The Road of Life Twists and Turns......................... Part 8 of 8

I hung out on the couch during the day for a week or so.  After that you'll still want to take it easy, but quite a number of people have gone back to work (generally desk jobs) after two weeks.  Believe it or not, a dental hygenist I know went back after just one week.  I wouldn't recommend it, though!  I was a second grade teacher, so I intended to go back half time after two weeks.  Unfortunately, because of the terrible condition of my lungs, my PCP held me out, in fear that I'd catch a virus that was rampant at that time.

My husband and I go out for dinner regularly, and that didn't change during my recovery.  During the very first week, I remember stopping for lunch after my surgeon re-check.  I had clam chowder, and was able to enjoy the crackers, the potatoes and veggies...skipping the clams.  Of course I couldn't eat much, and the soup provided more meals at home, but the point is that this we were still able to socialize by going out for meals. 

In the early days I stuck to soups--Olive Garden has that cream of chicken and gnocchi soup, which was easy to handle.  I nibbled the crust off the breadsticks.  Where there's a will there's a way!   An Italian restaurant we visited had crepe manicotti, and they were melt in your mouth easy to eat.  Again, I ordered a half-order and brought lots home.

As far as eating pretty normally at restaurants, we went on vacation at the four month mark, and I remember eating pretty much everything.  I still had to chew things carefully (I try to do that even now), but I ate and drank whatever I wanted to. 

I can't tell you the exact moment when my eating went back to pretty much normal, but I can tell you that it's a gradual process.  In the beginning eating is very challenging, as you're healing inside.  You've had major surgery, so it's expected that it will be some time before it heals and the swelling goes down.  I kept a journal here for the first 19 days of recovery, and it might give you an idea what the early healing stage is like.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2183443

If you decide to have this surgery, you need to accept the fact that there is a difficult period of recovery.  Eating offers special challenges, and you will be changing your diet to accomodate that.  You are the only one who knows if the suffering you're experiencing is bad enough to embrace recovery.  From what I've seen from posts here, the TIF recovery is not much different than the Nissen recovery.  I may be wrong, but that's what I've gotten to reading post-TIF recoveries here on the forum.

Please read the posts on the link above.  I think it will help set your mind at ease.  Like you, I was very frightened of the surgery, and I put it off for years because of that fear.  I just wish I'd found this fine forum sooner, as I suffered needlessly!

Good luck with your decision.  It is not one to be taken lightly, so it's a good thing that you're searching out all the information you can find.

Best wishes,

Denise

You know we're here for you, dear friend. Whatever you need, just ask.  Perhaps a group hug is in order for you as well!   VIEW IMAGE  We'll hold you up if you need us...VIEW IMAGE

Do what you need to do.  We'll handle things here!

With love,

Denise xxx

Oh, Kitt! I hope you're feeling better soon! The flu is beginning to hit my area. The local hospital is filling up. Thank goodness I got my shot last month!

Hugs to all! 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3615475385_c440f7af02_z.jpg?zz=1

I have been laughing ever since I went to the pharmacy.................life can be so silly sometimes

And I thought I was feeling down this morning then I went to my appointment with my Psychiatrist.  We made a new plan that included trying Provigil.  Along with Provigil I would switch to Zoloft from Celexa as Provigil was not compatiable with Celexa.  I was excited..............maybe this would work and I would get some energy back and stop feeling like I am stuck in a hole.

Got to the pharmacy to pick up new med and the clerk said, " that will be $271.00 - what the heck !  I said WOW really loud and she said she would check to see if my insurance was paying anything toward the med.  YES, they were willing to pay $500.00 of the cost so the total cost was actually $771.00.  I left it at the drug store as the co-pay was more then I can afford and as of January frist my insurance starts over so I have to pay 100% of the cost until I meet my deductile. 

It is funny how God plays tricks on us.  Kind of like when you are sure you just won a jackpot only to find out God was fooling with you.  I am just grateful that God gave me a sense of humor so I could see the irony in the whole situation. 

With friends like all of you who needs a $771.00 medication.

Love and hugs,

Kitt

There is no such thing as small potatoes or too much whining when we are all here and available to boost each other up.  I am actually feeling better and perhaps it was God's way of making me accept that if there is a magic cure for depression it is out of my price league so get myself back up and move on. 

I too am sorry to hear of many of you having a tough time.  For now my GERD has been pretty quiet, a little bit of heartburn but no major complaints.

Mock turtle,  OHSU hospital - wow, what a great place and one I would love to work for.  I was in Portland in October and we passed OHSU many times, the gondolas look awesome.  Shame on her employer, that was another nasty blow for her as she was facing surgery.  She is lucky to have you for a parent.

Liz, Indeed winter time brings the blahs and now we have snow.  I wish you were near me as I need to get back in shape and have no incentive but if you were teaching the class then I would feel like I had a friend and the class and would look forward to attending.  Of course you would have to be teaching silver sneakers classes.

Joy, Ashley and Denise,  Thanks for the words of comfort and it is good to know you would have left the med in the store ..............if it was life or death I would have found a way but for a maybe this will make you feel better but don't count on it, nope.  I need better odds then that.

Hello to ALL and know I am here for you.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

I haven't gotten to any violence yet...it's not an easy read.  One thing that makes it difficult for me is all the references to cities and political figures that are specific to Sweden.  One good thing about a book is that you can skip over things that you find uncomfortable.  I'd rather read a book that contains violence than watch it on a movie screen.  I guess they've made into a movie. 

My DIL gave me the third book...The Girl Who Played With Fire.  It obviously referred to other characters and actions in the other two books, so I put it aside and went back to the first of the series.

I don't like violence, so I may not complete it, but I'll let you know!  We haven't had snow yet.  I'm looking forward to it!  I certainly hope we get some for Christmas!  I much prefer snow to dismal, cold rain this time of year. 

Good luck on your finals!

Denise

Joy said..."The kids are getting excited about Christmas. I let them do a glittering project today. They had glitter up and down the hall from where they went to wash their hands! I'm sure the janitor was fussing. Tomorrow is a sticker and foam day, thank goodness." 

Joy, your story makes me think of a project I left for my TA (para) when I was out with surgery.  I specifically said that only 2 or 3 kids were to work at the glitter table at a time, supervised by an adult.

My TA thought she knew better, and gave glitter to all the kids to use at their tables.  What a mess they created. We laughed about it all the time.  Glitter is one of those wonderful things that kids love to use, but isn't something they'll likely be allowed to get into at home.  School is the only place they can have that kind of messy fun!

Hang in there!  It's a wonderful time of year with wee ones!  Enjoy their excitement and enthusiasm.  You'll need lots of energy, so get to bed early every night!  Denise