Kendra, I can't believe you are only 4 days out of surgery! You look great, but geeez! Take it easy!

Jayne

Quote from: Sarah_P on January 22, 2018, 10:17:52 PM
I can't believe you're up and about outside already! Don't push yourself!

I gotta stay in shape so I can outrun Laurie's truck.  Or a lorry as those vehicles are called in more civlised places - Laurie's Lorry.

Quote from: Kendra on January 23, 2018, 10:06:47 AM
I gotta stay in shape so I can outrun Laurie's truck.  Or a lorry as those vehicles are called in more civlised places - Laurie's Lorry.

  Yeah you better get back in shape Girl. That lorrie of Laurie's is in the shop getting fixed up for the race. We'll see if you can stay ahead of it.

Hugs,
   Laurie

Hey!  No chasing my girlfriend with a lorry!  I don't care who's driving it!   

  But but but She suggested it. I'm innocent.

Uhuh    grinning

Armed with my handy portable post-op seat cushion, spotted a cheap rental bike on a beautiful day in Arizona, and...  noooo, everyone said that would be a really bad idea five days after surgery.  Don't worry, I didn't. 

Cassie and I are leaving town before Laurie's Lorry gets here.  On the way back to Tampa. [emoji52]

We had a nice meal at The Breakfast Club on the other side of Old Town Scottsdale.  I thought the small metal cup of ketchup at each plate was for my oatmeal but Steph stopped me in time, said that had something to do with Laurie. 

The food was good but the main point was being able to spend more time with three incredible women - Tia Anne (Colorado), Cassie (Florida), and Stephanie (Florida) before they headed back to the airport.  We had a relaxing walk comparing our journeys through transition, challenges we have each faced and others have faced, good days and bad.  Some moments in life are so precious.


They are in the air right now on the way back to their homes. 
I will always remember my time in Scottsdale - and not quite the way I imagined. 

Hi Kendra...great to see you looking so well....I can only hope that I am looking as well as you 5 days post op...I think you are very brave to be even contemplating a bike...OUCH!!

You do need to get fit although at Laurie's tender age she won't be too difficult to out run, you better give her a head start to give her a sporting chance  I suggest you distract her first, let me know if you need a list of buttons to push  I am sure I can think of a few.

Lovely to see you ladies enjoying each other company and some good food.

Hope your recovery continues at the pace it is, which is so great!!

Take Care

Liz

Okay I give up. What was in the cups? And what does it have to do with me?

I must say that is a nice bunch of gals there at the table.

Hugs,
  Laurie

Quote from: Laurie on January 23, 2018, 10:32:59 PM
Okay I give up. What was in the cups? And what does it have to do with me?

Just for you, Laurie, I had the waitress bring us all something special to put on our breakfasts:

Ketchup!

[emoji16]

Stephanie

Kendra, I at first thought that our visit to Scottsdale was about supporting and encouraging you but I had that all wrong. This has been one of the most amazing and emotionally awesome three days I can remember (ok, I have done a lot of things that have limited my memory a bit). Spending time with three such amazing women was a rare gem in life. Thank you for being open to sharing a small part of your journey with us.

Laurie, why the red stuff was ketchup. We were told that you consider it to be an essential part of every breakfast.

Tia Anne

Nooooooooooo!!  Salsa I can see  Ketchup no. Ketchup has it's uses and it's place but I can't think of a single use for it during breakfast. ewwww

Quote from: Laurie on January 23, 2018, 10:44:45 PM
Nooooooooooo!!  Salsa I can see  Ketchup no. Ketchup has it's uses and it's place but I can't think of a single use for it during breakfast. ewwww

The rest of us rode an emotional roller coaster this weekend, so I thought I'd give you a reason to get emotional, too.

You're welcome.

Stephanieheeheehee!

Day 6 post-op.  Today is anticipated to be quite great but potentially rough as surgical packing is removed and dilation begins.  I'm thinking of this as a mid-point in my stay at the hospital - not in days but for beginning an important stage. 

Dr. Ley and several nurses have commented my swelling is going down faster than average.  I don't think that has anything to do with luck - I have been careful to keep a fresh ice pack on the main surgery area most of the time I'm in this room.  If I wake up in the middle of the night I immediately replace the ice pack (nurses are quick to bring it if you're not up and about).  Sometimes it isn't pleasant as I have figured out ice is cold, but I keep hearing this is essential to initial recovery.

Dr. Ley stopped by yesterday and said they will offer pain meds prior to packing removal.  Although I try to minimize the use of pain meds I've learned to take just enough to bring pain down to a tolerable level.  Even with pain meds there are moments when I gasp but I don't add more - and then the pain goes away.  I have seen others get by on ibuprofen a couple days after GCS but I haven't been able to do that.  I can tell when the meds wear off as the somewhat random pain changes from yeah it's there to spikes of holy smoke.  I told Dr. Ley about the long walks and she said that's fine and has some benefits - they encourage walking at this stage but do not over-do it.  I feel comfortable with the amount I have walked and it's wise to bring someone along in case help is needed for the first few walks outside.  I want to remind everyone: we each have different health backgrounds and other characteristics and we each need to set our own pace, just like with transition itself.  The right answer needs to fit you.  I'm a runner, and this week I've been using all available upper body strength for things that appear simple like sitting down in a chair.  I wish for everyone considering this: please get in the best possible health before this surgery.

After packing is removed later this morning they will show me how to dilate and I need to do that five times today, and assume each time will initially take about an hour.  I'll be dilating 4 times per day tomorrow through the end of February and then the frequency can drop.

Hi all

Kendra has asked us to do an update for her.  She is sleeping, but plans to post tomorrow

The packing and stitches were removed, and she has been shown how to dilate.  Surgery results are optimal.

Kendra, I'm so happy to hear your surgery has gone so well. Whatever it is you are doing, it's a winning formula. It's really working for you so stick to it.

Jayne

YAY!!! That's great news!

And I agree with Laurie, ketchup is NOT a breakfast food.

Quote from: Sarah_P on January 24, 2018, 09:30:22 PM
YAY!!! That's great news!

And I agree with Laurie, ketchup is NOT a breakfast food.

Now Sarah, don't gang up on me. It's not just for breakfast anymore. Ok, I'll go back to calling it a savory tomato-based relish-condiment. [emoji849]


- Stephanie