February 8, 2011

• Surgery and Snow Storm

  
  I haven’t had the time to update. 

  It’s seems like weeks and weeks since I’ve written anything, here!

   

    
                                                         Cold and blowing snow last week.

   
  My hysterectomy is scheduled for tomorrow morning.  We have to be at the hospital at 5am (    )  and my surgery will be at 7am. 

  AND . . .

  We will be driving in the middle of another winter snow storm, very similar to the one we had last week.

   
                       A path cut in the snow to the grass area – for the doggies to go!    

  I saw my oncologist today and she has given me some “pain management” prescriptions for after the surgery.  Seeing that she just had a C-Section birth, 5 months ago, she is VERY sympathetic to any abdominal cutting. 

  I guess abdominal surgery is one of those things where, “you had to be there,” to have adequate sympathy and empathy for another person having abdominal surgery of any kind.

  She knows what pain pills I’m on every day and she said the typical post-op pain pill prescription won’t even begin to touch my pain.  I was very grateful for her stepping in to help me with a surgery that’s not her own.

    

  I had a C-Section years ago when I lost a baby and it was a horrible thing to recover from.  I think I was only 34 or 35 years old.  This won’t be as invasive as that surgery, but cutting things out of your body is “cutting things out of your body” anyway you look at it. 

  My friend, Lori K., directed me to a site called HysterSisters.com and I’d recommend that to anyone you know who is facing a hysterectomy.  All kinds of information there! 

  This time it won’t be such an invasive surgery, but I’m no longer 35 years old.  I’ll be 58 in April – definitely not the body of a 35 year old woman!

  
                                This is the dog’s path to the grass that began to melt away!
                                      The snow drifts covered our plastic yard chairs!

                                              

     
  I read, for quite a while last night, info at the HysterSisters site.  Much of the limitations and pain after surgery were brought back to my memory.  I don’t know if I’ll be kept more than one night at the hospital, but if I do, it is highly recommended that someone stay there with me the whole time.  They say the nursing staff is short of help, these days.  I’m sure it’s EXTRA short when there is a winter storm advisory!  We have two numbers to call if we simply can’t make it in the morning.  We’ll probably try to leave between 4 & 4:30am.  I’m SO not a morning person! 

  Today, after the oncology appointment, Jesse took us out to Chili’s for lunch.  I was craving a good burger and their Paradise Pie dessert.  Since this is my “last meal,” I wanted it to be something I really liked. 

  After I come home from the hospital, I may only want Jell-O, applesauce, and Cream of Wheat for the first week or so.  Of course, I can have nothing to eat or drink after midnight, tonight.  Believe me, I ate enough, at lunch, to last a week!!!  LOL!

     

  Our last snow was gorgeous.  Lot’s of drifts several feet high.  I’m including my pictures from that storm.  This next snow storm, moving in as I write, promises more of the same. 

  Maybe I’ll have a hospital room with a view! 

  I know I’m not looking forward to the ride home over the bumpy, snow packed roads!  The idea sounds incredibly painful and I’m trying not to think about it.

               
                                  
  Little Bit was VERY concerned about the deep snow changes in our backyard.   He stood “guard” at the window all day!  He learned to jump up onto the window sill from the cat, Chirper!
   

  A funny story:

  One morning, Luci had JUST awakened and had come to the den, half asleep.  Jesse looked at her and said, “Hey, Luce, I’m glad you’re awake.  I need you to help me shovel the back porch, okay?!” 

  She shook her head and went back to her bedroom. 

  The next time we saw her, she was in the den dressed like this!

                                     
                                 Yes, that’s her blue nightgown under her coat and scarf!!!!!!!!

                                         

  
  JoAnn got here Sunday.  Jesse and the girls went to pick her up at Jesse’s brother’s house.  Frank is the brother who had all of the major health problems a few weeks ago.  JoAnn went there first to help out.  He is home, now, but still having to go in several days a week for dialysis and he’s been left pretty weak.  Please keep praying for him.

  Also, please pray for a family member who is having their bladder removed, due to returning cancer.  Surgery is tomorrow, the same as mine.  It’s a very private matter, so I am not disclosing a name, gender, or whose side of the family.  Pray that this family member’s relationship with God is renewed and strengthened, that surgery is successful, and recovery time is minimal.  I know my friends understand my reason for being mysterious, and I also know you will pray.  Thanks, so much!
  
                    

  Anyway, JoAnn is here at our house and Jesse won’t be working, any more, so he can help me, while JoAnn takes care of the girls and household chores.  After reading on that site, last night, I was reminded of all the limitations this surgery will bring.  It’s so important to allow the body to heal.

                   

  I left so many things up in the air on my last post, but I can’t remember everything, so I may edit this post, after reading my last one.

  This morning, I had a chance to tell someone, in the lab, at the cancer place, what God did for me with my cancer healing in 2009.  She praised God right along with me when I told her!  The doctor said my back continues to improve where the cancer once was eating away. 

  She is concerned about my lower back, but there has been a question, all along, about my lumbar spine.  She said once the hysterectomy healing is complete (6 – 8 weeks) I should come in and she’ll have blood tests results and MRI pictures to compare.  All of my CAT scans of my organs looked just fine.  I’ve had low back pain for years and it *has* gotten slightly worse in recent years.  So, we’ll see about all of her concerns NEXT month!  LOL! 

       

  l forgot to mention.  Our washer quit working.  Yes, the brand new fancy one!  It won’t spin the water out of the tub.  The repairman was on the phone while Jesse ran a spin cycle and the man knew exactly what was wrong.  Because of last week’s snow, the part he had ordered didn’t come in.  The washer completely quit working on Sunday.  The repair will be made this coming Friday.  Eeeeeeeeeeek!  This is a house that does several loads of laundry each day!  There are two clothes hampers in the cold garage full of dirty clothes.  We’ll have to wear our skirts twice and not change hand towels in the bathroom each day – anything to conserve our laundry.  That’s nothing I should have to worry about, but I do think of ALL the work it will take to catch up, once the machine is fixed.

  I really need to say good bye and start packing a small suitcase.  Tomorrow morning (especially 4am!!!) will be here before I know it!

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 6:48 pm
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