Swiped from Head Nurse, which I’m finally catching up on.
Author Archives: kirabug
Tonsillectomy-pneumonia update
I had a follow-up appointment with both the doc for the tonsillectomy and my GP for the pneumonia today, and the prevailing opinion is that I’m not healthy enough to work yet, and I’m to stay home another week.
My total inability to identify my own limits is just baffled to find out that no really, it’s not my imagination and I’m not blowing it out of proportion, I really am that sick. And the way I feel isn’t normal and that’s OK because we’re going to fix it, but fixing it takes time.
I guess I knew I wasn’t ready. Having the medical folks confirm it has taken this huge ball of worry off my chest that I didn’t know was there in the first place.
Mostly, I’m just relieved that I can sleep without pain, and re-learn how to eat with this new-improved funny-shaped throat, and that nobody rational is going to be mad or think I’m wimping out or any of the things we worry about when we’re already sick and exhausted.
I’m moving back into the world of real food. I ate stroganoff last night, and cereal this morning, and moo shu chicken for dinner tonight. Still no toast or crackers or sharp crunchy bits, and it still takes me an hour to eat something that took 15 minutes two weeks ago, but hey, at least I’m not still drinking 90% of my nutrition.
On the other hand, I’m still having the occasional serious lapse of common sense. Like hey, cinnamon red-hot candies: did you know when your mouth is one giant sore, even just one or two of them is a really REALLY bad plan?
Do you trust your office supplies?
I may never drink another soda again.
True story.
Things that, given the opportunity, i will learn the hard way
If you know about thrush, you’ve seen your husband develop it, and you know it adds to the pain of mouth wounds as well as epic bad breath, you should probably ask ahead for the medication to treat it. And by “ask ahead” we mean on antibiotic change #2 in 3 days, not change #4 in 6.
The admitting doctor at the ER is probably not the one you want doing the discharge paperwork, especially if she’s shown no penchant for common sense throughout the rest of the stay.
The first day you start to feel better (regardless of the injury or its cause) you will overexert yourself and feel like crap the next day – just in time to go home and overexert yourself again.
Talking, breathing, walking, and interacting require energy and should be respected. Anyone who says they’re struggling with any of those things should also be respected. A voice is a limited resource.
Just because you’re not in pain doesn’t mean you don’t still have some lingering symptoms of pneumonia. Slow down and take your time changing the sheets on the bed.
Despite belief to the contrary, you don’t actually want to see what the wounds look like, so stop looking.
It’s easy to pick right up with bad habits when you return home to your nice comfy husband, dogs, and bed. You’re still sick. Go to sleep, moron.
Freedom!
I’m out and heading home! Well, after the requisite trip to the pharmacy to gather all the necessary drugs to finish recovering from the tonsillectomy.
Yay for out!
Pneumonia
Oh, and hey, this might be a good time to mention that Wednesday morning I was admitted to the local hospital for pneumonia via the emergency room. I’m feeling much much better than I have really since the tonsillectomy on Monday.
As usual, my body decided that we had to go a long way out of our way to come back a short distance correctly.
In theory I get discharged Friday (dayshift today, in other words) but since that was yesterday’s theory too, I’m not putting much weight i not it until we get closer to it. I’d like to get discharged soon. I think life is a lot easier when I’m the caregiver and Nighthawk is the patient. Also, the dogs are only going to tolerate the kennel for so long before they take over.
But now I am tired, so I am going back to sleep.