Elwin is off Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I have my follow up appointment with Dr Weiss on September 8th.
been going to bed early these nights. Trying everything I can to get some relief from this pain in my foot.


to be continued

I've spend most of my days alone since I got home. Elwin has been working every day. He finally gets some time off this weekend. Friday is our 5th anniversary.
I think I ate my lunch too fast today. It doesn't sit well with me. Sometimes I forget that I am supposed to chew my food a lot and eat slowly and of course you aren't supposed to drink with your meal. That is a habit I find hard to break. I am supposed to stop drinking 30-45 minutes before I eat and not drink 30-45 minutes after. It's really tough somedays as I feel thirsty all the time.
I haven't been drinking a lot of water, but I started today. For a few days water did not appeal to me at all. It didn't seem to quench my thirst. I love chewing on ice chips and I do that a lot.
My leg/foot is bothering me today. Took some Tylenol but I may as well  have taken candy. The pain is unbelievable at times.I called the neurologist and the earliest I can see him is Sept 13. I get no relief from the pain. It keeps me awake at night as well as Elwin because I toss and turn and my leg jumps and twitches. I've tried everything.

I had some canned peaches today. A nice treat. It's fun trying new foods but I can only eat such a little bit, I don't want them to go to waste so I have to try and buy small containers of them.It took me four days to eat one banana.


to be continued

Tonight is TOPS night. I am going to see what my weight is. The last time I weighed in there I weighed 226.6. The day before the surgery in Auburn I was 224. I know I've lost. Heck with all I've been able to eat I sure as heck better have lost.
Took a nice shower and for the first time in a week I had the energy to polish my toenails. My toes looked so pale, So I polished them a nice sparkly red. I feel so much better now. I even put on my rings again.

OK so I am back from TOPS and I weighed in at 215.4, so I lost 11.2 pounds. Not too shabby. It was good to get back. The chapter had some good losses tonight. I love working with the group.
On Tuesdays after I got weighed I used to come home and have a treat. Usually pizza or nachos etc, well tonight I had strawberry jello with a small piece of banana for my treat.
I'm pleased with my progress, just wish I'd feel better than I do. In the research I've done, some people experience nausea etc for 3-4 weeks after surgery. I guess it just takes times.
Getting that 48-64 oz of liquid in plus 40-60 grams of protein is tough. I started checking my ketones to make sure I don't get ketosis (sp)

Other than that not a bad day

to be continued

It's strange when you aren't working, all the days meld together and you aren't sure if it's the weekend or not.My days seem long sometimes. I can't say I'm in pain all the time but I am constantly in a state of "not feeling the well". I get tired very easily.I get nauseated when I move around. I try to do a few things around the house but I'm still very weak it seems.
With my two additional problems, my leg and my eyes, I just feel blah and of course when my leg decides to start burning, twitching, throbbing etc, I just can't stand it.
I'm still learning about the different foods and how my tummy feels when I eat.
I tried a half slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter. I was afraid I wouldn't tolerate it but I did, thank heavens because peanut butter is one of my favorite foods.
Some people have experienced a complete turnaround with some foods after the surgery. Foods that they previously liked, they no longer can tolerate. So far everything I've introduced is OK.

I eat a lot of oatmeal, cream of wheat, jello, sugar free popsicles, peanut butter, whole wheat bread (toasted),puddings, protein shakes, fish (haddock), mashed potatoes, canned peaches, watermelon, yogurt and that's about it so far.


to be continued

Went out today for the first time since I came home. I was a little afraid that the movement etc would throw me off balance. My eyes are still not focusing right. Elwin and I went to the grocery store and I got some "new" foods that I can have like sweet potatoes, fish etc. I tell you my grocery bill wouldn't be much if it was just me. There is not a lot I can get yet and I can only eat small little portions. I mean a container of yogurt lasts me 2-3 meals.
My right foot is starting to act up again. Before the surgery I had a bad bout with sciatic nerve on my right side. I bent down to tie my sneaker and this horrible shock went right down my leg and came out my toes it seemed. I tried three or four times to bend down, only to receive the same sensation. Ever since my toes and the top of my foot feel like they are burning. The right side of my calf is numb and at times throbs. I guess It didn't bother me while I was in the hospital because I was so drugged up, but now that I am taking no pain killers, it's back. I can't sleep at night. My leg jumps and throbs, and burns and itches. The Dr said I need to go to therapy for my back. I have three bulging discs and a possible herniated disc. All I know is this pain is driving me mad.
I know I'm not getting enough protein. I bought some ketone strips to test for ketones. My sugar is stable but still a little high for me and my blood pressure is still up some, but it's going to take time to see a change in these things.

I had my first meal of Fish and sweet potatoes today. I may have eaten it too fast. I have to learn to slow down.

To be contiuned

This process is not easy. It's ironic how I always had to struggle to not eat too much, now I have too struggle to make sure I am eating enough and drinking enough. My only source of protein is the shakes that I make and after 3 weeks of them, I don't mind telling you I am getting pretty sick of them. My breakfasts are cream of wheat, 4 Tbsp with some sugar free syrup. It's actually good and I love cream of wheat anyway. Lunches are usually 4 Tbsp of pudding and supper is 4 Tbsp of yogurt.
Sunday I am on to stage 3 in which I am allowed mashed potatoes, haddock and fish like that, mashed veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots etc. , peanut butter, whole wheat toast, so at least I have some variety. It's still tough knowing how much to have. How do you measure 4 Tbsp of scrambled eggs or fish?

The Dr took me off of Metformin/Glybride for diabetes, simvastatin for high cholesterol, metraclompramide for my stomach and all of the vitamins and stuff I was taking.
I go see the Dr on Sept 8 and I will get my vitamins then.
Some days are long. I feel like I need to do stuff but I can't. I still get very tired, still get nauseated too at times. So I guess I will learn to take it easy at least until I get the ok from the Dr.

Poor Elwin has been working every day. He doesn't get a day off until next Friday.
Cuts are healing nicely. Still tender but at least no infection.

To be continued.

My first night home was great. I slept so good.
Today starts a new experience. I am still on a full liquid plan for another week. The hardest thing is making sure I get my protein, and 64 oz of liquid. I find I am drinking almost non-stop. Sipping water, juice etc all day to meet my needs.

I have great instructions and food is limited so I pretty well know what I'm having.
The days are long. I sleep often but I have to make sure I get my liquids, so I can't sleep too much.
I've had a weird experience with my eyes since surgery. My glasses no longer suit me. What I used to look through to watch TV I now have to look through my Bi-focals. It's disturbing. I talked to the nurse about it but she doesn't recall ever hearing about it. I'll give it a few days, maybe it's just getting the anesthetic out of my system.
Today is Megan's 10th birthday. I gave her a call.The kids are growing up so fast. I miss them.

For breakfast I had 4 Tbsp yogurt, Lunch 4 Tbsp, pudding, and supper 4 Tbsp jello. I drank a few protein shakes for protein.
Every day  I feel a bit stronger.


To be continued....

Well Wednesday was a long night. The same routine of going to the bathroom every 15 minutes or so, nurses coming in to take vitals etc. Then around 5 o'clock, they told me they were transferring me to the second floor. At 5 in the morning!! So off I go.
I was pretty sure I was getting out today so I was anxious to see the morning come. The Dr came in and took my drain out and told me I could go home. I was so happy. I just wanted to get into my own bed.
I was given a little container of apple juice for breakfast. It tasted good.
Elwin arrived about 10:30. He packed up my things and I got ready to go.
All of the movements we causing me to be nauseated and when I got in the car, I had the dry heaves. I couldn't stop and it hurt so much.

It was good to get home. I got settled into my recliner and relaxed.
Nemo was glad to see me but it was hard trying to keep him from jumping up on me.Elwin had to go to work, so I just relaxed and slept on and off all afternoon and evening. It was going to be good to get into my own bed tonight.

To be continued....