Once again, my visit to the hospital has shown me humanity at its best. Doctors may spend thirty seconds with you (if you’re lucky), but the real heroes are the nurses. I am constantly amazed at how these people deal with the toughest situations with real grace. When you’re at your filthy lowest, they are there to pick you up. Sure, there are one or two who seem to just be punching the clock, but for the most part, its a job that one just has to love.

I can’t complain about anything with my job when I see what these people deal with day in and day out. God bless ’em.

Today was the first day I really felt “back.” I gave it my best shot Friday, but towards evening my body felt like it was ravaged inside by a storm. I was resting in the recliner, doing some reading, when I felt my neck become extremely stiff. Within a span of ten minutes, I went from feeling comfortable in a t-shirt and shorts to wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Chills broke out and I cowered under the sheets, shivering. I tossed and turned all night, my pulse racing in my ears.

My body apparently has a way of reacting to infection, or stress, or something unknown, by breaking out in a full-body rash. It doesn’t itch, but it can knock me over from the temperature changes it creates. Right now my skin looks like I’ve got sunburn. None of my doctors have been able to figure out what causes it. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen often.

Today was a better day, in spite of my lack of sleep. Hallie was still not feeling well herself, so she presented a challenge to us. She could not understand why she would be refused when she said “pick up Hallie” in front of her Daddy. I’ve been limited in what I can lift, which means not lifting Hallie. It breaks my heart to see her cry when I can’t pick her up; she is such a Daddy’s girl.

We went to the park for a bit around noon, but the sun was quite hot: above 80 degrees. Hallie’s still running a fever, so she quickly overheated, which didn’t help her mood any. We retreated to the cool of the house, where our attitudes improved. We napped some until Hallie’s sleep was interrupted by a coughing fit. I tried to coax Hallie into watching basketball with me but she was elusive. After a pre-dinner walk to the park, though, she seemed to be feeling better. In fact, we all were. I felt well enough to cook dinner for us: scrambled eggs and grits (anything beats Ensure).

I’m now feeling rested and full. Of the changes I’ve already felt, one is my ability to lie down without my throat getting irritated. I never realized what effect my stomach had on this until it was patched up. I can also lie on my stomach with no problem, too, which is something I avoided for the longest time and for the same reason. My stomach stays closed now, which is how it should be. Very cool.

Also, my sneezing is different. I sneezed twice today, which is about one-fifth of my typical daily quota! When I did, my sneezing felt solid. I don’t know if this is from the esophageal swelling or if it’s a permanent change. Just different.

I can also still belch, though I was told that this might not come easy. Again, this is not something I aspire to do, but nice to have the choice. 🙂

So I’m starting to feel somewhat normal again, and starting to notice the benefits of the surgery. The only pain I’ve felt today has been the pain of hunger, as a soft diet doesn’t take me too far. Still, that’s a welcome change for me, as I’ve been concerned for years that my lack of hunger pangs was a sign of my broken stomach.

One of my biggest challenges now is resisting the urge to get active right away. With the warm weather, I’ve been fighting the urge to get out and go biking. Just a few more days, I suppose.

Ensure is big sux.

It seems the most popular question I got asked at the hospital is “are you a medical student?” At least three people asked me that, which cracked me up to no end.

I think the reason I got asked that was the checks and balances that the hospital put into place. Whenever I met with someone new on the team, I was asked to describe the procedure I was being given. This is to ensure no mixups happen, so it’s a smart safeguard. Because I had put months of research into the procedure, I knew quite a bit about what was involved. Thus, whenever I was asked what was going to happen, I must have sounded like an expert.

It doesn’t hurt that I was wearing my “pediatrician glasses.” Kelly told me once that my glasses made me look like a pediatrician, especially when I wear a beard with them. All I was missing is a lab coat and I could have directed the staff like a pro!

I bribed a nurse here to use one of their laptop PCs to surf while I’m waiting for Kelly to pick me up. As expected, this Thinkpad seems to have all sorts of web bugs and other virus-type things (Gator, etc.) installed. The hardware itself is speedy, though: A Thinkpad R40 Model 2723-BSU with Mobile Pentium. Looks brand new.

The surgery went extremely well. Dr. Farrell has done hundreds of these, so he had no trouble at all with me. The procedure took two hours. Kelly and I got to the hospital right at 6AM and were directed to the Pre Ambulatory area for prep. I changed into a smashing hospital gown and answered many questions from the anesthesia team.

At 7:15, I said goodbye to Kelly and was rolled into the operating room. I was given a relaxing drug (no whiskey, alas) and looked around the room from my bed, trying to take in as much as possible. Even when you’re not doped up, its hard to get perspective when you’re lying flat on your back!

Soon the anesthesiologist started the anesthesia. Around that time, I said hello to Dr. Farrell, who faded quickly from memory. That’s the last thing I remember.

When I awoke, I was in the PACU and my throat was sore. A strange pressure was in my abdomen, but no sharp pain. I was getting a dose of morphine. That medicine and the anti-nausea medicine made me very sleepy. I dozed in and out.

Kelly was soon brought back and sat with me for a while. I discovered it was after 10AM. I chatted with her a bit before my droopy eyes got the better of me. Kelly was asked to return to the waiting room after another patient was moved in next to me (damn HIPPA regulations). Speaking of HIPPA, Kelly had poked her head out once from our curtained area and was instantly pounced on by a nurse, who escorted her back to my area. Medical folks take this stuff very seriously (though they seem a bit slack in letting patients access their computer systems. Heh).

The PACU was noisy as hell. Even with my sleep-inducing drugs, I had trouble falling asleep. There was, I assume, an elderly patient named “Mr. Minter” next to me, who was being nearly shouted-to by the nurse. I did manage to rest, though.

I waited almost two hours in the PACU for a hospital room to become available. Finally, I got wheeled into my room. I shared a room with a younger man named Dominick, who joined the Marines seven months ago. He developed a cyst in his knee which required surgery. Later, his injury became infected, requiring another surgery to heal it. Bone grafts were applied and reapplied. Sounds like fun, huh. He’s got a good attitude for having been through that kind of stuff, though I wonder how it will affect his life in the Marines.

He had a family friend named Bill visit him. Bill was a character, having been a Marine in Vietnam. He also had had multiple surgeries, and reinfections. At one point, he pulled up his shirt to show me his laparascopic scars. I liked him immediately.

Just heard that Kelly is almost here, so I gotta stop here. Plenty more to talk about, so expect another post soon.

One last thing: seems I have no pain whatsoever, even without drugs. One thing about me is that I heal very quickly. I’ve got a method for this which I’ll explain later.

I go under the knife tomorrow morning, right after sunrise. I admit I’m nervous, but the benefits far outweigh the risks.

One never grows if one doesn’t take risks. So I’m taking the leap. See you once I’m put back together.

It looks like we’ll be getting an early Christmas present this year.

I took Kelly and Hallie with me to Big Ed’s City Market this afternoon for lunch. I feasted on chicken and dumplings, butter beans, and broccoli. Dessert was some tasty banana pudding. The occasion was my upcoming inability to eat solid foods for a while.

Now what I really need is a good nap, but I’m still working and have a two hour training session beginning now. Yawn!