One week later, I'm back!

Thanks to my husband, David, for taking over for me while I was recovering in the hospital. It was one week ago I had my surgery.

First of all, I am touched and honored by all of the visits, flowers, gifts, cards, calls, emails and well wishes! I am truly lucky to have such friendships and support! Thank you! Many of the care givers commented that they liked coming into my room because it smelled like flowers. (We don't want to think of what hospital rooms normally smell like!)

Every day I received encouragement from the staff with how well I was doing. I moved quickly from sitting to walking, from no liquids, to clear liquids to food. By the morning I was slated to be discharged, I was practically skipping around the halls, my medical tethers were disappearing one by one and I got to take a shower and wash my hair!  It is the simple things in life.

They removed the epidural and started me on oral pain relief. Then came removal of the JP drain. OH. MY. GOD! I can't remember when I've felt such pain! The hunky, young doctor from Texas told me it would hurt (sadist) and he was right! I felt like one of Jack the Ripper's victims!

It was ten-steps backwards after that, but I managed to still get released.

Since then, getting the pain under control has been iffy, until today. Here is what I am taking:

• Acetaminophen - 2 caplets (1000mg) every 6 hours up to 6 caplets a day.

• Ibuprofen - One tablet (800mg) every 8 hours.

• Hydromorphone (generic Dilaudid) - 1 or 2 tablets as needed.

 I've learned to set up a schedule for each medication and keep taking the hydromorphone regularly. Sleep has been difficult since I need to sleep mostly on my back. But I am working on being able to sleep slightly on my side.

The day before I got on the treadmill twice, yesterday I slept most of the time. Today I read most of the time. I finished The Nanny Diaries while in the hospital and Where'd You Go Burnadette yesterday. Both were fun, easy reads. Now I'm reading Andre Agassi's biography, Open.

Yesterday I also got a home visit by a nurse as part of my care. We went over emptying and replacing my Ileostomy bag. It's not pleasant, I don't like it, but I can handle it – so far.

Oh, and for good measure, I get to inject myself each night with a shot of Enoxaparin Sodium - a blood thinner - in my stomach area.

Thanks again for all of your support, friendship, positive thoughts and prayers!