3 weeks post op today

Things are looking up for me and my recovery...but I'm hesitant to put that out there.

I had a cystogram on July 5th.  My bladder was filled to capacity with contrast and then x-rays were performed.  No signs of leaking were visible, what a relief!

My doctor's words of advice to me were "You are sealed, you're not healed" so I've spent the last couple weeks laying on the couch, doing very very little.  I still have an 8lb weight limit. Which means I can't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk.  This limitation was especially frustrating when my "4 gallon" 2 year old got strep throat and just wanted to be cuddled and carried every where.  Thank goodness daddy was able to take the day off work and take care of him.

The incision is healing up nicely.  While I'm still not thrilled about the "x marks the spot" pattern of scars I have going on now, I'm glad to see this looks like it will be a very small scar.

Pain is pretty minimal at this point.  If I'm up moving around for more than about 30 minutes I start to feel sore.  And I get pretty tired after about 2 hours of activity.  But it's all manageable with rest, ice and occasionally half a vicodin.

My next check up is in a couple weeks, and hopefully I'll be cleared to go back to work at that point.

Recovery

Well surgery is done. My Dr. says it went as well as possible.
I am home from the hospital now and trying very very hard to take it easy.
Today I'm having bladder spasms which are not being controlled with Vesicare. I've got some Toviaz to try tomorrow and if that doesn't work they are mentioning something called a "belladonna/opium suppository"

Last time I checked, no one told me anything about poop-hole-narcotics being part of recovery this time around.

Although, to be fair, up until today I didn't know poop-hole-narcotics were part of anything, ever.

In case you're curious this is what 4 days post-op looks like:

Surgery Tomorrow

Scheduled for surgery @ 2:45 to repair the fistula. Unbelievably nervous today. This anxiety stuff is manageable most days, but right now I feel like my esophagus us chewing it's way down my throat to meet my small intestine.

Surgery is Scheduled

2:45 Wednesday the 27th I'm going under the knife for a fistula repair.

I am feeling really nervous about this surgery. And a TON of anxiety about our finances...we have no savings, and I'm really not sure what we are going to do for the six weeks I'm recovering.

I am confident that we will make it thought this tough period. And I can see us happy on the other side of this.

So for now I guess we will just keep calm and carry on.

No it hasnt

Back to the dr today. Had the catheter removed and will be scheduled for another surgery by Monday.

Feeling relieved to have a definite plan in place.

Scared of another surgery.

2-4 days in patient...6 weeks out of work. No lifting for 3 months!

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

The leaking has stopped!

Not an official statement from my doctor.
Just an observation.

Fingers crossed it stays this way!

Bladder Spasms

My son burned his hand on the coffee maker a couple days ago. I had no choice but to take both kids to a Dr appointment and have him checked out. After loading and unloading 2 kids and a stroller my bladder freaked. And started spasming in a way that resembles menstrual cramping.

I called my Dr and asked what to do yesterday and he put me on ANOTHER medication to calm the spasms. I like my doctor an trust his decisions but today I am feeling frustrated by the necessity to add another medication to my daily regiment.

I am 30 years old! That's quite young by most standards. And every day I take:
Zantac for heartburn
Losartan for blood pressure control and Kidney Maintenance
Vitamin D3 to boost a deficiency
Citalopram to help control my anxiety issues
Levaquin - an antibiotic to try and prevent kidney infection while stuck with re catheter. This one is KILLING my somach.
Lorazepam - aka Adivan. I had a major
Spike in stress an anxiety levels after the fistula opened and needed extra assistance controling my anxiety.

And yesterday I added Vesicare to control bladder spasms.



Still feeling run down today. Maybe its the meds. More likely it's my mental state.

Stressed about money.

Tired of my body failing me.

Tired of the strain this is putting on my family and my husband.

We are ready for some good luck around here! Any positive thoughts you can send our way are greatly appreciated!