Health Update – Week #5 Post-Op

I finished my antibiotics early last week. No more pukiness and throwing-up. That makes a huge difference.

I had an appointment with my surgeon. She doesn’t want to do another CT scan to check whether the fluid in my back is still there. My back doesn’t hurt anymore, I don’t have a fever, and I feel better. She asked me to keep monitoring my temperature though, which I eagerly do 10 times a day. She seemed a bit concerned about my weight loss, but I reassured her I’ve been eating like a piglette for the two weeks.

The home nurse comes every second day. She “packs” the hole in my incision now. It doesn’t feel too good. She sayd that it’s looking better. I am scared to look.

I am frustrated. I am well enough to worry about work, but not well enough to work! I walk like a turtle, I can’t do anything around the house, I need help to tie my shoes, bah. To top it all off, I am missing this super duper cool structural equation modelling training at work *sigh*.

I was hoping for a faster recovery. I am young, thin, and otherwise healthy. I should be healing faster. It looks like it will take the full 6 weeks. Yuk.

Your Mailbox Is Full

I went to work tonight to pick up a couple of datasets so I can start working from home. I checked my emails. Naturally, my mailbox was full.

If my mailbox is full, how is the system administrator able to send me an email everyday to tell me that my mailbox is full?

Mr. System Administrator, you are taking up my valuable space. How can YOUR emails get through if my mailbox is full?!?

“Small car, big bill”

The end of my antibiotics marks the return of my political self.

The SAAQ (Societé de l’assurance automobile du Quebec) is a publicly funded automobile insurance in Quebec. Without getting into too much detail, it covers corporal damages while material loses are covered through a private plan. Very socialist, but it’s Quebec.

Someone finally had good idea: Administrating the public system like the private system i.e. in a fair manner.

People are more likely to be injured in an accident if they drive small cars. Logically, private insurance companies would factor this in their algorithm along with age, colour of the car, gender, etc to generate your quote. You’re statistically more of a risk, you pay more. Young men in red cars are more likely to get into accidents, why should I pay as much as them?

What SAAQ proposes (or proposed) is that small cars be charged more because individuals driving them are more likely to be injured in an accident (article).

The idea was shot down faster than the speed of light. It’s Quebec, remember. Of course Quebec should provide incentives to drive smaller cars (i.e. tax rebate at purchase), but what does that have to do with automobile insurance? The SAAQ is not in the environment business, they do automobile insurance, people.

Private insurance companies 1, Québecois 0.

Out and About

Today, I did my first real activity since Feb. 25, I went to the mall. It was a small step for mankind, but a giant step for moi. I am still very sore. I walk slowly, sit every two minute, and have very little energy. All in all, it was a big two hour outing.

Last Saturday at this time, my wound opened up. We ended up spending another 12 hours at the emergency. I was so worried that they were going to keep me because I had a small fever. Fever raises red flags. There was also a rust/orangy liquid leaking from the incision. The doc was actually relieved to see that it was leaking because it explained the high white cell count even after 2 weeks of antibiotics. My body was naturally getting rid of the infection. Thanks body for being useful.

A nurse came to see me at home every day to clean it up. It's an amazing service. I had no idea it existed. Next week, she is going to come every second day as it is apparently doing better. I haven't looked at it myself. I rather not see.

I have an appointment with my surgeon next Wednesday to discuss the liquid they found in my back. I am really not up for another surgery right now. I need a medical break.

My husband has been wonderful. Cooking, cleaning, entertaining the cat, and all. I hate not being able to do my share. Arghh. I know I need to rest. I've been eating more meat this past week than in the previous 25 years. I am not a big meat eater, but it's good for building muscles. My next big step will be to sleep on my stomach, heaven.

I can't wait to go back to work. I miss everyone! I am so excited about my next project, I want to start as soon as possible. My manager has agreed to work with me at home a day or two a week. Isn't she wonderful!!! As soon as I get off the meds, I'll start working from home. As entertaining as day time TV is, it's driving me a little bongos. One can take so many cooking shows per day!

Day 14 Finally home and on the road to recovery

About 2 days ago, the doctors finally switched me to oral antibotics. For the past two days, I have had to take 19 pills per day. It's insane. The doctors wanted to make sure I was at least 36-48 hrs without a fever before they send me home. Despite my psychotic episode last night at the hospital, they did not let me go until this morning.

My CT scan last week revealed some liquid on my right side around the intestine. It could be another abcess. They decided not to drain the liquid because they are not sure if it is infected or not. The procedure, like any other operations, involves risks they don't feel necessary to put me through at this point. I have an appointment regarding this next week.

The doctors are still worried about my high white cell counts. They thought I was going to get better much faster. They can't explain very well how a 26 years old spends 2 weeks at the hopistal. I also have an appoitment with my gynecologist next week.

So I am finally home. It was great to see Kinki who is visibly upset with all the chaos I put him through. Hopefully, I can make up for it in the next little while. I won't return to work for at least a month. I hope I'll be able to work here and there, from home, in 2 or 3 weeks.

Day 09 at the Hospital

Another post from the perfect husband… The last couple of days have been rough. Until they finally found a stronger substitute to gravol, I felt nauseous constantly. In four days, I did not eat one single thing. The smell of food, especially hospital food, made it worst.

Even without the nauseous feeling, I have yet to fully own my body again. I am sore from the “c-section” and the other two incisions. Today, they took the staples off. It did not hurt as much as I was expecting.

Since yesterday, I have been trying to walk and sit more. Every little task is exhausting. Today, they also took my IV away. It increased my mobility and my independence.

I feel so close to home, but it seems so far away. My husband, has been spending his nights with me on a chair from the 1950’s and has brought me home made food. I just want to be in my bed with him and my cat.

I won’t be discharged until they find the right antibiotic for this bug. It has been a week that the lab is working on the culture. I can’t believe this is happening to me. I hope I will write my next update from home.

From the hospital…

This blog entry is courtesy of my dear husband who graciously offered to post it for your enjoyment.

I’ve been at the hospital for almost a week now. As some of you may remember, I had an appendix surgery in November, followed by a pelvic inflammatory disease (caused by the appendix) and an ovarian cyst in December. Last Saturday night, out of the blue, I woke up agonizing in pain. I called my husband who was in Vancouver. He called a cab immediately, I fed Kinki 2 bowls of food (what a responsible mother), and off to the hospital I went.

The emergency “care” I received was terrible. I was accused of “faking it” to see a doctor faster. I was accused of being an attention seeker. After many unsatisfying tests, they opened me up on Monday afternoon. They found 2 ovarian cysts, one being 8cm, an abscess, and lots of infection everywhere. I was all cleaned up during the 1.5hrs operation. I have c-section, an incision around my left ovary, and one in my belly (I thought the appendix was bad.).

I was left alone, crying for hours, isolated by myself like a criminal. Of course, me the attention seeker was “faking it”. Misjudgment much? With a history of pelvic infections, this statement was not only insulting; it translated into extreme incompetence and poor skills. If I may add, I have nothing to complain about doctors/soon to be doctors. They are the most professional, caring, and fantastic individuals that this hospital has to offer. Cudo to them.

I should be off work from 4 to 6 weeks. I like being busy. I am not sure I can keep my sanity at home for such an extended period of time.

Again this time, my husband has been the most wonderful creature on earth. I did not want him to miss his annual meeting. He came back on Wednesday. In the meantime, my cousin and my wonderful colleague have taken good care of me. I am feeling extremely guilty that my husband’s work schedule has to be modified to accommodate all of my sick needs. I should come home Saturday or Sunday.

I am frustrated for being clued to my bed. I hate asking for help. I want to do things quickly and independently. I want to work. Between all of my work commitments, I feel I am letting many, many people down (yet again).

I am an emotional and physical mess.

I need to go now. Some nurse needs to poke more holes into my little arms.