I'm in the hospital

[Riki]

I was told when I got back from dialysis today that the surgery will tentatively be done tomorrow.  I'm all for it.  A different surgeon, actually, the one I was speaking with all last week when we were going through all the diagnostics, has said that he will try to fit me into his schedule.  He doesn't seem as apprehensive about the fact that I'm a dialysis patient when numerous previous surgeries including 2 transplants as the surgeon that I spoke to on Saturday, so I have a lot more confidence in him as well.

[billybags]

Riki, Hope the surgery went OK and that you are feeling alright.

[raidym]

hope your recovering well sending all my love and 

[okarol]

  Hey Riki - thinking of you!

[MooseMom]

Riki, Hope the surgery went OK and that you are feeling alright.

Hear, hear!!

[Riki]

This is Riki's Mom. She asked me to tell you that she had her surgery and is recovering well. She will be back on line soon with all the details.

[MooseMom]

Thanks, Riki's Mom!  We have been concerned about her and appreciate the update.  We look forward to hearing from her soon!

[cariad]

Oh, Riki, it seems nothing about this has been easy for you. Well done, you and mom, in refusing to let them brush you aside. It pays to know how the system works and to not be timid about standing up for yourself. *applause*

So thrilled that you made it through the operation and, touch wood, that this will mean the end of this pain for you. Wishing you a speedy recovery! 

[Riki]

I am hoping that the incision pain that I have now will be the last of the pain for a good long while.  The older surgeon that was around last weekend really didn't want to do the surgery at all.  I think he, like many of the older doctors in the province, was afraid to do anything to me because I'm a dialysis patient.  My neph has been quite involved, just making sure that nothing done will hinder dialysis.  He even changed my pain medication, giving something not so strong that doesn't wash out as quickly.

I was in ICU after the surgery, but that was mostly because they have the plumbing for dialysis up there and the neph and the surgeon thought it would be better to not move me around too much directly after surgery.  So, my dialysis was done in ICU on Wednesday, and today I was back in my regular chair, even if I couldn't sand for a weight or standing BP

Something I have noticed, since the surgery on Tuesday, my BP has gone down considerably.  I'm wondering if maybe the irritated gallbladder was causing the BP issues, and now that it's gone, so are those issues.

All I really need to do now, in order to get home, is to get rid of the drain in my side, and to come off the injected pain meds.  I'm working on it, slowly, but working on it.

[billybags]

Riki, so pleased every thing went OK, you sound quit cheerful and yes I bet you can not wait to get home. Take things easy.

[Riki]

yeah, I would like to get home, but I know I'm not quite there yet.  I still need help getting from the chair to the bed, so climbing the stairs at home would be more of a challenge than I'm ready for. *G*

[okarol]

  Hope you heal well!

[MooseMom]

Riki, it sounds like you just might be on the mend!    Well done!

[Riki]

I certainly am hoping so.  It took a bit of throwing weight around to get it done, but you do what you gotta do.  There are times when I'm glad I have an aggressive mother

[galvo]

Pleased to hear of the improvement.

[cassandra]

Great to hear its done now, and wishing you a speedy recovery,

Lots of love Cas

[natnnnat]

Speedy recovery Riki.   

[Chris]

Just saw this Riki, sorry to hear of what is going on with you.

[Riki]

I got the drain out today, and they're really pushing to get me out of here.  Not that I wouldn't like to go home, my BP is a good bit lower than it was before, so I want to be sure that I'm not going to pass out on my mom once we're home.  I do need to practice walking around more if I want to get anywhere close to home.  I still have all the staples in, so I'm not sure what the deal would be with those.

[Chris]

Welll if your like me when I had staples, I got a couple dollies out and played them like a xylophone! 
 
And the way they take them out is just like using a staple remover in an office.
 
Hope you get to practice more of walking and do not pass out.

[Riki]

I've had staples in before.. *G*  I've just never been outside a hospital with the staples still in.  I never realized how much I use the muscles that they cut through either.. just standing up sometimes can be exhausting.. I wasn't this sore after transplant

[del]

Hope you recover quickly.     Give yourself lots of time to heal.

[Riki]

I'm definitely working on it, Del

[jeannea]

That cutting muscles thing really sucks. You don't realize which muscles you use til you can't. Keep on getting strong!

[Riki]

Some of the nurses are getting a little snippy with me, and don't like that I've been here so long.  I had to fight for stronger pain meds this afternoon.  They are used to people leaving for home 3 or 4 days after surgery, and I think they forget that it takes longer for me to bounce back and to heal because I'm a dialysis patient.  I want a PT person to help me try out some stairs, as I want to know how I will do on them before I even think of going home