We 6/1/16
I got up around six am and watched the last hour of THE HATEFUL EIGHT that I began Tuesday evening. A beautiful sunny and sultry early summer day.
The appointment was for 945am and it was at Dr. High's office near First and Rutledge on the 3rd floor. I got there about 930am and was finished with the appointment by 945am.
He asked me if it was the worse thing that ever happened to me and I said it was probably in the top five. He checked the incisions and said they were fine and that I could remove the tapes. He said everything looked fine and I had a double hernia on the right side. The surgery in 2013 only involved a single procedure. I have a 2% chance of a recurrence on either side. Sounds like good odds to me.
I drove downtown and parked on South 8th accross from the State Police building. Went to the library and got three cds and a couple of books. Then, I walked down to the South Grand McD's for a dollar cheeseburger.
I am free to resume my regular life on Thursday, June 16th. Can't wait!!
Tu 6/21/16
It really did take a full month of recovery. I am still not back to 'full weights' at the Fitclub. And, occasionally I will feel a slight twinge on my right side.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Su 5/29/16 Memorial Day Weeken
2pm. The past several days I've established a kind of rhythm. Mornings, I watch a film downstairs. Then I read for an hour or so upstairs, and go for a walk- usually, forty-five minutes or so total.
I return and continue to read for a couple of hours. Then, a late afternoon walk of forty-five minutes to a full hour. After the procedure in 2013 I was OK'd for light workouts just days after the surgery. Can't wait to find how this time it required so much more recovery time. And, I readily agree that I'm in no shape for a workout facility.
This morning I got up about 6am and watched an English film called ELECTRICITY. A young woman who suffers from debilitating epileptic seizures is looking for her long-lost younger brother to share in their mother's inheritance. Set on England's Northeast coast.
At 10am I went for a walk through Washington Park and on to the McD's on South Grand. Too early for the dollar cheeseburger, so I had the breakfast sausage muffin. Nice walk through the Wiggins area. About an hour and fifteen minutes total.
Read until noon, and made the call to Elsie's House. Around 4pm, I'll put down the book (reading A LITTLE LIFE- a 700 page opus, that's a real page turner), and do another 45" on the sidewalks.
I keep the walks slow because Friday I overdid it. I walked to the Wabash PO to drop the discs, and went to hard and fast. Pain on the right side. This doesn't occur if I take it easy.
I have the follow-up visit on Wednesday morning with Dr. High. Tuesday morning is my six month checkup at Westside Dental Group.
I return and continue to read for a couple of hours. Then, a late afternoon walk of forty-five minutes to a full hour. After the procedure in 2013 I was OK'd for light workouts just days after the surgery. Can't wait to find how this time it required so much more recovery time. And, I readily agree that I'm in no shape for a workout facility.
This morning I got up about 6am and watched an English film called ELECTRICITY. A young woman who suffers from debilitating epileptic seizures is looking for her long-lost younger brother to share in their mother's inheritance. Set on England's Northeast coast.
At 10am I went for a walk through Washington Park and on to the McD's on South Grand. Too early for the dollar cheeseburger, so I had the breakfast sausage muffin. Nice walk through the Wiggins area. About an hour and fifteen minutes total.
Read until noon, and made the call to Elsie's House. Around 4pm, I'll put down the book (reading A LITTLE LIFE- a 700 page opus, that's a real page turner), and do another 45" on the sidewalks.
I keep the walks slow because Friday I overdid it. I walked to the Wabash PO to drop the discs, and went to hard and fast. Pain on the right side. This doesn't occur if I take it easy.
I have the follow-up visit on Wednesday morning with Dr. High. Tuesday morning is my six month checkup at Westside Dental Group.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
DAY FOUR
Up 530am after another fitful night.
Another major complication is that any slight cough tends to rip my guts apart- especially the right side. It would be impossible to endure this if you happened to catch cold.
Watching a Dutch film called ADMIRAL about 17th century Dutch naval history. graphic and well done.
Placed an order for more Tamsulosin at Walmart. Since the prescription has lapsed (no refills) they will have to ok this with Dr. Ellison's office and it might take a day or so. I have enough for four more days.
After the film I did the weekly cleaning upstairs and downstairs, and made the weekly call to Elsie's House. He didn't really react to the hernia operation except when he heard that I couldn't visit a steam room for a month. That got his attention.
Next, a fifty minute walk around the neighborhood. Basically the same route as yesterday's long walk, only the other way. Pretty slow today as I am very sore. One sneeze would break me into pieces.
A couple of hours listening to tapes and reading IN THE CUT, Susanna Moore on the living room couch.
At 315pm The Blessed Bowel Movement! No muss, no fuss. I had been doubling down on the stool softeners and putting the laxative powder into every single drink for a day and a half. I will continue with the powder for the next several weeks. Considering the condition of my guts, constipation is something that must be avoided at all cost.
Beer is back on the agenda and I'm ready for a movie. Also,need to get in the shower. Watched ECHO PARK and used the skillet for the first time since Wednesday. Back to the typewriter tomorrow.
Another major complication is that any slight cough tends to rip my guts apart- especially the right side. It would be impossible to endure this if you happened to catch cold.
Watching a Dutch film called ADMIRAL about 17th century Dutch naval history. graphic and well done.
Placed an order for more Tamsulosin at Walmart. Since the prescription has lapsed (no refills) they will have to ok this with Dr. Ellison's office and it might take a day or so. I have enough for four more days.
After the film I did the weekly cleaning upstairs and downstairs, and made the weekly call to Elsie's House. He didn't really react to the hernia operation except when he heard that I couldn't visit a steam room for a month. That got his attention.
Next, a fifty minute walk around the neighborhood. Basically the same route as yesterday's long walk, only the other way. Pretty slow today as I am very sore. One sneeze would break me into pieces.
A couple of hours listening to tapes and reading IN THE CUT, Susanna Moore on the living room couch.
At 315pm The Blessed Bowel Movement! No muss, no fuss. I had been doubling down on the stool softeners and putting the laxative powder into every single drink for a day and a half. I will continue with the powder for the next several weeks. Considering the condition of my guts, constipation is something that must be avoided at all cost.
Beer is back on the agenda and I'm ready for a movie. Also,need to get in the shower. Watched ECHO PARK and used the skillet for the first time since Wednesday. Back to the typewriter tomorrow.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
DAY THREE
Sa 5/21/16
Up 615am after another restless night in bed.
Just as I was getting out of bed I experienced a power outage. Reset the alarm clock and the radio in the living room. When I was in the living room I knocked a cassette behind the shelves and I used my 'light app' on the phone for the first time. It works great and really lights up the scene.
When I went into the kitchen the clock on the micro wave had a message from Jenn Air stating that 'there is something wrong, and this product can no longer be used....call!!!'. I went downstairs to the electrical box and flipped the switch on/off, and the problem is gone. Then, I noticed that I had no power in the north side of the library. This switch was in the off position and I put it back. All systems go, but not anyway to begin a morning.
Watching SAVING MR. BANKS on the living room PC.
Yesterday Joe had told me of a mailbox that is just off Monroe and Montcastle. About 11am I walked over and dropped off the Netflix disc. Fifteen minutes out and back- around the neighborhood.
I spent all day in the living room reading. I finished NICKEL AND DIMED and began and finished CHARMING BILLY by Alice McDermott.
Around 430pm I went for another walk around the neighborhood. Down and across to Greenview/Wickford/Lynhaven and back. 45"
I spent the rest of the day reading and called it a night at 10pm.
Still only eating a couple of bowls of soup a day. Late in the evening I microwaved a bowl of broccoli.Very apprehensive about the first bowel movement.
After looking at the notes from the procedure in 2013 I can see that this time it must have been much worse. The last time I was back to working out in a couple of days. Either that, or Dr. High isn't in the same league as Dr. Mitchell.
After the late afternoon walk I decided to head to Best Buy to get the cordless phone. I had gotten a text message from Best Buy saying that they would only hold the item until 5/22. That idiotic Tracking App is ridiculous. The line goes not even a third of the way, and says that the order is 'processing'. Any sane person would not realize that the order was actually IN until the line was complete. This is not the case in Best Buy World. I had no trouble driving and I was able to hook up both phones without any trouble. So easy, it was scary!
Up 615am after another restless night in bed.
Just as I was getting out of bed I experienced a power outage. Reset the alarm clock and the radio in the living room. When I was in the living room I knocked a cassette behind the shelves and I used my 'light app' on the phone for the first time. It works great and really lights up the scene.
When I went into the kitchen the clock on the micro wave had a message from Jenn Air stating that 'there is something wrong, and this product can no longer be used....call!!!'. I went downstairs to the electrical box and flipped the switch on/off, and the problem is gone. Then, I noticed that I had no power in the north side of the library. This switch was in the off position and I put it back. All systems go, but not anyway to begin a morning.
Watching SAVING MR. BANKS on the living room PC.
Yesterday Joe had told me of a mailbox that is just off Monroe and Montcastle. About 11am I walked over and dropped off the Netflix disc. Fifteen minutes out and back- around the neighborhood.
I spent all day in the living room reading. I finished NICKEL AND DIMED and began and finished CHARMING BILLY by Alice McDermott.
Around 430pm I went for another walk around the neighborhood. Down and across to Greenview/Wickford/Lynhaven and back. 45"
I spent the rest of the day reading and called it a night at 10pm.
Still only eating a couple of bowls of soup a day. Late in the evening I microwaved a bowl of broccoli.Very apprehensive about the first bowel movement.
After looking at the notes from the procedure in 2013 I can see that this time it must have been much worse. The last time I was back to working out in a couple of days. Either that, or Dr. High isn't in the same league as Dr. Mitchell.
After the late afternoon walk I decided to head to Best Buy to get the cordless phone. I had gotten a text message from Best Buy saying that they would only hold the item until 5/22. That idiotic Tracking App is ridiculous. The line goes not even a third of the way, and says that the order is 'processing'. Any sane person would not realize that the order was actually IN until the line was complete. This is not the case in Best Buy World. I had no trouble driving and I was able to hook up both phones without any trouble. So easy, it was scary!
Friday, May 20, 2016
DAY TWO
Fr 5/20/16
Didn't sleep until 230am this morning. Finished WHILE I WAS GONE by Sue Miller and began NICKEL AND DIMED: On (Not) Getting Along in America. Read from about six till two thirty.
Peeing situation weighed heavily on my mind.
Could only sleep on left side and back. Early in the morning I could handle sleeping on the right side.
Up 835am. Cloudy and 60's to 70. Drank a pot of chocolate/instant coffee and didn't have to piss any more than I usually do.
I watched VERONICA GUERIN with Cate Blanchett in the living room.
Janny and Joe dropped over just before noon. It was Half Day at Calvary and the eighth grade graduation is tonight. We chatted for almost an hour, and I reassured them (and myself) that I was definitely on the mend.
Just as they were pulling away Bayliss called to check on how I was doing. The nurse didn't seem too concerned that I had to piss so much yesterday. She said that they pumped me full of fluids during the procedure. That's what Joe said last night.
I called and made an appointment with Dr. Eric High for June 1st at 945am for the follow up visit.
Around 5pm I took a shower and noticed two blotches of purple several inches below the incision on the right side. I checked the handout and there was no mention of bruising, but I took a photo and will keep track of it.
A nurse from Dr. High's office called around 4pm to inquire about my condition. I said I was doing fine, I guess.
I think that I feel more sore today, and this is probably because the body is healing.
I finished NICKEL AND DIMED and began CHARMING BILLY by Alice McDermott. In bed by 10pm.
Didn't sleep until 230am this morning. Finished WHILE I WAS GONE by Sue Miller and began NICKEL AND DIMED: On (Not) Getting Along in America. Read from about six till two thirty.
Peeing situation weighed heavily on my mind.
Could only sleep on left side and back. Early in the morning I could handle sleeping on the right side.
Up 835am. Cloudy and 60's to 70. Drank a pot of chocolate/instant coffee and didn't have to piss any more than I usually do.
I watched VERONICA GUERIN with Cate Blanchett in the living room.
Janny and Joe dropped over just before noon. It was Half Day at Calvary and the eighth grade graduation is tonight. We chatted for almost an hour, and I reassured them (and myself) that I was definitely on the mend.
Just as they were pulling away Bayliss called to check on how I was doing. The nurse didn't seem too concerned that I had to piss so much yesterday. She said that they pumped me full of fluids during the procedure. That's what Joe said last night.
I called and made an appointment with Dr. Eric High for June 1st at 945am for the follow up visit.
Around 5pm I took a shower and noticed two blotches of purple several inches below the incision on the right side. I checked the handout and there was no mention of bruising, but I took a photo and will keep track of it.
A nurse from Dr. High's office called around 4pm to inquire about my condition. I said I was doing fine, I guess.
I think that I feel more sore today, and this is probably because the body is healing.
I finished NICKEL AND DIMED and began CHARMING BILLY by Alice McDermott. In bed by 10pm.
DAY ONE
The 5/19/16 Surger Day Bright and sunny- low 70's. Beautiful. I had set the alarm for 6am, but out of bed by 555am. Restless night. Joe in the driveway at 740m for 815am appointment.
Surgery scheduled for 945am. Out of the waiting room at 815. Had no idea how to put on the gown. Talked with Joe. Many techs and nurses repeatedly asked my name and date of birth, and numerous odd questions. Dr. High popped in and reminded me that I was to do nothing but walk for a month.
Out of surgery at 11am. Drank two coffees and a water, and peed. Not sure that I did enough, but nurse felt ok. I think she should have weighed it....in retrospect.
Joe drove me home and then he went to the pharmacy at County Market to get pain prescription, stool softeners (prescription), a kind of over the counter aspirin, and a powdered stool softener (over the counter). Then he picked up Janny from her last full school day of the year. They both came back to the house at 4pm. We sat in the living room and talked till 530pm. I had several blue coffee cups full of OJ/diet lemon lime.
I noticed that I was urinating once every twenty minutes and this was cause for some alarm. Thinking back, maybe the Tamsulosin has not completely solved (or addressed) the urination problem. I always probably pee too much. Very upset after I used the phone to check the internet about this problem. Another catheterization was mentioned, but this might not have even been a doctor's suggestion. However, it did get my attention, and established my outlook somewhere between ernest concern and abject terror.
Called Joe and Janny around 8pm We started texting, but I requested a call. They calmed me down and said to give it some time. Made sense.
930pm I ate a chicken noodle/oatmeal blend with crackers. I didn't pee again until 1130am and only got up once during the night.
I spent all of the evening reading and finished WHILE I WAS GONE by Sue Miller. This was one of the books that I got for free yesterday on the jog. Loved the book. And, I read in bed until 230pm- "NICKEL AND DIMED: On (Not) Getting By In America". Also from the free books, and I remember reading this before- probably a library copy.
Fitful night's sleep. Only on back or left side. Incision pain has lessened and I won't use the pain pills tomorrow. But, will do the powdered stool softener with the coffee and take two of the pills at noon and six.
Surgery scheduled for 945am. Out of the waiting room at 815. Had no idea how to put on the gown. Talked with Joe. Many techs and nurses repeatedly asked my name and date of birth, and numerous odd questions. Dr. High popped in and reminded me that I was to do nothing but walk for a month.
Out of surgery at 11am. Drank two coffees and a water, and peed. Not sure that I did enough, but nurse felt ok. I think she should have weighed it....in retrospect.
Joe drove me home and then he went to the pharmacy at County Market to get pain prescription, stool softeners (prescription), a kind of over the counter aspirin, and a powdered stool softener (over the counter). Then he picked up Janny from her last full school day of the year. They both came back to the house at 4pm. We sat in the living room and talked till 530pm. I had several blue coffee cups full of OJ/diet lemon lime.
I noticed that I was urinating once every twenty minutes and this was cause for some alarm. Thinking back, maybe the Tamsulosin has not completely solved (or addressed) the urination problem. I always probably pee too much. Very upset after I used the phone to check the internet about this problem. Another catheterization was mentioned, but this might not have even been a doctor's suggestion. However, it did get my attention, and established my outlook somewhere between ernest concern and abject terror.
Called Joe and Janny around 8pm We started texting, but I requested a call. They calmed me down and said to give it some time. Made sense.
930pm I ate a chicken noodle/oatmeal blend with crackers. I didn't pee again until 1130am and only got up once during the night.
I spent all of the evening reading and finished WHILE I WAS GONE by Sue Miller. This was one of the books that I got for free yesterday on the jog. Loved the book. And, I read in bed until 230pm- "NICKEL AND DIMED: On (Not) Getting By In America". Also from the free books, and I remember reading this before- probably a library copy.
Fitful night's sleep. Only on back or left side. Incision pain has lessened and I won't use the pain pills tomorrow. But, will do the powdered stool softener with the coffee and take two of the pills at noon and six.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Hernia 2016
On Friday, May 6, 2016 I saw Dr. Ellison. At first I tried to see Dr. Kristopher Mitchell who preformed the first surgery, but he is no longer affiliated with the clinic. He relocated to Montana or Wyoming. I didn't know whether Dr. Ellison's opinion would be relevant since it was obvious to me that I was experiencing the same thing (but on the other side) as I did back in 2013. Dr. Mitchell said that it might occur on the other side.
I needed a referral anyway, and Dr. Ellison agreed that the procedure was definitely in order.
I had a golfball sized pouch on the right side of the lower abdomen. This was almost identical to the location (only on the left side) back in July of 2013.
When I left Dr. Ellison's office on Friday afternoon I went across the street to the ATT store, but found nothing that seemed reasonable. I want a smartphone, but forty bucks a month is way too expensive for how much I would use the device. I think the route I'll take is another Tracfone. I'll invest in a good smartphone, and skimp on the monthly plan. This seems to be the most popular, 'Pay As You Go' option .
Dr. Ellison got me an appointment with Dr. Eric High at 900 N. 1st, Springfield Clinic for 2pm. Tuesday, May 10th. I got into the office after going to two different places. I don't think that 900 North was there when I had the operation three years ago. I got right in and he agreed that the surgery was in order. He said that it could be done next week. I said yes.
I went downstairs for an EKG and lab work. This took longer than the consultation with the surgeon. However the nurse scheduled the procedure for next Tuesday at 530 AM!!! I said that was a little too early, and I'll call back tomorrow (they've already left word, but just to call them).
I needed a referral anyway, and Dr. Ellison agreed that the procedure was definitely in order.
I had a golfball sized pouch on the right side of the lower abdomen. This was almost identical to the location (only on the left side) back in July of 2013.
When I left Dr. Ellison's office on Friday afternoon I went across the street to the ATT store, but found nothing that seemed reasonable. I want a smartphone, but forty bucks a month is way too expensive for how much I would use the device. I think the route I'll take is another Tracfone. I'll invest in a good smartphone, and skimp on the monthly plan. This seems to be the most popular, 'Pay As You Go' option .
Dr. Ellison got me an appointment with Dr. Eric High at 900 N. 1st, Springfield Clinic for 2pm. Tuesday, May 10th. I got into the office after going to two different places. I don't think that 900 North was there when I had the operation three years ago. I got right in and he agreed that the surgery was in order. He said that it could be done next week. I said yes.
I went downstairs for an EKG and lab work. This took longer than the consultation with the surgeon. However the nurse scheduled the procedure for next Tuesday at 530 AM!!! I said that was a little too early, and I'll call back tomorrow (they've already left word, but just to call them).
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