Hey everyone!
So I spoke with my surgeon this morning, and he said I seem to be healing quite well, though my hemoglobin counts remain low. They detached me from the saline drip, and I'm getting my prednisone orally again, so I only have my IV every 6 or so hours for antibiotics, and should be getting oral antibiotics tomorrow. I can move around pretty well, I just am slow and can't really bend my tummy too well yet. They got rid of my morphine drip, so I actually experienced my first bits of pain during this whole thing, since the percocet/tylenol stuff I take now takes a little bit to kick in when I take it. But it's not so bad- I just have to be patient for half an hour or so, or take the meds a little more promptly when I start to ache.
I'm on a post surgical soft foods diet, which consists of lovely little entrees like pureed minestrone soup... so with my nurse's permission I snuck down to the cafeteria to get snacks like hardboiled eggs and cheese and pasta instead of the gross hospital food. I should be on normal food tomorrow.
And the million dollar question now is when am I going home?? I talked to my surgeon today and he said I may be going home as early as tomorrow, but most definately by Saturday morning in time for Rent. It all depends on how I handle my food today, and thus far I'm feeling just fine, so hopefully this will bode well for getting out soon!
So if you were planning on coming to visit (I know a few people said they were coming Friday), please do call first to make sure I haven't been discharged! You can call/text my cell, or call the hospital admitting department.
But visiting hours are over and mom has to go, so I'd better return her laptop here!
Night everyone, and thanks for all the gifts and visits and cards and well-wishes and prayers!!
Leanne
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Hi!
So today was just another day of recovery basically. I got put on a clear fluid diet, so broth, popsicles and juice are the new parts of my meals. I also got my catheter removed, which is awesome.
I had quite a few visitors today- Steph, Gene, Sam, Maeghan and Poppa- so I'm pretty tired now! It's still really hard to do much, my shower this morning wiped me out pretty badly. My hemoglobin levels are still a bit low, but I don't think they're going to need to give me a transfusion or anything. So I'm still just taking things easy!
I also finally got to speak to my surgeon, which was nice. He explained that I do have quite a bit of Crohn's everywhere in my small intestine, so while the surgery removed the worst, I do still have active disease and need to continue medical treatment once I'm out of here- so I'll probably still be on Remicade.
I know some people are really nervous about this decision, but I feel it's for the best, really. It's not cheap, but a lot of people manage to find the money. I was thinking I may also blend this with some naturopathic treatment, since a lot of people aren't too keen on me being kept on drugs. I know some think that doctors just try to throw experimental drugs at the symptoms and don't take a more wholistic approach, but I don't feel like Dr. Kaplan is just tryin g to give a quick fix.
Anyhoo, I shall keep you all updated, Dr. Buie said I could probably be out on Saturday in time to go see Rent! Text me before you visit just in case I've gone somewhere!
-Leanne
I had quite a few visitors today- Steph, Gene, Sam, Maeghan and Poppa- so I'm pretty tired now! It's still really hard to do much, my shower this morning wiped me out pretty badly. My hemoglobin levels are still a bit low, but I don't think they're going to need to give me a transfusion or anything. So I'm still just taking things easy!
I also finally got to speak to my surgeon, which was nice. He explained that I do have quite a bit of Crohn's everywhere in my small intestine, so while the surgery removed the worst, I do still have active disease and need to continue medical treatment once I'm out of here- so I'll probably still be on Remicade.
I know some people are really nervous about this decision, but I feel it's for the best, really. It's not cheap, but a lot of people manage to find the money. I was thinking I may also blend this with some naturopathic treatment, since a lot of people aren't too keen on me being kept on drugs. I know some think that doctors just try to throw experimental drugs at the symptoms and don't take a more wholistic approach, but I don't feel like Dr. Kaplan is just tryin g to give a quick fix.
Anyhoo, I shall keep you all updated, Dr. Buie said I could probably be out on Saturday in time to go see Rent! Text me before you visit just in case I've gone somewhere!
-Leanne
Monday, May 19, 2008
Recovering nicely!
Hey everyone!
Well, as Kyle posted, I did manage to get in for surgery Friday night. They put me under and next thing I knew, I was awake in the recovery room, just DYING to have a drink of water or ice chips or something, but was told I couldn't have anything by mouth still.
Apparently, along with the intestine and cyst they planned to remove, they also drained the abcesses, and performed three strictureplasties. As I understand, this is a pretty simple procedure. They make a slit along the length of the intestine, then bunch it together and sew it shut, sort of like sewing a puffed sleeve, as my mom put it. This results in the intestine being a bit shorter but wider at the strictured parts. It's good to know they really take a good look while you're under to make sure they're not missing any other problems! I have three little incisions, one in my bellybutton (the biggest one), one just below it, and another on my left hip.
At some point they wheeled me up to my room on the 10th floor, where they kept me under observation and I mostly just slept. They let me swab my mouth with club soda and water, but still nothing else. I just slept lots, aided by the morphine drip. I wasn't allowed much- 1 ml every 6 minutes at the most, and it would deliver this dosage when I press a little button attached to my gown.
Saturday was mostly a blur, and I don't really remember much of it.
Sunday I felt much more lucid, though still a little weird on the morphine. Fr Larry and Myra came to visit and Fr Larry joked that they't cut off my feet! Meanie...
So today I still can't really eat, though they just gave me a popsicle, and let me tell you, pink popsicles have never tasted so yummy! 5 days of tasting nothing but the inside of your own sick mouth is not fun.
I'm not feeling too much pain. My sutures and stuff ache a bit more today cuz they're making me sit up in bed which is making stuff move around. I suppose this is pretty good for just a couple days after surgery though! Hopefully tomorrow they'll let me have broth or ice cream or something. I'm also not using my morphine nearly so much today, and they make me get up for lots of walks around.
Feel free to come visit- it's usually best to come in the afternoon, since I'm most alert then and usually all the doctors have come and gone by then. I"m on the 10th floor in the surgical observation unit, room 1069, it's all the way at the end of the hall. This floor as a patient lounge too, so if I"m up to it, we can go hang out in the lounge as well as in my room!
Thanks for all the well-wishes, and I'm on my road to recovery! Thank goodness all this is nearly over!!
-Leanne
Well, as Kyle posted, I did manage to get in for surgery Friday night. They put me under and next thing I knew, I was awake in the recovery room, just DYING to have a drink of water or ice chips or something, but was told I couldn't have anything by mouth still.
Apparently, along with the intestine and cyst they planned to remove, they also drained the abcesses, and performed three strictureplasties. As I understand, this is a pretty simple procedure. They make a slit along the length of the intestine, then bunch it together and sew it shut, sort of like sewing a puffed sleeve, as my mom put it. This results in the intestine being a bit shorter but wider at the strictured parts. It's good to know they really take a good look while you're under to make sure they're not missing any other problems! I have three little incisions, one in my bellybutton (the biggest one), one just below it, and another on my left hip.
At some point they wheeled me up to my room on the 10th floor, where they kept me under observation and I mostly just slept. They let me swab my mouth with club soda and water, but still nothing else. I just slept lots, aided by the morphine drip. I wasn't allowed much- 1 ml every 6 minutes at the most, and it would deliver this dosage when I press a little button attached to my gown.
Saturday was mostly a blur, and I don't really remember much of it.
Sunday I felt much more lucid, though still a little weird on the morphine. Fr Larry and Myra came to visit and Fr Larry joked that they't cut off my feet! Meanie...
So today I still can't really eat, though they just gave me a popsicle, and let me tell you, pink popsicles have never tasted so yummy! 5 days of tasting nothing but the inside of your own sick mouth is not fun.
I'm not feeling too much pain. My sutures and stuff ache a bit more today cuz they're making me sit up in bed which is making stuff move around. I suppose this is pretty good for just a couple days after surgery though! Hopefully tomorrow they'll let me have broth or ice cream or something. I'm also not using my morphine nearly so much today, and they make me get up for lots of walks around.
Feel free to come visit- it's usually best to come in the afternoon, since I'm most alert then and usually all the doctors have come and gone by then. I"m on the 10th floor in the surgical observation unit, room 1069, it's all the way at the end of the hall. This floor as a patient lounge too, so if I"m up to it, we can go hang out in the lounge as well as in my room!
Thanks for all the well-wishes, and I'm on my road to recovery! Thank goodness all this is nearly over!!
-Leanne
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Surgery is Finally Done
Glory to God, the surgery is finally done.
After waiting the evening Leanne phoned me at about 9:00 last night as she was going in. The operation didn't start until around 10:00 or so and took a few hours.
I received word last night, around 2:30 am, that it was completed successfully and she's doing fairly well. I'm not exactly sure how lucid she is, as she's on a morphine drip, I'll find out today I guess.
So they took the piece of her intestine, about 10 cm I understand, with the appendix attached. They found 3 more strictures which they expanded, kind of like a balloon I guess, that's how it was described to me.
She also had the cyst on her ovary removed and, thank God, they didn't have to damage the ovary to remove it.
I understand tomorrow will probably be the most difficult day, as that's when the pain will be most intense.
She's still in the Foothills, but has moved now to the 10th floor, room 1071, bed 2. She told me that she didn't really want visitors the first day, I doubt she's going to be good company anyhow. But please do drop by sometime a bit later if you are able. She would really appreciate it.
You can give her a call on her cell, 650-3205, as she usually has it on her.
Thank you all for your support, love, and prayers. She has been very encouraged by them all.
I will update as she requests me to.
Kyle
After waiting the evening Leanne phoned me at about 9:00 last night as she was going in. The operation didn't start until around 10:00 or so and took a few hours.
I received word last night, around 2:30 am, that it was completed successfully and she's doing fairly well. I'm not exactly sure how lucid she is, as she's on a morphine drip, I'll find out today I guess.
So they took the piece of her intestine, about 10 cm I understand, with the appendix attached. They found 3 more strictures which they expanded, kind of like a balloon I guess, that's how it was described to me.
She also had the cyst on her ovary removed and, thank God, they didn't have to damage the ovary to remove it.
I understand tomorrow will probably be the most difficult day, as that's when the pain will be most intense.
She's still in the Foothills, but has moved now to the 10th floor, room 1071, bed 2. She told me that she didn't really want visitors the first day, I doubt she's going to be good company anyhow. But please do drop by sometime a bit later if you are able. She would really appreciate it.
You can give her a call on her cell, 650-3205, as she usually has it on her.
Thank you all for your support, love, and prayers. She has been very encouraged by them all.
I will update as she requests me to.
Kyle
Friday, May 16, 2008
*sigh*
Well, they sorta cancelled my surgery. The surgeon was called away to the Alberta Children's Hospital for emergency surgery, so I'm on the waitlist again for today. I guess it probably depends on how long the emergency takes, and how many people are ahead of me or whatever, but I'm not exactly feeling hopeful about getting in today. It's hard to believe I'll actually get in when even a confirmed time and date doesn't cut it.
So, I guess I have to think about the possibility of being stuck here waiting more over the long weekend, so if the surgeon doesn't work weekends, Tuesday will be his first day back, which will bring me to a full two weeks of being in the hospital waiting for surgery.
I still can't eat or drink anything until the doctors take away the NPO order, so I just hope I'm not gonna be stuck on NPO all weekend if I do have to wait.
So... prayers that I get in today would be much appreciated, I really don't know how much more waiting and getting my hopes up and getting disappointed I can take.
As always, I'll post news when it comes, if I get the chance to.
-Leanne
[Update: It seems I'm at the bottom of the waitlist, so nobody seems very optimistic that I'll get in today. Which means I won't have any hope until Tuesday, if then. So I've got day passes, and I'm most definately coming out of here as much as possible over the long weekend, or I'll simply go insane. Of course, I'll update should something change.]
So, I guess I have to think about the possibility of being stuck here waiting more over the long weekend, so if the surgeon doesn't work weekends, Tuesday will be his first day back, which will bring me to a full two weeks of being in the hospital waiting for surgery.
I still can't eat or drink anything until the doctors take away the NPO order, so I just hope I'm not gonna be stuck on NPO all weekend if I do have to wait.
So... prayers that I get in today would be much appreciated, I really don't know how much more waiting and getting my hopes up and getting disappointed I can take.
As always, I'll post news when it comes, if I get the chance to.
-Leanne
[Update: It seems I'm at the bottom of the waitlist, so nobody seems very optimistic that I'll get in today. Which means I won't have any hope until Tuesday, if then. So I've got day passes, and I'm most definately coming out of here as much as possible over the long weekend, or I'll simply go insane. Of course, I'll update should something change.]
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Finally!
So I finally have a date and time for my surgery! I'm going in tomorrow (Friday) at 2 pm.
A few people have asked when I want visitors after the surgery- maybe not Friday or Saturday, but I'm sure by Sunday I'll be up to visiting! I'll be in the hospital roughly a week or so after surgery to recover, and may be stuck to my room for a lot of it, so visitors are definately welcome. I may return back to my current bed on Unit 62, but I could also be moved to the surgical unit, and I'm not sure where that is, so I'll get Kyle to post on here where I am for visiting.
I'm feeling a little nervous now- I talked with my surgeon Dr. Buie and other general surgery people about the procedure, and it seems that apparently there is always the risk that if they can't reconnect the parts of the bowel successfully, I may need an ostomy, either temporarily or permanently. So please, please pray that I don't need an ostomy cuz that would just be sucky!!
It's been a little over a week now, and being in the hospital has really taught me a few things...
a) to be really, really appreciative of my health and mobility and self-sufficiency, even though I do have Crohn's. There are certainly worse things- Eugene (a friend from church who is in a coma) comes to mind, as do some of my very sick or very downtrodden roommates here. I've seen three alcoholics go through and two homeless guys, and it's really quite sad to hear them talking with social workers. I may be stuck in hospital, but at least I can still take care of myself while I'm here for the most part (at least until my surgery).
b) our health system has its perks and downfalls. The good thing is that healthcare is equally available to all- as one GI put it, he doesn't have to refuse anyone treatment due to lack of insurance, and all people, prime minister or homeless man, are supposed to get the same care. The really, really big downfall though? The system is so overloaded that everyone ends up waiting a very long time for care. I've been taking up a valuable hospital bed all week, feeling relatively healthy, because it's so hard to get OR time and so hard to get a bed that they didn't want to send me home while waiting in case the two didn't line up. Most of my roommates have been admitted through the ER, and many of them waited two or three days for their beds. The nurses, though they're all pretty great and wonderful people, are so overloaded with way too much work.
c) the biggest lesson I've learned though? Be your own health advocate! Take notes on what doctors say, get their names, know what meds you're on and when you're supposed to get them. The nurses are super busy and sometimes forget things, so it's good to be able to know when you should be getting time-sensitive meds and how much of them. Don't be afraid to make requests, too.
Well... that's about it for life lessons from Leanne's hospital stay, lol... tomorrow I have surgery so I'm sure Kyle will post an update on how it went!
Pray for me and wish me luck!!
-Leanne
A few people have asked when I want visitors after the surgery- maybe not Friday or Saturday, but I'm sure by Sunday I'll be up to visiting! I'll be in the hospital roughly a week or so after surgery to recover, and may be stuck to my room for a lot of it, so visitors are definately welcome. I may return back to my current bed on Unit 62, but I could also be moved to the surgical unit, and I'm not sure where that is, so I'll get Kyle to post on here where I am for visiting.
I'm feeling a little nervous now- I talked with my surgeon Dr. Buie and other general surgery people about the procedure, and it seems that apparently there is always the risk that if they can't reconnect the parts of the bowel successfully, I may need an ostomy, either temporarily or permanently. So please, please pray that I don't need an ostomy cuz that would just be sucky!!
It's been a little over a week now, and being in the hospital has really taught me a few things...
a) to be really, really appreciative of my health and mobility and self-sufficiency, even though I do have Crohn's. There are certainly worse things- Eugene (a friend from church who is in a coma) comes to mind, as do some of my very sick or very downtrodden roommates here. I've seen three alcoholics go through and two homeless guys, and it's really quite sad to hear them talking with social workers. I may be stuck in hospital, but at least I can still take care of myself while I'm here for the most part (at least until my surgery).
b) our health system has its perks and downfalls. The good thing is that healthcare is equally available to all- as one GI put it, he doesn't have to refuse anyone treatment due to lack of insurance, and all people, prime minister or homeless man, are supposed to get the same care. The really, really big downfall though? The system is so overloaded that everyone ends up waiting a very long time for care. I've been taking up a valuable hospital bed all week, feeling relatively healthy, because it's so hard to get OR time and so hard to get a bed that they didn't want to send me home while waiting in case the two didn't line up. Most of my roommates have been admitted through the ER, and many of them waited two or three days for their beds. The nurses, though they're all pretty great and wonderful people, are so overloaded with way too much work.
c) the biggest lesson I've learned though? Be your own health advocate! Take notes on what doctors say, get their names, know what meds you're on and when you're supposed to get them. The nurses are super busy and sometimes forget things, so it's good to be able to know when you should be getting time-sensitive meds and how much of them. Don't be afraid to make requests, too.
Well... that's about it for life lessons from Leanne's hospital stay, lol... tomorrow I have surgery so I'm sure Kyle will post an update on how it went!
Pray for me and wish me luck!!
-Leanne
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Quick update...
Just wanted to let everyone know that I still don't know my surgery date. I saw two GIs today who both said they didn't know and couldn't really guess, but one said I'd probably find out first thing in the morning before any doctors visit when they don't give me breakfast. That had me all excited this morning actually, since i didn't get food for brekkie, but it turned out they just mixed up a tray- here I was thinking I was NPO for surgery! (NPO= non par ora or something... nothing by the mouth)
The one bright spot is that if I have to wait over the weekend, I found out I have a standing doctor's order for day passes, so I actually can leave the hospital anytime, I just have to let the nurses know ahead of time, and be back for meds. If i have to wait more than 5 days, they may switch me to oral antibiotics too, which means I'll only get IV meds twice a day rather than 4 times, so more free time to leave, as I can take my oral ones with me!
Anyway I'd better be nice and share the interwebs, there's a lineup! Keep checking for updates!
-Leanne
The one bright spot is that if I have to wait over the weekend, I found out I have a standing doctor's order for day passes, so I actually can leave the hospital anytime, I just have to let the nurses know ahead of time, and be back for meds. If i have to wait more than 5 days, they may switch me to oral antibiotics too, which means I'll only get IV meds twice a day rather than 4 times, so more free time to leave, as I can take my oral ones with me!
Anyway I'd better be nice and share the interwebs, there's a lineup! Keep checking for updates!
-Leanne
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