Medical Update 1
Journal of Recovery
Here is my daily journal of recent recovery and medical information on my recovery; WEEK 1. Photos and images are linked without a thumbnail since they are so graphic. They are not for the weak stomach.Tuesday (Halloween) October 31, 2006 at home and trying to call family and friends. Missed the Halloween party in Texas, had so many plans there but, priorities <smile>. Called Dr. Passaro's office (Endocrinologist) to see about the testing kit. There was no prescription for them... played phone tag with a nurse all day. Steph took the bandage off so I could take my first shower since the surgery. Although I felt her remove the gauze, it was not really painful but more very strange. My first look at it to see what size it was... very scary seeing my open muscles and the cut skin. Took first photo (large / small) of the wound. Steph and I fixed some dinner, I backed some pork chops and she made steamed broccoli and cauliflower with just a little Velveeta cheese plus we had a salad. Dinner was good. Bonnie arrived and showed Steph how to dress the wound. Both have been great in helping me. Andrea offered to come by Wednesday to change it but Steph felt confident she could on her own. As Bonnie was leaving she said she had something for me.... a box of Girl Scout Brownies... LOW CARB and sugar free... I love this woman! She is so good to me. I Slept really good even with the discomfort.
Wednesday November 1, 2006 9:30 AM Steph wakes me up worried since I never sleep this late... some of it is the meds, make you drowsy, etc... The day went well, reading on information on diabetes, healing of wounds, etc... Finally got in touch with someone at Dr. Passaro's office who said to come in the next morning and they would give me a monitor and the prescriptions for the lancets and test strips. Prescription costs already were $400 plus the cost of bandage/tape/gauze.
Thursday November 2, 2006 Breakfast, still trying to read the carb/serving and keep up with what I'm supposed to take in. Counting what I ate at the hospital would have been way over what they say I should have... hmmmm... a work in progress. 11:00 AM on my to Dr. Passaro's office, got monitor, did test.. 97. The monitor kit had a few test strips (10) so I didn't get the prescription that day. Tested right before dinner and it was 86. Steph cooked some baked chicken, I made a salad and we had asparagus and roasted potatoes. She had also bought me a box of very low carb ice cream sandwiches... YUM! She took off dressing, I got in the shower and "oh my!!!"... the water hit the open area and severe sting and burn.. brought tears to my eyes. Now this is not hot water, barely warm (cold for what I normally like). I grit my teeth and let the water irrigate it well. When I got out of the shower I was shivering from the stinging and the cold feeling. Steph put the new dressing on and the burn/sting went away.. in fact.. it felt really good, well except for where she cut me with the scissors
Friday November 3, 2006 Decided to try to work, went to Terry's office to do some work and spent about 4 1/2 working. Went online and checked the carb count for Chipotle's menu... except for the rice and beans, all are low for what I need. So I just have to watched the amount of rice and beans.. looking better. Before I left to get the food, I checked my glucose count... error... again... error.. again.. error... it took 7 times before I got a reading (sample test strips must have been bad or I didn't get all the soap off my hands when washing). Score was low (depending on which doctor you ask)... 72. From what I understand 80-140 is normal and best..
Saturday November 4, 2006 Woke up feeling pretty good in general, caught up on some email and writing this medical progress. Washed some clothes and organized a little in my office area then watched a little football. Read more literature on diabetes and found some great sounding recipes... have I mentioned I love food?!!! Steph had a friend over for dinner and cooked for us... Eye of Round Roast, baked potato (I had 1/4), sautéed green beans and Asparagus... very yummy! Blood sugar/glucose is a strange thing... my near vision has been acting up since I got home plus I sometimes feel slightly dizzy... one of the meds warn of this but today, I checked my level just 3 hours after breakfast... now it was 144 first thing this morning (the fasting number...see, I'm learning these terms) which I understand is a little high. Breakfast at 8:15 AM at 11:00 AM my level was 65. I had a serving of carbs to raise it back a little... later lunch, left over chicken and rice. I guess I over estimated the serving size of the rice because at 6:15 PM, my level was at 190. I need to read more on the carb counting and exchange lists or the meds for blood levels are acting really funky. It's a month before I even see the endocrinologist again.. I may have to try and set up a work in appointment sooner but want to give it some time to settle down.
Sunday November 5, 2006 Was able to get some things done today, laundry and ironing to try to this coming week. Sugar levels still up and down.. fasting number this morning was 109 at 9:00 (I slept in), had breakfast (instant banana fruit oatmeal-2 servings about 50g carbs) and thought I might be a little high for my lunch test but started feeling hot and dizzy... tested an hour before lunch and was at 60. I am thinking maybe my insulin shot should be in the afternoon and not morning. Did my next test after dinner (2 hours) and was at 133. It's about time to change the dressing and take the shower... last night the sting and burn in the shower was hard but didn't last as long. I am hoping it will be less tonight. No pain meds but over all, I don't need any (yet) and don't like the idea of having to take them in the first place.
