So if Oprah can do it, why can't I? Course my list won't end up boosting product sales the equivalent of a 3rd world country's GDP but... I do often find my most favorable experiences are bc of a friend's recommendation. And I'm always happy to share positive ones... (esp since I spend a lot more time bitching about the negative ones ;) )
Obviously there are eternal truths - that affected me specifically this year.
It has been a super eventful one!
1. Being your own landlord is always better than being someone else's tenant.
2. Trader Joe's IS the answer to life, the universe and everything. And thank Hermes (also God of Commerce and Markets) for one FINALLY in Richmond!!
3. Changing teams sometimes CAN make all the difference at work - and then consequently personally!
4. And sometimes admitting you can't do it all and you need help -- and then getting it -- can be one of the most liberating experiences in life.
5. And along the same lines -- truly no man is an island. Friends and family weave the best safety net.
Now onto the materialistic goodies...
Fave products of 2008
1. Method cleaning products. Bc bleach stinks and green is the new black. I like the mint window cleaner and lavendar AP cleaners esp. Ooo and microfiber towels - woot! http://www.methodhome.com/
2. Greek Yogurt - generally. All of it -- full fat, partial fat and fat free. Why go through the trouble of making yogurt cheese or buying sour cream? This does it all. I esp like FAGE (pr. fayuhh)'s packs w cherry or honey in one compartment, yogurt in the other. OH and protein superior yogurt - so I can silence the voices in my head saying 'cottage cheese is a better snack' !! http://fageusa.com/
3. Dove SkinVitalizer -- Vibrating Face Cleaner - ironically this I think is the frugal response to Oprah's Clairsonic fave thing back in 2007. That one will set you back like $200... this one sets you back $10. I keep reusing the facial cleaning pads w my own cleansers - and they last weeks that way too. NEVER has my face felt so smooth and clean.
And this link will save you $3.50 on it.
http://www.doveskinvitalizer.com/register.aspx
4. Serious Skin Care - CoQ10 day and night serums. I am now a convert of a nighttime regimen - including night cream too. The inventor - model turned skincare peddler - OH and incidentally Sylvester Stallone's WIFE!
AND
Serious Skin Care - Dry Lo spot treatment. Stuff is pink like Calamine lotion - works overnight - and you can wear it under makeup!! Bye bye blackheads and zits.
Super good deals/packages found on HSN... ok yes FINE I admit it, I've shopped on TV - yikes!
http://beauty.hsn.com/serious-skin-care-skin-care_c-bs0011_a-146_xc.aspx?prev=hp!sf!146
5. Aquafresh Whitetrays. I have been a conoisseur of home whitening since I was 15 - seriously. WAY before it was chic to use them - and no doubt when they weren't as safe as they are today. I recall getting a 'compliment' like 'wow your teeth are SO white - they look like they could glow in the dark.'
I've laid off for a few years - the strips I find annoying AND they give you peroxide burns on your fingers! I still think the best was the more permanent mouth trays you just refilled w bleacher but I'm not sure those are even around anymore...
enter these Whitetrays -- would give them a B+ (so better than avg and better than any other OTC treatment.) The trays don't go all the way back to your molars (who needs them white anyway?!) and the gunk is at the bottom of the trays so I'd argue they don't do well at the gumline to whiten that part of the tooth and in between... BUT they don't hurt to apply, they don't cause outrageous gag reflexes as you choke down saliva bubbling w peroxide. And they're well flavored. I wouldn't advise talking w them on - or going out in public w them on either. They're also a great way to prevent EATING ;)
$7 off coupon for em here -- http://www.aquafresh.com/
An honorable mention goes out to good ol Campbell's Tomato Soup (not cream of just plain ol) -- I no longer find it too acidic when made w milk and it was my saving grace during all liquids! Warhol was right in memorializing it...
So - happy shopping! And perhaps you've found some stocking stuffer ideas... I'd advise *against* putting yogurt in the stockings - perhaps instead make it part of Xmas breakfast...
Friday, December 19, 2008
End of week 2 -- 1 week of mushies down!
As of yesterday AM, I was down 3.5lbs on my first week of mushies. So we're down 23.5 lbs since beginning liver shrinking pre surgery -- which is 4 weeks ago. Woot!
This phase comes w its own unique challenges -- how do you make 60grams of protein out of 1.5 cups of mushy food????!!!!! How can you not count everything as mushy - I mean don't my teeth make solids mushies before swallowing?! Does 1 Xmas cookie really count?! :) I haven't strayed much - other than a few pringles (thanks Rob...) and 2 cookies... I did get the A OK at my checkup Weds. My incisions looked 'great' per the surgeon -- all 22 seconds of the appt...
Well my solution to the protein problem has been things like refried beans, tunafish salad, chicken (canned) salad... and I daresay I will go the way of deviled ham next week for some variety.
May no one decry potted meats until you've tried good ol Underwood Deviled ham - comes in a white paper wrapped can w a dancing devil on it. How could that be bad??!!!
I'm even bordering on pulling out my old favorite that I haven't had since I was a kid -- but sans the nutritionally worthless white bread WITH country crock AND mayo (Gammy was one for condiments) and a rip of iceberg lettuce --- LIVERWURST! I do believe I was the ONLY 6th grader packing Braunschweiger for lunch...
But I gotta say, it's pretty good stuff... I mean it's what - 1 rung below pate?! ;) I was mature for my age!
So I'm now tackling the issue of making room for more than just 1/2cup of protein for each meal. This is a challenge in that usually the protein is a lot tastier than the veggie - and if protein is the most important component for me on such small qtys - WHY make room for a veggie?? Well I just know it makes good nutriotional sense to... (and to keep taking my vitamins - which now must be in liquid and chewable forms for the most part - if they could only find a way NOT to make them horsepills I could swallow them!!) --
Which reminds me -- does anyone want unopened good for year+ new vitamins I can't use anymore??!!! Free to a good home!
Anyway, so I'm now pulling out the tablespoons for measurement -- there are 8 tblsp in a 1/2 cup - so I can make 2 or 4 of those veggies adn the rest protein.
It will also make me feel a little less of a dinner companion reject - bc I can also then have 'meals' again w Rob - rather than what we've been doing the last week -- of me pulling out some impossibly and depressingly TINY tupperware container of prepared protein and eating half of it for dinner.
I'm doing pretty well at pacing - and find it much more satisfying to eat at the kitchen table.
So all in all, I've begun to see the future - how this will become habit - along w some of the possible saboteurs I may also face. I'm pretty stoked - and feeling better and better about my decision daily!
This phase comes w its own unique challenges -- how do you make 60grams of protein out of 1.5 cups of mushy food????!!!!! How can you not count everything as mushy - I mean don't my teeth make solids mushies before swallowing?! Does 1 Xmas cookie really count?! :) I haven't strayed much - other than a few pringles (thanks Rob...) and 2 cookies... I did get the A OK at my checkup Weds. My incisions looked 'great' per the surgeon -- all 22 seconds of the appt...
Well my solution to the protein problem has been things like refried beans, tunafish salad, chicken (canned) salad... and I daresay I will go the way of deviled ham next week for some variety.
May no one decry potted meats until you've tried good ol Underwood Deviled ham - comes in a white paper wrapped can w a dancing devil on it. How could that be bad??!!!
I'm even bordering on pulling out my old favorite that I haven't had since I was a kid -- but sans the nutritionally worthless white bread WITH country crock AND mayo (Gammy was one for condiments) and a rip of iceberg lettuce --- LIVERWURST! I do believe I was the ONLY 6th grader packing Braunschweiger for lunch...
But I gotta say, it's pretty good stuff... I mean it's what - 1 rung below pate?! ;) I was mature for my age!
So I'm now tackling the issue of making room for more than just 1/2cup of protein for each meal. This is a challenge in that usually the protein is a lot tastier than the veggie - and if protein is the most important component for me on such small qtys - WHY make room for a veggie?? Well I just know it makes good nutriotional sense to... (and to keep taking my vitamins - which now must be in liquid and chewable forms for the most part - if they could only find a way NOT to make them horsepills I could swallow them!!) --
Which reminds me -- does anyone want unopened good for year+ new vitamins I can't use anymore??!!! Free to a good home!
Anyway, so I'm now pulling out the tablespoons for measurement -- there are 8 tblsp in a 1/2 cup - so I can make 2 or 4 of those veggies adn the rest protein.
It will also make me feel a little less of a dinner companion reject - bc I can also then have 'meals' again w Rob - rather than what we've been doing the last week -- of me pulling out some impossibly and depressingly TINY tupperware container of prepared protein and eating half of it for dinner.
I'm doing pretty well at pacing - and find it much more satisfying to eat at the kitchen table.
So all in all, I've begun to see the future - how this will become habit - along w some of the possible saboteurs I may also face. I'm pretty stoked - and feeling better and better about my decision daily!
Monday, December 15, 2008
2 Funnies I Forgot!
I forgot to 'document' two goodies to date from all this...
1. Apparently during surgery I got the HICCUPS!! Now afterward they seemed to think that was 'no biggie' and that working around the diaphragm that happens not infrequently... I however give the utmost credit to the surgeon for not slicing me open in a badway -- how the HELL do you operate LAPAROSCOPICALLY on my mid-section when the entire thing is going through explosive spasms???!!! dear god - I thanked my lucky stars once I was conscious!
2. So I was thrilled to be able to shower sans assistance when I got home. My friend Jim reminded me (having had the same back surgery I did but more recently) that this wasn't really possible after my back surgery. My mom - being the dutiful supervisor she is - was umm very supervisory post shower - making sure I got out ok, etc. I am very conscious of this bc I got a tattoo when I was 18 and NEVER wanted my parents to know. (Jeanne - if you are reading this, you are sworn to secrecy.)
Well -- floored was I when my mom pulls out the "So when did you get the tramp stamp?" Now she IS a high school teacher so the colloquialism wasn't an offense -- I did however correct her immediately that it WASN'T technically a tramp stamp bc it was located on my hip! And then I picked my jaw off the floor and explained when I got it, etc. I figured that I'd hid it a decade, I'd done pretty well... she wants to get a tattoo herself and her best friend is inked stem to stern so I was pretty safe w her finding out.
I did however swear her to secrecy from telling my father who I believe would SUMMARILY DISOWN ME if he found out... he never wanted me to get my ears pierced! I believe the comment I got when I came home from college 1st year w a set of SECOND holes (god forbid!) was something like -- "what -- is the lip disk next?"
1. Apparently during surgery I got the HICCUPS!! Now afterward they seemed to think that was 'no biggie' and that working around the diaphragm that happens not infrequently... I however give the utmost credit to the surgeon for not slicing me open in a badway -- how the HELL do you operate LAPAROSCOPICALLY on my mid-section when the entire thing is going through explosive spasms???!!! dear god - I thanked my lucky stars once I was conscious!
2. So I was thrilled to be able to shower sans assistance when I got home. My friend Jim reminded me (having had the same back surgery I did but more recently) that this wasn't really possible after my back surgery. My mom - being the dutiful supervisor she is - was umm very supervisory post shower - making sure I got out ok, etc. I am very conscious of this bc I got a tattoo when I was 18 and NEVER wanted my parents to know. (Jeanne - if you are reading this, you are sworn to secrecy.)
Well -- floored was I when my mom pulls out the "So when did you get the tramp stamp?" Now she IS a high school teacher so the colloquialism wasn't an offense -- I did however correct her immediately that it WASN'T technically a tramp stamp bc it was located on my hip! And then I picked my jaw off the floor and explained when I got it, etc. I figured that I'd hid it a decade, I'd done pretty well... she wants to get a tattoo herself and her best friend is inked stem to stern so I was pretty safe w her finding out.
I did however swear her to secrecy from telling my father who I believe would SUMMARILY DISOWN ME if he found out... he never wanted me to get my ears pierced! I believe the comment I got when I came home from college 1st year w a set of SECOND holes (god forbid!) was something like -- "what -- is the lip disk next?"
Phase 1 - Liquids - DONE!
Glad that's over!! Thursday was the start to mushies - which basically means real food that involves umm TEETH...
SO liquids -- first off never has a simple half banana ground into protein powder provided SUCH pleasure and taste. You do truly appreciate the sense of taste MUCH more when you haven't been able to use it in a while.
Why liquid diets STINK:
--- Neopolitan or no dice... apparently bodybuilders and fad dieters alike only enjoy sweet things - and they seem to only now be strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavored. I seem to remember when Slim Fast had just begun that it had gads of different flavors (still all sweet but...) things like tropical, orange, coffee, choc, vanilla, etc. -- now we seem to be down to only neopolitan... and in Slim Fast High Protein - only chocolate and vanilla - I was never able to locate a strawberry.
When you are only 'eating' 3 shakes a day for a week, only having 3 flavors to choose from is incredibly painful. I did do some pre-shopping so I had instant coffee granules (which were atrociously bad - and made my shakes taste like they had beef broth in them... YUCK). I did grab unflavored soy protein powder at Trader Joe's - and found some Strawberry BANANA (whoa!) Genisoy at Kroger. There were only specific shakes I was to consume to ensure I had the right amount of protein vs carbs a day - so I was even more limited.
But may I suggest some patentable new flavors? Mint, Choc Mint, Curry (there's a protein bar that I recall came out once stuff like Luna bars and Clif Bars became the rage along w all the atkinsy bars) -- I think it's called Mojo - anyway, I remember seeing it a Ukrop's and they have savory flavors - like curry pretzel peanut or something -- what a great idea!) , Caramel, Butterscotch, Almond, PEANUT BUTTER...
--- Extract this from your... Ironically I was allowed at this point to use extracts in the shakes to 'spice em up' a bit -- unfortunately I was forbade from using alcohol based extracts -- and to be honest, I don't think a single one of my extracts isn't alcohol based...
So I used half bananas - and revelled in the taste - probably bc of the natural sugars.
--- It gets old fast... And I just choked down the rest -- never would you believe it was actually a CHORE to sip down 3 shakes a day (@ about 20g protein each) -- it was just boring...
Why liquid diets don't entirely stink:
--- Heal thyself... It was a good way to get my head back into the flavor game and allow me to heal.
--- Baby steps... It also got me so much more excited for mushies but allowing me to pace myself. I was having 8oz of shake at a sitting (approx 30min) -- but ultimately my meals are not supposed to exceed 4oz (volume) so it got me eating smaller portions but not immediately into the 4oz.
--- Weighting game... I lost another 8 lbs -- we're now down 20lbs as of last Thursday 12/11. Woot!
To sum it up, if you can stand it, liquid diets are good for results... and I got enough protein so far bc my hair is not falling out (SERIOUSLY -- that's a possible side effect... nice huh?). I will say Campbell's tomato soup was my SAVING GRACE! Made w milk it got me some protein and it was savory.
I'm now onto mushies -- which is a 2 week long phase (unless I get the ok to go solids from the dr's tomorrow -- I hear it's been known to happen!) This comes w its own challenges - but that'll be my next post!
SO liquids -- first off never has a simple half banana ground into protein powder provided SUCH pleasure and taste. You do truly appreciate the sense of taste MUCH more when you haven't been able to use it in a while.
Why liquid diets STINK:
--- Neopolitan or no dice... apparently bodybuilders and fad dieters alike only enjoy sweet things - and they seem to only now be strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavored. I seem to remember when Slim Fast had just begun that it had gads of different flavors (still all sweet but...) things like tropical, orange, coffee, choc, vanilla, etc. -- now we seem to be down to only neopolitan... and in Slim Fast High Protein - only chocolate and vanilla - I was never able to locate a strawberry.
When you are only 'eating' 3 shakes a day for a week, only having 3 flavors to choose from is incredibly painful. I did do some pre-shopping so I had instant coffee granules (which were atrociously bad - and made my shakes taste like they had beef broth in them... YUCK). I did grab unflavored soy protein powder at Trader Joe's - and found some Strawberry BANANA (whoa!) Genisoy at Kroger. There were only specific shakes I was to consume to ensure I had the right amount of protein vs carbs a day - so I was even more limited.
But may I suggest some patentable new flavors? Mint, Choc Mint, Curry (there's a protein bar that I recall came out once stuff like Luna bars and Clif Bars became the rage along w all the atkinsy bars) -- I think it's called Mojo - anyway, I remember seeing it a Ukrop's and they have savory flavors - like curry pretzel peanut or something -- what a great idea!) , Caramel, Butterscotch, Almond, PEANUT BUTTER...
--- Extract this from your... Ironically I was allowed at this point to use extracts in the shakes to 'spice em up' a bit -- unfortunately I was forbade from using alcohol based extracts -- and to be honest, I don't think a single one of my extracts isn't alcohol based...
So I used half bananas - and revelled in the taste - probably bc of the natural sugars.
--- It gets old fast... And I just choked down the rest -- never would you believe it was actually a CHORE to sip down 3 shakes a day (@ about 20g protein each) -- it was just boring...
Why liquid diets don't entirely stink:
--- Heal thyself... It was a good way to get my head back into the flavor game and allow me to heal.
--- Baby steps... It also got me so much more excited for mushies but allowing me to pace myself. I was having 8oz of shake at a sitting (approx 30min) -- but ultimately my meals are not supposed to exceed 4oz (volume) so it got me eating smaller portions but not immediately into the 4oz.
--- Weighting game... I lost another 8 lbs -- we're now down 20lbs as of last Thursday 12/11. Woot!
To sum it up, if you can stand it, liquid diets are good for results... and I got enough protein so far bc my hair is not falling out (SERIOUSLY -- that's a possible side effect... nice huh?). I will say Campbell's tomato soup was my SAVING GRACE! Made w milk it got me some protein and it was savory.
I'm now onto mushies -- which is a 2 week long phase (unless I get the ok to go solids from the dr's tomorrow -- I hear it's been known to happen!) This comes w its own challenges - but that'll be my next post!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Mental note - setup your computer BEFORE heading to hospy...
Thanks SO much to everyone for their kind thoughts, personal emails beforehand and after, and the txt messages -- and checking up on me through Rob. I was so excited to get the notes/msgs and now am really glad to be back online and reconnecting!!
Extra thanks to Julie for my card and Spevak for my fleurs :) Considering Aimee is in Turkey right now -- whoa! yay internet!
And congrats to the Joyners and new baby Henry!
OK so I'm home - and SOO glad to be here...
Here's a rundown of the last few days...
I weighed in on the morning o surgery - but wasn't down really anymore lbs - so I'd say it's sorta like South Beach - if you follow it week 1, you'll get most of your results then...
Took my tiny $25 pill -- will post a pic soon.
Headed off to hospy w Mom and Rob -- left about 7am to be there at 7.30am. Uneventful checkin - met someone else in the waiting room who had the surgery *right* after mine -- like I think they wheeled me out and had her waiting...
Also relatively uneventful - changing o clothes into a horrendous gown, got a lovely hair cap - which according to one of hte nurses people actually ask to KEEP... why I don't know -- it wasn't even waterproof... peculiar.
Got those nasty stockings w a creepy foothole at the top - bizarre! And my hospital issue totes sockwarmers things - which unfortunately disappeared from my bed post surgery - so I dind't get a 'souvenir'...
Got asked the same 3 questions by 10 different people, got some rockin drugs that are *supposed* to cause amnesia (it's like super valium) but I remember everything pre general anesthesia (same happened w my back surgery). This stuff made me super dizzy, sorta drunken - on the verge of losing all body control - a little disturbing -- enough to get myself onto the surgery table by myself -- and then the did the oxygen mask (just like nip tuck) - and told me to take some deep breaths... well I think something was IN that oxygen... ;) anyway, McHugh OUT!
Woke up in the recovery room, sorta groggy but doing ok - not too much pain, oxygen in nose, etc. I became more awake of course w time - and kept getting some excuse about the 'ward' being busy so I was going to just hang down in recovery. The guy next to me Federrico - had just had shoulder surgery and coudln't stop bitching about his shoulder being numb... REALLY?? wtf? Then I heard him get the wizzenator but after 30min he still hadn't pee'ed...
Luckily at that point I was wheeled upstairs - what i was SHOCKED to see was taht it was 2.30pm already... during the wheeling, they accidentally 'ripped' out my nose oxygen mask - not too painful - just annoying. They were super apologetic - Kelly and Marvin were pretty ok - they told me apparenlty when they built the new wing, they didn't make the elevators big enough for patient's beds - so they had to wait on the 1 of the 4 that actually could take a bed... WTF? Also came to find out that the 'transporter' - unfortunately NOTHING like Jason HottyPants Statham - had had the same back surgery as me but slimy St Mary's attorneys were able to fight his lawsuit that it wasn't caused by the fact that he pushes hundreds of pounds of people every day all over the hospital in oversized beds w wheels... BASTAGES! Yet another tale that should be on dividedwefail.org
So lemme switch perspectives now and give you the Rob/Mom view -- they said adios about 8.30am when they took me back. Headed up to the surgery waiting area upstairs at St Mary's. They got a slip which linked to a beeper that was linked to a beeper on my hospital wristband... So they get a call about 10.30am from the surgeon saying everything went great and I'm out - in the recovery room. They said they'd call when they took me upstairs...
Now when I was in the recovery room, I heard the nurse call to say that I was doing fine in recovery but that they were busy upstairs and so I'd be here a little longer bc they didn't have space. She said she'd expect it to be an hour maybe more -- so they could either stay in the waiting area or go to the waiting area on the 4th floor and they'd get beeped once I went to my room.
Well now I get wheeled up - after realizing I'd spent 4 FOUR HOURS in the recovery room to my room - which turned out to be the shitty one w 2 other beds in it, tvs mounted in such a way it was IMPOSSIBLE to see them and obviously the utmost of privacy between beds - w ceiling curtaings... OH YAH and a SHARED bathroom...
This was an incredible annoyance to me since when I'd toured the 'ward' the night I had my nutrition class, I'd seen the awesome private rooms w adjustable airbeds and private bathrooms w showers...
So now I'm just pissed... plus hurting plus post drug woozy... and when I get wheeled in, no family is to be found... I ask the nurse (the one who was 'too busy' bc she had TWO patients - the other cattle car roommates of mine)... she calls the waiting room on the 4th floor and no one answers. I get I'm sure visibly annoyed - so she goes to the room and no one is there. Then just comes back and tells me that...
Well the girl next to me - who'd had her surgery right before mine -- and who'd been in the room for HOURS AND HOURS already... - and who was ALREADY up and walking (like i SHOULD have been if I hadn't been held in recovery bc nursebitch Teri was 'too busy' -- more on Teri to come) walks in - we recognized each other from the class -- she is w her hubby and mom. She or her mom - someone - asks how I'm doing. Now I'm *sure* I looked bad - not only pale post surgery - but pretty much on the verge of tears - between being in recovery for so long my neck was aching (their idea of a pillow in 'temporary' recovery was a folded up towel) and then getting the shittiest room to the fact that my family was missing and the nurse could care less about her new patient... I choked out something like 'ok, except I can't find my family' -- SO thank goodness for the kindness of strangers... her hubby gave me his cell to call Rob -- I did and got him right away... apparently the idiots NEVER called back down to buzz them to say I was out of recovery and in the room... Rob had some comments (most of which he kept in) for the little old lady volunteer who just sorta giggled when he went to return the beeper and said he'd never gotten a call - except from THE PATIENT...
So all begins to pick up then. About 3ish, I got my family! :) And was MUCH happier...
The cattle car room stunk - and the spending all that time in recovery STUNK... in fact the girl I met in the waiting room who had the surgery AFTER mine was already upstairs and in her OWN room when I was hauled up there - so apparenlty it was my 'luck' to get the crappy nurse Teri.
I also completely missed my aftn 'meal' -- which was my clear liquids stage - jello, broth, tea, juice, ice chips... not a BIG miss - but slightly troubling to me when the first thing I had after icechips was me trying to 'eat' the Carnation Instant Breakfast protein shake at dinner... this also was after establishing that it was 'too late' to send me off for my upper GI xray -- which everyone else had that day... but as Teri assured me 'well if you're not in lots of abdominal pain now drinking that protein shake, the surgery probably went ok' -- again WTF?? so had the surgery not gone well - but since miss Teri couldn't bother to order my GI xray -- I COULD Have had CIB leaking into my bloodstream and been in severe agony... I'd rather NOT have taken the guinea pig route...
Then Teri tells me that 'oh they don't usually take people after 5pm so you'll have to do the xray in the morning - oh and you can't then drink anything after midnight' -- thanks bitchface... after the breathing tubes, my throat was really hurting - so the prospect of no longer being able to drink anything also made me want to cry... frankly, the neck and the throat were actually causing me more pain than the incisions... this actually was the case really until today (Tues)
So back to cattle car room -- it actually ended up being a blessing in disguise (well excepting that the 2 other people in the room had BRONCHITIS - and now it appears Rob may have it...) -- bc the girl next to me was a kind stranger she actually saved me from the complete INCOMPETENCE of nurse Teri... apparently I was supposed to get an anti-inflammatory - Touradol - after the surgery - soon post recovery... she never checked to see if I was given it in my extended stay in recovery - and I wasn't... so I had to ASK her to check and then give me it. Teri also liked to 'play' w the drs - making fake calls, etc. She also commented on multiple occassions that she was mixing up our charts and writing the others' stats on them... so Teri should NOT be given the cattle car room - or frankly ANY patient...
In fact she tried to briefly stop my IV so I could change into my own clothes and do bathroom things - and instead caused it to reverse and pull out my blood - and then she had to reconnect it and 'force' my blood back up into me along w the stuff in the IV - geebus... she also didn't tell me I had to pee in a plastic cowboy hat thing to monitor my 'output' until I'd pee'ed like 3 times already - after which she showed me my 'labelled' one - that clearly someone ELSE had pee'ed in... she finally 'made the time' to get me a 'fresh one' - ugg...
Fam left about 8ish and headed home (Dad stopped in briefly too) - at that point, I'd done a few walks around the halls (tethered to an IV and w a 4lb heart monitor thing 'draped' over my shoulder -- annoying...) and could sit - I'd negotiated w my neighbor to turn our tvs toward the other since we could see each others better than the ones mounted above us...
Then like angels, the night nurses in their white coats came. Teri treated them like crap - so clearly she must have some sort of seniority... and as she collected my survey the next morning, I felt it imprudent to bitch about her there -- so I will find out from my dr's office how to appropriately report her in 2 weeks.
The night nurse was India. (Not to be confused w India the pre-op 6ft black manwoman at the Valero by our old hood.) India had an 'apprentice' too. India was AWESOME... she was super attentive. Also very methodical about taking our readings, giving us our meds, doing whatever we needed. She also made sure my GI xray was ordered and I'd go first thing in the AM. So basically she did her job. Compared to Teri, this made her my shero for the night! Did more walking 1am and 3am, peed in a plastic cowboy hat (which was less bizarre than it sounds - it sits under the seat to 'collect' pee - and got some Percocet. whoa.
Next Teri the Terrible comes back as I'm being wheeled away about 7am to my xray. Luckily the confirms that all is well, no leaks, right size, etc. That was actually pretty cool -- looked like one of those slo mo photos of a smoke puff as the barium went thru my stomach.
Headed back up, got to change and was on my way out! GOODBYE TERI! I kept leaking the numbing meds from my 'Q ball' - anesthesia filled ball that actually they gave me in a fanny pack to take home and was connected internally to deliver med under skin (more to come.) Teri's final feats were to redo my bandage to try to stop the leaking - unsuccesfully of course. And to listen to my 'bowels' - which are supposed to make noises I guess to ensure you're ok - they did this after my back surgery too - and Teri flippantly comments that she doesn't really hear anything... but apparently no biggie = she'll still discharge me. Luckily India had listened about 6am before she left and said they sounded good - so I wasn't worried...
I got home and slept all day basically. The pain is far less than my diskectomy - the incisions are unpleasant but not bad. They're pretty sore -- first few days felt like someone took me out back and beat me w a bat on my abs... the incisions are a little bruised... I was able to shower on Saturday - woohoo!
Now -- and this will have to be supplemented w a photo -- the 'Q ball' or pic line... basically it's a ball of medicine (liquid) connected to tubing that is actually in your stomach (just under the skin - not really internal - sorta like a splinter goes in) and delivers it under the skin.
On Saturday that got to come out -- which was an ordeal bc unbeknownst to us the tube inside was down like 10inches... so my Mom just kept pulling and pulling and finally it came out -- I didn't really feel it but it was pretty creepy to look at...
Apparently afterward my Mom went downstairs and ordered a liquid lunch from Rob - wine of course...
So now I'm just catching up on some Tivo - and finally my blog!! I'm supposed to login for work tomorrow (this so I could avoid the MIP situation - which I have had issues w in past) - I'm not looking fwd to that but it should only be for the rest of this week and then maybe a day or 2 next - actually I can start vacation Monday and be out through Jan 5th.
My followup appt is 12/17.
Next I will update on the liquid diet and what's going on! Stay tuned - I will try to do this in the next day or so!
Extra thanks to Julie for my card and Spevak for my fleurs :) Considering Aimee is in Turkey right now -- whoa! yay internet!
And congrats to the Joyners and new baby Henry!
OK so I'm home - and SOO glad to be here...
Here's a rundown of the last few days...
I weighed in on the morning o surgery - but wasn't down really anymore lbs - so I'd say it's sorta like South Beach - if you follow it week 1, you'll get most of your results then...
Took my tiny $25 pill -- will post a pic soon.
Headed off to hospy w Mom and Rob -- left about 7am to be there at 7.30am. Uneventful checkin - met someone else in the waiting room who had the surgery *right* after mine -- like I think they wheeled me out and had her waiting...
Also relatively uneventful - changing o clothes into a horrendous gown, got a lovely hair cap - which according to one of hte nurses people actually ask to KEEP... why I don't know -- it wasn't even waterproof... peculiar.
Got those nasty stockings w a creepy foothole at the top - bizarre! And my hospital issue totes sockwarmers things - which unfortunately disappeared from my bed post surgery - so I dind't get a 'souvenir'...
Got asked the same 3 questions by 10 different people, got some rockin drugs that are *supposed* to cause amnesia (it's like super valium) but I remember everything pre general anesthesia (same happened w my back surgery). This stuff made me super dizzy, sorta drunken - on the verge of losing all body control - a little disturbing -- enough to get myself onto the surgery table by myself -- and then the did the oxygen mask (just like nip tuck) - and told me to take some deep breaths... well I think something was IN that oxygen... ;) anyway, McHugh OUT!
Woke up in the recovery room, sorta groggy but doing ok - not too much pain, oxygen in nose, etc. I became more awake of course w time - and kept getting some excuse about the 'ward' being busy so I was going to just hang down in recovery. The guy next to me Federrico - had just had shoulder surgery and coudln't stop bitching about his shoulder being numb... REALLY?? wtf? Then I heard him get the wizzenator but after 30min he still hadn't pee'ed...
Luckily at that point I was wheeled upstairs - what i was SHOCKED to see was taht it was 2.30pm already... during the wheeling, they accidentally 'ripped' out my nose oxygen mask - not too painful - just annoying. They were super apologetic - Kelly and Marvin were pretty ok - they told me apparenlty when they built the new wing, they didn't make the elevators big enough for patient's beds - so they had to wait on the 1 of the 4 that actually could take a bed... WTF? Also came to find out that the 'transporter' - unfortunately NOTHING like Jason HottyPants Statham - had had the same back surgery as me but slimy St Mary's attorneys were able to fight his lawsuit that it wasn't caused by the fact that he pushes hundreds of pounds of people every day all over the hospital in oversized beds w wheels... BASTAGES! Yet another tale that should be on dividedwefail.org
So lemme switch perspectives now and give you the Rob/Mom view -- they said adios about 8.30am when they took me back. Headed up to the surgery waiting area upstairs at St Mary's. They got a slip which linked to a beeper that was linked to a beeper on my hospital wristband... So they get a call about 10.30am from the surgeon saying everything went great and I'm out - in the recovery room. They said they'd call when they took me upstairs...
Now when I was in the recovery room, I heard the nurse call to say that I was doing fine in recovery but that they were busy upstairs and so I'd be here a little longer bc they didn't have space. She said she'd expect it to be an hour maybe more -- so they could either stay in the waiting area or go to the waiting area on the 4th floor and they'd get beeped once I went to my room.
Well now I get wheeled up - after realizing I'd spent 4 FOUR HOURS in the recovery room to my room - which turned out to be the shitty one w 2 other beds in it, tvs mounted in such a way it was IMPOSSIBLE to see them and obviously the utmost of privacy between beds - w ceiling curtaings... OH YAH and a SHARED bathroom...
This was an incredible annoyance to me since when I'd toured the 'ward' the night I had my nutrition class, I'd seen the awesome private rooms w adjustable airbeds and private bathrooms w showers...
So now I'm just pissed... plus hurting plus post drug woozy... and when I get wheeled in, no family is to be found... I ask the nurse (the one who was 'too busy' bc she had TWO patients - the other cattle car roommates of mine)... she calls the waiting room on the 4th floor and no one answers. I get I'm sure visibly annoyed - so she goes to the room and no one is there. Then just comes back and tells me that...
Well the girl next to me - who'd had her surgery right before mine -- and who'd been in the room for HOURS AND HOURS already... - and who was ALREADY up and walking (like i SHOULD have been if I hadn't been held in recovery bc nursebitch Teri was 'too busy' -- more on Teri to come) walks in - we recognized each other from the class -- she is w her hubby and mom. She or her mom - someone - asks how I'm doing. Now I'm *sure* I looked bad - not only pale post surgery - but pretty much on the verge of tears - between being in recovery for so long my neck was aching (their idea of a pillow in 'temporary' recovery was a folded up towel) and then getting the shittiest room to the fact that my family was missing and the nurse could care less about her new patient... I choked out something like 'ok, except I can't find my family' -- SO thank goodness for the kindness of strangers... her hubby gave me his cell to call Rob -- I did and got him right away... apparently the idiots NEVER called back down to buzz them to say I was out of recovery and in the room... Rob had some comments (most of which he kept in) for the little old lady volunteer who just sorta giggled when he went to return the beeper and said he'd never gotten a call - except from THE PATIENT...
So all begins to pick up then. About 3ish, I got my family! :) And was MUCH happier...
The cattle car room stunk - and the spending all that time in recovery STUNK... in fact the girl I met in the waiting room who had the surgery AFTER mine was already upstairs and in her OWN room when I was hauled up there - so apparenlty it was my 'luck' to get the crappy nurse Teri.
I also completely missed my aftn 'meal' -- which was my clear liquids stage - jello, broth, tea, juice, ice chips... not a BIG miss - but slightly troubling to me when the first thing I had after icechips was me trying to 'eat' the Carnation Instant Breakfast protein shake at dinner... this also was after establishing that it was 'too late' to send me off for my upper GI xray -- which everyone else had that day... but as Teri assured me 'well if you're not in lots of abdominal pain now drinking that protein shake, the surgery probably went ok' -- again WTF?? so had the surgery not gone well - but since miss Teri couldn't bother to order my GI xray -- I COULD Have had CIB leaking into my bloodstream and been in severe agony... I'd rather NOT have taken the guinea pig route...
Then Teri tells me that 'oh they don't usually take people after 5pm so you'll have to do the xray in the morning - oh and you can't then drink anything after midnight' -- thanks bitchface... after the breathing tubes, my throat was really hurting - so the prospect of no longer being able to drink anything also made me want to cry... frankly, the neck and the throat were actually causing me more pain than the incisions... this actually was the case really until today (Tues)
So back to cattle car room -- it actually ended up being a blessing in disguise (well excepting that the 2 other people in the room had BRONCHITIS - and now it appears Rob may have it...) -- bc the girl next to me was a kind stranger she actually saved me from the complete INCOMPETENCE of nurse Teri... apparently I was supposed to get an anti-inflammatory - Touradol - after the surgery - soon post recovery... she never checked to see if I was given it in my extended stay in recovery - and I wasn't... so I had to ASK her to check and then give me it. Teri also liked to 'play' w the drs - making fake calls, etc. She also commented on multiple occassions that she was mixing up our charts and writing the others' stats on them... so Teri should NOT be given the cattle car room - or frankly ANY patient...
In fact she tried to briefly stop my IV so I could change into my own clothes and do bathroom things - and instead caused it to reverse and pull out my blood - and then she had to reconnect it and 'force' my blood back up into me along w the stuff in the IV - geebus... she also didn't tell me I had to pee in a plastic cowboy hat thing to monitor my 'output' until I'd pee'ed like 3 times already - after which she showed me my 'labelled' one - that clearly someone ELSE had pee'ed in... she finally 'made the time' to get me a 'fresh one' - ugg...
Fam left about 8ish and headed home (Dad stopped in briefly too) - at that point, I'd done a few walks around the halls (tethered to an IV and w a 4lb heart monitor thing 'draped' over my shoulder -- annoying...) and could sit - I'd negotiated w my neighbor to turn our tvs toward the other since we could see each others better than the ones mounted above us...
Then like angels, the night nurses in their white coats came. Teri treated them like crap - so clearly she must have some sort of seniority... and as she collected my survey the next morning, I felt it imprudent to bitch about her there -- so I will find out from my dr's office how to appropriately report her in 2 weeks.
The night nurse was India. (Not to be confused w India the pre-op 6ft black manwoman at the Valero by our old hood.) India had an 'apprentice' too. India was AWESOME... she was super attentive. Also very methodical about taking our readings, giving us our meds, doing whatever we needed. She also made sure my GI xray was ordered and I'd go first thing in the AM. So basically she did her job. Compared to Teri, this made her my shero for the night! Did more walking 1am and 3am, peed in a plastic cowboy hat (which was less bizarre than it sounds - it sits under the seat to 'collect' pee - and got some Percocet. whoa.
Next Teri the Terrible comes back as I'm being wheeled away about 7am to my xray. Luckily the confirms that all is well, no leaks, right size, etc. That was actually pretty cool -- looked like one of those slo mo photos of a smoke puff as the barium went thru my stomach.
Headed back up, got to change and was on my way out! GOODBYE TERI! I kept leaking the numbing meds from my 'Q ball' - anesthesia filled ball that actually they gave me in a fanny pack to take home and was connected internally to deliver med under skin (more to come.) Teri's final feats were to redo my bandage to try to stop the leaking - unsuccesfully of course. And to listen to my 'bowels' - which are supposed to make noises I guess to ensure you're ok - they did this after my back surgery too - and Teri flippantly comments that she doesn't really hear anything... but apparently no biggie = she'll still discharge me. Luckily India had listened about 6am before she left and said they sounded good - so I wasn't worried...
I got home and slept all day basically. The pain is far less than my diskectomy - the incisions are unpleasant but not bad. They're pretty sore -- first few days felt like someone took me out back and beat me w a bat on my abs... the incisions are a little bruised... I was able to shower on Saturday - woohoo!
Now -- and this will have to be supplemented w a photo -- the 'Q ball' or pic line... basically it's a ball of medicine (liquid) connected to tubing that is actually in your stomach (just under the skin - not really internal - sorta like a splinter goes in) and delivers it under the skin.
On Saturday that got to come out -- which was an ordeal bc unbeknownst to us the tube inside was down like 10inches... so my Mom just kept pulling and pulling and finally it came out -- I didn't really feel it but it was pretty creepy to look at...
Apparently afterward my Mom went downstairs and ordered a liquid lunch from Rob - wine of course...
So now I'm just catching up on some Tivo - and finally my blog!! I'm supposed to login for work tomorrow (this so I could avoid the MIP situation - which I have had issues w in past) - I'm not looking fwd to that but it should only be for the rest of this week and then maybe a day or 2 next - actually I can start vacation Monday and be out through Jan 5th.
My followup appt is 12/17.
Next I will update on the liquid diet and what's going on! Stay tuned - I will try to do this in the next day or so!
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