Post-Op Thyroid removal Day 6

OK- now it seems that I have gotten my head back on straight.  I wanted to write this blog in hopes that someone who is going to have this operation reads it and unlike all of the other blogs out there - will NOT scare the life out of you!
First I am going to go through the last 8 days-
Tues- Oct 26: 9:30am appointment with Dr. Song over the next days procedure. Much relief after speaking with him.  11:00am appointment at the hospital with the nurse- all procedures for check in are done at this time. I am told to call into the hospital after 2pm and they will tell me what time to arrive the next day.
Wed- Oct 27:  I am told to be at the hospital at 10:30am, with the usual, no food past midnight, take a sip of  water and the last (hooray!) high blood pressure pill.  We arrive at the hospital and I go into a very nice area, IV is placed in my arm and all is going well. Surgery is scheduled for 12:30pm and as usual it was pushed back to 1:30pm. No big deal I am now full of saline and am going to the bathroom (nervous pee) every 30 minutes- this continued later too! :) I was then brought to the recovery area- given some nice meds and the last thing I remember is the doors in the operating room opening. Next thing I know I am waking up and the nurse looking at me asked if I taught spin classes and handed me an ice pack that I continued to use off and on the next 3 days.  So the funny part is I woke up talking- if you know me you know this is usual and a very good sign!  I remember being sore and I had the nurse roll a blanket and place it behind my neck then I used the triangle bar above me to pull up a bit. I still find it funny how that you use neck muscles to sit up. When I arrived in my room I ate a regular meal- some delicious chicken, rice, chewy green beans, ice cream, grapes, hot tea and water- I was apparently starving.
This is where I really start noticing things- the drain tubes hurt, and I had to pee again. Through the night I would sleep, take meds every 4 hours, watch TV, fall back asleep and usually make a trip back into the  bathroom every 30 minutes to 1 hour with 8 to 10 oz of fluid. I sleep upright, I love the air compressors on my legs and even my bed was comfortable.  I was in NO real pain- my only complaint was the drain tubes.
Thurs- Oct 28: By morning I was a bit sore and I noticed that I would wake myself up with funny vocal noises.  My throat was a bit more irritated, I did continue to sip water but now it felt like I was swallowing it down the wrong pipe so I would begin choking and coughing- it was uncomfortable. I was also draining- it reminded me of having allergies that have turned into an uncomfortable cough. This I know was normal, since they apparently placed a small breathing tube and another instrument to watch the vocal cords in my throat during the operation.  It was irritated- sleeping up right was the best thing.  Again, with the meds I was on I had no real pain.  I do not take Vicodin but instead use Ocycodone.  The nurses were in to take a second calcium reading,  breakfast came and then it was a waiting game.  Dr. Song returned to the room around 9:30 and said that my Calcium reading were better 8.7 and now an 8.9 and that he was going to remove the drain tubes and I could leave to go home at 10:30.
The drain tube removal- yuck! I had 2 tubes and tube 2 hurt and was the only one that collected any fluid.  He sniped the suchers holding them in- small amount of pain and pulled them out- not to bad but tube 1 did make a whistling noise that I was not expecting- yuck! They added bacitracin to the site and covered told me to do the same over the next few days.

In the picture above you can see the steri strips are still on, the site of tube 2 only had to covered for 2 days while tube 1 was taking a bit more time to dry up.  It looks like someone grabbed a drinking straw and poked me with it.

The rest of Thursday is still a bit of a blur- I know I slept a lot, I remember watching Gray's Anatomy but have no idea what happened.  I continued to take my pain meds now every 6 hours.  Again- no real pain, just very uncomfortable and felt like I had on a tight turtleneck.

Fri- Oct 29: 5:00am wake up to take thyroid meds. Set out my next pain pill to take at 6 along with the antibiotics and calcium pills. 5:30am rolls around and I get out of bed and threw up.  Nothing but bile and drainage- Clint said that would have made any Coast Guard proud.  I also threw up a lot of air- it by far was the strangest being sick experience.  However I followed that by not taking a pain pill but an Aleve instead and ate half a mini loaf of banana bread.  For the most part of Friday I slept, and coughed in the evening we went to our usual Penne Pasta for dinner- again did fine and went to bed.

Each day since has gotten better- Saturday after a small shopping excursion I did take a 3 hour nap and Sunday I made it the entire day without one, even went to church- still a bit hoarse so did not sing and ...hello it was Halloween and I wanted to see the Parade on Front St.

Monday I did go into work- around 10:30am I was feeling it so went home and napped again- Clint brought me some lunch around 1 to eat- worked on some things for the trade show on Thursday and we did go out to eat for my mother- in - laws birthday followed by a walk down Front St.

Tues- Nov 2:  A no nap day and went out for Clint's b-day. The highlight of the day was the removal of the steri strips!! Dr. Song placed a huge glob of the bacitracin on my neck it was like an oil slik!

The above picture was taken a few hours after the steri strips were taken off.

Thurs Nov 4:
Day 8 and looking better everyday- the super glue is a bit itchy! :)

There are a few things that I truly think helped me with my recovery...
1. Fitness. Being in shape and taking care of myself helped more than you can imagine.  I also think that this helped with the pain aspect as my first week of Crossfit was worse! Needless to say I have to wait 1 more week to start back at 60% in the workouts. By the end of November- I should be almost back at 100%!
2. Most important... positive attitude!

Update- one of my 6 nodules was in fact follicular carcinoma. I will be meeting with the endocronoligist in the next few weeks.  Good news is that 99% of everything has already been done...WhooHOO!
Picture update:
Nov 12, 2010- using Mederma 3x per day.  Still a bit of tightness, which I call healing! Started back at Crossfit on Wed.

 11/26/10

Picture update: April 24, 2011- everything is great- after the 8 week 3x a day use of  Mederma, I now use it once a day and at night I put Vit E oil on it. Did you know that Vit E is also good for those fine lines? :)

People only notice if I point it out! 

Post-Op

So this week was step 1 in the hopes to have a baby on the way by this time next year.  Yep, the thyroid is gone.  So I am now in the process of recovery.  So far it has not been bad just irritating.  Itching at the incision site, and lots of soreness at the site the drain tubes were. It also feels like I have on a really tight turtle neck that can't be removed.  I just keep telling myself- it is better than yesterday and will be even better in 2 weeks!
So my daily journey goes as far- thyroid meds- 30 minute wait, breakfast, 2 calcium pills, antibiotic.  Still feel a bit crazy from the drugs that have been in my system and have issues concentrating- lists are my friend and no I am not driving! Take a bath, change clothes, new bandages, wait for my hair washer to come over as I can't get the sterry strips wet yet.  Clear my throat for the 1000 time today. Fix my hair and off to Kahului we go to get pillows and a chair.
Clint has been a total prince- bringing me water when I threw up, helping me wash all the tape off my back (it was everywhere) checking out the holes in my neck and just being as good to me as he always is.
So the rest of the day the meds will continue and I think we are going to try to get to some of the halloween parades in the area- just getting out is good and then I can get another nap in!

Miss Kitty

Miss Kitty

This is the sweet little feral cat that comes to visit.  Most mornings when I leave for work she is sitting under the palm tree by the door. She will patiently wait in this spot until food is brought out to her. In the morning she is usually alert and will not approach the bowl until you leave or step back a few feet. It is my suspicion that she has kittens somewhere because she is not gaining any weight and returns in the afternoon.

The Miss Kitty of the afternoon is a completely different animal.  She will walk by the door to see if we are home then go to her spot again and wait for more food. However, when we go to get the bowl she hisses at us!  As soon as the bowl is on the ground she is eating, we can sit next to the bowl and even touch it although we still get hissed at.  We laugh at how cranky she becomes and laugh at the "hissy fits" she has every afternoon!

It will be fun to see what comes of her in the next few months- our goal is to tame her enough so we can at least pet her.  I will say she is an easy pet- no messes and the only noise she makes is when she hisses at us in the afternoon! :)

Fantasy Football

Football life in Maui is a bit from the "norm" of what I have been accustomed to my entire life. Today we wake up at 7:00am and the games are already on.  So we watch football, computers on to watch our individual players play in there games.  "Throw to Grant, Throw to Grant" Clint yells- lol they threw to Driver instead.  Off to 9:30am church service we go. Clint has in phone in his pocket- 40 minutes into the service Brian is texting- did you see that play???  Clint's sad response- No, I am in Church! Comments of a Saturday PM  Service begin, checking Fantasy scores the entire way home.  Now it is 1:45, Cowboys play in 15  (the late game) and my sweet man is sound to sleep on the couch. Me happy- like playing fantasy and am thankful that Clint has taken his toes out of my hair!

Pre Marital Counseling

Our first session is over and my portion of the "homework" is done. It was a really good read "Fall in Love, Stay in Love". The first 2 chapters plus the questions in the back.  I know how things can fall apart but I can also see how to keep it together.  I do think it will be important to revaluate the 10 questions every year- I can easily see how things like "domestic support" and "family time" would in fact change. We have no children now, it will be interesting to see Clint and I in this dynamic.  I have no doubt that it will be hard but I know we will pass with flying colors!
We are finishing up Texas area football for the day here in Maui - just had a strange thought, if all goes as planned (God's will and fingers crossed) I will be pregnant this time next year...during football season! It is a great thought and with a great partner.

My sweet Clint!

I have the most incredible man.  I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have someone in your life that shares your passions and joys and for life and the things in it.  We have both had an interesting path to each other, I would not change a thing and thank God every day for this blessing.

The invitations have been sent - days draw closer to October 17th.

I cannot wait!

Hump Day at Aina Nalu

Let me just first say I kicked FRANS ass yesterday! It was my first time doing that workout- gonna hopefully raise my weight and lower my time...the next time we tackle her!

Now for the Aina Nalu.  I have a love, hate with her.  I love our "for the time being" place- but the loudness of it is getting to me.  I am so happy when some people leave and go home, for instance the screaming kid from last week. I did not think any kid could cry so much...in Hawaii.  My other beef are the baby coconuts that are falling from the trees and denting up the cars.  Hello! They are larger than giant acorns- just waiting to be knocked out by one on my way in the door! That would really hurt and quite honestly be funny at the same time.  I have already told the front office who does not seem concerned. Last and the least we have a new parking monitor at night. This person is an idiot!  They have left a note on my car the last 3 days. Monday- please go to the office you have an invalid parking permit. What? I paid $100 bucks- the office gave it to me. Tuesday- another note, you have a counterfeit parking pass.  Seriously? Office adds some numbers to the pass.  Wednesday- another note...this time Clint is going to the office to take care of it.  I think this parking person needs to be hit with a baby coconut!  We have one more month, 30 days and we will be in our new home! Breathe slowly until then.... and I will keep feeding kitty cat.

Texas

I have now spent 76 consecutive days in the state of Hawaii. This morning while looking through Face Book I came across a video - Gary P Nunn singing "What I like about Texas"- the video just shows pictures of Texas and lots of Lone Star Beer.  To tell you the truth, it left me a bit home sick.

Thursday night, college football season starts.  Besides seeing the Bluebonnets in April, I think football season in Texas is my favorite time of year.  Friends gathered around TV's in local dives, backyards and living rooms. The smell of BBQ in the air- the tiny bit of crisp cool air that surrounds and brings a promise that winter and the dreaded "cedar season" is on the way.  Being able to wear my A&M jersey with a mini skirt and boots- getting a nice sunburn at the game and then heading over to Northgate for a cold beer- yummm.  OK since we will be back in October I am thinking if we have sometime we might need to go to a game.

I think Texans as a whole are football fanatics.  Friday nights is all about our high school teams, Saturday our favorite college teams and all day Sunday is about our pro teams.  I think I am going to be a football widow at church again- especially if the Cowboys are playing!

Here is to a great season in a new place- we will find a way to see the Big12 play! Gig'em Aggies and good luck to Garret Gilbert at Texas!

Monday blues...

Got a really bad case of the "Monday Blues"- I'd rather be playing today instead of working. So I am sorry if my usual optimistic out look on life is a bit off today- hoping that a workout and Tuesday make it go away! It is 10:15 and so far I have checked e-mail, sent e-mail proposal and a request for new business cards, this time with the correct phone number on it.  I have also combed the Pacific Biz journal looking for the Almighty Leads- not much to be found.  So as soon as my conference call at 11:30 is over and the iphone has completed its new software upload I will be on the road in Maui looking for the next customer of Alert Alarm!  OK yes with a positive face and outlook.

i-phone....Love it and at the same time I hate it.  Why does it take 65 minutes to load the software?? I guess Apple feels that we have nothing better to do in our day than to wait on an i-phone update. Urg!

Think I might make a run over to the book store and get the latest copy of National Geographic as there is a really cool story of DNA study with King Tut and his family.  They were talking about it on Fox News this morning.  I really need to listen to positive stuff in the morning, my blood was boiling before I left for work. Maybe instead of Monday Blues it is a case of woke up on the wrong side of the bed....  :)

Clint and I did have a pretty busy weekend.  Saturday we slept in till 7:45- new record! Did our shopping at Walmart, Kmart (return items), and Costco. Picked up Michelle and went to Tasty Crust for breakfast and then to the swap meet.  Trip back to Lahaina where I made Michelle do her laundry and then made her flash cards for school.  I hope to be able to use them later ;)!   Cowboys game on, LT game on the computer and the AC out....it was a bit hot! We put Michelle back on the bus and headed over to Amigos for some Mexican.  There was this guy playing in there...funny A UOO GAAAA!  Interesting take on a few songs.  Sunday was nice as well- Michelle walked over from the bus stop- we went to church, great message on worrying, and then we ate breakfast for Ohana Sunday, went to the beach and back home for Clint to do his draft. Good thing because Michelle cannot take too much sun! That girl turns red! We topped last night off with the owners pot luck and the most delicious coconut pie I have ever had!

I am praying that the rest of the day turns out for the better and that I get out of this funk!

Just Another Day

Just made a quick stop at Long's Drug store, was out of lip liner. While I was there and still not able to move my arms very well I also purchased some "Sore Muscle Rub".  My poor boss is going to have to do his ride along with a girl who smells like an old lady- oh well, I feel better! Another, really strange, thing is my right arm is swollen, never have had this happen before. Lets Google it... OK people who have also had swollen arms from working out the consensus is to RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate for those of you who might have thought I was talking about food).  Here is the dilemma- I have 2 more days of workouts then rest.  Not kidding, even though yesterdays WOD was tough I am going back!

Yesterdays workout....seriously.....
500 squats  (total)
50 sit ups    each
500 push ups  (total)
Run to the Noodle (as a group)
100 lunges   each
50 sit ups each
Run to the Noodle

Ok so I finished 4th out of 7 and did not feel bad...just tired.

So I was not able to complete everything on yesterday post (had to pick up the boss) so I am going to continue with what transpired through the end of Thursday.

After riding with my boss all day- pleasant experience, really, he is a nice guy- I of course went home.  Did a second stop at Long's Drugs. This time for ice packs.  I purchased a wrapping gel cool pack and also one that is placed into the freezer.  Right arm was wrapped before class to see if it would help.  I swear that my elbows were as big as my knees- freaky!  What in the world! Took off the bandage and headed over to the sweat box where I stretched and stretched. WOD 3 minutes as many KB push press as possible then 3 minutes of as many OH squats as possible.  Not to bad hummm my arm seems larger!

After quick shower made a quick trip to our hang out for a beer and some hula sticks (chicken in BBQ sauce, served with toothpicks) and headed back home.  Clint helped me wrap the gel around my right arm and then helped me tie the ice pack on the other- 30 minutes later  ice off and I am in bed.  I am very happy to report that this morning swelling is MUCH less and movement is MUCH greater so I am teaching a spin class at noon.

I want to figure out what part of Monday's workout made me so sore, upright row, straight press....thinking it was the assisted pull ups.  No worries though I will do it again. I love this stuff!

New Day

As today begins I am once again extremely sore. Good news is I am walking as it is my arms that are in pain- why is it so hard to straighten them?

Mid July after being in Maui for about a month Clint stumbled upon Crossfit- he did a workout and decided that I would also love it.  Little did he know that I not only would love it, that I would get upset when I can't go or he does not go with me. 

For years I have been a gym rat, 5'2" weighing somewhere between 115-125, depending on the time of month or if my Thyroid decided to get out of whack.  I have taught spin classes since '98, was a PE teacher and coach and even had personal trainers to keep me motivated. I have always shown improvement and then would plateau, get bored and complain- I need constant change with my workouts....I think it might have ADHD, those who know me will probably agree. I guess you could say I have always been in the search of the perfect always changing workout, that challenged me and (God help me) did not have to last an hour! July 20, 2010 was the day.

Let me just say...the first week of Crossfit I really did not think I was going to make it. I could barely walk, pick up 15lbs and most certainly needed assistance with sitting....ANYWHERE!  Snaches, burpies, jerks, kettle bell...you want me to do WHAT and lift....are you crazy? I have a BS in Kinesiology - Crossfit was a whole new language, a whole new way to work out. 

After the first week of these workouts - I am like most women - I have to make sense of why I am doing this and why are we going to move this way. I started to question: "Is this going to be like Algebra...you learn it now so that someday you might use it?" " Am I doing this because I am almost 35?"  I have to admit I am using it- doing a deadlift to pick up a case of Diet Mountain Dew to move into the kitchen and yes I want to be in great shape so that Clint and our future kids can be proud of me and use me as an example as I do with my paternal grandmother.

So here I am in week 6 of Crossfit- this is what I know. I have gained muscle weight and have held 119 for 4 weeks. I can now deadlift in practice 115lbs, 5x (can't wait for 1 rep max testing), I have NO problem doing a snatch and push press with 55lbs and have even gone up to 65lbs.  I still loath running, but do it and that 15lb Kettle Bell is in my past.  I know what snaches, burpies and jerks are.  While these are the hardest workouts I have ever done I enjoy it, seeing my sweet man work out with me is a bonus and the good it is doing for our bodies will still allow us to eat what we want (Anthony will love that comment). So at our usual time tonight I will be in the sweat box, complaining but enjoying every minute when it is all over!