Medical Update 2
Journal of Recovery
Here is my daily journal of recent recovery and medical information on my recovery; WEEK 2. Photos and images are linked without a thumbnail since they are so graphic. They are not for the weak stomach.
Monday November 6, 2006 Boy did I sleep well last night... I even slept on my left side a little. The wound seems to be healing ok, although the gauze is a little sticky when being taken off... not a severe pain, but unpleasant. The burn in the shower last night didn't last as long, but was still pretty breath taking at first. I go to the doctor in the morning (surgeon) for my first follow up. My glucose levels have been strange... sometimes even low. I never really had a good meeting with the endocrinologist so I called again today. Talked with the nurse and later Dr. Passoro called and we talked a few. She said it sounded like I was doing most everything ok for now and to reduce the amount of insulin. She said she would work me in Thursday so we could be sure I'm on track. Breakfast... sausage, biscuit and 2 eggs plus an ice cream sandwich (needed the extra carb count
Tuesday November 7, 2006 9:45AM appointment with Dr. Woodward. "Looks great.. it's healing better than I expected". Skin graft is now an option and not a necessity as first thought. Have time to think of it, work out the finances for paying for it if done, etc... will see the Dr. in 3 weeks. The wound did hurt a little when he removed the bandage this morning, and it started bleeding pretty bad.. something it had not done before but he said that's a good sign and to keep doing what we've been doing.
My blood sugar has averaged out finally... fasting number was 100, mid day 88, dinner 80. Blood pressure still a little high although morning number was a lot better (149/87). Afternoon was back up (172/95). I tried egg beaters for breakfast w/biscuit. bacon and grapefruit. Diet Chinese for lunch (sauce on the side with very little used) then for dinner, hamburger steak and onions, brussel sprouts, pearl onions and peas in a cream sauce and sugar free pudding. I also worked on a snack between meals.. that might also help the numbers stay instead of up and down... Time for the burn... Last night the burn was short lived and afterwards felt pretty good... maybe I don't have the water hot enough... The Doc said it should get better as it heals.
Wednesday November 8, 2006 Finally seem to be getting back close to my normal schedule. Finished one of the prescriptions that make you dizzy, have one more but it doesn't seem to effect me like the other. The task each morning is getting enough Carbs for breakfast. This morning another serving of egg beaters, 2 sausage biscuits, a bowl of special k w/milk. Should be about 50g if carbs. Felt a little woozy a few hours later at work so I had 15 g of a snack and a small tootsie roll. My fasting number was 97, at lunch I was at 76 (this after the snack and tootsie roll). I had a lunch appointment and thought it would be a good test for Mexican Food. Homemade chips and salsa at a place called azúcar (I think that means sugar in spanish which should have been a sign). I had beef enchilada and taco, one bite of beans and rice. I decided to check myself 2 hours after the meal.. 190... must have been the chips and taco shell but it sure was good. Arrived home at 7:00 PM, tested again and was 105. Gave myself the insulin and had some leftovers from the night before plus a 6 g popcycle. I see the Diabetic Doc in the AM.
The wound was a little sensitive today for some reason although not unbearable. Removed the bandage, was a little touchy today and was sticking a little. Shower didn't burn much and water felt great. I turned it a little hotter and it was wonderful... although I had a little bleeding when I got out of the shower... nothing major.
Thursday November 9, 2006 Weather was wonderful, in the 60s. Went to the endocrinologist for my first real appointment and to go over the basics plus changes needed since I started testing last week. My fasting numbers, with the exception of this morning (106), have all been at or under 100. My goal is under 110 but if I keep it under 120 for the next week, no more insulin shots (this is the fasting number...my other times of the day testing goal is under 150). I have now been reduced to only 10 (originally 30, then after a phone call with her a few days ago down to 20 and now 10). She changed the dosage of Glipizide from once a day to twice a day and changed the 10mg Lisinopril to a combination of 20/12.5mg Lisinopril/Hctz. This will also help with the blood pressure as well as the glucose. Metformin stays the same. Added children's aspirin daily. For the most part, my current diet of around 45g carbs per meal, 3x a day and a 15g snack between stays the same. Although I have not had any liquid calories, I am on a no liquid calorie diet as well. I will have another A1c test done and see her in 3 months, call her if there are any other changes with the levels. I also set up an appointment with the ophthalmologist but she did tell me the blurred reading should clear up in a few weeks or so.
As for the wound, I can feel it tingle a little today. Some of the soreness from the surrounding areas feel like they may be subsiding, although there are 2 spots that I can definitely still feel soreness when pressed on. I will probably do photos once or twice a week and not every other day since the changes are not as defined now. Time to change, shower and relax! Morning starts a new exercise routine.
Friday November 10, 2006 Uneventful day over all, fasting number was 97 had a nice breakfast of 2 sausage biscuits (23g), Special K low carb w/mild (26g) and egg beaters. This was around 7:30 AM. Had 15g snack bar at 10:00 AM and at 12:15 I felt funky. My level was 55. Had a Taco Salad (50g), another snack bar at 2:45 PM (16g). By the time I got home around 4:30PM, I was starving again. My level was at 137 (maybe the nutritional info on the salad was incorrect, not sure). Had leftover steak, very small serving of corn and beans (apx. 40g) 1/4 cup of cottage cheese (5g) and a sugar free popsicle (3g). I'm still hungry! The insulin shot usually doesn't hurt but it's sure hard to watch the needle and make the wrist move to give it <LOL>
The dressing came off nicely tonight, barely felt it and no bleeding. Shower was nice, the sting is almost gone and the wound looks really, really red (see new photo). I am anxious for December to get here to see my friends in Texas.!
Saturday November 11, 2006 Had some work to do in the morning for an 11:00 AM showing. Had breakfast and took a snack bar with for the meeting. Went to Boston Market for lunch but the manager couldn't find a nutritional fact sheet, went to subway instead (eat fresh!). Visited with my old housemate Miss Bonnie and the cats (one of them was my best friend and he is still so pissed I'm not there... will love me a few minutes then act play that get close but don't touch me thing... he's a killer cat (here is a photo I took a few months back-animals can sure make you feel better!). I went home, Steph was doing a practice run for her Thanksgiving dinner...Turkey, dressing w/sausage, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, broccoli/cauliflower mix... Yum! I had to watch my servings and guess on the total carbs.... Will see how my fasting numbers are Sunday AM. My numbers today were 103 (fasting), 64 at lunch, 96 at dinner. Blood pressure still a little high but I know it's going to get back to normal.. was 150/90.
The doctor told me to get a flu and pneumonia shot. Now, I have never had the flu, only an occasional cold (usually the summer cold or allergies) and have never had a flu or pneumonia shot. My first was Saturday. The flu shot didn't hurt at all, the pneumonia shot had a sting to it so I asked if it was the same size syringe... she said it was... go figure. The insulin shot usually doesn't hurt, but after the shot this time, it stung a little in the area where I gave it to myself.... only 3 or 4 more days and I should be off of it anyway!
Took the bandage off, was a little easier than usual... Maybe I'm getting more used to it or it's healing so that the little discomfort is subsiding. The shower was almost no sting this time and the water is feeling really good on it although there is still some soreness on the ledge edges outside the wound. Putting the dressing back on is usually painless but after the bandage was put on this time, it felt a little sore... Having problems sitting and resting on it without light pain... have mostly stopped the ibuprofen.
Sunday November 12, 2006 I felt a little sluggish today, arms sore from the shots I guess. Not really sick feeling, just very tired like. For some reason, I had the hardest time making my wrist move to give myself the insulin... doesn't hurt but just looking at it and getting focused... only a few more days and I should be off of it anyway. My numbers are well within the range the doctor wants (<120 fasting and <150 other times) and my blood pressure showed signs of going down today. Fasting number was 100, lunch was 71, dinner was 127. Cheerio's and a banana for breakfast, red pear and 3g yogurt for snack, left over turkey and things for lunch, a 16g snack bar then a baked (sm) sweet potato, turnips, cottage cheese and a fudge bar (9g) for dinner. My blood pressure this morning was 128/86 and tonight was 146/88.
The wound felt a little sore today, after taking the shower, I checked a few areas and the soreness is in the area outside the wound. I'm thinking it's just from the trauma of the surgery (clamps, pressures, etc...) but will talk with the doc about it this week. I am also thinking I will only take the photos and update this every few days since things are tapering off. I have to go to the financial aid services this week and get that started (no insurance) so that will be my next big worry but I'll make it work.
