You know how it is. When someone has sliced you open and stitched you back together again, and you wake up hoping that the morphine shot is yet to come (it was), you can’t imagine a time when you won’t be in considerable pain.
I’m here to tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Up there, you will see a couple of the sheets of paper I was using to keep track of my various painkillers. When you have three different kinds, all to be taken at different intervals, and two of them are opiates, you’ll find you can’t rely on memory. Oddly enough, memory, along with concentration and coherence, take a holiday – and you may find you get a brief visit from Mr Hallucination.
Anyway – the lilac sheet on the left charts my drug use on the first few days after surgery. The columns run from right to left for some reason, best known to my doped up self, and possibly the pharmacists among you.
The sheet on the right is from Thursday and Friday of this week. See the difference? Remarkable, isn’t it?
OK. it’s not me that’s improved, not as such, just the dependence on pharmaceuticals and the slow advance of the healing process.
You see, on another level, I’ve deteriorated. No iGallop, no treadmill, and precious little dog-walking, combined with comfort eating and falling asleep at the drop of a hat has meant that the pounds are piling on.
Oh, well. I guess that’s taken care of my New Year’s resolution, huh?
How can you be sure all that was down to the surgery and the effects of the drugs though ?
(and then I wonder why I’m still single !!)
Silverbacks last blog post..Ho Ho Ho From Florida !!!
I’m glad you getting better and able to function on less of the happy drugs :O) By the new year I expect you will be all better and it will be a distant memory, or if you’re like me no memory of it at all ;O)
Babs – beetles last blog post..A Special Fairy!
I don’t mean to be funny, but… isn’t English usually written from left to right? Have I been doing it wrong?
Silverback – True … I can’t. One can only hope!
Babs – Thanks, Babs! I think it’ll take a bit longer than the New Year, though, since I’m to wear the sling till the third week in January, and am forbidden to drive until Feb. Still, eventually I should be able to look back and struggle to remember! LOL!
Jake – Well done, young Sir! You spotted the … *cough cough* … deliberate mistake!
Thanks – I have corrected my mistake up there. It should have read ‘right to left’.
See? One shouldn’t drive, operate machinery, or (presumably) blog, on 30mg of codeine.
Bless you!!! it’s obviously never too late to take to drugs then….. my pharmacist daughter in law is on her way I’ll get her to check your lists.
I’m so glad you are getting better – is the language improving too? not so many ph’s??
Good to see you’re on the road to recovery. Nasty stuff orthopaedic surgery but a great excuse to get out of Christmas preparations (planned that little fete accompli well didn’t you madam?) . . .ah . . tis the season and all that, eat chocolate . . .the 2009′s another year and the treadmill aint goin’ nowhere!
I remember my roommate right after very invasive surgery vaguely murmuring, “yeah, I’m on that M drug.” (She meant morphine.)
I’m glad you’re moving out of that la-la land phase.
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..Saturday Summary
Can definitely see the difference, Jay! Am so glad to hear your pain has lessened and don’t require as much medication!
A great sign, indeed! “It’s getting better every day!”
p.s. Jay, thank you for your fun comment on “Spreading the Love”. With all the holiday preparations today, I nearly forgot to post a script. I hope “Santa in Training” doesn’t seem rushed. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Holiday season, Jay!
Glad you are feeling better and on the right road Jay – keep taking the chocolate though!
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you and yours.
A x
…but the opiates sound kinda fun! ;o)
Hey…hope you are all back to normal soon and pain free
)
gemmaks last blog post..It’s all good
Glad to see you’re making such good progress! Don’t worry too much about weight gain. Having a clear head is more a priority. Good for you! Oh, and I love how your note paper matches your blog template. Purple is my new favorite color.
Kathys last blog post..Weirdest Trip Memento I’ve Ever Saved
Life is full of irony, isn’t it. but I’m sure you’ll bounce back even stronger and fitter, after you recover from your surgery. Remember, you’ve been through a lot, and you’re just a little thing!
Coastal Aussies last blog post..Beginning the new year, like yesterday…
Glad you’re feeling so much better and chirpier Jay.
Quite an impressive list of meds you’ve got there!
I can relate to the (comfort) pounds piling on.. groan.. only in my case it’s add 2 tabs of prednisolon a day to the mix and your face and neck swell up like the new moon!
Take care – and enjoy the pampering. Princess and Pirate will be helping you walk off those extra pounds soon enough!
Geri Atrics last blog post..DOCTOR WHO, WHAT, WHERE?
I’m so happy to see that your need for pharmaceuticals has greatly lessened. Someday I hope to be able to do that myself.
On tomorrow’s blog, there will be a little something for you. Stay tuned.
Peace and Merry Christmas – D
RiverPoets last blog post..What’s in Store for ’09?
I’m glad you’re feeling better! But who doesn’t want a visit from Mr. Hallucination every now and then? ;-D
Hope you have a wonderful holiday, and your recovery continues to go smoothly.
(Any leftover opiates?)
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I Eat Braunschweiger so you don’t have to
you caught me off guard with the waxen image of Johhny . Oh my ..
I have been quite ill since last Tuesday – my immune system does not want to bounce back–missed work- lost a job and social activiites and maybe Christmas- Frankly I am praying heavily for my health to return..sandy
sandys last blog post..Camera Critters#37 Christmas with Petrille !!
Actually not having any new year resolution is better, this way, there is no discipline and no guilt
Bless you on all the drugs. Awww. I sympathize you.
The Real Mother Hens last blog post..08 in Review II
I remember when I first got out of my transplant surgery and was in the ICU for 24 hours. They gave me an IV painkiller called Fentanyl. It put Morphine to shame, and was probably the best legal high I ever had.
I came to find out that it was this drug that a lot of anesthesiologists were getting hooked on, and it was easy to see why. It was also easy to see why you didn’t get any more of the stuff after you left ICU. (However, they do give it to me once a year in combination with a lovely drug called Versed when I go for a colonoscopy. It’s the only reason I endure it, for the meds…
)
Glad to see you’re doing better. How’s the range of motion coming along?
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..I’m dreaming of a cheap snowplow service.
I had a little computer trouble yesterday. Got about twelve replies done and lost ‘em! Sorry for the delay.
Kate – Apparently not! LOL! Yes, language is improving! Not anywhere near so many ‘ph’s!
Baino – Yeah, I’m going to have to accompany OH on a shopping trip, but I’m pretty much sitting back and letting it all happen this year! As for the treadmill, we’ve unplugged it – we stole the power bar for the Christmas tree!
Ruth – The M drug is very nice. Didn’t kill the pain entirely, but … who cared? LOL! No wonder they ration it, huh?
Petra – Thank you! I’ll pop over and see what Santa’s been up to later.
SJ Anne – Thanks – Oh, yes, chocolate is still on the meds list!
Gemma – Indeed. That’s why they won’t let me have any more, dammit!
Thanks for the good wishes!
Kathy – Not sure I like the clear head so much, but that’s the dangerous thing about strong pain killers, isn’t it?
I’ve always loved purple!
Aussie – Thanks! Just a little thing? Are you sure you have the right person? LOL!
Geri – Oh, pred …
My Mum takes it and would love to take it off her list, but it enables her to lead a relatively normal life. Hopefully, you will be weaned off yours, as you breathe easier. How are the ribs?
Thanks for the sympathy!
River Poet – I hope you can, too. Any more news on that NY consult?
Something for me? Ooh – exciting! I’ll pop over later and see! Thank you!
JD – I’m just not sure how much of a friend Mr Hallucination is, you know? Oh, he’s very seductive, but he’s tricky. He had me answering things that nobody had said. Lucky OH is a little deaf, huh? LOL!
And yes, I do still have some, but I’m keeping them. Get your own damn opiates!
Sandy – Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been ill. I do hope your immune system kicks in again soon! Sending good thoughts your way!
RMH – Thanks, sweetie.
Actually I did quite well on the resolutions last year – one of them was to start and keep up with this blog!
Mr N – I’ve heard good things about Fentanyl. Vets give it in patch form for dogs with osteosarcoma. I bet they have some interesting dreams!
Range of motion is improving nicely, thanks – I have three exercises to do, which the physio called ‘opening the gate’, ‘chicken wing’ and ‘stopping the bus’. We’ve renamed them: ‘stabbing the physio in the ribs’, ‘elbowing the physio in the nuts’ and ‘poking the physio in the eye’. It makes them so much more bearable. LOL!
Damn, those exercises hurt! But yes, I do understand they’re for my own good, and no malice is really intended.
“We’ve renamed them: ’stabbing the physio in the ribs’, ‘elbowing the physio in the nuts’ and ‘poking the physio in the eye’. It makes them so much more bearable. LOL!”
So basically, now the physio will need an operation when he’s done?
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..I’m dreaming of a cheap snowplow service.
Yup, do take it easy on yourself yet, Jay. All in good time!!
I am thrilled to hear that you are recovering so well!
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Stream Of Consciousness
Glad to hear you’re on the mend. Have a great Christmas! xx
English Mums last blog post..Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas…
I’m glad you’re feeling better. I’d like to write something witty and profound but can’t think of anything – - except I’ve enjoyed reading your blog in 2008 and wish you all the best for Christmas and 2009.
Daphnes last blog post..Aladdin Tights
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New Year! xx
Mr N – Poor guy is only doing his job, I know, and he’s quite sweet, really … but part of me thinks it would serve him right! LOL!
Jenn – Make haste slowly, huh? I know you’re right. *Sigh*
Meleah – Thanks, Meleah! Have a great Christmas!
EM – You too! But with that family of yours (and the limoncello), I know you will!
Daphne – Thank you – I enjoy yours too. I don’t always comment, but I pop in and read, and always enjoy it!
Liz – Thank you – and have a wonderful time yourself!
I’m SO glad to hear you’re making good progress. It sounds as though it’s been tough going.
I’ve been doped up myself over Christmas – I had a dental extraction and the socket got infected. I, too, was living by the clock for my next set of painkillers, but today I haven’t needed any so far. I suppose that means I need to think about going back to work…
AnneDroids last blog post..Victor Borge’s Phonetic Punctuation
Oh, Yikes! No wonder you had to write it all down… there is no way I would be able to keep track either. Especially when doped up!
Good to see the improvement though. Take care.
Maureens last blog post..Boxing Day