June 8: Calmer
As planned, went to the couch after posting with ice pack for a while, staying absolutely still. Decided to only take Tylenol, although I put the codeine tablets in the bathroom for easy access. Woke once about 4:30 in moderate pain, went back to sleep until 8:30. While there is some pain, the main feeling is an uncomfortable pressure across my right chest and into my axillae. It's a constant awareness, but not all that painful. Movement, however, changes that. Any movement. Raising my arm to brush my teeth, washing a glass, twisting something open, even the button on my denim shorts. Bending over is really bad, but I've been working on crouching and balance in yoga, so it's easier now than it's been in the past.
My goal is to take as few pain pills as possible, because of the constipation. Those who were reading in the aftermath of the thoracotomy (Sept 2006 postings, into Oct) will remember this was a major problem, to the extent that straining caused all the internal sutures in the back to pop, which is why when I cough there's an unnatural undulating movement around the scar. In fact, I'm even wondering if that could have caused this blood vessel to break open, because for some reason I had a lot of problems over the weekend. Colace is now my best friend. I had multiple fruit cups in the hospital, ate an apple last night and had several fresh strawberries for breakfast. ML was very generous with the pain meds at discharge, telling me I could have as much of whatever I wanted. He shook his head when I said only codeine and insisted on 15 mg instead of 30 mg tablets. I don't like narcotics. Just in case he gave me a few percocet, but I'm hoping not to need them. It can never be said that I'm drug seeking.
It's with great relief that I report nothing new on my body this morning. Yesterday, waking in the hospital, there was more swelling around the armpit and into the back. While that's still there, it's not worse and feels softer than it did, which is a good sign. The swelling on my chest no longer extends to my sternum, although is clearly along the outside of the breast and chest wall. The worst place is where I think it started: just below my clavicle, a little to the lateral of center. It's still very firm there, and the most painful. But I'm certain that the bleeding has stopped.
Yesterday morning the nurse noticed a bruise on my right breast, on the lateral side, just below where I could easily have seen it. I suddenly remembered that at some point over the weekend I bumped pretty hard into a corner of the wood cover for the radiator, thinking to myself at the time 'Well, that's going to leave a bruise', but totally forgot about it. I think it's incidental to the bleed, however, because it's below by several inches. By this morning, however, it's expanded and is a deep purple and blue, somewhat tender. My neighbor, Jessica, gasped and said 'Oh My God' when she saw it, so it's more impressive to others than to me. I told her it was nothing compared to what was coming. The only bruising on my chest is just to the left of the sternum and a couple inches down, so I can only guess that the blood is starting to settle. It's pretty faint right now.
Having gotten through the night without incident and feeling very stable this morning I'm much more relaxed. But I know that even if the bleeding has actively stopped it could still be oozing, and that any clot there is probably pretty delicate. So, plan for the day: as little movement as possible. They told me absolutely no exercise, not even walking, just to stay still. Fortunately, I'm pretty rehearsed in that!
So, I'll sign off and get a book, take the cell and house phone, then out to the swing before it gets too hot. My swing is wonderful, two seats facing each other with a roof, so I can put my foot on the other side, swing with little effort and be blocked from the sun's rays while still enjoying the weather and the breeze. It's right next to my lavender plant, which has been discovered by several honey bees. It's neat to watch them going from stem to stem, quietly buzzing in a way that sounds like contented purring, insect style.
More later, thanks for checking in. Laurie
My goal is to take as few pain pills as possible, because of the constipation. Those who were reading in the aftermath of the thoracotomy (Sept 2006 postings, into Oct) will remember this was a major problem, to the extent that straining caused all the internal sutures in the back to pop, which is why when I cough there's an unnatural undulating movement around the scar. In fact, I'm even wondering if that could have caused this blood vessel to break open, because for some reason I had a lot of problems over the weekend. Colace is now my best friend. I had multiple fruit cups in the hospital, ate an apple last night and had several fresh strawberries for breakfast. ML was very generous with the pain meds at discharge, telling me I could have as much of whatever I wanted. He shook his head when I said only codeine and insisted on 15 mg instead of 30 mg tablets. I don't like narcotics. Just in case he gave me a few percocet, but I'm hoping not to need them. It can never be said that I'm drug seeking.
It's with great relief that I report nothing new on my body this morning. Yesterday, waking in the hospital, there was more swelling around the armpit and into the back. While that's still there, it's not worse and feels softer than it did, which is a good sign. The swelling on my chest no longer extends to my sternum, although is clearly along the outside of the breast and chest wall. The worst place is where I think it started: just below my clavicle, a little to the lateral of center. It's still very firm there, and the most painful. But I'm certain that the bleeding has stopped.
Yesterday morning the nurse noticed a bruise on my right breast, on the lateral side, just below where I could easily have seen it. I suddenly remembered that at some point over the weekend I bumped pretty hard into a corner of the wood cover for the radiator, thinking to myself at the time 'Well, that's going to leave a bruise', but totally forgot about it. I think it's incidental to the bleed, however, because it's below by several inches. By this morning, however, it's expanded and is a deep purple and blue, somewhat tender. My neighbor, Jessica, gasped and said 'Oh My God' when she saw it, so it's more impressive to others than to me. I told her it was nothing compared to what was coming. The only bruising on my chest is just to the left of the sternum and a couple inches down, so I can only guess that the blood is starting to settle. It's pretty faint right now.
Having gotten through the night without incident and feeling very stable this morning I'm much more relaxed. But I know that even if the bleeding has actively stopped it could still be oozing, and that any clot there is probably pretty delicate. So, plan for the day: as little movement as possible. They told me absolutely no exercise, not even walking, just to stay still. Fortunately, I'm pretty rehearsed in that!
So, I'll sign off and get a book, take the cell and house phone, then out to the swing before it gets too hot. My swing is wonderful, two seats facing each other with a roof, so I can put my foot on the other side, swing with little effort and be blocked from the sun's rays while still enjoying the weather and the breeze. It's right next to my lavender plant, which has been discovered by several honey bees. It's neat to watch them going from stem to stem, quietly buzzing in a way that sounds like contented purring, insect style.
More later, thanks for checking in. Laurie
posted by Laurie @ 11:50 AM
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