PO 6 Weeks

It has been a few weeks since I posted and what a journey this has been. I was doing great until I woke up on December 27th. I was one sick girl. My urine was brown, my stools were light gray, itching uncontrollable, extremely weak/fatigued, so I decided I needed to go to my primary care physcian. Please know that I was not running fever or in any pain. The dr. gave me an antibiotic Nitrofurantoin/Macrobid to treat me for a bladder infection. He told me to come back if I was not feeling better within 3 days. I thought I was having a reaction the antibiotic he prescribed because I was feeling worse. He ran several blood test and urine test. My white blood cells were extemely high, I had a lot of glucose in my urine. They thought I was a diabetic and immediately did a blood glucose and it was 88 (Normal). I am NOT a diabetic...tried to tell them, however, I do know when your glucose is too high it will spill over into the urine.

Anyway, the dr. changed my antibiotic to Cipro and told me if I wasn't feeling better within 3 days come back in. I was worse in three days an began to get scared. All I was doing was crying, trying not to itch, and extremely weak. The third day I was back in the dr. office. He had just got my labs and was very concerned about me having Hepatitus A. I asked him how in the hell did I get this...ate out somewhere that an employee caring the virus did not wash their hands when preparing food. I told him I had not gone out to eat and whatever I ate my family had eaten and they were not sick. My liver count was off the chart. He sent me straight to the hospital so they could start running tests. It is very scary when they tell you they will be looking for bilirubin stone that may have blocked a duct or tumors or cancer of the liver, gall bladder, pancreas and right kidney. I need to let everyone know that I do not drink and that I was corresponding with my PS office so that they were aware of the issues I was going through. I got the results the following day and all was negative. Everything looked good. Thank God! They were all confused and could not figure out was was wrong with me. The nurse at my PS office was going through my chart and reading the notes when a light clicked on and had seen this before with another patient about a year ago. She pulled the chart and compared notes and tests. She went to the PS and told him she thinks she figured out what my problem was.

When I had my TT I was put on the antibiotic Keflex. I did great on it. However, vare rarely, a person will have a severe reaction to Keflex 7 - 10 days after last dose. All blood and urine test will come back as a false positive. It is called a Keflex induced liver infection. The side effects have been horrible. I am weak, itching horribly, yellow eyes, hoarse, dark urine and pale stools. I was sent to a gastroenterologist to monitor liver levels. I was told it would take about 4 weeks for the symptoms to subside and the liver to fight the infection. My PS is doing a case study of my case and presenting it other drs. My liver level has gone down....YEA!! Feeling a little better...witht the exception of the itching. They did give me a prescription to help with that. So, I have about 2 weeks left for liver levels to be back normal. Can't have liquor or acetaminophens.

I went to the PS today for my 6 week PO and he was very please with the way everything looked and the way that I am progressing despite the setback! I have been so sick that I haven't noticed the TT and that I love it. I have posted pics. What a difference from before pics! I was also told to NEVER take Keflex again! LOL....they don't even have to worry about that! I have posted my 6 week PO pics. Hope everyone is doing well with their recovery!!!

Went to PS to remove last drain. Still a little swollen and fluid around abdomen and would not remove. I was a little let down...but I remembered This too shall pass. Wasn't planning on going anywhere or partying so what is a couple more days of wearing this plastic pump around my neck...haha! Really don't want another needle inserted to drain the fluid. Leaving the dr office I heard about the school shooting and the tears came. Dried my eyes...looked at my tummy, smiled, waiting for Monday :)))

Reflecting on my dr visit and chatting with the nurse, I have come to realize that this was a MAJOR surgery. I just want to be able to get up and get dressed and do the things I used to do. It is exasperating to feel so weak. This is not something I am going to get over within 2 or 3 weeks. Trying to be patient. The nurse and doctor keep telling me that I am doing so good. I stand up and am hunched then gradually stand straighter. Just tire out way too fast. I am walking 1/2 to 3/4 mile per day until I begin to hurt. All in all I am alive just getting around a little slower. It will get better!! Looking forward to Monday!!!

Sorry for the delay in posting. Trying to take care of me. My legs and ankles began swelling and had to go back to hospital for test to make sure that I was not getting a blood clot. I was supposed to be taking Lovenox injections every day. My husband and I thought it was one a day in lieu of two day. Could not find any sign of blood clots...THANK GOD. I have to keep my feet up above my heart. So far so good!

There is no way I could go thru this without my husband. He gives me my shower, bathes me, washes and blow dries my hair. He spoils me and I love it.

Went to the doctor today for first week PO. I put on my makeup and felt like a human being. I took out the pain pump lines yesterday. When I walked in to the dr's office they all kept going on how great I looked and how well i was walking. They removed the stitches in BB, and one of the drains. It didn't hurt at all. I go back Friday to remove the last drain! Yea. I get to sleep on my side. When he took off the bandage we were so excited how great the incision looked. I was very scared to look because I was so used to seeing all this flabby skin. I am very happy I decided to do this. After dr visit we went out for lunch. Was gone for six hours and was tired when i got home. So it was recliner time.

The one thing I would have changed about preparing for surgery would be trading in the yoga/sweat pants for gowns or button down over size shirts and NO PANTIES. I tried one time and they were a pain literally! Now, I am having to deal with shooting pain or sharp pains. The dr. said it is my nerves trying to reconnect. I hope everyone is healing great and I am looking forward to Friday for the last pump/drain to be removed. I feel like a new person! Positive thoughts on my healing journey!