Jewel...The Ultimate Survivor!

[RobinC]

Glad to hear the surgery went well. How long until you are back to doing the Naked Happy Dace??? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

http://www.pjrc.com/jta/hobbes.gif

[SueK]

Jewel, glad to hear everything went so well, and that you're (kind of) up and about again so soon! Congrats!

[Wendy w]

http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/k2/dance30.gif

Glad to hear that surgery went well Jewel! You probably will not be dancing today, but you will soon!

[cdm]

I am very glad to see that youre back so quick. My thoughts were with you yesterday, and I was thinking about the demerol kicking in. Congratulations!!!

[browneye]

Jewel- I'm so happy you are through it! You sound in excellent spirits, too.
I said prayers for you over Kirkland yesterday....
Wow, hope your visit with parents goes well. I need a review of those Chipotle-Chicken Enchiladas. Are they posted on this BB somewhere?
I'm trying tamales for the first time on Thursday, it's Mexican nite around here. Pray for Mama Paula's Tamales!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
Best wishes,
Paula

[crazycook]

Welcome home, Jewel. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Anna

[jazzcat]

Jewel, I'm so glad to hear you are home. Even though I work in a hospital, I think you rest so much better at home, that is if you don't have children to take care of and a helpful DH. Sounds as though the Demerol is a help too. Don't push yourself too much. Sleep when you can and catch up on reading a good book. Wishing you a quick recovery. BTW, when is Hawaii?

[HARRYET]

Jewel,

So glad to hear your surgery went well! Here's wishing you a speedy recovery! Remember don't over do it, let you DH and folks help out!

Ann

[Mamasue]

Jewel....so glad to hear from you and that everyting went well. Positive attitude does wonders. It helps speed up recovery! Here is some Get Well flowers to put near your bedside.

http://wtv-zone.com/GrannyJ/grannyJ2/gifs/vaseroses.jpg

[Tiger]

Jewel you really are a BB addict! Only one of us could tell about a major surgery and also add in what they cooked last with a review!!
TAKE IT EASY!!! You won't heal as well and as fast if you don't!

[ebobbitt]

Hey Jewel! It's great to have you back.
Elizabeth

[toothmom]

Congrats on doing well with the surgery. Here is to an easy time of it at home. Remember to do 3 things-1. rest, 2. rest, and 3. rest. Take care.

[SandyM]

http://a1128.g.akamai.net/7/1128/497/0001/www.proflowers.com/prodimg/SSFasrtgerbs_sm.jpg

Gerbera daisies for you, Jewel - my thoughts and prayers were with you all the way!!! YOU ROCK!!!

(gosh I hope this works......)

[Carolyn]

Jewel, you really are a jewel! So glad to hear your surgery went well. Just remember, you, as well as your name, need to be taken care of. Let some of the others take care of their Jewel and you rest, rest,rest, cook a little, and rest,rest etc.

[SoCal]

Welcome 'home' Jewel. So glad you are back!! Look out Hawaii, here she comes!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[KimKelly]

Congratulations Jewel!!! I had two C-Sections - not anywhere near as extensive as it sounds like you had - but I sure do remember that hunched over feeling so as not to "stretch" anything. I sure hope it all goes away soon and that you are up and cooking again!

Aloha to you!

Kim

[Jewel]

Well, I did it! I survived my second and final surgery! I'm sore, but I'm not in near as much discomfort as I was during my first surgery in January. Right now, I feel like I did 7 days Post-Op back then, so I can tell that it was a less-intensive procedure.

I had a great anesthesiologist who talked me into an Epidural, so I really didn't feel much at all yesterday! Woke up at 5am this morning to feel like I'd had nearly every rib bruised, so I knew that the drugs had worn off! Demerol to the rescue, and now I'm fine. I'm sleeping propped up in bed instead of on the recliner (good sign) and I've only got one drain instead of the two I had last time, so that makes things a lot easier too! They took 2.5 lbs of fat and just over a pound of skin in this go-round, so that means I had over five pounds of excess skin total! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif My DH said I had a 5 lb bag of sugar hanging from me! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Either way, I feel pretty good, considering, and I wanted to thank everyone for the support. My tummy isn't as flat as it was supposed to be, I'm not hunched over like I would be if they pulled it tight. Two surgeries and I still have kind of loose skin on my tummy, but I can live with it. I have a waist, and when the swelling goes down (hopefully in time for Hawaii!) I'll have a flat stomach and no excess rolls anywhere!

As a side note, I made the French Toast Souffle on Saturday morning for my parents, and I hate to say this, but I don't think I'm going to make it again. I love the flavor, but I just can't get past the texture. Both times I've made it it gets really soggy in the center, and never feels like it is completely 'cooked'. Everyone likes the edges, but the middle just tastes like soggy bread. I think next time I'll make the Farmer's Casserole and skip the souffle! Tonight is Lorilei's Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas with my homemade spanish rice, and I know those will be a hit! Thanks again for the prayers everyone! I'm back! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[sneezles]

Congrats and glad to hear you are doing so well!

[tobykitty]

Congrats Jewel!! You know that you are truly loved when you have a page full of graphics supporting you. I love that Happy Dance graphic.

[goldilocks]

jewel, i am so happy to hear you are feeling well. i hope you have a fast and easy recovery!

[funnybone]

It's wonderful to hear all went well and that you are feeling great too! Don't over do it - I'm sure you still have to take it easy.

[maizeyoats]

It is great to hear from you so soon. Sounds like everything went super well.
Take it easy and have that wonderful husband of yours wait on you.

[Sara Emily]

Jewel, you MADE my day with your post!! I had my whole prayer group praying for you and feel so relieved and pleased to learn that things went even easier than expected! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Although you are still dealing with some residual pain and soreness, is'nt it nice to be on THIS side of the ordeal?!?! Now, you have nothing haging over you and only have wonderful things to which to look forward! You're such a sweetheart and have become such a valuable member of our little community here, and deserve nothing but the BEST! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Jewel]

Wow!! Thanks for the thoughts and prayers everyone! The graphics are making me jealous...I've never figured those out!

I'm doing better, just trying to figure out how to sit/stand/sleep/walk/pee with a drainage tube sticking out of my South Forty! I ask my hubby to tell me every day that Beauty is What?? Pain! I look like the Michelin Man packed in foam from bra to hips, underneath a compression garment that's meant to squeeze my new shape into a nifty little hourglass. Now I know what Rose felt like in Titanic with that lace-up corset thing! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

All in all, things are going well, but I'm so glad that I have next week off work too! I'm going to need another week and a half to 'de-swell' enough to get into a normal pair of pants. As it is now, I look bigger than I was before surgery because I'm so swollen, but just watch out in a few weeks! Thanks again everyone, you've made me feel loved (blush)! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[jazzcat]

Jewel, Thanks for the update. Did they give you anything for the inflamation? Of course I want to know since I'm a pharmacist!
Please remember you are only a couple days post-op so you need to take it easy!!!!!!! Let your wonderful DH help you out as much
as possible. P.s I'm glad to hear I'm not the only other "B" on the other post. Wishing I was a "C". Ha. This is sounding like something else!!!


[This message has been edited by jazzcat (edited 05-16-2001).]

[This message has been edited by jazzcat (edited 05-16-2001).]

[Jewel]

Originally posted by jazzcat:
Jewel, Thanks for the update. Did they give you anything for the inflamation? Of course I want to know since I'm a pharmacist!


Hi Jazzcat! If by inflamation you mean swelling? The only thing I was told was to take extra strength Tylenol every four hours. I'm on Demerol for pain, but that's it! I honestly don't think the Tylenol is doing much for the swelling, but they tell me to take it! Also told me to STAY hydrated, and not put my water bottle down till its empty, then I'm supposed to fill it up again!

I was told that Lymphatic Massage really helped with swelling, and I'm thinking about calling a massage therapist and checking it out, because this intense 'keep me from wearing normal clothes' swelling can go on for months and months.

Do you know of another drug, either prescription or OTC that could help with swelling? Just curious! Thanks for the help!
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[jazzcat]

Jewel, Yes, there are several things you could take (even OTC) for the swelling however since your doctor told you to take tylenol (which doesn't help much with swelling) I would say to call your doctor and ask about it. There may be a reason for why he/she did not include that in your regimen. With anti-inflammatory meds there is a chance of increased bleeding, etc. Let me know how you do. P.S. I love all your flowers.

[jazzcat]

Jewel, I sent you an e-mail. P.S. Hopefully your address is for at home.

[This message has been edited by jazzcat (edited 05-17-2001).]

[Jewel]

Sorry, Jazz, that email is at work. Home is pam@ourfinalanswer.net and I'd appreciate any input! Thanks again! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[jmarie]

I opened up the BB today, wondering of anyone had heard from our 'JEWEL' ...Lo and behold! the very first post is from Jewel and what a jewel it was! We are so proud of you! And you are in our prayers. Think tight!

[jazzcat]

Jewel, I forwarded the mail to you at home. Please let me know if you receive it.

Thanks.

[Jewel]

Thanks, Jazzcat, but my doctor is NOT someone I can call for suggestions. I love his work, he's a master at what he does, but he's kind of a jerk at times. ( I call him Dr. Ego). His staff is wonderful, but they also bow to him. The anesthesiologist is who recommended the Tylenol. Honestly, I haven't been taking it much the last few days because of that bleeding thing. What OTC could I take to reduce swelling? Don't worry, I won't hold you responsible or anything, I'll probably check it out with one of the nurses, but I got in a LOT of trouble with my doctor when I said 'I read on the internet' or 'I heard from a friend'. The first time I told him I'd read something that was a bit different from what he told me, he got huffy and told me that I was to do ONLY what he told me to do, that he was my doctor, and that I needed to trust him. However, in my opinion, anyone who has elective surgery without finding out EVERYTHING they can beforehand, is nuts! The internet is a virtual encyclopedia, and I'd be a fool not to take advantage of it.

Any OTC's you can help me with would be appreciated! Thanks so much! I gotta stuff myself back into my size 12 Gloria Vanderbilts before the 29th when I go back to work! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif