Hip-hop anonymous - a PAO journal

Ever think about how many different kinds of sandwiches there are? All you have to do is slap two slices of bread around anything edible, and you're good to go. Hot, cold, elaborate, simple, thick, thin, foreign, American ... there are no limits. But I just realized today there is one sandwich that not once in my life have I seen. A pickle sandwich. Why not? Even though it's normally a secondary ingredient, there's no reason a pickle couldn't step up to become the featured item. I think I'll have to try it one of these days.

I remember feeling surprisingly "untired" after my last surgery. Day after we got home, I was ready to travel and get out of the house. After this surgery, I probably will recall the opposite. I'm drained and just want to lie in bed and sleep all day. Outings sound utterly horrendous, mostly cause that would mean I have to put some effort into my appearance. No, thank you. That would cut into my lazy time too much! I've started to wean off the pain meds, too hastily it feels at times. I'm taking 20mg of Oxycontin twice a day and about 5mg of Oxycodone and 25mg Hydroxyzine a few times a day as needed. The narcotics are starting to give me hot flashes and stomach upset, so I'm hoping that Tylenol will fill their shoes. Still not steady on crutches, so it's slow going physically as well as mentally!

Cassie had a very busy day, she started oral meds at 10:00, the epidural was turned off at 11:00, and in two hours her PT, Vanessa got her up for the 2nd time and Cassie asked if it was ok if she took a few steps...we were amazed, she is definitely a ROCK STAR!!! That is three days earlier than the last surgery! She then went to X-ray for an ultrasound to check for blood clots in her leg; and got the all clear for take off. Her pain was pretty much under control until this evening, when all the activity of the day started catching up to her. Even though the meds make her groggy, she is having a lot of trouble getting rest. She says she is SO ready to go home! They started a transfusion this evening, and hopefully by 10:00 she will have had both units, (that is a whole other story that I'll let Cassie tell you). Looking forward to tomorrow, I know she will continue to push the bar, and we will be going home on Friday!

Hi gals, just a quick note to catch you up...we may get enough wireless signal for Cassie to post a little later in the day - that's how it worked yesterday. She has a lot of feeling coming back in both legs, and has requested the epidural be removed today as soon as possible, they will start oral meds first to be sure they have some pain coverage before taking it out. The PT and CNA arrived together this morning and decided to make it a joint venture (oh, that's funny!). Together they were going to give her a bath and get her to stand for a moment on her good leg. Then later this afternoon, hopefully...she can try a few steps! Though much sleep deprived she is trying to be very sweet, though she has had the unfortunate luck to be next door to a little old lady with Alzheimer's who is very confused and cries and screams most of the day and night. Poor lady, (I mean Cassie, of course!). It makes her even more determined to get out of this place as quickly as possible! T...

Both have been accompanying me as I wean off my pain meds. My oxycontin prescription has run out, which leaves me with plain ole oxycodone to relieve my pain. I've been weaning myself from those, as well, and normally take one or two a day (instead of 1-2 every four hours). The combination has led me to discover just how much pain they've been masking. The first day off the oxycontin was the hardest, as I hadn't slept much due to hallucinations in the night; extreme hot and cold flashes; and general discomfort of sleeping completely on my back with my leg in the cpm. When I got out of bed in the morning, everything hurt. From the palms of my hand to my armpits to both hips and knees, I was aching. It's not terrible pain, but combined with a lack of sleep, they're enough to make me a little cranky. I got little to no sleep again last night, and started to cry this morning when Mom asked me what was wrong. "I'm so tired of not being able to move," ...