DIEP 2013

Thanks everyone for the prayers and good wishes.  The home care nurse got to my cousin's just before my Mom and they waited for the paramedics together.  The first responders were actually the firefighters and the were able to get her up, assess pain and they don't think she broke anything.  She had plans to go out tonight, so she's off.  She was diagnosed 2.5 years ago and originally given 6 months.  She is as stubborn as they come and knows it, and that is likely what is keeping her going.  She knows it's time to move to hospice soon, but its a case of balancing her wishes to remain independent with ensuring she's safe.  On the good news front, my Dad had a good report from his back surgeon.

Nihahi - I think you should take a picture of yourself with the notice claiming your existence has terminated and today's newspaper with the date prominently featured - like they do to prove a kidnapped person is alive.   Might give someone on the receiving end a laugh and get them to deal with it.  Good luck in coming back from the other side in their books.

Curley. Glad to see you made it through.  Sorry to hear you and Ocean had trouble with the pain pump.  

Goodnight all,

Ridley

ok. Trying to sleep in my bed for the first time since surgery. Is it ok to sleep on my side ? Or do I need to be flat on my back? It's been 4 weeks today since surgery. 

Bailey....IF I'M REINCARNATED?????? omg....it's begun.....I'm now an "if" 

Well, Nihani...it's seems the news of your premature IRS death has brought out the best in everybody's sense of humor!!!!!  LOL.

Christina, we had one of those toilet seats many years ago, and the plastic cracked and would pinch us all the time.  I was really young, and it was our first apartment, and we were so broke, and I hate to admit it, but we taped it....omg!!!!!! Now, I would love one of those "smart toilets."  Warm seat, self flushing, water saving, etc.

RHG, good luck getting back in bed.  I hope you sleep well.

Jeannie, I thought my DH was the King of Puns, but you've got him beat.  Love it!

Debdylan if Nihahi says God loves you then He does. She knows....they are neighbors.

(And seriously, of course God loves you, honey).

I have 30 minutes before I get cut off from food....what should I eat???

And I am lying in bed on my tummy knowing it's probably going to be a bit before I can do this again....not as long as last time, I imagine, but still....

Bailey, your OR time is 2:00 P.M. and they're telling you no food or fluids after midnight, right?  Phhhtttt.  When are these hospitals going to catch up with current practice?  In your pockets BIG TIME tomorrow!

Curly, welcome to the other side of the speed bump!  Glad you're doing better with the PONV.  

Goldie, if I could wish for the perfect terlit seat, it would come with a little warm sprayer to make everything "down there" all sparkling clean, as well as give the post-chemo hemorrhoids a frequent bath throughout the day.  TMI, I know.

I woke up this morning with bloody drainage all over the sheets, with no real "hole" on which to blame it.  It's a real mystery.  All the incisions look pretty clean and dry, no signs of infection or cellulitis, so maybe something just popped loose during the night and made a puddle.  Tomorrow morning is my last hyperbaric treatment, and I'm going to miss them!  The people there are so fun and friendly, and I love the atmosphere of being at depth.  The air is thick and warm, and it's just...cozy.

Sleep well, sisters, whether you're coming or going, freshly surgerized or almost at the finish line.  

Actually my OR time is 12:30  and they said no food after midnight. Then clear liquids (which includes coffee...just no cream until 8 am. Then npo til surgery.I'm good with that. Ativan kicking in.....

Nihahi, just in passing, are you writing from heaven? Sounds heavenly, my death-star! I love you to death! I will get my sense of humor back or die trying! I guess your situation is just a casualty of being a citizen. See you in the mourning. Good grief, time to put an end to this. I shall exit and go to sleep. I'm sorry if this is too morbid....seriously, there is something wrong with me!

okay....too funny tonight, guys....I just pee'd myself laughing.(Sbe .....send the Depends to me.......).  

XO

Sbe....no screwing around with the drainage......scary !  

GOOD MORNING FLAP SISTERS! (A special good mourning to Nihahi).

Nihahi has been taxed to death.

Oh.....my....humor is needed armor, friends. 

I need to go drink my coffee! Will check in with y'all later on.

I keep thinking of Marty who went to her dh's surgery the day after her stage II.....all I have to do is come home (possibly in a treacherous snow storm but that's not new). I can do this!

RHGSR, I needed pharmaceutical help to sleep for several weeks after my DIEP.  It was impossible for me to sleep on my back without it, and impossible to sleep on either side due to the fresh noobs.  I slept on my back with many, many pillows strategically piled to make it at least comfortable.  If the recliner is a good choice for you, feel free to sleep there as long as you need to.

Bailey, as I'm sitting here with my black coffee, you're in my thoughts and prayers, dear friend.  You CAN do this--all the doing is in showing up, and then trusting yourself to the loving care of Wilbur!  See you on the other side!

Nihahi, I have no puns at this early hour, but I will share what I've read in actual paramedic documentations:

"The patient was dead as a rock."

"He was DRT."  (Dead right there.)

"The patient was unable to sign the chart due to the fact that he was dead."

"The patient was ART."  (Assuming room temperature.)

"The patient was dead and remained in that condition throughout his transport to the hospital."

I collect these things.  Someday I'll write a book.

Happy Thursday, gloobsters!

bailey.....thinking of you, sista.....YOU CAN DO THIS.....!!!!!! This time tomorrow today will be a thing of the past. Hope the weather doesn't add to your stress. Anyone in your neighborhood have a ski do???? ooohhhhh Santa's sleigh!!!! Why not!!!!! You'd be the best present anyone ever gave your family!

RHG.....hang in there.....in life, you can chose to laugh or cry....releases the same kind of tension, eh! You're still "newly" packaged....sleep where you are most comfortable would be my advice. 

I'm actually really happy my "demise" can bring a few warped chuckles, or truth be told, outright howls of laughter.....why the heck not, eh! We share so much pain and fears and tears, nothing wrong with remembering life really does still have some hilarious craziness too! 

I'm betting this is the only thread on bco that has a laugh track about someone's "passing"!!!!.

sbe....hope you didn't spring any leaks last night??? LOVED the glossary of death.....geez....hope I don't ART today....it's a windchill of -33 here today, but, the snow has stopped. Time to start waiting on the phone to talk to SOMEONE....HELLO....ANYBODY.....CAN ANYONE HEAR ME...HELLLLLOOOO????????????

nihahi, Life Is Worth Fighting for...

bailey....things are ramping up for you at this time.....hugs lady....safe surgery.....gentle healing!!!!!

hahaha....thanks tammy....YES IT IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR, good thought to keep in mind, eh! 

Lucy....I want you to know....I only had 1 cup of coffee this morning...not that it should make any difference to the departed, but...ya know....I promised you I would join you.....no, wait, really, I'll come to you....you don't wanna come over here!!! Go back go back!!!!!

Progress report from the "other side".....I got through to the SSA office in Great Falls and spoke to a lovely lady, who didn't seem to require much proof that I am actually "non" departed. I was going to offer to hold the phone up to my chest so she could hear my heartbeat....but thought better of  it....

soooo......the good news is.....Social Security has no idea that I passed away, and still lists me as alive! Hurray.....but, wait......apparently, there is no protocol to "make a correction to information that isn't incorrect".......can you hear my pause on the phone line.....soooo...I said.....I do agree, that I am still alive, but the IRS believes that you told them I'm not............hmmmm, she said.....I'm going to have to talk to other people to see what to do.........sigh.......so....apparently, I have no permanent status in either realm, quite yet. Oh well.....I've got a date to have tea with buddha soon, lunch with Queen Victoria, might crash the party and have supper with Elvis...such interesting characters here, really..

Haha, Lucy! I laughed out loud.