T SHIRT IS AGAIN SHOWING RESULTS OF LEAKING AT TOP OF INCISION. INCISION, AS A WHOLE, IS REALLY HEALING WELL. IT IS A STRAIGHT PINK LINE. AREA IN QUESTION IS AT THE VERY TOP WHERE THERE IS STILL A FAIR AMOUNT OF SWELLING. SERVANT GIRL NOTICED THIS SWELLING DAY AFTER SURGERY WHEN THEY REMOVED BANDAGE. MUCH LESS NOW, OF COURSE, BUT STILL THERE. IF STILL OOZING TOMORROW WILL CALL DOCTOR. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WARN YOU ABOUT THIS STUFF BUT, OF COURSE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THE LAUNDRY
PLEASE STAY TUNED . NEXT WEEK WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT POST OP INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING SEX. WILL NEED YOUR INPUT (SO TO SPEAK) INTERPRETING SAID INSTRUCTIONS.
PATIENT IS STRONGER EVERY DAY. BUT, OF COURSE, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. THE FINAL SCABS HAVE COME OFF. RESTRICTION ON MOVING ARMS OVER HEAD IS NOT AS TIGHT. TEE SHIRTS ARE NOW ALLOWED AND PATIENT SLEEPS IN ONE. SHEETS ARE NOT BEING LAUNDERED EVERY DAY. HOWEVER, THERE WAS PINK (SLIGHTLY BLOODY) OOZE ON TEE SHIRT OVER THE TOP OF THE INCISION. THAT AREA IS STILL SWOLLEN AND OBVIOUSLY LEAKING. BETTER ICK ON TEE SHIRT THAN SHEETS .DON'T WORRY SHEETS WILL BE MAINTAINED. SERVANT GIRL IS PRETTY METICULOUS (READ OBSESSED).
AS WELL AS THINGS HAVE GONE, THERE ARE STILL WORRIES. GOT COPIES OF RECENT LAB TESTS. POTASSIUM IS NOT AS ELEVATED AS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT BUT STILL ELEVATED. PATIENT IS ALSO VERY PALE. THIS IS DUE TO ANEMIA. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS AS PATIENT DOES NOT EAT MEAT. DAILY NAP IS NECESSARY BUT SERVANT GIRL NEVER GETS TO TAKE ONE.
PATIENT AND SERVANT GIRL WERE SURROUNDED BY LOVE OF MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THIS THANKSGIVING. FRIENDS FROM IN TOWN AND OUT. FRIENDS THAT WE PLANNED TO SEE AND FRIENDS THAN DROPPED BY. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO HAVE MY HUSBAND HERE ALIVE AND DOING SO WELL. AND TO KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTING US THROUGH THIS ALL.
ERIN, PATIENT'S DAUGHTER IS HERE FOR THE HOLIDAYS. SHE UPLOADED THE PICTURES. YOU WILL NOTE SNUFFLES IN MOST OF THE PICTURES. SNUFFLES HAS SPECIAL MEANING. WHEN ERIN WAS A LITTLE GIRL HER FATHER GAVE SNUFFLES TO HER. IT WAS ALWAYS HER FAVORITE STUFFED ANIMAL. SHE TOOK IT EVERYWHERE WITH HER. WHEN HER FATHER FELL SO ILL IN 2009 SHE FLEW FROM CALIFORNIA TO VIRGINIA WITH ALL DUE HASTE AND BROUGHT SNUFFLES. LEFT SNUFFLES WITH DAD TO LOOK OVER HIM. WHEN ERIN CAME TO CHICAGO TO BE WITH DAD FOR THE SURGERY SHE AGAIN BROUGHT SNUFFLES FOR HIS PROTECTIVE POWERS. HEY! IT WORKED LAST TIME.
NOTE ABOUT HYGIENE: SERVANT GIRL SENT SNUFFLES ON TOUR OF WASHING MACHINE (GENTLE CYCLE) BEFORE BRINGING TO HOSPITAL. SNUFFLES LIKES THAT FRESH CLEAN FEELING. (SERVANT GIRL DOES TOO.)
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DIFFICULT JOURNEY AND WE ARE NOT THERE YET. BUT TODAY WE HAD GOOD REPORTS FROM TWO DOCTORS. CHEST XRAY SHOWED THAT BREAST BONE IS HEALING WELL (NOT HEALED BUT HEALING). SOME RESTRICTIONS EASED (NOT SO MUCH ENFORCEMENT REQUIRED BY SERVANT GIRL). AND AFTER STRESS TEST ON MONDAY PATIENT WILL PROBABLY START REHAB. WE DID NOT EXPECT THIS UNTIL AFTER FIRST OF YEAR. THIS IS TRULY A TIME OF THANKSGIVING.
THERE ARE STILL SOME LITTLE ISSUES. PATIENT IS INEMIC. WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE IS SO PALE. PATIENT IS ITALIAN AND HAS ALWAYS HAD RICH BEAUTIFUL COLORING. SERVANT GIRL HAS BEEN WORRIED ABOUT HIS LACK OF COLOR. NOW UNDERSTANDS WHY. TIME WILL HEAL THIS TOO. AND NOW WE
ARE STARTING TO REALLY FEEL THAT WE HAVE TIME.
SERVANT IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE TOMORROW. "I LOVE A PARADE".
After my chest exray this AM-had my 1st visits with cardiologist & surgeon since operation-both said that my incision is doing extremely well-& bone is healing as planned--
Cardiologist said that I am only slightly high on potassium-but remain anemic!-(my mom was all of her life) would like me to continue on all prescribed meds until further notice--but said thatI since I am now walking for 1 hr-he is recommending that i begin cardio-rehab after my stress-test on monday PM-GREAT NEWS FOR ME & MY "SERVANT_GIRL".
both docs said that i can put my hands over my head-but only if I feel no pain--which i have not so far--but can not drive(until full affects of all medications & have worn off & my chest bone has at least 2-3 weeks more to heal!) Not an issue here-since we have no car!
We are truly thankful for much--My daughter Erin arrived last night & will be here until friday PM-- Rich & Trish-from Cleveland) will arrive tomorrow morning to spend thanksgiving day with us--& Sam /Ellie--will also be here for diner tomorrow!!
we have many wonderful friends who are very willing to help--including Roop & Kaveen(who is fighting the flu) & may not be able to leave his apartment-
My Daughter Erin & Grady, my son-have been wonderful & very loving--
we are not sure how we can repay all-but my servant girl is the best!!she waits on me hand & foot-watched out for me constantly--& has done so much to be sure that I not only have the best docs-but that I follow all docs instructions! She is truely amazing & I love & thank God that I have her!
Next week Larry & Silvana(our friends form Florida) will visit & be here for almost a week--Ted & Tom are moving to a new apt on Michigan Ave. so are very pre-occupied with all that needs to be done--but always send their best wishes--
so I have much to be thankful for this THANKSGIVING--I know that all f you do too!
CALL FROM INTERNIST ON FRIDAY WITH BLOOD TEST RESULTS FOUND POTASSIUM LEVELS HIGH. DOCTOR FORBAD THE INGESTING OF BANANAS, ORANGES,POTATOES UNTIL FOLLOW UP BLOOD TEST NEXT WEEK. PATIENT'S HOME HAD A FEW LEFTOVER BANANAS FROM THE DAYS PRIOR TO THE DO NOT EAT LIST GOING INTO EFFECT. TODAY SERVANT GIRL SLEPT IN. AROSE AFTER PATIENT ATE BREAKFAST. NOTICED ONE BANANA MISSING. CONFRONTED PATIENT ABOUT MISSING BANANA. PATIENT SAID HE WAS FEELING FINE SO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OK. SERVANT GIRL IS NOT ONLY NOT HAPPY AT THIS WILLFUL DISREGARD OF MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS BUT REALIZES NO MATTER HOW HARD SHE WORKS (AND, GOD KNOWS, SHE WORKS) PATIENT IS HELL BENT ON MAKING THIS WAY MORE COMPLICATED THAT IT HAS TO BE.
PATIENT IS UNABLE TO PULL CLOTHING OVER HEAD AS THIS REQUIRES RAISING BOTH ARMS WHICH IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. ANTICIPATING THIS, SERVANT GIRL PURCHASED NUMEROUS SOFT COTTON AND FLANNEL SHIRTS WHICH BUTTON DOWN THE FRONT. NOT HARD TO FIND, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE QUITE IN STYLE THIS YEAR AT THE YOUNG MEN'S STORES LIKE BANANA REPUBLIC AND GAP. FOR NIGHT WEAR PATIENT HAS HISTORICALLY WORN SLEEP SHORTS AND NO SHIRT. SERVANT GIRL SUPPLIED A FLANNEL PAJAMA SHIRT POST OP AS WOUND WAS UNBANDAGED SINCE DAY AFTER SURGERY. BUT PATIENT FOUND IT A LITTLE HEAVY. A LIGHT WEIGHT FLANNEL SHIRT WAS SUBSTITUTED BUT THIS TOO SEEMED MUCH AS PATIENT GETS A LITTLE WARM IN THE NIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE SHEETS THIS LEADS TO UNBUTTONING THE SHIRT. SERVANT GIRL BELIEVES THAT SHIRT RUBS AGAINST INCISION AT NIGHT RESULTING IN EARLY SCAB REMOVAL. MOST LIKELY THE BUTTON PLACKET IS EXACERBATING THIS BUT A BETTER SOLUTION HAS YET TO BE, PUN INTENDED, UNCOVERED. TEE SHIRT WOULD BE PERFECT BUT NOT PERMITTED UNDER THE NO ARM LIFTING RULE.
SEEMS SERVANT GIRL WAS ICKED OUT BY SMALL DROPLETS OF BLOOD. THIS MORNING'S ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE BED WAS CUT SHORT BY SIX QUARTER SIZED AREAS OF BLOODY OOZE ON TOP SHEET ON PATIENT'S SIDE OF BED. QUICK STRIPPING OF BED AND APPLICATION OF PEROXIDE ENSUED. BEST TO USE HOT WATER IN THIS CASE. PATIENT BELIEVES TOO MUCH BLOOD THINNING GOING ON. PATIENT TAKES PLAVIX AND FULL STRENGTH ASPIRIN. FIRST POST OP APPOINTMENT WITH CARDIOLOGIST IS TOMORROW. NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON. NOT SURE HOW MUCH BLEEDING SERVANT GIRL AND SHEETS CAN TAKE.
NO WE ARE NOT THINKING OF CROSSING A PICKET LINE. SERVANT GIRL MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS POST THAT THE INCISION IS HEALING WELL. THAT IS STILL TRUE. IF YOU HAVE SEEN A RECENT OPEN HEART TYPE INCISION (AND GOD KNOWS SERVANT GIRL WISHES SHE HAD NOT) YOU ARE RELIEVED THAT IT IS NOT FRANKENSTEIN LIKE. THERE ARE NO STITCHES OR STAPLES. IT IS A THIN, STRAIGHT LINE THAT IS GLUED IN PLACE. SERVANT GIRL BELIEVES THAT PLASTIC SURGERY TECHNIQUES ARE EMPLOYED. BANDAGE WAS REMOVED THE DAY AFTER SURGERY. PATIENT WAS STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM PUTTING LOTION, SALVE OR OINTMENT ON IT. WHEN HE WAS ALLOWED TO SHOWER THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO WASH INCISION WITH SOAP AND WATER AND NOT TO LET THE SHOWER SPRAY DIRECTLY ON IT. OH, AND NO PICKING.
WELL, THOSE INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO THE PATIENT (AND WE ALL KNOW HOW WELL HE FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS). IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD A SCAB (AND HAVEN'T WE ALL) YOU KNOW THAT IS DRIES OUT AND FLAKES OFF. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT SERVANT GIRL HAD NEVER GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT TO WHERE THOSE FLAKES GO. ALTHOUGH SHE DOES KNOW THAT LARGE STRIP SCABS END UP AT SEVEN ELEVEN STORES AS BEEF JERKY, SHE NEVER WORRIED ABOUT THE SMALL PIECES. UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHEN SHE KEPT SEEING LITTLE BITS OF DEBRIS ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR. HEAVIEST CONCENTRATION SEEMED TO BE ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE HOOK WHERE PATIENT HANGS HIS ROBE. SERVANT GIRL IS CHARGED WITH TASK OF MAINTAINING CLEAN FLOORS AND ROUTINELY WIPED THIS UP. FINALLY IT DAWNED ON HER. THIS IS A PILE OF SCABS. MAJOR ICK.
COINCIDENTLY, THERE WERE SIMILAR BITS IN THE BED ALONG WITH TINY DOTS OF SOMETHING THAT LOOKS A LOT LIKE BLOOD DROPS. SHEETS GET WASHED EVERY DAY NOW. SERVANT GIRL REFUSES TO SLEEP IN OTHER PEOPLES SCABS. DOUBLE ICK.
NOTE TO READERS: PEROXIDE DIRECTLY APPLIED TO BLOOD ON FABRIC GETS SPOT OUT. MUST BE TREATED BEFORE FIRST WASHING. SERVANT GIRL IS QUITE VIGILANT ABOUT STAIN SEARCH PRIOR TO CONSTANT LAUNDRY CHORES.
WELL, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE SERVANT GIRL'S AREA OF EXPERTISE. SHE UNDERSTAND'S THAT IT GOES UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON ACTIVITY AND EMOTION. BEST TIME TO TAKE IT WITHOUT GETTING FREAKED OUT IS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THIS AM PATIENT'S WAS ON THE LOW SIDE OF NORMAL. NEED TO DO MORE STUDY ON THIS MATTER. HOW DID OBSESSIVE PEOPLE DRIVE THEMSELVES CRAZY WITH VAST AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION BEFORE THE INTERNET? GOSH! IS THAT SERVANT GIRL'S BP ASCENDING? SHE HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A CAUSE OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN OTHERS. SHE HAS NOT ACTUALLY HAD IT HERSELF.
WAS TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT BLOOD PRESSURE STUFF
Journal posted on November 21, 2010
AS SERVANT GIRL'S FAITHFUL SUBSCRIBERS WILL REMEMBER PATIENT HAS BEEN OFF THE ACE INHIBITOR FOR 8 DAYS. BLOOD PRESSURE WAS QUITE LOW RESULTING IN DECREASE IN BP MEDS. STILL ON 25MG BETA BLOCKR AM AND PM. SERVANT GIRL WAS SO SMUG ABOUT HER THEORY THAT ONCE VALVE WAS FIXED ALL WOULD EVENTUALLY BE WELL. YES , OF COURSE, THAT HYPERTROPHY (SWELLING) OF THE LEFT ATRIUM CAUSED BY THE REGURGITANT JET WHEN OLD VALVE WAS MAKING TROUBLE, NEEDS TO HEAL. HOWEVER, PATIENT AND SERVANT GIRL WERE SO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NO LONGER NEEDING DRUGS. (APOLOGIES TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS.) UNFORTUNATELY, BP IS CREEPING UP. NOT ACTUALLY HIGH BUT, WELL, NO LONGER CAUSE FOR BEING SMUG. (AS YOU RECALL, SERVANT GIRL LOVES BEING SMUG.) THIS WIL BE REVIEWED IN THE OFFICES OF DR SILVERBERG, EMINENT CARDIOLOGIST AND DR MCCARTHY, EMINENT SURGEON ON WEDNESDAY. PATIENT SEEMS OBLIVIOUS, SERVANT GIRL IS NOT PATIENT.
OH THEY ALL PROMISE TO HELP WITH THOSE PESKY LACK OF TECH SKILLS PROBLEMS BUT THEY RARELY DO. ERIN IS COMING IN ON TUESDAY. BELIEVE SHE CAN HELP WITH PICTURES. DO NOT HAVE VERY MANY HOSPITAL OR OOZING SORE PICTURES. DO NOT WANT TO REMEMBER THAT PART. BUT MAY TAKE A" BOY IT SURE IS HEALING" PHOTO. SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A PICTURE OF THAT BRUISE ON RIGHT SIDE OF PATIENT'S NECK WHERE FRANKENSTEIN TYPE TUBE WAS FOR A COUPLE DAYS AFTER SURGERY. THE RESULTING BRUISE LOOKED LIKE THE AFTERMATH OF A NIGHT OF PASSION. HMMMMMM.
PAIN IS A PROBLEM AT NIGHT ONLY. DURING DAY PATIENT IS PRETTY COMFORTABLE. THIS HAS BEEN THE TREND FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. BY LATE EVENING PAIN MEDS REQUIRED. TOO UNCOMFORTABLE TO SLEEP OTHERWISE.
PATIENT IS WALKING A MINIMUM OF 50 MINUTES A DAY. SOME DAYS THE WALK IS ALL AT ONCE SOME DAYS IT IS IN TWO INCREMENTS. NEED FOR NAP ON MOST DAYS IS GREAT BUT YESTERDAY TOOK NO NAP.
SERVANT GIRL NEEDS HER EXERCISE TOO. TODAY SHE WALKED WITH PATIENT UNTIL HE PEALED OFF TO GO HOME AND SHE EXERCISED RETAIL THERAPY. HOLIDAY LIGHTS ALL OVER CHICAGO CALL SERVANT GIRL TO MICHIGAN AVE IN A COMPELLING WAY.
TODAY WE HEARD FROM OLD COLLEGE FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR OWN HEART PROBLEMS. THIS IS A TREND THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE CONTINUE. EVEN THE GUY WHO CLEANS FOR US DID NOT SHOW UP YESTERDAY. CALLED THIS MORNING FROM HOSPITAL. HEART PROBLEMS. SERVANT GIRL WANTS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT HER HANDS ARE FULL AND HER OWN HEART IS TAKING A BEATING WORRYING ABOUT ALL OF YOU. THANK GOD FOR FAITH. WHILE GOD PUT US ON THIS EARTH TO LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER TURNS OUT IT BECOMES MORE WORK NOT LESS. GOD JUST LOVES TESTING US.
SERVANT GIRL'S ADVICE TO EVERYONE SHE LOVES: IF YOU ARE SICK, GET WELL. IF YOU ARE WELL, STAY THAT WAY. AND IF YOU CAN'T DO EITHER, HOW ABOUT A BRIEF MORATORIUM SO I CAN GET SOME REST!!!!!
LITTLE BOY ANGELS 2 1/2 AND 6 MO. CAME TO VISIT TODAY. LAST WEEK WHEN THEY VISITED BOTH PATIENT AND SERVANT GIRL WERE QUICKLY WORN OUT. BUT THIS WEEK PATIENT HAD A BIT MORE STAMINA. SERVANT GIRL STRICTLY ENFORCED THE NO LIFTING OF STURDY CHILDREN RULE. LITTLER GUY CAN SIT UP NOW AND SAT NEXT TO PAPA ON VERY COOL(BUT NOT UNATTRACTIVE) RECLINING SOFA. SEEMS ALL DIFAZIO MEN, REGARDLESS OF AGE, ENJOY FOOTBALL.
NOTEWORTHY THAT WE HAD EARLY DINNER IN A CAFE ACROSS THE STREET. PAPA HAS NOT BEEN OUT FOR A MEAL SINCE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY. 18 DAYS POST OP STARTING TO DO STUFF THAT FEELS NORMAL.
AS YOU KNOW THE PAIN NEAR PATIENT'S SHOULDER BLADE HAS BEEN QUITE UNPLEASANT AND RELENTLESS. RX PAIN MEDS HAVE MADE IT BEARABLE BUT WHEN THEY WEAR OFF THE PAIN COMES BACK. BUT YESTERDAY (THE DAY HE LOST HIS BANANA PRIVILEGES) HE DID NOT TAKE A PAIN PILL. BUT AT BEDTIME HE HAD A LOT OF PAIN AND TOOK A PILL. PAIN ALWAYS HURTS MORE IN THE NIGHT. NO WONDER SERVANT GIRL 1S AFRAID OF THE DARK.
SEEMS ALL WAS GOING TOO WELL. PATIENT'S POTASSIUM LEVEL IS AT 7.5. SHOULD BE 3.5-5. POTASSIUM IS CRITICAL TO PROPER HEART FUNCTIONING. TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE CAN BE DANGEROUS. THIS PROBLEM COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE POTASSIUM HE WAS TAKING WHEN HE WAS TAKING LASIX. BUT BOTH OF THOSE WERE DISCONTINUED 8 DAYS AGO. HE EATS TWO BANANAS EVERY DAY. HAS BEEN TOLD TO EAT NONE. REPEAT TEST IN TWO WEEKS. GETTING TIRED OF WORRYING ABOUT SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. FORTUNATELY, SERVANT GIRL HAS BEEN PRACTICING HER WORRYING ON LESS SERIOUS STUFF ALL HER LIFE. IS REALLY GOOD AT IT NOW.
YES, I SHOULD BE POSTING MORE PICTURES. IF I KNEW HOW TO DO THAT I WOULD. A CERTAIN FRIEND (?) (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) ON FLOOR 18 PROMISED TO HELP ME WITH THIS LAST WEEKEND. WELL, HERE WE ARE AT THE WEEKEND AGAIN. I AM ASHAMED THAT MY TECH SKILLS ARE LACKING BUT NOT TOO ASHAMED TO NAG HIM RELENTLESSLY THIS WEEKEND. HELP MAY BE ON THE WAY. GOT A PLAN. GAT A BACK UP PLAN.
AS I HAVE MENTIONED, I HAVE BELIEVED SOMETHING HAS BEEN WRONG FOR A LONG TIME. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT UNTIL SEPTEMBER. WELL, NOW THAT THE FIX HAS BEEN DONE THERE ARE NOTEWORTHY CHANGES INDICATING TO THE SERVANT GIRL THAT ALL THIS IS RELATED TO NOT ENOUGH ENRICHED BLOOD DURING THE BAD VALVE DAYS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE RETURN OF THE SENSE OF SMELL, BUT NOW THERE ARE BIG CHANGES IN HIS VISION. HIS VERY EXPENSIVE LENSES DO NOT SEEM TO BE CORRECTING HIS VISION. FREQUENTLY SAYS HE CANNOT MAKE OUT DETAIL. HAS TROUBLE READING THE PAPER. IT MIGHT BE THE LITTLE JOKE I PLAYED HIM ON HIM RUBBING OLIVE OIL ON HIS GLASSES. OR IT COULD BE THAT BETTER BLOOD FLOW IS IMPROVING HIS VISION AND NOW THE GLASSES ARE TOO STRONG. JUST A HOPEFUL THEORY. TOO SOON TO SEE AN EYE DOCTOR BUT ENJOYING THE OPTIMISM.
PATIENT IS FEELING PRETTY GOOD TODAY. 17DAYS POST OP. WENT FOR A NICE WALK. WEATHER IN CHICAGO IS SUNNY AND ABOUT 55 DEGREES. CAME BACK TIRED AND IS TAKING A NAP. HAS NOT REPORTED SIGNIFICANT PAIN SINCE LAST NIGHT. WHAT PAIN HE HAS IS STILL IN MUSCLES AROUND RIGHT SHOULDER BLADE. PATIENT HAS A VERY HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE SO IF HE SAYS IT HURTS, IT TRULY HURTS.
ONE REASON FOR REDUCTION OF PAIN IS THE HEATING PAD. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HIM TO USE IT FROM THE BEGINNING BUT HE HAS BEEN RELUCTANT. LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HE HAS USED IT FREQUENTLY AND IT IS HELPING. FINGERS CROSSED.
1.WHY DO I WRITE IN ALL CAPS? THIS FROM SEVERAL LOVED ONES WITH BETTER COMPUTER SKILLS THAN SERVANT GIRL. JUST A HABIT FROM THE TIME I STARTED EMAILING. EASIER FOR ME TO READ. SOME SAY IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO READ. SORRY ABOUT THAT AND WHO CARES ABOUT YOU? ANOTHER SAID IT LOOKS LIKE I AM YELLING. HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ME? OF COURSE, I AM YELLING.
2. WHY DO YOU WRITE IN SEVERAL SHORT
POSTS INSTEAD OF ONE LONG POST. BECAUSE I THINK IN SHORT BURSTS. ALSO IT IS HARDER TO HOLD PEOPLES INTEREST IN LONG PARAGRAPHS AND IT GIVES ME MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET IN A GOOD PUNCH LINE.
3.SOMEONE ASKED ME IF HE IS ON CUMADIN. NO,NO,NO. I HAVE JUMPED THROUGH HOOPS TO KEEP HIM OFF CUMADIN. MY MOTHER WAS ON IT. I THINK IT IS A HORRIBLE DRUG AND, FRANKLY, I THINK THEY MAKE UP THE DOSAGE. TWO 5MG FOR 3DAYS, ONE 2 1/2 MG ON THURSDAY, 7 1/2 MG ON ALTERNATE TUESDAYS. RULE I LIVE BY, DO NOT EAT RAT POISON.
3.PLEASE KEEP SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS. IT IS A BIG HELP. DOCTORS ONLY TELL YOU SO MUCH. IT IS PATIENTS WHO HAVE WALKED DOWN THIS ROAD WHO HELP US FEEL MORE NORMAL ABOUT THIS. IT IS A BIG HELP.
4. IF YOU DO HAVE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OR SOMETHING TO ADD PLEASE SIGN YOUR POSTS. WE LIKE KNOWING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND WHO YOU ARE.
5.JAMIE, I KNOW YOU ARE ERIN'S FRIEND.
6.THIS HAS BEEN A HARD JOURNEY. WHO KNEW I WOULD HAVE SUCH A GOOD TIME FINDING HUMOR IN IT? OH RIGHT, I DID. THE MORE DRAMATIC SOMETHING IS THE MORE IT APPEALS TO MY SENSE OF HUMOR.
7. GLAD THIS WAS JOHN NOT ME. MOSTLY BECAUSE YIKES!!!. ALSO HAIR WOULD NEVER COVER MY SCAR. AND, HERE'S THE REAL REASON, HIS BLOG ABOUT ME WOULD NEVER BE AS FUNNY AS MY BLOG ABOUT HIM.
DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PATIENT AT YOUR HOUSE BUT THE ONE AT CASA DIFAZIO (MIDWEST)HAS TENDENCY (i.e. DOES IT ALL THE TIME) TO REINTERPRET EXPLICIT MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SUIT HIS DESIRE TO SPEED NATURE'S HEALING CLOCK. PATIENT SAID IN EXAM ROON, WHILE WAITING FOR DOCTOR, THAT BY NEXT WEEK RESTRICTIONS (MOST OF WHICH ARE BEING IGNORED) WILL BE LIFTED. SERVANT GIRL MENTIONED THIS TO DOCTOR TOWARDS END OF EXAM. DOCTOR EXPLAINED W/EYE CONTACT THAT IF PATIENT MESSES UP THAT STERNUM IN THE 6 TO 8 WEEKS IT ACTUALLY TAKES TO HEAL, HE WILL BE IN BIG TROUBLE AND THIS NIGHTMARE ISN'T AS BAD AS THE ONE THAT WILL RESULT. SERVANT GIRL IS AGAIN SMUG.
SOME OF US KNOW-IT-ALLS REALLY DO KNOW IT ALL.
WAS A LONG AFTERNOON. FIRST POST OP FIELD TRIP. LONGER WALK THAN USUAL, BIT OF A WAIT (NOT LONG) FOR DOCTOR. LENGTHY VISIT W/DOCTOR (FIRST VISIT). THEN LONG WAIT AT ADJACENT BUILDING IN THE BLOOD LETTING DEPARTMENT. WALK HOME WAS COLD AND WINDY. PATIENT WAS WORN OUT. SERVANT GIRL PUT HIM DOWN FOR A NAP.
AS WE INTEGRATE INTO THE NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL SYSTEM THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP WAS THE INTERNAL MEDICINE GUY. THAT IS DR JOHN NICOLAS. MET WITH HIM TODAY. VERY IMPRESSED WITH PATIENT'S PROGRESS. IN OFFICE BP WAS A LITTLE ELEVATED. COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO BRISK WALK OVER THERE. NOT REALLY HIGH BUT HIGHER THAN IT HAS BEEN. PUT TO REST OUR FEARS OVER THAT UNDER ARM LUMP. NOT A LYMPH NODE. LITTLE BRUISE OVER IT INDICATED IT WAS PROBABLY AN INJECTION SITE THAT IS A LITTLE IRRITATED. SERVANT GIRL HAD A DETAILED, CONCISE, ACCURATE, DATE,TIME AND PLACE RECITATION OF PATIENT'S HEART HISTORY. DOCTOR SAID "THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE" . "I HAVE A SHORTER DISCHARGE SUMMERY HERE. YOU JUST FILLED IN ALL THE GAPS AND ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS I WAS GOING TO ASK." SERVANT GIRL HAS A GOOD MEMORY. AND, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, SERVANT GIRL ENJOYED BEING SMUG.
IT IS JUST POSSIBLE THAT I HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A VAST MALE CONSPIRACY TO PROVIDE THEIR MEMBERSHIP WITH RECLINING FURNITURE, UNLIMITED SPORTS (WITH NO NAGGING DURING RELENTLESS CHANNEL CHANGING), UNDISTURBED NAPS, AND ALL AROUND WAITING ON HAND AND FOOT. I MEAN REALLY, IF THIS WAS HEART SURGERY WOULD HE BE HOME IN FOUR DAYS? AND IF ALL THIS REALLY SAVED HIS LIFE WOULD HE STILL BE SO IMPATIENT?
HMMMMMMM! SERVANT GIRL PONDERS!
PATIENT STILL HAS SIGNIFICANT PAIN IN UPPER BACK SHOULDER AROUND SHOULDER BLADE. STILL NEEDS RX . INCISION IS HEALING QUITE WELL. MOST OF SCAB HAS FLAKED OFF. (ON A RELATED NOTE - WASHING SHEETS AND TOWELS QUITE OFTEN.)
VISITING NURSE CAME BY TODAY. PLEASED WITH PATIENT PROGRESS AND BLOOD PRESSURE. NOT SO PLEASED W/LYMPH NODE ISSUE. ALSO NOT PLEASED WITH WEIGHT LOSS. ABOUT 4 POUNDS UNDER PRE SURGICAL WEIGHT.THINKS PATIENT IS A LITTLE PALE. MIGHT BE ANEMIC. GOOD THING WE STILL HAVE STUFF TO WORRY ABOUT.
ON A HAPPIER NOTE WE HAVE FOUND A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. DR. JOHN NICOLAS. HE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY WIS WIFE WHOM I HAVE RECENTLY BEFRIENDED.
ALSO ASKED JOHN'S OTHER DOCTORS WHO SPEAK HIGHLY OF HIM AS WELL.
WE SEE HIM TOMORROW.
IF YOU DIDN'T MISS ME YESTERDAY, YOU HAVE THAT IN COMMON WITH THE PATIENT AT CASA DIFAZIO (MIDWEST). SERVANT GIRL WAS AT RETINA SPECIALIST ALL AFTERNOON. CAME OUT WITH VERY DILATED PUPILS THAT LASTED REST OF THE DAY. WHEN SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE BUILDING AT NORTHWESTERN IT WAS DARK. ALL THE CITY LIGHTS TOOK ON AN EVEN MORE MAGICAL GLOW THROUGH DILATED PUPILS. COULD NOT SEE WELL. WALKED HOME BUT TOO BLURY TO BLOG.
PATIENT HAS YET TO DROP DEAD WHEN SERVANT GIRL IS NOT HERE TO ENFORCE RULES. PROBABLY SPENT THE DAY BENDING OVER AND PUSHING AND PULLING HEAVY OBJECTS.
it's 11/15/10-just back form a walk--& Judith --my "servant-girl"-is at her appointment with a leading Retina specialist at Northwestern!
She continues to be a "life-saver"--truely loves me +I wish i could demonstrate my love for her as she does for me all day--every day--especially in this recovery--
The "servant-girl" continues to amaze!! EVERYONE!
am feeling stronger every day-went for a 35 min walk after breakfast-& enjoyed just being out in downtown chicago--waked as far a Michigan ave-at the Chicago river-then back-along Ohio & along illinois--to our condo building!
Now wil take a nap--while Judith is at her retina specialist appointment--hope & pray her eye is doing well--!!
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 16. IT IS TWO WEEKS SINCE THE SURGERY. IT WOULD BE MY MOTHER'S 97TH BIRTHDAY. IT HAS BEEN 16 MONTHS, 11 DAYS SINCE JOHN DROPPED DEAD FOR 21 MINUTES ON HIS WAY HOME FROM THE GYM. JUST SURVIVING THE INITIAL INCIDENT WAS SUCH A MIRACLE. IT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY SO MANY OTHER MIRACLES.THOSE MANY MIRACLES HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO BE ON THIS ROAD TO RECOVERY. TOO SOON TO MAKE PLANS AGAIN BUT STARTING TO ANTICIPATE MAKING THEM. BUT THE LEAST BUMP LIKE THE SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES BRING BACK ALL THE FEAR OF HIM BEING TAKEN FROM ME. (OK, IT DIDN'T KEEP ME FROM GOING SHOPPING BUT I WAS WITH A GIRL FRIEND THAT I COULD WORRY OUT LOUD TO.) JUST HOW MANY MIRACLES DO YOU GET? AND WHO AM I WITHOUT HIM? AND WHY WOULD I WANT TO KNOW? THERE ARE NO MEDALS FOR HEROISM IN CAREGIVING. AND YOU WOULDN'T WANT ONE IF THERE WERE. IF YOU FIND TRUE LOVE YOU WANT TO HOLD ON TO THAT SOUL MATE. FOREVER. THE REWARD YOU STRIVE TOWARD IS THE RETURN OF YOUR LOVED ONE'S STRENGTH AND THE RENEWED GIFT OF YOUR FUTURE TOGETHER. WHEN HE FALLS ASLEEP I HAVE TO WATCH HIS CHEST TO MAKE SURE HE IS STILL BREATHING. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TOUCH HIM TO MAKE SURE HE IS STILL WARM. HE RARELY SNORES BUT WHEN HE DOES I AM COMFORTED BY THE SOUND OF LIFE. I WANT HIM TO STAY WITH ME IN THIS LIFE INDEFINITELY. AND,OF COURSE, I BELIEVE IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL AND HEAVEN AND ALL THAT. BUT I WANT HIS SOUL WITH ME IN THIS LIFE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE
PATIENT NEEDS TO LEARN TO PROOF READ. PATIENT IS NOT A PERFECTIONIST. THIS IS A BONE OF CONTENTION.
THOUGHT OCCURRED TO SERVANT GIRL "WHY IS HE WRITING ON MY BLOG? " THEN REMEMBERED IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT PATIENT. SERVANT GIRL SHOULD BE HUMBLED BUT RARELY IS.
AS YOU KNOW RECOVERING FROM HEART SURGERY REQUIRES 30 MINUTED OF EXERCISE TWICE A DAY. WALKING AT A RELAXED PACE IS PRESCRIBED, ARM SWINGING IS PROHIBITED. PROTECT THAT UPPER BODY. PATIENT WALKS WITH SERVANT GIRL FOR ONE OF THOSE FORAYS AND HAS GRADUATED TO DOING THE OTHER ON HIS OWN. THIS BRINGS A WELCOME RESPITE FROM THE CONSTANT NAGGING REMINDER OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT RECOVERY MANDATES.PATIENT LIKES THE BREAK TOO.
PATIENT EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR MORE FREEDOM. SERVANT GIRL, EVER SO OBLIGING, WENT SHOPPING. AFTER ALL MICHIGAN AVENUE IS ONLY THREE BLOCKS AWAY. SERVANT GIRL WAS GONE ALL AFTERNOON. MADE MANY PURCHASES. SAVED LOTS OF MONEY. EVERYTHING ON SALE. CHARGED THEM ALL TO PATIENT. SERVANT GIRL HAS WAYS OF GETTING EVEN.
Servant girl is truely amazing & informed--which is sacry--becasue I can't hide form facts--it's tough but I truely appeciated all hat she does for me & has done & wil do!!
servant girl is vry dedicated & loving--but sometimes gets frustrated with me!! imagine that!!
she is wonderful!!& I love her!
today I went for a walk of about 25 min--Servant girl & Roop went shopping on Michigan ave--could not resist the lure of it! I will be fine--home alone!
still weak--but slowly gaining strength--but nowhere where I was before the surgery! expected but frustrating!
NEW WRINLE--Hi--this is patient John-servnt girl is saintl
Journal posted on November 15, 2010
NO NOT IN THE FOREHEAD OF THE HARD WORKING, UNDER APPRECIATED SERVANT GIRL. SHE, DESPITE THE RELENTLESS CARE GIVING, IS STILL YOUTHFUL AND ATTRACTIVE.
PATIENT AWOKE MIDDLE OF NIGHT W/NOT ONLY THAT RIGHT SIDE BACK PAIN BUT ALSO PAIN UNDER RIGHT ARM. EXAMINATION OF AREA REVEALED TWO LUMPS ABOUT 2 INCHES ABOVE ARM PIT. SORE TO THE TOUCH. PROBABLY LYMPH NODES. NO FEVER. CALL TO DOCTOR SUGGESTED NOT TO PANIC (WHY STOP NOW?). MONITORING SITUATION THROUGH DAY WAS RECOMMENDED BUT DON'T KEEP POKING AT THEM. LYMPH NODES TEND TO GET INFLAMED IF YOU IRRITATE THEM. COINCIDENTLY, HUSBANDS ALSO GET INFLAMED IF YOU KEEP IRRITATING THEM.
WHEN ADAM PICK BOOK WAS READ BY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW A CALL TO THE SERVANT GIRL POINTED OUT THAT DURING RECOVERY MANY HEART VALVE RECIPIENTS WERE COMFORTED BY RECLINING FURNITURE WHICH OFFERED MORE POSITION OPTIONS. SERVANT GIRL WAS QUITE DISMAYED BY THE PROSPECT OF UNATTRACTIVE FURNITURE. HOW MUCH IS SHE EXPECTED TO ENDURE? FRANTIC INTERNET SEARCHES CONFIRMED HER WORST FEARS. FURTHER, TWO DAYS OF ENDLESS ROAMING OF FURNITURE STORES IN ALL PRICE RANGES MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WERE NO GOOD CHOICES.
(THOUGHTS OF "HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY WANT TO CHANGE THAT VALVE RUNNING THROUGH HEAD?")MOST RECLINERS HAVE THOSE NASTY HANDLES WHICH ARE NOT ONLY UNSIGHTLY BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE WITHOUT EXERTING TOO MUCH UPPER BODY PRESSURE. THE ONES WITHOUT HANDLES, ONE MUST HURL ONE'S UPPER BODY AGAINST TO RECLINE. THAT'S OUT. AND THESE ARE ALL EITHER UP OR DOWN OFFERING MINIMAL POSITION OPTIONS. AND THE LIFT MODELS WHICH ARE MOTORIZED ONLY COME IN BROWN OR BLUE CHEESY PLAID OR TWEEDY FABRICS THAT ARE THE REASON NURSING HOMES ARE DEPRESSING. A SHORT TERM OPTION IS RENTING SOMETHING TO AVOID A COMMITMENT. RENTING, OF COURSE, COMES WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S BODY FLUIDS AND PROBABLY BED BUGS. FORTUNATELY, FATE INTERVENED DURING A "GLASS ALMOST EMPTY" STROLL THROUGH Z GALLARIE. A TWO PART MOTORIZED LEATHER SOFA OPERATED BY A BUTTON ON EITHER SIDE WAS SPOTTED. THE TWO HALVES OPERATE SEPARATELY SO TWO PEOPLE CAN RIDE AT THE SAME TIME. WE CHOSE WHITE . SOFA IS ATTRACTIVE, FUNCTIONAL AND BOTH PATIENT AND SERVANT GIRL ARE PLEASED.
NOTE TO FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS: JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS UNDERGONE SURGERY OR IS AGING DOES NOT MEAN THAT PERSON NO LONGER HAS GOOD TASTE.
BOTH AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC (WHERE THE PATIENT ALMOST HAD SURGERY) AND AT NORTHWESTERN (WHERE PATIENT ACTUALLY HAD SURGERY) IT WAS EMPHASIZED EMPHATICALLY THAT THERE ARE TWO ABSOLUTE RULES:
1. DO NOT LIFT ANYTHING OR USE FORCE (PUSHING OR PULLING) THAT EQUALED MORE THAN 10 POUNDS. PROTECT YOUR UPPER BODY.
2.DO NOT DRIVE.
THESE RULES ARE IN EFFECT FOR 6 WEEKS. EVEN IF YOU ARE FEELING A LITTLE BETTER, THE RULES STILL APPLY. THE BIG ISSUE IS THE HEALING OF THE BREAST BONE WHICH HAS BEEN SLICED IN HALF AND WIRED BACK TOGETHER. THE PATIENT AT CASA DIFAZIO (MIDWEST) DOES NOT HAVE A CAR AT HIS CURRENT RESIDENCE FORCING COMPLIANCE WITH RULE # 2.HOWEVER HE IS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT BECAUSE HE IS STRONG WILLED HE CAN WILL HIS BONES TO HEAL MORE QUICKLY. THE SERVANT GIRL LOVINGLY REMINDS HIM THAT IT WAS PRESENTED DIFFERENTLY BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. PATIENT DOES NOT ENJOY THESE REMINDERS.
BP STILL ON LOW SIDE OF NORMAL. LOVE THIS LESS MEDICINE SITUATION. BACK PAIN STILL PLAGUING PATIENT REQUIRING RX PAIN MEDS. 12 DAYS POST OP. DOING WELL OVER ALL. WORST PROBLEMS REMAIN BACK PAIN AND EXHAUSTION.
SERVANT GIRL'S WORST PROBLEMS REMAIN EXHAUSTION AND PAIN IN ASS.
