On the Road to Recovery

I'm completely tired of the liquid diet. I don't think I can stomach any more broth or jello. I had my follow-up appointment yesterday. I was stoned when I went in cause it's really the only way I can even swallow saliva. The pain meds made me pretty nauseous so they prescribed suppositories, cause ya know my butt doesn't have enough issues. Also, being on a liquid diet means my guts are pretty much just grumbley all the time.

The nurse suggested that I return to the hospital for one more overnight stay so they can pump me full of fluids. I know that getting fluids is important and I've been trying to drink enough water, monitoring when I pee and what color it is, really fascinating stuff. The doctor, however, said we'd give it till Sunday and if I still wasn't feeling like eating or getting enough water etc, I am to call his office. I have another appointment with him on Monday morning. He really seemed to think that I would make a significant turn for the better in the next couple of days. He did say that I was healing very nicely.

So now I'm pushing myself a little harder. I'm eating slightly more solid foods, which is good. It's still pretty painful to swallow, even with the pain meds. I get tired from eating and having to swallow, but I'm getting real foods in me now, which is so much nicer. Dave had been avoiding cooking while I was awake. We've been making cookies all week and it's been so hard not being able to eat any or even taste the dough, but I've been real good.

I'm not allowed any dairy for one more week. I guess they want you to avoid dairy cause maybe it coats? I have no idea. I do have a gallon of lactose free ice cream in my freezer, just waiting. Popsicles are good, but they melt faster than I can eat them and it's pretty hard getting the last of them cause I can't put the stick in my mouth. This has led to some pretty creative ways to eat various foods.

Shhhh, don't tell my doctor but last night I ate a cookie. I chewed and chewed and chewed until it wasn't crispy or crunchy anymore and it was sooooo good. Then I ate some rice chex, again with the chewing. Damn it felt good and definitely raised my spirits. I probably will be much better in the next couple of days. Still, I got a refill on my pain meds cause I had pretty much gone through the whole bottle and I didn't want to be left with nothing and end up in pain again.

Sorry this ended up being a bit longer than I anticipated and I hope I didn't gross anyone out. But that's where I am right now with all this.

Hospital Picture

pic of me in hosp bed...not too pathtic, i hope. slightly pathetic, warning

You can see my neck is a little swollen and I look fairly out of it, thanks to the roxicet. Also, you'll notice my orange ear plugs if you look closely.

Update and Stuff

Well, it's December...I wasn't ready for 2008 to begin let alone be ending.

On Friday I had a CT Scan of my sinuses to rule out them being an issue with my chronic strep throat. The CT was ordered by the Dr I saw for a second opinion on the whole tonsils thing. The first Dr said it was my decision, but then didn't give me enough information to really be able to make a decision. My pcp wanted a second opinion and so I was off on this quest.

The scan was on Friday and that afternoon the ENT Dr's office called me with the results. Too bad I was ignoring my phone that day. I just called them back and scheduled a tonsillectomy for this Friday. It's his only day at a hospital my insurance will allow me to have surgery at until the end of January. I really need to do this a) in 2008 because I've met my deductible (how sad...) and 2) not during classes.

I get to stay overnight (23 hours observation). I've never done that before. I'm not entirely sure I will like it. Is it cold? Can I bring my nice comfy warm blanket? Actually, what should I bring, aside from things to do...? My friends say, "yes warm blanket, yes warm socks, books/magazine/Nintendo DS."

I'm nervous, but really this is the only time I can do this, until next December and I'd rather not have another year of getting strep 4-6 times.