New Hurts
I’m back home from the hospital post-surgery for my shunt. It seems to have started doing its job: draining my head of excess fluid and reducing the pressure that was causing the head pain. I feel better in terms of the major headaches that were coming from that. But at what cost?
Now not to be complaining that much but in order for them to insert the shunt they had to make two more cuts in my body: one in the back of my head to place the mechanism that drains the fluid in between my brain and skull, and then they had to take a straight rod and snake its connecting tube and direct the end of it to my abdominal cavity to dispose of the excess fluid. Once it got to the right location they made an incision in my abdomen to be sure it was there and was draining fluid. So now I hurt in two more places: one on my head, and another on my gut. The nurse was showing me that they had to actually shave hair on my stomach to do the incision correctly. I told her without looking that there wasn’t much to look at anyway and there was nothing macho about it to begin with. But you never really know how much one uses certain muscles in your body until you have one that’s hurt or damaged. You use your abdominal muscles for just about all your movements and I now have to be really careful how I use mine. Thankfully I have strong arms to supplement my sitting up and down and moving around in bed otherwise this post might not be possible.
Today’s post on Spiritual Slide Shows was brought to you today by the left side of my brain, my Biceps, Triceps, Pectoral muscles, and leg muscles, and also by the wonderful care of the staff at St. Joesph’s hospital in Phoenix, AZ and by my parents and their soft extra guest bed. The pain medication isn’t all that bad either, although I am trying not to use it whenever possible.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Hi Jeff
I’m sorry to hear about the bad headaches and stomach pains. I’m a big baby when it comes to migraines. Just remember that these pains are not forever and each day should be better as you heal.
I miss you and so does Naomi – she said its hard to get along WITHOUT you!
You are in my prayers –
Diane
February 12th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Hi Jeff:
So glad that the left side of your brain was able to help you share this story with us! I understand some of these shunts are pretty fancy these days. They can even be controlled by remote devices. Have they discussed any of these options with you? From a marketer’s perspective, I would like you to get a full feature set if you are going to be going through this process (only kidding).
Peggy just shared this site address with me. Hope you don’t mind if I pop in once in a while and share some comments. Am sending you lots of positive energy!
Happy Valentines Day!!!!!
Keri Sanders