Thursday tlc

I've returned to the land of the living...well, mostly. Surgery went well and I was feeling really good, until yesterday when my temp started to rise. I technically don't have a fever, but it's higher than normal so I feel crappy. Just took some darvocet with tylenol in it so I should feel a little better soon. Ugh. Ivy, at what temp is it critical to see a doctor when on humira?

Anyway Thursday's TLCs:
*put away sofa bed (I've been sleeping in the living room since being home from surgery since I don't have a tv in my room)
*shower
*go to CPR class (have to have this by Monday because my orientation for the job starts then and I have to be CPR certified)
*if temp is still high, go to PCP
*continue resting (trying to get all the rest I can so I'll have energy for orientation next week!!)
*email about what color scrubs I can wear to work, look online and maybe order some (don't feel like shopping just yet, but would like to order some with $$ mom gave me for birthday)

Has choc come online since surgery? Did they go ahead with it? ((((healing hugs)))) your way, choc! I hope you're starting to recover from surgery!

No problem, I just googled it and it's 100.5 F which is what doctors technically consider a fever here. Mine's only 99.7, so I'm not worried.

Do you feel crappy when your temp is high, but not a fever? I wish I was one of those people who can just push through, but I can't.

Oh, and since surgery, I haven't been nauseous AT ALL!!!! I don't have a huge appetite, but I'm sure that'll come back soon. When I went for follow up this morning with the surgeon he said there was inflammation in my gallbladder, so I probably would have felt worse pretty quick had I not insisted on doing the ultrasound. I'm so glad I did! I also had to have some steri strips replaced because 2 of them (around my belly button) got pulled off when I was changing. They stuck to my shirt and I pulled it off, and the strips came too :( It actually tore a couple stitches, but he didn't think he needed to restitch the incision, just recover it with steri strips! He also told me he hopes he doesn't have to see me soon, which I completely agree with. I like him, just would rather not have to see him.

By the way, sorry if I've repeated things, I tend to function when on pain medicine, but not remember all of what I did or said...

32-33C is really low. Don't think mine has ever gone below 35C and even so it's usually above 36C :/ My 'normal' seems to be around 36.3C, so by the time I reach the actual normal of 37.0C I'm already beginning to feel slightly bad. Not terrible, but not great.

Glad the nausea has gone, Becky. That's a good start!

Do you get cold very easily at such low temperatures?

When my temperature drops below 36C, I start to feel freezing all the time - even more than I already do :/

Congrats on the shower :p

Talking of baby steps, that reminds me: I managed to tidy up some of my room today (doesn't look too bad at first glance, but when you go to actually tidy it you realise it's in quite a big mess really). On top of that, I finally started reading my camera's 135-page instruction manual. Scary. But I remembered "flylady" and just read a few pages rather than trying to read the whole lot in one go and giving up learning how to use my camera in despair for another 6 months...

NCOT, I've made a new thread for you re preparing for doctor's appointment.

Next for me: put away books, and put on a load of washing (one I've finished drinking my cuppa, or my own NCOT ) LOL

Sweet dreams, NCOT. And thanks for the chat & encouragement.

Bed time

Didn't get much done, really. But did a few things, and that's better than none.

Wrapped the gifts.
Made my bed.
Did some dishes
Did a small load of washing
Picked some flowers for my room
Did some faffing in the garden (deadheading flowers, etc)
Did some reading
Made a few phone calls
Wiped a few (nb a few; not all) bedroom surfaces with a microfibre cloth, just to get rid of some dust.
And this desk is tidier than it was, even if it's not perfect

Becky, I meant to say this morning (before my brain went blank) that maybe any temp isn't good so soon after surgery? My vote is to ring a doctor or nurse or the hospital, and risk being annoying, just to be on the safe side - what if it's the beginning of an infection or something? I hope it's not, but better safe than sorry...

Choc, I tried to look it up but it was in German: would you go there as a student, or to watch? Even the photos are pretty impressive, though: what a great place to be able to visit!

I'm glad you're feeling so much better . You deserve it, Choc.

Fever has not popped back up in the past 24 hours! AND, I made it through CPR class. I was the only student, and I was just renewing my certification, so it only lasted an hour. I didn't even do the actual compressions and stuff, I just pretended (she knew I was post-op) did the test, and was on my way!

So, here's what I accomplished today:
*put away sofa bed-nope, will wait another day... :)
*go to CPR class-Done!
*if temp is still high, go to PCP-called and made appt with surgeon, though fever seems to be gone, one incision is draining, the one I broke the stitches in, and I'd rather make sure it's ok than ignore it and it get infected
*continue resting-Done!
*email about what color scrubs I can wear to work-emailed one person and got response that I have to ask another person...forgot to email them, will do tomorrow!
*look online and maybe order some-not yet
*make Christmas wishlist and send via email to "Santa" (Dad)-done, conversed with Santa and Mrs. Clause about specifics-Yes, I'm 33 now, and still submit a letter stating "Dear Santa, I've been a good girl this year, and would like...." :)

Ivy, I forgot to respond earlier, Yes, I do have to buy my own scrubs. Most hospitals require their employees to purchase their own scrubs. Some provide a "budget" toward scrubs, but most don't supply scrubs to all employees. The biggest exception to this is if you work in the OR because you have to be "sterile" you wear scrubs that are cleaned daily by the hospital, which means you come in street clothes to work, and change in and out of scrubs in the hospital. A lot of hospitals around here are going to colors for specific departments. Where I worked before, xray wore grey, nursing wore royal blue, nurse techs wore cecil blue (don't remember any others). It makes it easier on patients (supposedly) so they know if someone walks by in blue, they can yell "nurse" and get attention. Really though, people call everyone "nurse" and non-nurses spend time saying, "I'm not a nurse, I'm..." Anyway, must email future supervisor and find out dress code so I can purchase some scrubs or start cleaning ones I have and make sure they all fit.

Choc, That really stinks that they'll discharge you only to re-admit you next week for surgery, but I'm glad you're feeling well right now. Hopefully having gone through all the blood transfusions, you'll be healthier going into surgery and recover quicker and better!

NCOT-Celebrate EVERY victory...don't put yourself down just because you haven't read the entire thing. My sister laughs because I like to make lists and cross off things like showering and basics, but it makes me feel better knowing I've crossed something off the list. Give yourself credit for everything you do! It's hard when you're depressed to just get out of bed, so if you just read one page, but get out of bed, take a shower and make an effort, that's GREAT!!!

Next week I have orientation from 830-530 Monday through Friday, over an hour away each way, and I'm starting to freak out about it. It's been a year and a half since I've worked 40 hours in one week. I'm scared I'm not gonna make it. I'm crossing my fingers already that traffic isn't horrible each morning and evening...