The Road of Life - Part 7 of 8 - CLOSED

Bill, these people all know you better, much better, than I do but it's your posts I look for. You're a real trooper and such an inspiration to me right now on the first day of my second week after surgery.

I'm posting because my husband and I love to sleep to the sound of a good rain/thunder storm. Since we're in the drought area of Oklahoma/Texas we can only remember one small rain since last spring and we're not able to even go outside except before 9 in the morning. That's when hubby does all the lawn work.

We have an mp3 player on stereo speakers at the head of our bed and hubby turns on our thunderstorm right before he turns out the lights. I do wake up sometimes in the night and begin to realize that the rain sounds are gone and I miss them and know they would comfort me if they played all night. Hubby is making the change for it to loop and play right now. I'm so out of it I don't know that I would have thought of it had you not mentioned it in your post.

I can't tell you how I appreciate your taking time out of your busy road to heal enough for your surgery to reply to my ramblings. The days do get long and the nights don't last long enough when you're recovering from this surgery.

I'm going to try to locate the thread you mentioned but if anyone else reads this and can post it on my thread I'd appreciate it. I love all the well-wishes and encouragement but it comforts me more somehow to read of people's trials and tribs on their own road to recovery. It makes me feel not so alone.

Thanks again Bill and get better soon. I hope your surgery is soon and successful.
Rita

Wow, so many post since last night!
I'm feeling better today. I'm still very tired, but was able to run to town today to pick up my mother's medicines for her and go over to the school for a couple of hours. I had planned to relax this weekend and do nothing, but it was impossible to do. Saturday had to pick up my medicines and a few groceries. Sunday go to church and the doctor. Today, go to the school for some extra prep work and get my mom her medicines. Daddy can't drive because of his foot surgery and mama hasn't drove in 12 yrs.
The kids will be back tomorrow to kick off our first full week of classes. They want us to hit the ground running this year because of the shorter weeks. Early to bed for me tonight!

I hope everyone has had a good day.

Hi all-
Rita, thank youfor your kind words. i always try to stay positve through my rough times. and hope it helps others to do the same. i truely believe we can effect our recovery by keeping as positive attitude as we are able. sure we all have those days that it seems it will never get better but hang in there my friend and soon you will be feeling much better for longer periods each day. this surgey is kind of like the end justifies the means. we have to go through some tough days but in the end once you are all healed its worth it.
Denise- do you still have the links to your recovery process? if you do i think it would be a great help to those who have just had this surgery.
I did mange to get an appointment 2 days earlier so now i see the surgeon on the 15th. and if things go well i am hoping he will schedule it for that week.
Joy- sure wish u would have had the chance to just rest over the weekend. please try to get as much rest as u can so u wont have any more bad flare ups.

Bill, I'm really glad to hear you slept a little. That's what finally wore me out when it started to not only affect my sleeping but how I woke up as well. My husband mentioned some old hand-written notes from 11 years ago with my very first really bad experience with GERD. It was right before my first stricture stretch.

He hunted up the notes in our medical files and sat down and read them aloud. I couldn't believe how very much it sounded just like what I've gone through in the last 3 years. All the waking in the night with acid and sinus and headache and being so nauseated I couldn't eat and losing weight. All the meds from the GI doc and finally a trip to my GP who thought it was at least partially psychological.

He put me on an AD and an anxiety med which never did one single thing to help with "nerves" or acid. When I finally got so sick I couldn't stand up he put me in the hospital and called in a psych doc. I got better very quickly on the medication he gave me because (as I know now) the drug he gave me called mirtazapine which can calm the digestive track and improves appetite. It worked for a while and then the acid kicked in again big time and I had to have the esophagus stretched again and there came more acid than ever before. Mirtazapine is used to treat bulimia and for cancer patients who have lost their appetite.

I think I've lived for so many years with the emotional impact of what over 3 decades of acid have done to me that it's hard to fathom the idea of ever really getting better. What keeps me holding on at all is people like you and the others who have had this surgery and know there is life on the other side. There is just too much pain right now and too little food and I didn't sleep at all last night and am a wreck this morning. Whatever goes wrong with my breathing/oxygen in the early morning hours is tearing me apart right now and the CPAP and/or oxygen aren't helping at all.

Glad you got your appointment moved up and I pray for your sugery and quick recovery as I do for those of others on the forum. It's a crazy way to live.

Rita

Hello, hello to all here in this warm and special thread.  This is where I come to find hugs and warmth.  This is always like coming home to my family.

I am glad you made it through your first day, Joy ! I do hope your neighbor is doing well.  I could move in on your block and be the neighborly nurse in the hood.  LOL. I could take care of your Dad too.  Or I could follow you to school one day like Mary's little lamb and help you with the kids. 

Bill,  Sorry to hear you nights are rough and wish you had internet at home as those itty bitty keys on the Iphones are a challenge to use.  I watch my granddaughters and I suspect they have mutated fingers to be able to type so fast on those tiny key pads. 

You are so incredible IMO. Here you are going though a very rough time and just hearing about someone else suffering and your thoughts go out to them immediately.

Denise,  Just knowing your back in town makes me smile and I feel like baking a cake to celebrate your return.  You were missed so much.  How is that grandbaby doing ?  We love to hear about him.

Sandi,  Music has always been a huge part of my life and yet the old music instrument I can play is the radio...........ROFLOBO.  I tried the piano but the teachers, the nuns, scared me.  Chuckle, actually I had no talent.  But you should hear me sing in the shower. 

~ Music is what feelings sound like. ~ I am so glad I am getting to know you better.  A family can never be to big.

Rita,  I am so glad you are connecting with Bill here in this warm and fuzzy thread where we all let loose and share our days, joys and the not so good times.  We all look forward to getting to know you better and hope you get to know each of us and come to take away from this forum the gentle friendships that are offered here. I hope your day has  been a good one.

Gentle Hugs to all my family here !

Kindly,

Kitt

KITT.

I feel as though I am emailing friends when I come here to the forum.. I am so happy to have found everyone and even happier to be able to count you all as 'family'. When we get to our 60's and beyond it is hard to keep up with our 'immediate' family.. they all have children of their own and live in other states and have demanding jobs... and I could go on but you all know what I mean.. I feel blessed to have found this forum where I can have new members join my family and I can support and care for them along with my children and grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
You are such a special person and with all of the issues you deal with everyday on a personal level, you always have the time and energy to come here and lend an ear and support all of us.. You deserve the "Friend" of the year award.. ;-) Your giving knows no limits...

JOY

I am really happy to hear that you made it through without battle scars ;-).. please take care of your self, you are a very important person among us. I look forward to your smiling "face" here, telling me not to worry, it will get better, and then it does.... I do hope that your neighbor did not hurt himself too badly this morning.. Don't' want to wish time away, but the first week back needs to be shortened for you... Rest and put your feet up tonite....

RITA

I sure wish that you could be through the first 2 weeks and headed to 3 post op.. that is when I began to feel human again.. I realize it is extra hard for you to cope with the other issues you have to deal with but, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you are reaching for that light.. I know what you mean about too little food.. one thing that helped me at your stage was putting my favorite soup in the blender.. it was liquid but it tasted very comforting.. familiar.. and it was a bit thicker than broth so it stayed with me a bit longer.. just thought I would mention it.. hang in and stay with us... it does get better I PROMISE!!

BILL

You my friend are our hero.. you make everyone feel better, when you are feeling exceptionally crummy.. Most people would be whining and crying about "boo hoo I have to do this again" and you just matter of factly say I have to do it, it's gonna happen" You continue to lift us up and ask for nothing in return. Your wife is a lucky lady and you (from what I have read here) are the husband of a very good woman.. I so look forward to seeing you post that you are again a "Wrapped Club" member and you are feeling well.. You need to have sunshine on your shoulder from here on out..

DENISE

I saved you for my last post so that I could tell you that I have missed you on here my friend.. I thought of you often and I hoped that your relative silence on here meant that you were well and having a wonderful time with your family..
I can so relate to your Grandma and Grandpa stories.. I have 6 grandchildren..1 great-grandchild. the first five are boys and range from 26-12 the last 2 are my miracles.. granddaughter and great granddaughter..just a couple months apart at 2 1/2. They are both going to be spoiled a bit come September when Mamaw and Papaw travel north to see them. We love all of our boys, they are so special and we have spoiled them for the past 26, and counting, years.. but now it is time for the babies.. aren't they such wonderful creations? And I certainly hope that you get your wish to be able to use that furniture for many more grand babies.. Before you know it your grandson will be 6 feet tall and eating you out of house and home.. enjoy the baby times...then enjoy the young man...

Thank you all for being here and I am feeling well..no beef or bread still.. but I'll keep trying and I hope to continue waking with sunshine on my shoulder.. cause it makes me happy..
SANDI

Well, I'm here.
It's been an interesting day for me. I met with my principal and the personel director about getting the fluorescent bulbs changed in my classroom. They are toxic to me. They are going to fix them as soon as possible for me.
I don't know how my neighbor is doing. They have a tendency to avoid my family because we're always calling the ambulance or police when he falls and she's not home. He's very frail and his mental ability is that of a 5 yr old. He's always coming to our house hurt or claiming sickness and she'd be gone somewhere. We usually try reaching his daughter or son, but they work. Her really needs to be in a nursing home or assisted care. She's given him strict orders to leave us alone. We don't mind helping him though.
I'm trying to leave the school at a decent time, but my cohort keeps coming up to me wanting me to do something at the last minute. Today I told them I can't stay late, because it's rough on me and makes me sicker. :(

I guess it's time to tell ya'll a little about me. :)
I'm the fourth of five kids (3 brothers, 1 sister). Everyone of my siblings have been married, divorced, and remarried except me. :) I'm still single and very happy with my "singleness". My parents are still alive and I share a house with them to help them with living expenses. I have 12 nieces and nephews. I have a grand-nephew and a grand-niece (another one on the way). I'm 43 (yes, still a baby to some of you). ;)) I have way too many health problems due to Lupus.
I love coming here, helping others, and being able to vent on bad days. :)
I try to look on the sunnyside of life even when all I see somedays is the darkside of the "moon". )

Have a good night, folks!

Hello Friends..
RITA. I am so happy to hear that you are experiencing some relief at last.. from the pain and from the weather.. such a shame we cannot control either completely!!!
I do hope that you will be experiencing good feelings as a normal day to day living tradition..

JOY
You are a light in a stormy night full of shadows! you are such an uplifting person, it seems as though you and most here.. have many other issues but you don't let them keep you down.. you bounce right back and support and help others.. I guess if you get right down to it, I do have other issues but fortunately, they are not serious. Nothing that I would let get me down anyway.. I guess that is why I am so comfortable here. I know that you and the others would help pick me up if I got down...
Stick to your guns about staying late and the Lights.. they make you ill.. your cohorts should understand that.. if they don't you explain it to them.. I know they will understand.. if they don't ... let me know, I'll beat 'em up for you... ;-)

KITT
You are so right... This has become my haven.. when I feel bad I come here to find out what could be causing it.. when I am feeling good I come here to shout to my friends that I have had a good day.. I come here to hook up with people who know what I am talking about when I say " i feel full all of the time and I am never hungry" you all know what I am talking about.. my husband wants to call the doctor.. ;-)
I too am blessed that I have found you all..
Please enjoy your weekend with your Granddaughter.. where does she go to school at in KY? That is where most of my family is.. in KY and my daughter is in Nashville..

DENISE and BILL
I hope that you both have enjoyed a wonderful day and you have had no reason to be less than fantastic.. these are my fondest wishes for you both...

Reach for the sunshine...
Sandi

Howdy all
I got out all 5 guitars today and was a picking and singin fool. wish i could get my kids intersted i an instrament. they both just sing. found out today ny sons g/f playsfiddle. and she brought it over. she lives with us.
Was supposed to have my first interview for disability today but they had me as coming down there when it was supposed to b a phone one. resccheduled for the 24th.
Thank y'all for the kind words...made me blush lol!. ive always done my best to help someone. guess its just my raising.
Rita- good to hear the weather has broke and u are having a better day. soon u will have more good than bad days.
Well i gyess im the "baby" here. i turned 40 in january. not too sure how good a hubby i am but i know i have a wonderful wife. she has never faultered through 8 surgeries and A couple dunb things to end up in the hospital. we met at a skate rink when i was gonna b a freshman and she was going ito 8th grade. dated ofF and on until i graduated and went in the navy.

Good to hear from all of you again. I'm still having trouble keeping almost everyone straight except for Bill. LOL

Bill, I had the feeling you were young even without knowing your age. I have a son 41 and a son 36. I'm used to boys since I have brothers, lots more nephews than nieces and it seemed natural to feel a connection with you.

To Everyone - I'll be 65 on October 31 which is Halloween and hence the handle Halloweenbaby. I'm also the baby in my family of origin which consists of two older brothers, an older sister and myself.

My sons are Steve (a brown-eyed handsome man) who builds guitars from the ground up and plays like a wizard and Brad, who loves sports so much he uses his law degree to work in NCAA Compliance with a major university. They are the light of my life and my biggest success.

My husband of nearly 43 years is what keeps me going. He seldom has complained starting 11 years ago when this terrible GERD condition literally began to consume me bit by bit, day by day, year by year. Even when we didn't understand the difference between the GERD and what it was actually doing to me besides giving me acid reflux, he has stuck by me and continues to be my rock.

As you can see from the quote on my page, I'm a huge music fan and have been since I was a little girl listening to my older sister play old 78's and listening to Patti Page and Johnny Ray on the radio. Music has been my consolation and my inspiration and the words to a good song or even the guitar riff I know to expect can change how I feel in an instant.

My mother's siblings were a 8-piece Western Swing band and my husband's brother played guitar and sang with the legendary Brenda Lee for years. My oldest son has played in numerous rock groups in Tulsa and my youngest could turn pro if he wanted to. Music hath charms to soothe . . .

I had a wonderful, wonderful day yesterday. It was like a gift from the gods. Today the weather is still very mild and cloudy and cool - much like how I think it might have been on the first day of creation. It was SO good that I got a bit apprehensive in the late afternoon wondering if I would feel as well today.

I still feel better today but did not sleep or awaken rested. I do have positional sleep apnea and suffer from low nighttime oxygen levels but right now even the oxygen alone without CPAP makes it hard for me to get to sleep. And I awaken each morning with low oxygen and all the symptoms of that condition including rapid heart, confusion and some anxiety.

I've never had low oxygen except for sleeping on my back till this surgery. On my side my oxygen has been good in all of my sleep studies. We're looking to purchase my own oxygen monitor so we can look at the overnight readings and be able to tell my pulmonologist what's going on without him having to send me in for yet another sleep study.

Whoever said above that we are still people sometimes with other physical problems as well really hit it on the head. To my knowledge, after numerous tests from head to toe, I'm as healthy as a 25 year old horse except for the apnea which was possibly attributed to the GERD and the GERD itself. It's hard to separate the chicken from the egg but we'll get it done eventually. Tonight I'll sleep with straight oxygen and see if it helps since the swelling is going down.

You guys are a literal life-saver for me right now. I don't know too many people who would understand what I've gone through or what the post-op stuff really feels like. It's so nice to know a little more about each of you.

I read a quote this morning I liked really well. It said: Don't give up. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the door.

I like that and I hope we all have at least a hopeful day.
Rita

Just take care of yourself, Bill.

Hi all i just wanted to give a quick update. after the hospital only sending my surgeon a couple short notes sayin i was seen down there i signed another release letter and called back a couple hours later to my surgeon. his nurse said it wasnt ten mins after i left they had 26 pages. my whole record with test results and pics of egd. why didnt they send that 2 weeks ago when i had approved it before i was discharged? so now i have to wait til next week to figure out my surgery date . i feel like shaking my head like hooch the dog in turner and hooch. lol! also my surgeon said there is no way he would do mine thru my chest as the other surgeon said he would do. it would b reopening my thoracotomy from 5 months ago and dealing with chest tubes again. we all know how my ody likes plastic tubes....it doesnt and lets me know violently. my surgeon said its nuts to want to go that route when u may have to go into my belly to take loose my stomach frm the wall anyways. he said the recovery will b way easier bill

Hi everyone.

I don't post often but I do make a point of checking in each day to see how everyone is doing. I live alone so its a good place to come to connect with such wonderful, caring people who have already been down this path. Almost like a big family reunion reading all the news (good & bad) & a wonderful forum to be part of.

I would like to share a little background about myself if I may. I'm 55 year old female from New Zealand & happily single (divorced actually). I have three wonderful sons (29, 27 & 26) who I am extremely proud of, three awesum daughter-in-laws & three truly delightful grandchildren. A grandson Zach who will be turning 5 next week & excited to be starting school & two granddaughters. Olivia who has just turned 2 & is a bubbly, vivacious little replica of her father & Charlotte who is 18 months & is like a little china doll. They are all very special little lights in my life.

I'm also lucky to have my parents & two of my three brothers living in the same town so look forward to occasions when we can all be together.

I'm 6 weeks post op & although I'm feeling better each day, still have the odd set back.

I started back at work on Monday but it didn't go as well as I had expected. Even on light duties I struggled. Mainly with tiredness. I just don't have the same energy as before but I guess time will tell. Only managed 2 1/2 days & I'm off for the rest of the week but will try again next Monday & hopefully will get through 3 full days before I collapse from exhaustion LOL.

My bosses have been great & I'm working with our Company Health Nurse on a rehabilitation plan to ease back into things gradually over the next 6 weeks with an aim to be fully functional by end September (there will still be some lifting restrictions after that because my job is very physical).

Bill - I hope you will not have long to wait for your surgery & can then start your journey back to health.

Rita - So pleased to hear you are feeling better each day & you are also getting some relief from the weather. Long may it continue. I heard the Eagles, "Hotel California" on the radio yesterday & immediately thought of you & wondered how your day was going.

Joy, Denise, Kitt & Sandy - you are all inspirational. Reading your words of encouragement, comfort & support have often picked me up when I was feeling down & given me the strength to get through a bad day. I feel among friends coming here each day.

Take care everyone.