Saturday October 22

Last week I was mia.   I apologize.   It was a week of trying to focus on recovery as well as trying to manage the pain.   They had me on a pain pump which caused all kinds of side effects.   Not very pleasant at all.  

At this point I am off of the pain pump and managing the pain on my own by asking for it only when it's needed.   We will see.   We are slowly working towards taking no pain meds at all.   They are hoping to get things under control and discharge me on Wednesday.   Things are slowly getting there but the doctors are really happy with my progress and are just worried about the pain control.  

I will update more later.   Again sorry for not posting

Tuesday October 18

Had another BM this morning around 4:30.   When the docs made their rounds I actually looked at my incision.   It's along the same line vertically and then the horizontal line is added where the ostomy was. 

I know I told you about it already but today was the first Day i actually had the guts to look for myself.   All the bloodwork came back ok with the exception of needing a bunch of iv replacements.  

Dr. Gonoza said to take it easy today and not to push myself too hard so I'm trying to do just that.  I've been up and down to the bathroom at least once an hour because of all the iv fluids and that's turning out to be a LOT more excercise than you can imagine after having your stomach split open like that. 

Other than that nothing new to report.  I will post more tomorrow!  Sweet Dreams!!!

Monday October 17

Was up all night between the iv antibiotics, iv meds, pain meds, supplements, waiting on iv team to put tpa in my picc line etc.   they were in and out of my room all night into the morning.   I was low on a bunch of suppplements again so they started them extra early.  Around 4:30am.   I got the urge to have a bowel movement.  I went into the bathroom and did!!!   My first bowel movement in about 2.5 years!!!!   I was so excited that I took a picture and sent it in a text message to Colin.   Not too many people can really understand how exciting such a minor thing (to them) can be when you are in my situation.  

Colin came in around 6.  The docs made their rounds around 9 or so and said that everything looks good so far.  I'm still on a liquid diet but haven't had too much of an appetite anyway.   I'm on so much iv fluid that it's coming right back out.   Sorry I went into detail with it!!   It's just a huge milestone for me that some will understand.  

The day was pretty uneventful otherwise.  I wanted to share my good news.    Have a good night!!!

Sunday October 16

So sorry it's been a few days since I've I've updated.  Things have been a bit hectic.  Surgery went really well. The doctors are really happy with the outcome. On Friday they removed my NG tube and the IV they put in my arm peripherally.   

I have been having a lot of pain. The doctors are managing it well for me. They have changed the medications around in order to help alleviate it.

Because of the pain we haven't been doing much.  I've been laying around and trying to deal with.   Thursday was my first day out of bed. They move me from my bed to the chair. I sat in the chair for about 45 minutes. Yesterday I got up out of bed and walked to the nurses station twice  today they removed my folley catheter so we could see if I can urinate on my own.

10/12

While I was pacing the hallways before Heather's surgery, I ran into Dr. Cruz. He pulled me aside and said "Everything's gonna be alright". Again, I believed him. That man has done more for Heather and I than anybody can ever imagine. So, not that I don't say it every day,  but thank you Dr. Cruz...you truly are a master of your craft. 

In true Heather fashion, she turned a five hour surgery into three and came through it well. Dr. Cruz delivered on his promise he made back in March and was able to reconnect her.  He also removed some scar tissue and a pocket of fluid he found, but all in all said everything looked "good and healthy". Heather is in recovery now and will be moved to a floor later this evening.  The hospital stay looks to be between 7 and 10 days with emphasis on the latter. She'll have a tube in her nose pumping stuff out of her stomach until probably Friday or Saturday, so talking may be a bit much.

 I'll do my best to update this as I get news,  but I'm hoping she'll be able to do it herself...

-C

Tuesday October 11

Woke up and went to clinic.  We were there at 6.   They called us back and drew my labs.   Bill stopped in and went over a few things for surgery tomorrow.  He said that we were free to go when they were done.   The nurse changed my dressing and discharged us.   It was about 8 when we were set free.   It was pretty awesome!!!

We got home and I got in the shower and did my first hobo lenses shower.   As I was getting  dressed my phone rang.   It was Jennifer (my transplant coordinator).   She was calling to tell us she knows they discharged us but we had to go back to sign it the consent for surgery.   We had to do it today so she can fax it to the appropriate departments and there won't be any delays tomorrow.  

Terence

We headed back to the hospital.  When we got  there rwe went into the clinic.  I explained the situation and she told us to sit in the waiting room.   I sat down and called Jennifer.  She said she would be up to get us in about 10 minutes,   She came to the waiting area andtook us to a clinic room.  She said Dr Cruz would be in when he was done with the patient he was currently with.   He came in and went over what he is planning to do.  He went over what meds to take in the morning.  The OR is scheduled for 8.  We have to be at the hospital at 5;30.   Its going to take about 4-6 hours.  I'm going to have Colin update the blog after surgery so keep an eye out for updates.  Please say a prayer for me.   Sweet dreams!!!   

Monday October 10

Got up early and headed to the hospital for my colonoscopy.  We were there by 6.   They took me back around 6:30 and got me ready.  Around 7:15 they took me back to do the procedure.   It took about an hour.  I was taken to recovery.  The doctor who did the procedure came to recovery and said everything looks good.   They took biopsys and said they would have them back tomorrow.   They found moderate colitis in my large bowel.  It could be causing some of my pain.   It won't effect the surgery at all.  We waited about an hour and were discharged.   

We headed home.   When I got home I went to the bedroom to lay down.   They blow you up with air to do it and it caused spasms throughout my abdomen.  

Colin left to run some errands and I stayed home.  I fell asleep for about an hour.  I got up and straightened up the mess I made in the kitchen.  It was exhausting just doing that.   

I made some tea and settled in for the night.   Tomorrow we have to be at clinic at 6 for bloodwork.  That was my day in a nutshell.   Have a good night.

Sunday October 9

Woke up early and took my meds.  Layed back down and watched tv for a little bit.  Colin came in to the bedroom to tell me he was going for a bike ride.  About 10 minutes later he came through the door and told me he went to get his bike out of the garage and it's gone.   Someone stole a bunch of bikes out of the garage.  They cut chains and locks off of them and everything.  Luckily mine wasn't stolen.    He's going to report it to the leading agency tomorrow and call the police to make a report as well.  He ended up leaving and going for a walk instead so that he could cool off a little bit.

I stayed in bed.  I'm not allowed to eat anything today but I'm allowed to have clear liquids until midnight.  I have to do a colon prep today so I have to be close to the bathroom at all times.   Sounds like fun!!  Doesn't it?  Luckily it's an easy prep.  I don't have to drink anything nasty or take anything.  I just have to do 4 enemas.  I did the 1st one at 11, the second at 1:30, the third at 4:30 and I'm doing the fourth at 8.  So far everything is working ok.  Moving in the right direction.  

I got out of bed to shower after I did my 4:30 enema.   I showered and changed my ostomy bag and cleaned my ostomy really well.  Praying that this is the last time I will ever have to use an ostomy bag for the rest of my life and that God will give me the strength to get me through surgery and everything goes well.   I will also pray for my doctors to give them the knowledge and expertise to get me through this.   This is going to be a very stressful week but it will all be ok in the end.  

Tomorrow is my colonoscopy.  We have to be at the hospital at 6.   Tuesday I have to go to clinic for more labs to be drawn.   We have to be there at 6.   Wednesday is surgery!!!!!  Surgery is scheduled for 8am but they want us there at 6 to prep for it.   Surgery is going to take 4-6 hours depending on what they find, if they find anything etc.   They are going to close me up and close my ostomy.  They are also going in a little deeper and are looking for adhesions (scar tissue) or blockages that can't be seen on an X-ray.  He said it happens sometimes.  I will try to have Colin update my blog as soon as surgery is done so that everyone knows what's going on.  

I'm going to take my nighttime meds, make myself some sleepy time tea and go to bed.  I will update more tomorrow.   Sweet dreams!!!  

Saturday October 8

Had an ok night of sleep.  I was up off and on.  I woke up, took my meds.   I hopped in the shower and got dressed.  I made taco casserole and broccoli casserole so I could freeze some and we could have some for dinner.  I also organized some of the cupboards because they were overflowing and unorganized.   After all that I ate lunch and layed back down.   

Apparently I fell asleep.  I was in such a deep sleep that Colin came in to wake me up.   He scared the daylights out of me.  I was so confused when he woke me up.   I thought it was Sunday morning at 5am not 5pm Saturday.   I argued with Colin about it.   Then I looked at my phone and he was right.   It was a pretty scary moment for me.   I ate a light dinner and took my meds.

After my meds I went in to the bedroom and layed back down.   Colin had to run and pick up a prescription for me so I went along with him to get out of the house.

We got home and I went straight to bed.   Even though I had a long nap, I fell asleep by 10.  Hopefully you have a good night's sleep as well.  I will update tomorrow.

Friday October 7

Woke up at 5.  Got my bags packed up and off we went.   We were at the hospital by 6am.   They took us back around 6:30.   They drew my labs and did some blood work.   I was in a lot of pain so they gave me a shot of pain medicine.  

The nurse came back about an hour later and said they had to give me magnesium.   They gave me a shot of Benadryl because I have a reaction to the mag.  I get really flush, hot and itchy.  They hooked up the mag which runs for two hours.   Then we had to wait for the docs to make their rounds.   They came around 11.   They went over the procedure for my surgery on Wednesday as well as the physical I was going to immediately after my appointment in clinic.   We had a 2:00 scheduled pre-surgery physical.  

After the doctors left we waited until about 1:30 and then went downstairs for my physical.  The doctor doing the physical went over my history.   He went over the ekg I had last week.  He also went over the last X-rays and ct scans I've had as well.   He told me that everything looked good.   He checked my heart and lungs and I was cleared for surgery.

We left the hospital and headed home.  I went to the bedroom to lay down.   Colin got me out of bed to eat dinner.  I got up, ate and went back to bed.  I took my meds and layed down.  I just layed there until I fell asleep.

I have the weekend off so let's see what it brings!   Goodnight!

Thursday October 6

Woke up.  Took my meds, ate breakfast, showered and got dressed.  Colin left to run a couple of errands.  While he was gone I cooked the ground turkey so that it wouldn't go bad and dinner would be good and ready.  I made a ground turkey stew in the crock pot and put it on low.   I took the other half of the cooked turkey and put it aside.  We are going to have taco casserole with cornbread for dinner Friday.  It's one less thing to worry about.

Colin got home and we ate leftovers for lunch.  After lunch I called Verizon to see if my cell phone had come in yet.  It's been on backorder for days.   The guy that answered the phone said that they just opened the new shipment and it was there.   I got dressed and asked Colin to run me across the street to Verizon to go get it.   We went and did our thing.   I got my new phone.  It didn't cost anything because of the type of upgrade we had so it made it even better.  I got the iPhone 7 in rose gold.   It's a really pretty color.   To transfer the info and set up the new phone we were told it would be about an hour.  We left while it was updating and ran over to Ulta.   My eyebrows are horrendous so I asked if they could squeeze me in.  They waxed my eyebrows and I felt much better.

We left Ulta and went back to Verizon.  My phone said it had 45 minutes to finish setting up.  I wasn't feeling well so Colin took me home so I could lay down for

a while.  He waited about a half hour and then left to go get my phone.

When he got home he brought the mail up with him. I love getting the mail and having little notes sent to me.   My buddy Thomas sent me this  in the mail:

 

He traced himself with his arms open so that he could give me a big hug.  

I also got this awesome card from a very wonderful woman who is extremely selfless and would do anything she can for you.   I can't thank her enough for everything.    Carol Heth - you are amazing!!  Thank you so much!!!

How could these two cards not make your day 😀

I went in to the bedroom and layed down for about an hour.  I got out of bed around 5:30 and got dinner.  It was pretty good.  It was a little bland so next time I would probably add some additional seasonings but you never know until you try it.

After dinner I took my 6pm meds and got ready for bed.  I layed down and watched tv.  Colin came in and gave me my lovanox shot and I settled in for the night.  Tomorrow I have clinic in the am and a physical afterwards.   We will see how that goes.   I will post tomorrow.   Have a good night! 

Wednesday October 5

It was nice sleeping in my own bed last night.  I was discharged from the hospital yesterday around 4.  We went home, ate dinner, put away my hospital bag and organized everything, did some laundry and chilled out and went to bed.  

This morning I got up, showered and got dressed.  Colin took me to the grocery store when I was ready.  We grabbed enough stuff to get us through until my surgery next week.  Our refrigerator was completely empty.  I went on Pinterest and found a couple recipes to make so that I could break some down and freeze them so Colin has something to eat while I'm in the hospital as well.  Today I made bourbon chicken and rice in the crock pot, homemade rice pudding and peach cobbler.   Everything was really good.  

After dinner I took my meds and payed down.  I'm still not asleep yet but at least I'm in the comfort of my own home and bed.   

My tentative schedule this week is:  Friday 6am clinic appointment for labs and bloodwork and a pre-surgery physical afterwards.  Monday 7:30 am colonoscopy.  Wednesday -surgery, scheduler will call me Tuesday to set everything up and tell me when I need to be there etc.  

I will keep you posted.  Please send prayers and positive vibes my way over the next week.   Thank you!!   Have a great night!  

Tuesday October 4

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.  Not much has been going on because I've been stuck in the hospital.  So here's the latest and greatest.

My surgery on 10/6 has been postponed.   It has been rescheduled for next Wednesday.   They are going to hopefully close my ostomy and remove any adhesions or scar tissue.  Surgery is approximately 6 hours and will be early Wednesday morning.   They are going to give us a call on Tuesday in order to give us the time schedule on when to be there and where to go etc.  

I'm hopefully being discharged from the hospital today.  They are going to let us know this afternoon.   Other than that, there is nothing new to report at this time.  I will update you later when I know more.   Have a good day!