What's wrong with me?!
Discussion
The walking is going well, the sleeping was getting better until last night/this morning.
Eating.... I've been having some home-made soups and had a fair bit Tuesday, bit more Wednesday and lots yesterday. I think My body isn't used to it.... No stomach pain at all luckily but, shall we say, the frequency of going to the toilet last night was, erm, somewhat high! Probably a combination of getting used to eating again and an absolute shed load of vegetables! As well as some meat in there.
To the chap who recommended having the overnight feed just as a bolus several times a day - I MUCH prefer this. I've been having 4-5 bolus's (plural... Boli?
) of it per day, coupled with the Fortisip drinks as well as some soup. I think I'll give myself a break from soup today and just have some feed and Fortisip to let things settle down.
Otherwise.... Same old same old really.
Eating.... I've been having some home-made soups and had a fair bit Tuesday, bit more Wednesday and lots yesterday. I think My body isn't used to it.... No stomach pain at all luckily but, shall we say, the frequency of going to the toilet last night was, erm, somewhat high! Probably a combination of getting used to eating again and an absolute shed load of vegetables! As well as some meat in there.
To the chap who recommended having the overnight feed just as a bolus several times a day - I MUCH prefer this. I've been having 4-5 bolus's (plural... Boli?
) of it per day, coupled with the Fortisip drinks as well as some soup. I think I'll give myself a break from soup today and just have some feed and Fortisip to let things settle down. Otherwise.... Same old same old really.
I realise time may seem like it's dragged for you, but it's amazing that you're at home, up and walking, feeding etc and it's only the first week of January (well, and a day or so). Your apparant speed of recovery (to someone with no experience of these things) is amazing. It's good to hear/read, and thanks for sharing it on here.
Taking it easy today as I had a horrendous headache this morning. To make matters worse I had run out of pain killers.... But have got some more. I had an hours sleep from 11:30 and that seems to have helped significantly but I've decided to have a day off walking etc and take it easy.
After a bad day yesterday with a nasty headache today has been good. Headache has gone, I only did 1 walk but it was 2.54 miles (used my running gps watch!). I got wet but I'm not new to that from running. Besides, a walk in the rain is better than a walk in the hospital ward, and not being able to walk at all.
Glad the boluses are working out. I think the pumps are quite overused, it's much more normal to just have 'meals' instead. Soup - down tube or swallowed? Good stuff either way. How are you doing with the trachy? A friends 4 year old has just got one but he can't talk about how it feels or anything.
Just woken up again.... So good timing with the post!
I'm having soup "normally" by swallowing, so nice!
The trachy is ok.... Changing the dressing each day is ok, cleaning the inner canula/tube is ok and takes but minute or 2. One thing that annoys me with it is it does get in the way a bit when trying to wash your face and throat; the same applies for shaving too. It also looks a bit daft too, but that's the least of my concerns.
I have to wear 1 of 2 valves..... One to warm and humidify the air.... This is used when I sleep or something. The other is a 1 way valve and allows me to talk.
It's a bit of a pain but if it's saving my life I can't moan. It was put in to help my lungs because I couldn't swallow.... So it may come out in not toooo long. Originally they thought I wouldn't be able to swallow for 3-4 months or more! My swallow is quite good but not 100% there by all means yet.
Not being able to move my tongue is irritating, I tell you that!
I'm having soup "normally" by swallowing, so nice!
The trachy is ok.... Changing the dressing each day is ok, cleaning the inner canula/tube is ok and takes but minute or 2. One thing that annoys me with it is it does get in the way a bit when trying to wash your face and throat; the same applies for shaving too. It also looks a bit daft too, but that's the least of my concerns.
I have to wear 1 of 2 valves..... One to warm and humidify the air.... This is used when I sleep or something. The other is a 1 way valve and allows me to talk.
It's a bit of a pain but if it's saving my life I can't moan. It was put in to help my lungs because I couldn't swallow.... So it may come out in not toooo long. Originally they thought I wouldn't be able to swallow for 3-4 months or more! My swallow is quite good but not 100% there by all means yet.
Not being able to move my tongue is irritating, I tell you that!
Reading your recovery after the op, I have to keep reminding myself you had major brain surgery only a few weeks previous. It seems like you've only broke a bone or something, such is the speed and tenacity of recovery. It sounds a cliche, but keep it up, I take it the doctor's are astounded at how quickly you're progressing?
The human body (and yours in particular!) has an amazing ability to bounce back. Just remember little steps, you're doing more walking in a day than I have all week!
The human body (and yours in particular!) has an amazing ability to bounce back. Just remember little steps, you're doing more walking in a day than I have all week!
I haven't seen any Dr's since discharge but a day or 2 before discharge I did go back to intensive care to thank the Dr's and nurses and they were absolutely gobsmacked at how well I was doing. They said they'd have expected me to be at this stage after maybe 3 months.
Just want to get back to work and normality again but I'm also quite enjoying not being in a rush for anything. Just take my time etc. I am getting frustrated with my poor sleep at the moment but I'm sure it'll settle. If not, I'll seek help.
Next hospital appointment is 19th Jan to see speech and language for another swallow test (camera down the nose jobby) and I have another on the 27th for ENT. Not being followed up by neuro until early March! Still waiting on optometry appointment sadly!
Just want to get back to work and normality again but I'm also quite enjoying not being in a rush for anything. Just take my time etc. I am getting frustrated with my poor sleep at the moment but I'm sure it'll settle. If not, I'll seek help.
Next hospital appointment is 19th Jan to see speech and language for another swallow test (camera down the nose jobby) and I have another on the 27th for ENT. Not being followed up by neuro until early March! Still waiting on optometry appointment sadly!
Well it's my 26th birthday next weekend and one of my best mates isn't around at the weekens so we're heading to south wales for a couple of days to relax, a bit of walking.... And I'm also going back to my university where I studied chiropractic. I'll be meeting with a fee lecturers who I became friends with, and who have given me great support through this whole ordeal and I am genuinely excited to go back after 2.5 years.
My birthday is Saturday and a certain someone has offered to take me out in one of my favourite cars around so I am so excited by that too!
My speech is now to the point where people can generally understand me without issue but I'm struggling with pronouncing "s" or "e" sounds in particular. But.... Such is life!
I've had a lovely weekend as my brother came down to visit. I hope you chaps have had a great weekend.
My birthday is Saturday and a certain someone has offered to take me out in one of my favourite cars around so I am so excited by that too!
My speech is now to the point where people can generally understand me without issue but I'm struggling with pronouncing "s" or "e" sounds in particular. But.... Such is life!
I've had a lovely weekend as my brother came down to visit. I hope you chaps have had a great weekend.
mark.c said:
Great news chap, I've been dripping to the misses about a bad back lately but after just catching up with your progress I think I will pipe down!,
Good luck with your recovery
Bring deadly serious, if there's one lesson to be learned from this thread, it's that minor niggles that won't go away shouldn't be ignored! Good luck with your recovery
allergictocheese said:
Bring deadly serious, if there's one lesson to be learned from this thread, it's that minor niggles that won't go away shouldn't be ignored!
Exactly. Or rather, when problems which are treated using methods which should work still persist and persist.... Then they really shouldn't be ignored.
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