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June 6: In Stow at Judy’s for my rehab.


June 5: Man, last hight was a carbon copy of the night before - just pure misery. I mean I wake up constantly, and then I’m tossing and turning and adjusting pillows and such every hour on the hour. It’s getting to the point to where I’m just dreading going to bed each night. I HAVE to get off this couch and try to begin to get used to sleeping in a bed again, despite the fact that I’m going to be sleeping the majority of the time on my back. This propping my upper torso up on the end of the couch, what it’s it’s soft, mushy cushions is just doing a number on my low back. Yup, it’s time to try to sleep flatter on a firmer surface rather than propped up on too soft cushions. 

Now the other issue of the day is some light allergies going on what with all the pollen out there right now. Now normally in the past I’d just clear my throat and cough a bit to clear all the sinus junk draining into my throat. But right now, with my chest having been opened up like a lobster shell, well, it’s just so painful to cough to clear my throat. I have to hold this little red heart pillow that I got from the Clev. Clinic up to my chest to cough. And the coughing has to be much lighter than I’d like, such that I can try to stop this drainage tickle in my throat. I do these half or quarter coughs because a full blown cough just just rocks me to the core with chest pain. Feels like I’m going to split my sternum in half. Now a sneeze…my God does that hurt! I’ve had about 3 sneezes since this operation and I just totally brace chest with the little red pillow and hope for the best. I mean the pain in a sneeze feels like my chest is going to explode outwards. The docs and nurses have told me that coughing and sneezing will not damage the sternum or the suturing in my chest. But damn, you’d never know it when it happens because the pain is just indescribable.

Well, I got through the morning sans pain meds so I hope I’m on the way to be rid of those nasties. Now I have to admit that I’m still tempted to take two pain pills when I wake up, but I’ve managed to suffer through the initial shock of getting up first thing in the morning. Still tough for the first 30-45 minutes dealing with the morning pain and stiffness. I just cannot wait for the morning I wake up and don’t have this chest pain. That will be a landmark day!

So really, same old, same old with respect to the rest of the day. I sip just once cup of high test coffee when I first get up then do my computer work for several hours and eat brekkie. We went shopping, and I had to do it on this day because Judy’s back is really bad. She’s almost bed-ridden. BUT she had to drive me everywhere because I’m not allowed to drive, and I’m not allowed in the front seat of a car. This because if we or I get in an accident driving and I’m in the front seats next to the air bags, if the air bags go off they could re-break my sternum from the impact. The chances are probably pretty slim that we’d actually get in an accident, BUT those are the orders and I’m going to abide by them. So anyway, Judy has to chauffeur me around and I have to sit in the back seat with no seat belts on. At times I feel like I’m this man-child what with the restrictions that I’m currently under.

I had to break up the groceries into lighter loads due to my lifting restrictions of ten pounds. So that made for more time and energy to do a simple task. Came home, did my walk, 1:15 hours today at a very recreational pace. Then came home with a pretty good appetite, where I munched down on 2 PBJ’s, a yogurt, and some tuna fish straight out of a can. I’m hoping my increased appetite can stave off all the muscle wasting that’s going on with me right now. 

Helped make dinner today cuz Jude’s just suffering right now, so that kind of took a good bit of gas out of my tank. But I am feeling just a little stronger each and every day. I haven’t done one of those snoozing sessions today, and I was able to do consecutive tasks in a row, rather than doing a walk, then napping, then helping with dinner then napping. 

Finally, I really want to thanks you guys for all your “Get Well” cards, your emails, your phone calls, and your offers to help me and my family out during this. I’m truly humbled by everyones concerns and well wishes. Please feel free to stop by and say hello to us at Judys. I mean this is my abode for the next several weeks, and I’m usually here just chilling most of the time. I love talking to you all and it really makes my day to have that personal interaction.  Thanks again to all of you!!!!!