I long for the pizza dream to come true - a day of paralysis - gut feelings
Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 10:48AM ;)
I took my last bite of food 83 hours ago - a Dove chocolate square embedded with almonds. This was part of my bowel cleansing, so there would be no food in my colon when Dr. O'Malley cut it out. All I could drink was Apple Juice, Seven-Up and black coffee on the first day and on the second, these things plus a one-gallon jug of the liquid laative, Golighty. Whoever named it had one wrapped sense of humor. Approximately 36 hours into this cleansing fast, Margie took advantage of the fact that Jobe had fallen into a nap to pack Kalib into the car with her and go pay bills that had languished up until then.
I took advantage of the fact that the house was now quiet to lie down on the couch to see if I could take a nap and in my weakened state soon feel asleep. About one hour into the nap, I began to dream pizza - topped by Canadian bacon, a double dose of mushrooms, onions, green peppers and olives.
I then woke up and could not go back to sleep. I desperately wanted that pizza. In fact, that pizza has not left my mind since. I think of food often and that pizza is the only food I think of. Even when my gut hurts too much to eat, as it does now, I think of that pizza.
The whole family understands that when the Dr. finally gives the okay, whoever is with me is going to buy that pizza from Milano's and we are going to it.
For now, these water moistened swabs are the only I can take by mouth - and first, I must dab squeeze them again the edge of the cup to remove excess water. Everytime I do this - and not very often - I think of the final days of the life of my dad when all we could give him was swabs such as these - although some had lemon in them and I think it might have been Mary Ann who dipped a couple in Pepsi.
;)
This is my anesthesiologist, Dr. Robert Clark, just before I went into surgery. He is about to give me an epidural to make what would otherwise be pain close to unbearable bearable. He is going to attach the epidural directly into my spinal column, so he is instruction me to bend my back into the shape of a "Halloween cat." I do, he does and it kind of hurts going but okay after that.
At some point, he is telling me that once he medicates me for the surgery, I will go out in about three seconds. Three seconds after that, I wake up in the recovery room to find that four-and-a-half hours have passed and the surgery is complete. My gut hurts something fierce and I am freezing, shivering and shaking in what appears to me to be the early stages of hypothermia.
Then the anesthiologist cranks up the drugs going through the epidural and the pain in my gut goes away - entirely.
;)
Someone then wheels me into room 327 orf the progressive ward, where I find Lisa, Bryce and Melanie waiting for me. Not long after that, I discover that from the chest down, I not only have no feeling, but am paralyzed. i cannot move anything. I get worried, because I have no memory of anyone telling me this would happen. After I inquired, they said this sometimes happened and sometimes didn't, but I had nothing to worry about. When the level of medication in the epidural was lowered far enough, I would be able to move again. I think of my brother, Ron, who spent the final 11 years of his life paralyzed, following his motorcycle crash.
They want me to walk often in order to reactivate my intestine, so they cut the level down until finally, this morning, I was able to get out of bed with assistance and walk three wobbly, short laps around the nurses station.
The bad thing is, the pain has now come back to my gut. Not only does it really, really, hurt but the intensity of the pain grows by the minute. And my shoulder - my artifical, titanium shoulder - or at least the muscles around it hurt like crazy, because I could not change my position. My shingles itch.
I have yet seen my doctor or heard his report. He is coming in sometime today. Yet, despite all this pain, my gut feeling is that the surgery went well.
Well, on top of everythingelse, I am sweating like crazy. This is all I am going to blog for now.
Reader Comments (19)
Bill,
Healing prayers coming your way from San Francisco.
Refuah Schleimah - Hebrew transliteration for "A full healing"
Marilyn
Prayers continue. I am sorry you are hurting.
Bill, I hope that you are well soon! It is certainly a testament to your strength and will (intestinal fortitude :-) That you are even blogging this short post today! Here's wishing you a speedy recovery and I'll look forward to a "Bill Hess sighting" soon, whether you are on bike or foot. Take care!!
Get Well Soon Uncle.... Warm wishes from London and India...
When I saw the picture of the swabs, grandpa was the first thing I thought about. A happier attachment, I always think if his chair whenever I see brown corduroy:) Hoping you heal fast and well!
Just going to make a guess here, but I doubt pizza will be on the diet for a while. Think liquids that can not hurt all that fancy stitching the doctor just put in. They may give you some yogurt to get some bacteria back into your intestine so it will start "doing" it's thing.
So glad the bastard is out of you and you have a long life ahead of you! Margie will getting a list of do and don't foods to keep you on the "go". i'm just so happy you are out of surgery and doing this good. Keep wiggling those toes!!! Sending healing prayers and good thought your way!
Sending healing wishes to you Bill!
Thank you for the post -- I've been thinking about you and sending good thoughts thru the air waves that send good vibrations to good people. I believe that you will have a complete recovery. Take good care of yourself -- and listen to Margie.
I can't believe you are taking pictures and blogging through this. Unbelievable. Best wishes and prayers for an uneventful recovery, Bill-I-Am.
Ummm. Sounds so very unpleasant. How well I remember that experience. I did not have any paralysis, however. Walk as much as you can without exhausting yourself. It really does help. This is one of those times when farting is something people should be happy you do.
And, yes, it was me who gave Dad Pepsi. He appreciated it so much.
I've been worried about you, Bill. Thank you for the update.
I hope that you will ask for pain meds as quickly and as often as you need them; no reason to hesitate on THAT sort of medical care!
Best of luck to you as you recover, and especially as you get through these next several days.
Dear Bill.i.am or will.i.am.NOT,
Here is the will.i.am song “Great Times”. I do admit that I have never really ever listened to will.i.am, but decided to see if any of his songs would have appropriate lyrics for the occasion. This one seemed to fit the bill, Bill. (pun intended) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNEagK5qhjQ
Wishing you a speedy recovery (lyrics below)
I hope you're ready
Great times are coming
I hope you're ready
I see them coming around
I hope you're ready
Great times are coming
I hope you're ready
I see them coming around
So let's celebrate the good times
Celebrate the good times
Celebrate the good times
I just want to have myself a good time
So make some noise
Make some noise
Make some noise
Make some noise
For the good time, good time, good time
I'm living for the good time, good time, good time
I'm living for the good time, good time, good time
The good time, good time, good time..... (etc.)
whew!!!
I hope your healing speeds up and that you get back into doing what you best - taking pictures and telling stories - and, of course, loving your family. Sending healing thoughts your way.
Pizza?
Good job, neighbor!
The only time I was in a situation where the lil swabs were all I could have I could only think of bad words so you're way ahead there with your pizza dreams :-)
Sending best wishes and prayers
I am thinking about your post about the hike with your daughter.. I hope you an find your way back to that rock and the calm connection you felt with beautiful Alaska. I had my tonsils out a few years ago (I was mid-30's) because they were so bad. I couldn't eat solid food for over a month -the last two weeks while on a boat in the Bering Sea. I had the most amazing food dreams too.
feel better real soon and i hope they can do something for the pain
I've had internal surgery a couple of times and know well the food craving (my obsession was a baked potato). In my experience, the intense pain went away in a few days (but hopefully they can still give a little something for the pain). My thoughts are with you!
Praying for your continued healing Mr. Hess. Get better soon!