Life after Surgery

After I got home and had a chance to rest, things went pretty smoothly. I moved out of my parents house for the third time about 2 weeks after I got home from the hospital. My parents didn't want me to move out so soon after my surgery. They were worried that I would have another adrenal attack and no one would be there to help me. I just felt that it was something I had to do. I wanted to get back some of the independance that I have lost back. I assured them that I told my roommate all about my disease and that if something wasn't right to call an ambulance. My mom relented and got a bunch of people to move my things because I couldn't pack any of the boxes. I was excited and nervous... deep down I was scared... What if I had another attack and I could get help? But I WANTED to feel like an adult, not akid who lives at their parents. I still seen my mom everyday, she checked on me ALOT, which I loved. It was nice to know that I didn't have to be scared.

I started feeling better and about a month after my surgery I started getting back to normal. My incisions still were sore but I was careful and started doing more "normal" things such as brushing my horse, cleaning stalls, ect. I still couldn't pack water pails and it took me almost half an hour to clean my stall (normally takes 10-15 minutes) but I was determined to do it. My mom was always giving me crap because she said I needed to rest and heal properly.

There were times I wish I had of listened! For example I got it in my head one day while I was brushing Luci in the arena and walking her around that I could get on her... so I had my mom to help me up on her.... after a bit of begging and alot of convincing.....well I didn't quite make it up nefore I got a BRUTAL pain in my stomach... my mom let me down and I was sore for DAYS.... to the point that I could hardly walk! I decided that I would wait a bit longer before I rode her.... all my mom said was "I told you so!"

I started to realize that I had to be patient. I couldn't do the things I used to, I was tired ALOT. I think that was due to the fact that I no longer have adrenal glands, having my body get use to not having them, and also having my body get used to the new medications that I have to take. I had to learn when to rest... if I didn't feel good or was tired it was a bad idea to just push through it. I had to wait until my body was used to this before I could be the tough guy again.

It took MONTHS for me to start feeling better. I was depressed because I couldn't do anything... I felt like I was 80, I could barely walk up my stairs without taking a break, and this feeling lasted for about 6 months. I also had to be very consistient with taking my pills. If I missed one or was late taking one I felt HORRIBLE for a couple days. It isn't a feeling like having a cold or the flu, it is just complete and udder exhaustion, headaches, and well just not a good feeling.

My life has definately changed even more since my last surgery. I have to be more careful. I keep some pills at my house, in my car and a few at work so if I forget to take them I have extras. I can't be as careless as I once was, if I get hurt my body can't make cortisol to deal with the pain and if I don't compensate with pills my body will go into adrenal shock. I also have to carry a needle in my car, just in case I get in an accident or get hurt. Luckily I haven't had to use it yet, but I have to tak it everywhere.... although I must admit that I forget sometimes. My close friends and family have to know when/how to use the needle. It is comforting knowing that my family and friends know what to do in an emergency situation.

My life has changed alot since I had my adrenalectomy both for the good and the bad. The bad changes include haveing to take medications 3 times a day everyday, not feeling good when I am late taking my pills, I have to be super cautious when playing sports, driving, camping etc. so that I don't get hurt. I still get tired alot, and there are days I have absolutely NO energy, but there are days that I feel GREAT, I have lost 20 pounds (which is the most weight that I have lost since I got diagnosed), and I have learned not to take like for granted. I am starting to learn how to embrace life, and live it to the fullest. I am starting to feel healthy again. I decided to start playing baseball again, I have started going to the gym, and I have started to feel comfortable with the way I look. I started going out with friends, and I am starting to realize what I want to do with the rest of my life.

So far things are going great.

In a Hospital AGAIN

So when I was admitted they said I would probably only have to spend the night, the doctors just wanted to run some tests. I was still on the liquid diet so it really sucked. But my mom and dad, as well as my sisters Leanne and Jaimie came to visit with me. I was hardly left by myself. It is nice knowing that I have such a supportive family. They may not always understand what is going on but they are ALWAYS there for me. Hell, I don't even know whats happening!

It was funny because I was convinced that regardless of my just getting out of the hospital 2 days before, I was still going camping on with my friends for May Long, and my mom absolutely refused. We argued about it, but apparently I was going to be spending the weekend in the hospital. I was kind of bummed about it, until it snowed! I also still had trouble breathing so even though I wanted to go camping I knew deep down (even before I went to the hospital) that it was a really bad idea.

Dr Lupu (my family doctor) came in that evening. She was concerned about my breathing. She said she was leaving for holidays the next morning but she would leave me a prescription with the nurses and I was to grab it before I left the hospital.

The second morning they brought me some tea for breakfast... by this time I thought I was starving. So just before lunch I was sitting in the room with Jaimie and I finally asked how much longer I was on a liquid diet. The nurse went to check with the doctor and came back with great news. Apparently I was allowed to eat solid food and they had just got mixed up with breakfast! Immediately I got my sister to call my mom who brought me Subway!! Never has it tasted so good! That afternoon my Dad Jack and my sister Jessi came to visit me.

I was in the hospital for a total of days and 3 nights. I was in my own room for the first 2 nights which was GREAT! But on the 3rd night I was moved into a room with 3 other ladies. Let me tell you... it was the most horrible night ever... the nurses couldn't tell me anything other than I was not to take ANYTHING from the one lady as she had a contagious disease. SCARY!!! lol but I survived the night and the next morning I was told that I was allowed to go home. They had come to the conclusion that I had an adrenal attack, that had occured because my body was getting used to not having my adrenal glands anymore. So I asked the doctor on call for my prescription that Dr Lupu had left. He said that he didn't see anything there for me but he wrote me a prescription for some pain killers and then I called my Dad and he came and picked me up and I went home.

So glad to sleep in a REAL BED!!!!!

Check out this blog please! It explains things way better than I ever could!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxSAhLyKVqw

What is HAPPENING?!?!?!?!

So mom and I waited for the ambulance to come get me... as we waited the pain became a LITTLE bit less.... but not much. My stomach hurt... it honestly felt like someone was stabbing me.... I wanted to cry. My mom just sat there with me telling me it was going to be OK and rubbing my hand and forehead (she used to rub my forehead when I was a baby an it put me to sleep.... it still helps me to relax!)

The ambulance arrived shortly, thank goodness mom had gone up to my room and got my robe for me, because the one ambulance driver was pretty hot :) They asked me a few questions and loaded me onto the bed and put me in the truck. Mom was going to follow in her truck and bring me some clothes.

The ambulance ride down my driveway was so bumpy and it hurt... every little bump put me inn excruciating pain. So because I have my Dads sense of humor I told the driver that I wouldn't tip him if he kept hitting every bump. We all laughed (but that hurt too!)

When we arrived at the hospital I got wheeled in and the pain was starting to get worse again. Leanne and Jaimie (my sisters for those of you who don't have the pleasure of knowing these two AMAZING girls) showed up to stay with me while my mom gathered some clothes and stuff for me. The nurse came in and shot them a dirty look, like they had no business being there. She asked me what was going on and I told her that I didn't know why I was in so much pain and I explained to her what happened. She told me that "it could be worse because her niece just had open heart surgery, and that is MUCH worse!" I was like OK.... she left the room (not sure where she went but she left and my sisters and I were trying to chat. I remember looking at both my sisters and all I could see was fear and panic in their eyes. They haven't really been around me in the hospital so its hard for them to see me in pain and scared.

The nurse came back shortly and took my blood pressure and pulse. She was being a cow and just rude. I told her that I was in a lot of pain and I really wanted something for the pain. I can't remember her EXACT words but it was something along the lines of suck it up and deal with it. Her niece just had open heart surgery... blah blah blah. Then she left again.

So there I am lying in pain with my sisters who were shocked at this nurses attitude (at that point I didn't even care, I thought I was going to die... it hurt SOOOO bad). when the nurse came back in she asked me again why I was in pain. So I told her once again that I didn't know why, it happened so fast I had no idea what was happening. I told her again that I needed some pain medication, and once again she told me that I needed to suck it up because I didn't just have open heart surgery.I told her I am really sorry for your niece but right now I didn't really care. Well I think that was the breaking point for my sisters. They snapped on her and told her to get a doctor. She ran out in a huff... and I think it was about this time that my mom showed up.

The doctor came in and asked me a bunch of questions. He had looked at my file so he knew I had Cushings Disease, and according to him that made me a high priority. We explained to him that I had just came out of the hospital in Edmonton, and that I had a bilateral adrenalectomty. Pretty much immediately he started me on some pain medication (which was AWESOME!!!!) and got someone in to take some blood tests.

He told me that he wanted to keep me in the hospital for a few days. This was on Thursday... I was supposed to be going CAMPING on Friday. That made me sad, but I am glad this happened when it did and not when I was out in the bush somewhere! They moved me into my own room and put me on a liquid diet, my absolute favourite diet of all time (do you sense the sarcasm?) That meant now solid food, only water, tea and soup broth... NOT EVEN NOODLES!!!!!!!!! I was SOOOO hungry too because I hadn't eaten since supper the night before! :( But I drank my soup broth and drank my tea. YUM!! NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom and sisters stayed up at the hospital for a little bit but I really wanted to nap. They gave me kisses and told em they would be back in a little while to check on me. My mom is so great she had already ordered my TV and brought me clothes and Jaimie had brought me a couple magazines. I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY EVER!!!!!!!!

Finally home... :)

So when mom and I arrived home one of the first things we did was go check on our horses. Mom has some good friends who were kind enough to take care of our horses while we were away. I was still moving around quiet slowly and wasn't able to do anything but pet Luci, but it made me happy just to touch her. My horses and my dogs have always been very therapeutic in my recovery from all my treatments.... probably one of the only reasons that I am still sane!!

I was feeling pretty good once we went back home. My youngest sister Jaimie came over to visit me for a little bit and we just hung out at home. I went to bed that night feeling great... I was even able to walk up the stairs with a fair amount of ease. I remember that my incisions still hurt and I couldn't move quickly but I was getting around fairly good. I took my medication and fell asleep pretty quickly. It felt great to be in my own bed, in my parents house. No hospital noises, and no one coming in my room every hour to check on me... no disturbances :)

So the next morning I didn't wake up until about 9:30am. Immediately when I woke up I was in pain.... I had waited to long to take my prescription for the pain. So I carefully got up... as quickly as I could because the pain was growing by the second. By the time I reached the top of the stairs I was hurting pretty bad and all of the sudden I got really hot.... I started to panic... I didn't know what was happening. I called for my mom but she had let me sleep and had already gone down to the barns to do feed the horses. By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs I was literally dripping because I was so hot, and I can't even begin to tell you how much pain I was in. I started walking towards the kitchen, but by the time I got around the stairs I dropped from the pain. I crawled into the living room and managed to pull myself up onto the couch.

By this time I was terrified, I thought I was dying and I was alone. I tried to lie still on the couch hoping the pain would subside.... but it didn't. Because I was so hot and uncomfortable I started stripping (yes you heard me I was butt ass naked lying on the couch). It didn't help, I knew I needed help and I managed to reach for the telephone that was by the couch and I call my mom.

When my mom answered the phone she thought I was feeling better because I had told her when I went to bed that I was feeling great. My mom answered on like the 3rd ring "Good morning Honey!" I said "Where are you!?" she could sense the panic in my voice and said "Whats wrong?" I told her that I didn't know what was wrong but I was in EXCRUCIATING pain and I was super hot.... she told me she would be right home.... it felt like hours but she was home within 5 minutes. (Oh and don't worry I covered up with a blanket before she got home!)

She told me that I needed to go to the hospital. I told her that I couldn't move because I was in too much pain and couldn't breathe. She went into the kitchen and got me my medication and called an ambulance. She handed me my pills and some water. I couldn't believe how much pain I was in... I was so scared.... I seriously thought I was dying!!!!!!!

Ready to go HOME!!!

I had to stay in the hospital for a couple days... just so that the doctors could be sure that my levels were stabilized and that I would be able to go home safely. On the morning of May 12th, which was the Tuesday following my surgery, I was told that I would be allowed to leave the hospital. Even though I was still having trouble moving around I was packed and ready to leave by 7am, before my mom had even gotten to the hospital. I was so glad to be able to leave. When my mom arrived I just had to wait to get my vitals taken one last time. It seemed like I had been in the hospital for weeks.... not days.... I was so relieved to be going home! The nurse came in and told me what I had to continue doing while I was at home. I had to take two medications; florinef and prednisone (1 pill each) in the morning, and prednisone (1 pill) in the evening around supper time. They also gave me a prescription of painkillers to take home with me.




My mom helped me pack everything out to the vehicle and she had decided that instead of driving home that night that we should spend the night in Edmonton at the hotel that she had been calling home for the last 5 days. As we were driving out of the parking parkade every little bump, every little crack on the road made me hurt... turning corners, braking, everything caused me pain. I was actually happy to reach the hotel because I was already sore even though I had only been in the vehicle for about 20 minutes. We decided to have breakfast after we had packed my bag to the room. Mom and I sat and had a delicious breakfast in the hotel restaurant. I loved the fact that I was done eating hospital food. After eating WAY too much mom and I went up to our room to rest.... I think we woke up like 4 hours later!




When I woke up mom asked me how I was feeling, and suggested that we go buy me some sweatpants. Because of my incisions I would only be allowed to wear sweats until they healed. Mom wanted to buy me good quality ones so she took me to Lulu Lemon.... we bought a couple pairs and by the time we were done that I was exhausted again. I couldn't believe how fast I ran out of energy! We went back to the hotel and had an early supper, went up to the room and I took my medication and fell asleep.



The next morning my mom and I checked out and started to make our way home. I was still quite uncomfortable but the pain killers helped ease the pain and make the ride home shorter. When we arrived home we relaxed at home for a bit (I was living at my parents again for several different reasons. My sisters came over to see me, I was sooo happy to see them. I was happy to see my dogs and couldn't wait to see my horses. Just the fact that I knew I would be sleeping in my own bed made me happy. I was just glad it was all over and I was FINALLY home again! :)