I got an unexpected phone call this afternoon from a lady with The Maids cleaning service letting me know that someone had arranged to have our house professionally cleaned. Support and generosity has come from unexpected places during my recovery. A great friend from high school whom I've lost touch with over the years has reached out and into his wallet to extend well wishes my way. Eric Schlueter is the man behind the mop, or arranging for it. I was shocked and touched by Eric's generosity. His girlfriend, Melissa, is one lucky girl. Thank you Eric!
The generous gift from Eric was welcome news after the day I had yesterday. What was supposed to be the simple task of removing the bandage from my neck turned into a mental meltdown and a trip to the doctor's office. Let me preface this episode by saying that yesterday sucked majorly. I feel like I'm not only recovering from surgery, but also recovering from that truck that ran me over. Did anyone get the license plate? Honestly, yesterday was horrible. I felt like I had the flu all day. I was cold and hot and restless and more than anything just tired.
Anyway, I worked up the courage to take off the bandage and realized that it was stuck to the steri-strips covering my incision. I couldn't figure out how to peel off the bandage without taking the steri-strips with it. They are not supposed to come off so soon. I called Tom into the bathroom for mental support as I tried to figure out how to get the stupid bandage off. Mental support isn't Tom's thing and he immediately volunteered to start cutting with a pair of scissors he had stashed in the vanity. No thank you. I told Tom no and to just give me a minute. He left me even more panicked than before. I called him back in to look at it again and I freaked out again and wouldn't let him look at it. I blame the meds, but I was just plain crazy. I called the doctor and they told me to come in to see them. Needless to say, Tom was not too happy with me. He didn't say a word to me on the 25 minute drive from Catonsville to Glen Burnie. Looking back, I guess I can't blame him. He was in a lose-lose situation and no matter what he did or said I was panicked. Tom, I love you. Thank you for putting up with my madness.
I spent most of the morning with my cousin Amanda, who drove all the way from Hanover, PA to pay me a visit. We don't see one another as often as I like and I'm thankful for the time I got to spend with her today.
I'm feeling slightly better this afternoon. The Mack truck that ran me over yesterday has been replaced by a small SUV. I can't help but feel slightly defeated after this last surgery. My recovery is going to be longer and harder this time. Not only am I dealing with the soreness and pain from surgery, but also, my body is reacting to the fact that I've had a very important gland removed. I've lost my thyroid, now I'm just trying to avoid losing my mind.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Post-Op Update
I'm not ready for Tom to go back to work tomorrow. It's nice to have him here. I've enjoyed bossing him around. The last few days have been a big blur. I'm now two days removed from surgery and finally feel well enough to blog.
As most of you know, my surgery was Tuesday. I have to admit that I was anxious about going under the knife again. Who wouldn't be though, right? Surgery was scheduled for 1PM, but we didn't get rolling until after 2PM. More time to contemplate what was to come. Just what the doctor didn't order. I tried to put on my game face and be a good little patient. Speaking of faces, I made a name for myself when I was being wheeled down the hall to the OR. As my nurse pushed my bed down the hall, we passed my doctor and one of the hospital directors having a conversation. I did what any good patient would do. I put my thumbs in my ears and stuck my tongue out at them. The director was shocked and amused at the same time and commented that in all of her 30 years, she'd never had someone do such a thing on their way to the OR. My nurse cracked up laughing and may have even wet his scrubs. My doctor shouted down the hallway to start anesthesia, stat!
Surgery was a success, at least that's what my doctor told me. I'm not exactly sure I agree. This time around the doctors had to re-open my almost healed first incision. Once inside, the surgeons removed what was left of my thyroid and dug around the neighborhood to make sure none of the cancer cooties spread to my lymph nodes. This exploration for additional cancer cooties left me feeling like someone tried to cut my head off and not simply slit my throat. Unlike the first operation, I'm unable to get comfortable. I'm extremely stiff and bruised.
Sleep has been a challenge. Getting comfortable lying down is next to impossible. Sitting upright seems to be the only comfortable position but it makes getting sleep difficult. I've been nodding off sitting upright much like Tom does when I force him to watch Grey's Anatomy. Hahahah. As if being sleep deprived weren't enough, I feel nauseous and I'm pretty sure I have an infected tooth. Did I mention that my migraines have made an untimely return? Shoot me now. As bad as it seems, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a bright, radioactive one.
For now, I'm taking it one day at a time and I know that each day will bring less discomfort. I'm looking forward to feeling well again and getting back to work and preparing for the Holidays. It will be around that time that I take the next step in my recovery which is radioactive iodine treatment and quarantine, but that's a topic for another blog.
Thanks for all the well wishes and I'm now accepting visitors. Feel free to stop by and feel free to bring a mop and broom.
As most of you know, my surgery was Tuesday. I have to admit that I was anxious about going under the knife again. Who wouldn't be though, right? Surgery was scheduled for 1PM, but we didn't get rolling until after 2PM. More time to contemplate what was to come. Just what the doctor didn't order. I tried to put on my game face and be a good little patient. Speaking of faces, I made a name for myself when I was being wheeled down the hall to the OR. As my nurse pushed my bed down the hall, we passed my doctor and one of the hospital directors having a conversation. I did what any good patient would do. I put my thumbs in my ears and stuck my tongue out at them. The director was shocked and amused at the same time and commented that in all of her 30 years, she'd never had someone do such a thing on their way to the OR. My nurse cracked up laughing and may have even wet his scrubs. My doctor shouted down the hallway to start anesthesia, stat!
Surgery was a success, at least that's what my doctor told me. I'm not exactly sure I agree. This time around the doctors had to re-open my almost healed first incision. Once inside, the surgeons removed what was left of my thyroid and dug around the neighborhood to make sure none of the cancer cooties spread to my lymph nodes. This exploration for additional cancer cooties left me feeling like someone tried to cut my head off and not simply slit my throat. Unlike the first operation, I'm unable to get comfortable. I'm extremely stiff and bruised.
Sleep has been a challenge. Getting comfortable lying down is next to impossible. Sitting upright seems to be the only comfortable position but it makes getting sleep difficult. I've been nodding off sitting upright much like Tom does when I force him to watch Grey's Anatomy. Hahahah. As if being sleep deprived weren't enough, I feel nauseous and I'm pretty sure I have an infected tooth. Did I mention that my migraines have made an untimely return? Shoot me now. As bad as it seems, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a bright, radioactive one.
For now, I'm taking it one day at a time and I know that each day will bring less discomfort. I'm looking forward to feeling well again and getting back to work and preparing for the Holidays. It will be around that time that I take the next step in my recovery which is radioactive iodine treatment and quarantine, but that's a topic for another blog.
Thanks for all the well wishes and I'm now accepting visitors. Feel free to stop by and feel free to bring a mop and broom.
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