I usually like to take a little time on New Year's Eve to reflect on the year that was and to get motivated about the year that will be. I generally do this at New Year's because I haven't taken the time out during the rest of the year to really pause and reflect - and let's face it, New Year's is a convenient time to do so. However, given the circumstances of the past year (some of which have been described here, others to be left for another day), 2006 was all about reflection and insight. This is not to suggest that I've now got it completely figured out - that would be remarkably arrogant of me (see, insight!) - but I've learned a few things along the rough, rocky road that was 2006:
1. Love the ones you've got while you've still got them: a particularly hard lesson this year, due to the sudden and tragic loss of my brother-in-law in a drunk driving accident last April. Trav, not a day goes by when I don't think about you - we miss you and wish you were still with us.
2. Health above wealth: self-explanatory, I think.
3. Protect the public health care system: although there were a few bumps along the way, the overall level of health care that I received while in the hospital was excellent. I was fortunate to have great nurses, fantastic doctors and the best surgeons around. And I didn't have to worry about whether I had enough private insurance or whether I would have to mortgage my house to cover my treatment. There's something to be said about supporting a public health system that is able to provide a high level of care regardless of a patient's income level.
4. Turning 30 isn't so bad: I'm just happy to be here - although I can't imagine what 40 will feel like...
5. You don't have to be everything to everyone all of the time: otherwise known as letting go of your deeply rooted inner desire to be Superwoman. You probably don't hear much about Superwoman anymore because the stress of having to please everyone likely killed her.
And perhaps the most important lesson of all:
Be thankful for what you have and never take anything for granted
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
A Couple of Rough Days
Just when you think everything is going so well...
I attempted to venture out of the house for the first time on Thursday. It had been exactly one week since I was discharged from the hospital and two weeks from the surgery. I thought I would head out with my mother to do a bit of Christmas shopping, but after about 15 minutes in the store, I started to swoon. And not because I saw some wildly attractive Christmas ornaments. My mom and I left the store and went immediately home, where I ended up spending the rest of the day lying on the couch, nursing a nagging headache.
The next day was worse. I have a bit of a history of migraine headaches and yesterday's headache was one of the worst ever. There were a bunch of other symptoms too (nausea, extreme chills, back pain, etc.) and I started to feel worried that maybe something had gone wrong with the surgery or maybe I had an infection of some sort. My husband called the Home Care nurse, who told us that it was probably nothing to worry about, but that maybe we should go to a Medicentre to have a doctor check it out just to be safe. So off we go to the Medicentre - my husband, my mother-in-law and me, with the wind whipping outside and the streets slippery from ice rain.
Luckily, the doctor was able to rule out any problems stemming from the surgery and ruled that the primary diagnosis was just a migraine. I walk out with some delightful anti-nauseaunts, anti-inflammatories and pain killers. My mother, meanwhile, who is not very good in a crisis, had tracked us down at the Medicentre and my husband managed to calm her down. She still drove to our home in the freezing rain to reassure herself that everything was in fact fine, and that I wasn't lying to her again (back story: when I got really sick with the colitis in January, my mother could sense that something was wrong but everytime she asked me, I told her that I was fine and there was nothing to worry about. So imagine her surprise when in early February, my husband told her that I had been admitted to the hospital. Moral of the story: never lie to your mother, because when she discovers the truth, she will never let you forget it.)
So I spent most of today in a bit of a drug-induced haze - it is possible that I might have overdone it a bit last night. It looks like I will still be stuck in the house for the foreseeable future. As the doctor said last night, I have to remember that I had major surgery and some days will be better than others; the main thing is to take it easy. A difficult thing to do, given that the holiday season is almost upon us. But luckily, most people seem to understand - unfortunately, not everyone, but that's a different story.
I attempted to venture out of the house for the first time on Thursday. It had been exactly one week since I was discharged from the hospital and two weeks from the surgery. I thought I would head out with my mother to do a bit of Christmas shopping, but after about 15 minutes in the store, I started to swoon. And not because I saw some wildly attractive Christmas ornaments. My mom and I left the store and went immediately home, where I ended up spending the rest of the day lying on the couch, nursing a nagging headache.
The next day was worse. I have a bit of a history of migraine headaches and yesterday's headache was one of the worst ever. There were a bunch of other symptoms too (nausea, extreme chills, back pain, etc.) and I started to feel worried that maybe something had gone wrong with the surgery or maybe I had an infection of some sort. My husband called the Home Care nurse, who told us that it was probably nothing to worry about, but that maybe we should go to a Medicentre to have a doctor check it out just to be safe. So off we go to the Medicentre - my husband, my mother-in-law and me, with the wind whipping outside and the streets slippery from ice rain.
Luckily, the doctor was able to rule out any problems stemming from the surgery and ruled that the primary diagnosis was just a migraine. I walk out with some delightful anti-nauseaunts, anti-inflammatories and pain killers. My mother, meanwhile, who is not very good in a crisis, had tracked us down at the Medicentre and my husband managed to calm her down. She still drove to our home in the freezing rain to reassure herself that everything was in fact fine, and that I wasn't lying to her again (back story: when I got really sick with the colitis in January, my mother could sense that something was wrong but everytime she asked me, I told her that I was fine and there was nothing to worry about. So imagine her surprise when in early February, my husband told her that I had been admitted to the hospital. Moral of the story: never lie to your mother, because when she discovers the truth, she will never let you forget it.)
So I spent most of today in a bit of a drug-induced haze - it is possible that I might have overdone it a bit last night. It looks like I will still be stuck in the house for the foreseeable future. As the doctor said last night, I have to remember that I had major surgery and some days will be better than others; the main thing is to take it easy. A difficult thing to do, given that the holiday season is almost upon us. But luckily, most people seem to understand - unfortunately, not everyone, but that's a different story.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Out, Not Yet About
I'm out of the hospital! Very good news indeed.
My surgery was on Nov. 29 and it seems that everything went very well (knock wood). The surgery, which I was told would take about 6 to 7 hours, instead took only 3 1/2. The surgeons said that it was "textbook" and that it could not have gone any more smoothly. Instead of a two week hospital stay, I was out in 8 days. Again, very good news. The overall experience this time was far different from the last time (in Feb-March of this year) and was, in general, much more positive.
So I am home now and deep into the healing process. Although I have been out for a few days, I am still frustratingly low on energy and uncomfortable in my abdominal area (hooray for painkillers!). I haven't actually ventured outside of the house yet, so I'm starting to get a little stir crazy. But I know that it was pretty major surgery and that I need to take it easy for the next few weeks in order to heal properly and to get ready for my next, and hopefully last, surgery in two or three months' time.
My general mood right now: extremely grateful. I am doing much better now than I was doing a few short months ago. Keep knocking that wood.
My surgery was on Nov. 29 and it seems that everything went very well (knock wood). The surgery, which I was told would take about 6 to 7 hours, instead took only 3 1/2. The surgeons said that it was "textbook" and that it could not have gone any more smoothly. Instead of a two week hospital stay, I was out in 8 days. Again, very good news. The overall experience this time was far different from the last time (in Feb-March of this year) and was, in general, much more positive.
So I am home now and deep into the healing process. Although I have been out for a few days, I am still frustratingly low on energy and uncomfortable in my abdominal area (hooray for painkillers!). I haven't actually ventured outside of the house yet, so I'm starting to get a little stir crazy. But I know that it was pretty major surgery and that I need to take it easy for the next few weeks in order to heal properly and to get ready for my next, and hopefully last, surgery in two or three months' time.
My general mood right now: extremely grateful. I am doing much better now than I was doing a few short months ago. Keep knocking that wood.
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