10.26--JC Blair Hospital (TUE)

Surgery Day

I was the first on the list for surgery...my slot was the 8 a.m. slot. The nurses took me down to the 2nd Floor, procedure room. My gurney was parked to the side o' OR #3, which 3 just happens to be my lucky number. We were all ready and waiting for Dr. Spencer Long to arrive, which he did just in time to put his initials on my right hip (so the knew which side to operate on), then they wheeled me back to my room. I scooted from my gurney to the cold operation table, and they started to hook up all my cords and wires (heart monitors, sphygmomanometer, pulse ox, etc...). They then put a mask over my nose and mouth, told me to take some deep breaths in and out, and that was the last thing I remembered before heading off to candy mountain. After waking up from the procedure, they made me stay in the post-op section for 45 minutes before heading back to my room, especially after what happen last time.

Once I got back to my room, I just took it easy, as I was in a tremendous amount o' pain. Also, I was back to my room by

After surgery...had to update everything!

Before my surgery, Mama kissed my check. When she did, she left a kiss print. I'm pretty sure she meant to leave a mark so everyone in the OR would see it and say something.
Can you see it?

My old boss stopped by for a visit.
It's Pammy Baby!!

Pam was already up here for something else, so she thought she'd stop by.

It was SO good to see her!

Linda Bee Bee and Me!

CHEESE!! We are so silly!!

Terry has been a real blessing too, she's been up to see me a couple days and we've had some great talks and it's been encouraging to talk to her as well. Also, during one o' the visits we'd take a picture together, but at the angle we were at made it look like she had a double chin.
So she had to redeem herself...no double chin!

I forget now, who was with us, but whoever was told us this "trick" to use to keep you from getting a double chin. You are supposed to stick you head up (like me in the picture), then you are to stick your chin forward (like Terry in the picture), and then you are to put your head normal and smile. According to this source (whose name shall remain anonymous...mainly cause I can't remember who it was), you won't have a double chin!! So we are posing here for what we were to do.
Aren't you glad we modeled the steps?

Mama's students from DBC stopped.



Here's our silly faced picture.

Dr. Spencer Long and Me...

Steph and I!!

Steph was supposed to take me for a walk around the halls. While we were on our walk, there was a lady on the floor that was screaming bloody murder. So in the picture below, I'm screaming in labor pains and Steph is cursing the father o' the baby for getting her preggos.
Screaming and Swearing.

Billy and Zane stopped by to visit.

Haha...love this picture.

Tickling Zane...

Stinky armpits...

Is this sanitary??

Amy, sorry for torturing Zane.

"I can't hear ya mom, somethings in my ears."

Love this picture o' Z and Me!!

Mr. and Mrs. Kidd stopped!!

Haha...they aren't going to live this down!!

THE END!!!

10.19--JC Blair Hospital (TUES)

TUESDAY

October 19, 2010.

My procedure was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. When I woke up this morning feeling achy, a pretty high fever (103.5), and extreme chills. Like to the point where my whole body was convulsing with chills. Terry Snare and Joyce Brubaker stopped by around 8:00 a.m. so that I'd have someone to comfort me right before I would be going into surgery. They stopped by and visited with me. Helped me get completely ready before transport team came by to pick me up. Because my temperature was high, they were scared if I should even have the surgery done, so they drew a few tubes o' blood, and 3 blood culture bottles, and finally a urine C&S. All the tests looked good enough, so I was on schedule...and away I went.

Joyce & Me.

Terry & Me.

They took me down to the "holding tank" or so I called it. They asked me a few questions, had me sign a few papers, and then gave me something to relax me...and relax me it did. Then they took a marker and marked up my right side. I scooted from the gurney to the surgical table, where they hooked me up to a few things, and there were two metal circles they placed on my side and belly. When I woke up, I had the feeling, that I had to pee incredibly bad. The nurses and my doctor were talking about me as well. They also kept taking my temperature, shaking their heads, and more talking. Finally, they asked me what my mother's number was that they could reach her. So I gave them my mama's cell phone, which they called her to get an ok to take me back into surgery. The first surgery, they went in and did a lithotripsy on my big stones (9-10mm) to break them up into pieces so that I could pass them on my own easier; however, even the smallest stone was too big for me to pass. One o' the stones got obstructed making urine back up into the kidney causing an infection, resulting in a fever o' 103.5! After getting the ok to operate, the doctor's took me back to the table, put me back under, and placed a stent (or tube) in to help keep my ureter open.

So I left my room at 9:30, and I didn't get back from surgery till 4:30 p.m.!! What a L-O-N-G crazy day!! They want to leave the stent in for a week; however, the last times I've had stents it just made me more miserable, and I usually ended up pulling them out. So this has caused me a whole lot o' pain, but I'm trying to leave it in! Even though the stent is in, I'm still in a great deal o' pain. As if the pain wasn't bad enough with the stones trying to make their way down, now when I pee...I pee blood. It literally feels like I'm peeing fire!! Then it hurts so bad I don't even want to pee! Hopefully this all passes quickly, b/c I don't know how much longer I can handle all o' this stuff.

THE END!!!

9.29--Surgery Day

For those o' you that may not know what was going on, this surgery was a get-it-done-STAT surgery. They told me that I had let the stricture go, and they scheduled me for surgery the following week. They also told me that this would be something that they may need to do if my Crohn's Disease continues to have it's "normal flares."

The Procedure: They went in and cut where the stricture was and then stretched it open. You can see from the picture below that it was swollen really tight, and you can also see all the redness from the inflammation and the flare. They also took 4 biopsies, which the results should be back in 7-10 days.

Stricture Picture...Haha, I'm so good!

My Surgical Report.

I love the part where it says, "Avoid making critical decisions or signing legal documents for 24 hours." Also says, "Rest!"
My favorite part o' the surgical report.

My Resting "Spot".
My couch is so incredibly comfortable.

I'm so very thankful for two wonderful friends that really helped me out during this awful time. Stephen and Steph Fisher...they stopped over to visit, which was HUGE for me because I couldn't go anywhere or do anything. We watched a few movies and just talked. Stephen took me to get my medication and some other things...he even took me to get some Chai Tea (to which I added 1/2 a container o' sugar!) at Standing Stone Coffee. I love friends!

THE END!!!

28-- CD...S&S Fisher...Family

Altoona Regional Hospital.
June 28, 2010.
Room #1069.

I finally was able to get my very lovely room around 5:30 a.m.! I was thankful again for Alisha spending the wee mornin' hours with me especially when everyone else was not around. I couldn't ask for such a wonderful friend who was willing to give up her night to be an encouragement to me!

Thanks Alisha.
Thanks SO much!

------------------------

Monday, June 28, 2010.
Stephen & Steph Fisher

The wee hours o' the night had come and gone. Also, I didn't have the hospital lab top. It's so funny how this lap top has picture files on it. The only pictures that are on this computer are hospital pictures. Quite funny, eh? Anyway, I was able to get a hole o' Stephen and Stephanie Fisher to see if they would be willing to bring some things that I needed from the house that I hadn't had time to get in the short time I had to pack all my things. The things that they needed to bring that I needed were:
(1) My Hospital Lap Top.
(2) My Humira Injection.
(3) My Camera Card Reader.

They did such a wonderful job in finding all the things on the list and bringing them up to me. Wow! What great friends! (:

Steph helping me with my injection.

Stephen wishing he did the injection.

Can you find 7 differences between the pictures?

All o' us...We look SO good!

Stephen, Me, & Steph...what are our poses?
*Gas Pain Face*.*Twisted Uterus*.*Kim Kardasheon*

Monday, June 28, 2010.
Dad...Jesse...Justin...FAMILY!

Justin and Jesse stopped by to visit with me as well and to try to cheer me up. Well, let me just tell you that they did a heck o' a job in completing their assignment! They are such wonderful brothers! (:

The Three o' Us! (:

Me & My Li'l Brudder...MUAH!

Justin & I...Silly Faces!

"Wait, I forgot, my glasses!"

Me & My Daddy!

No, your eyes are not playing tricks with you. My father really did make it to the hospital to visit with me. We all know how much dad doesn't like to travel; however, he was such a great sport about coming down to visit me. We also got together and watched America's Got Talent. We were all dying laughing and it was a great time. I just love my daddy!! (:

Impression---
(1) Found Retroverted Uterus.
(2) Also showed a Tilted Cervix.
*In English*
Normally the uterus is in a straight vertical position. My uterus is tipped backwards toward the back of my pelvis. The tilted position makes it more prone to rub up against my intestines, making fistulas easier to form.

NORMAL ME (Not So Normal)

Treatment Plan---
~Surgery to reposition the uterus. A uterine suspension can typically reduce the pain experienced. This surgical procedure is used to reposition a tipped uterus from its backward facing position to a forward facing position.
~The UPLIFT procedure is a newer and improved method of performing a uterine suspension. It has been proven to have fewer postoperative complications than other uterine suspension procedures. Uterine repositioning provides lasting pain relief in most cases.
~The "Knee-chest" exercise may help reposition a tipped uterus temporarily. However, this exercise will not be effective if the uterus has become tipped because of endometriosis, fibroid tumors, or pelvic infections.

~ I also met with the surgeon here at the hospital; however since I'm not the typical "normal" Crohn's Case, he said if there would be any options o' surgery, he'd prefer I get transferred to UPMC.

~I will also be continuing to take the anti-inflammatory medications (Solu-Medrol) three times a day.

THE END!!!

Monday (Day 18)

UPMC Montefiore.
My New Room---N1262
My Phone Number--412.802.3226

See My Room? My last name is Finnegan now...

On my way to the OR...

Because we didn't know what room we were going to be in we had to carry our luggage all over the hospital. We did have a lot o' bags; however, we put the majority o' the bags underneath my gurney so Ace didn't have to hold all o' them.

Down in the "pre-op" area with the two anesthesiologist. They did an excellent job...mainly because they knocked me out and I don't remember a THING!! YAY!

I got back from surgery and hooked up to IV pain meds, which I can click the clicker every 6 minutes.

Alonna, RN, monitored my post-op status
for my first night. Ugh, it was very painful,
I'm not gonna lie.

Uh...Eww....

Just got back from surgery..."resting"...

My nose looks all deformed and stuff.

I was NPO (nothing by mouth) so they gave me a plastic stick with a green spongey thing on the end. I could dip the green sponge in water and then use that to moisten my mouth.

Me & Baby...Baby helps me when I need to cough.

Me and MY BABY...he makes me feel all better.

Because I have a PICC Line, the "lab tech people" don't have to jab me every a.m. to take my blood, which is a huge blessing! This is how they drawl the blood. They use an empty syringe and pull back so that all the blood into the syringe. The blood taken here is called discard blood, and it is thrown away.

Drawling the Waste Blood from PICC Line.

All the equipment that she used. You can see all the flushes, and all the tubes that are needed for my lab drawln. I needed a Chemisty, CBC, PT/PTT, INR, and then an ESR.

All the equipment.

The view from my window...

Lots o' buildings and houses...

/\/\/\ MONDAY VISITORS /\/\/\

I certainly was not expecting any visitors to come down to visit me because o' it being such a long drive. Pastor Coleman was on a missions trip to St. Vincent where he took a bunch o' the older kids (Johnny, Jared, Ginny, Joy). Yet, he made the 2-3 hour trip down to Pittsburgh to visit me and I believe Bob Clark. Poor Pastor, I doubt he will ever want to leave the county or leave the church again, cause he left and everyone got sick (Bob Clark, Alisha Hawn, Me), got in car accident (Vera Alleman), and Jana got her last treatment.

Pastor & Me.

I met her at camp and we always had a hot glass o' tea together. She is from Upper Michigan, but she has family in Butler. So she spent the week in Butler with her family. Then she stopped by to visit me, which was oh so very good o' her. She really made my day. I hadn't seen her in forever. So it was so awesome to see her. I love this girl.

Me & Mama A.

/\/\/\ Food to Eat /\/\/\

Ace got a li'l hungry, so here is what he ordered"

• Cheese Burger.
• Fries.
• Brownie.
• Ketchup.
• Mustard.
• Mountain Dew.
  

/\/\/\ THE END /\/\/\