Surgery is done

Hey All!

My total abdominal hysterectomy surgery was done June 9 at 8am by Dr. Hunt and her fellow, and the anesthesiologist Dr. Carter. Surgery went well they said. Said they found 3 areas that had endometeriosis, and it was a good thing I got it all removed now when I did. Or if I had the surgery done in the future the endometeriosis would have spread and been harder to remove.

The first day was bad, they were scared to give me to much pain medication. Even though we already had a discussion that I have a high tolerance to pain meds and it takes a lot of it to help ease pain.

Then I was on the Woman's floor because the Transplant floor was full. The nurses there were good, but I still prefer my transplant nurses.

I had one pyscho nurse. She broke down crying and cussing because she crushed up one of my medicines that you can't crush it up or break in half because its enteric coated and won't work if you do that to it. And I told her that before she did it. And her being a nurse, she should have known that in the first place and I shouldn't have had to tell her. So she had to throw it away and start over.

Then later that day the same nurse was changing my IV out and moving it to another site because it had blown and I need to get a bag of IV fluids. Well my one of my transplant doctors were there and she didn't have anything ready. Just whipped out my IV out of my hand and blood stars gushing all over the place. She had no gloves on. She smashed her hand on top of mine. The doctor was appalled. He told her to put gauze on it. She goes, oh I don't use that we just use napkins out of the bathroom and goes and gets some thats sitting on the sink and puts them on my hand. The doctor eyes were huge and he rolled them then told his fellow to go get some gauze. Then said that I needed to be transferred to the transplant floor STAT so that I'm cared my nurses that know what they are doing. So she almost broke down crying again. My doc was worried that with her putting her hand on mine without any gloves is that I would catch a germ from her through the open spot on my hand where the IV was.

Then later when I had a visitor she came to give me my meds and couldn't do anything right and I had to keep correcting her. Then my feeding tube got plugged up and instead of trying to help me, she gets upset and almost starts to cry again. Then finally just walks out the room without saying anything.

The night nurse said I wouldn't have her again during my stay and that they would talk to her after I left.

Then I had bad gas pain! I had to get 3 suppositories. And did a LOT of walking.

The next day I felt better so Mom and I went to the deli and got a sandwich. Then they day after that we went to a hamburger joint thats in the hospital and ummm it was so good. I only took a few bites of Moms food though.

Later that afternoon a nurse took out my staples and put steri strips on top of the incision. Well, the glue that was left un covered. Ended up sticking to my underwear. So the next time I had to pee, I was glued to my undies! And I had to pee badly so it was not a time to be stuck in your panties!

Saturday, I'm to be discharged. And guess what? the psycho nurse is back! She did her job and didn't mess with me and check on me very much, so I was glad for that. I think she knew I didn't really like her cause she wasn't as friendly as she was before. I was discharged and just waiting on Dad to come pick Mom and I up. So he got there right at 9pm and we got home a little after 11pm. I also took one of the hospital pillows home with me. I needed it for support to hold on top of my incision on the ride home. Ooopps. Didn't want to just take it, but I needed it. I'm still using it to hold on my incision for support too.

The ride home made me sore! Then Sunday I was really sick with nausea. And had dry heaves, so every time I started having dry heaves I cried cause it felt like my incision was going to rip apart and my insides were going to come outside! Later Sunday night when I started to feel better, Mom and I watch "Juno" and "The Golden Compass". Both are good movies.

Monday I had my blood drawn. CBC, BMP, and Prograf level. Also got my lung clinic follow up appt for June 24. And my GYN follow up for July 21.

I'm hoping that my renal function is back to normal because during the hospital it went really high and they said over 40% of my kidneys weren't working. So gave me lots of IV fluids and got it down but on the higher end of normal side. They may lower my dosage of Prograf again depending on if its still high or not. The drugs I have to take to keep me alive are hard on the kidneys and they say some people eventually have kidney failure and will need to have a kidney transplant.

Also Monday. I went and ran some errands with Dad. Went to the feed store for horse feed. Got Pacman and new lime green halter. (now I need to find him a lime green matching lead rope). And 2 pecan pies for Mom. Then went to post office to mail some foal halters to Lexi and get some stamps. Then to pharmacy to pick up my medicine. Then went to hot dog stand so Dad could get something to eat. Then went to TSC where I got a Jolly Ball, blue bubble gum scent/flavored for the 3 2yos to play with, some EZ ALL foamer and gallon of shampoo for it to wash the horses with.

When got home gave the colts the Jolly Ball and they love it! They roll it around and pick it up by the handle and swing it around and hit each other with it. I need to get another one for Shady and Scooter Bug to play with. I know that they will love playing with one!

Also the new floral painted headstall and noseband that I got for Ginger came in while I was in the hospital. Its really pretty, I like it! Now I need to save up so I can buy the matching breastcollar for it too! The new Legacy Classic Equine boots came as well, they are purple, got a set for her front feet and set for her rear legs. I also got her a new rope halter with attached lead rope. Its light blue, pink, and a little bit of black in it.

I also told Hannah last night that she can have one of my Carrie Underwood tickets and come to the concert with me! So I'm excited about that! I know we will have a LOT of fun! Its this Saturday.

I also won some barrel racing training videos from winningruns, I can't wait to start watching them! There are 13 DVDs in all to watch! I'm going to learn a LOT from those!

I'm still excited about getting Pacman all his new tack! I finally picked his color to be lime green. And it helps that Mom got me lime green with purple straps Professional Choice Elites boots and some lime green over reach boots. So now I have a halter. And now I need a lead rope and reins and lime green water and grain buckets for him and a hay net/bag. Also need to get him a canvas duck blanket, but I have never seen them in lime green.

My lungs are doing wonderful! And the incision pain isn't that bad anymore unless I over do it, hit my abdomen on something, or pick up something thats to heavy. I'm supposed to stay off the horses for 6-8 weeks. And no driving until I'm cleared by the doctor.

While in the hospital. I think it was my 2nd day post-op I got a visit from a fellow Tx 26 barrel racer Karen. It was so great to meet her! She is a sheriffs Deputy. So gets to carry a hand gun, taser, and hand cuffs, along with some other neat gadgets I presume as well. She is such a nice person. I wish I could meet more people like her! She has been faced with illness as well and she is pushing through it so well. I wish her the best on her first barrel race back, its on the July 4th weekend! I hope she does well! I'm so happy for her! She brought me a gift, a couple books and a card all in a gorgeous looking bag. She is so sweet!

And finally, I'm glad to be home. To sleep in my own bed!

Surgery tomorrow

What a day, what a day!

Didn't get much sleep last night because of the menstrual cramps and along with that the same unbearable pain I've had before by my feeding tube is back. Not sure if its a kidney stone or what. But it started to hit me at 2am. I'm taking pain medicine every 3 hours and all it does is makes it tolerable. If I turn a certain way or take a deep or fast breath is has a shooting sharp pain run through my left side. Ugh. I can't wait for tomorrow to hurry up and get here. Hopefully get this new side pain fixed and say bye-bye to horrible periods!

Last night Mom and I walked 2 miles around the track. I wanted to keep walking some more but Mom's knees and feet were hurting her. The bottom of my feet were burning too, but I still wanted to keep walking. It was fun, we talked about so many things. I wanted to keep walking so that we could keep talking and enjoying the afternoon. But, we had to get back home so I could take my medicines and get the horses taken care of and tucked into bed. We did stop by WalMart on the way home and got some last minute stuff to bring to hospital. I got 2 DVDs for Mom and I to watch.

I finished packing for the hospital stay today. This afternoon will put my bags in the truck.

Yesterday watched the Belmont Stakes, hoping to see Big Brown win, hoping he would so that I would get to see my first Triple Crown winner. It was a disappointing finish, Big Brown placed last, he was pulled up by his jockey. His jockey felt that he had no horse under him and he wasn't running his game or being his self and he was almost kicked from being to close behind another horse, so was pulled up. Da'Tara won the Belmont Stakes. So this year marks 30 years since the last Triple Crown winner. Maybe next year there will be an awesome colt to break it! To be a Triple Crown winner, you must win the Kentucky Derby, a few weeks later win the Preakness Stakes, and lastly another more weeks and win the Belmont Stakes.

Today I've kept myself hooked up to feeding tube stuff. Normally I only run it at night while I'm sleeping with 3 cans of tube feeding nutrition and about 200ml of water. Well, I did that last night. And then this morning I put in 1 can of the nutrition and the rest, about 900ml of water. I did this to keep my hydrated and because at midnight I have to go NPO (nothing to eat or drink) so I'm doing it during the day so that when I go to bed I don't have to worry about it or have to wake up at midnight to turn it off. Its easier this way for me.

Tonight, my last meal is going to be chicken stir fry with carrots, broccoli, onions, squash, water chestnuts, mushrooms, radish, and sliced up garlic clove. Served over rice and of course with soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, YUMMY! For dessert I will have a piece of cake most likely.

We are getting up at 2am. Leaving the house at 3:30am. Check in at 6am on Main 6 NW, I think this is the woman's floor. Surgery is scheduled for 8am. Its at The Methodist Hospital. After surgery I should go to the transplant floor on Dunn4 as long as there is a bed available.

I'm excited for surgery to hurry up and get it done and over with! No more pain! (Once I'm healed anyway, lol). Then I have a LOT of plans to do with the horses! I don't think I'm going to get much sleep tonight at all!

Oh, can't believe I almost forgot! I ordered new horse stuff today! I LOVE getting new tack/horse stuff! I got front and rear pair of Legacy Classic Equine purple boots for Ginger, she needs new ones badly! Her old pair of purple Professional Choice SMB lls are 13yrs old! I also got her a new floral painted browband headstall and matching tie down (nose band). Also ordered horse de-wormers for the everyone. I'm guessing it will get delivered while I'm still at the hospital. Oh, well, Dad will be here.

Also have to have Dad ship off the package to Lexi, its foal halters for her newborn foal Remedy! I hope she can use them and they fit Remedy Ann!

And I have finished another book today. Its titled "Riding Lessons". Its about a woman and her daughter move back to her parents farm as her father is dying. So she buys a rescue horse who happens to be a full brother to her horse from her childhood. The twist to the story is the horse she bought, was supposed to be dead, died in a fiery trailer accident so the owner could collect insurance monies on him because he found out the horse has a joint disease and he also lost his left eye. But the horse got away somehow, so the owners "re-created" the horrific accident and burned another horse to death so that the autopsy person couldn't' tell that it wasn't the correct horse. And AnnieMarie figured out the plot. In the end she ends back with her horse named Hurrah, full brother to her childhood horse named Harry. Harry had died in an accident and supposedly Harry and Hurrah are very rare color of chestnut brindled horses. So AnnieMarie also gets her daughter Eva a horse, an yearling Arabian filly named Flicka who had a dislocated shoulder and was found in the kill pen who was abused by horse tripping. (people get horse running as fast as they can, then rope their legs, and knock them down) At the very end of the book AnnieMarie is getting up the courage to ride Hurrah. She gets her tack ready and is getting Hurrah ready and thats the end. So you can speculate that she rides him. AnnieMarie hasn't rode since the riding accident with Harry, she was jumping him in an event and he broke his neck and afterwards she never rode again... until now? Also AnnieMarie is newly divorced. Her husband already has a girlfriend, named Sonja. And AnnieMarie and Dan, the vet and founder of the horse rescue, start dating.

I'm hoping to read the next book called "Flying Changes" to find out if she rides Hurrah and what becomes of Eva and Flicka. And if the relationship between Dan and AnnieMarie goes anywhere. Unless this is the book I should have read first that lead up to everything I read in "Riding Lessons"! I hope its the continued book of Riding Lessons though so I can see what happens! Plan on taking it to the hospital with me to read. That and another book called "Lost Souls".

Hopefully next post I'll be recovering from surgery and doing well!

I feel good

Hello all!

I've still been walking at the track. Yesterday I even jogged one lap and walked the last three. (4 laps equals a mile).

I've been feeling really good the last couple days except for cramping. I woke up and took some pain medicine then almost 2 hours later I was still in a lot of pain to the point of crying so Mom gave me some morphine. It helped make the pain more bearable, still didn't get rid of it totally though. But I was able to go back to sleep.

This afternoon Mom and I walked at the track then went to walmart. I got a few things like shampoo, toothbrush, 2 DVDs to bring to the hospital.

Got home and packed up a few foal size halters to give to a friend in Oklahoma for her newborn filly Remedy. Will have that sent to her soon.

I've decided that I'm going to try and breed Ginger this year. Not sure if she will get in foal. I don't even know where she is at in her heat cycle. I figure by the time she has the foal and foal is weaned or almost weaned, she should be ready to ride again. I'm excited at the thought of having another foal from Ginger, but trying to not get my hopes up. She is hard to get in foal.

Chase, my brother, came to visit tonight. I made him carry me piggy-back across the yard to where our Mom was at. I love spending time with my brother!

I've finished reading 2 books already this week. I've read "Mistaken Identity" and "The Ruins".

And my nausea isn't bothering me much today! Mom bought Little Ceaser's pizza home for dinner and I ate a whole slice. Also ate a few pieces of left over cake from my 1 year anniversary and a plum. That plum was soooo sweet and juicy!

My 1 year transplant anniversary was Wednesday, June 4th!!!!! Thomas and Mack have been with me a whole year now! I've come a long way since then! Dad took me to Books A Million and bought me some books. Mom bought a cake. And Dad set off a couple of fireworks outside and I accidentally set one off inside the kitchen, oopps!

I've been thinking about horses a LOT lately and I can't wait to get back to riding, but especially barrel racing!

My plan is after I recover from surgery to get Cherokee going and enter him when I think he can catch the 4D, then as he learns and is ready for more push him a little more until he is eventually finished and I hope he ends up being at least a 2D horse. And get Alleyway going to. Then after I have those 2 going well, start messing with the others on ground work, roundpen, ground driving, and the sort.

My hysterectomy surgery is Monday. This afternoon while I was in the shower Dr. Hunt called me and left message on my cell. Just checking on me and seeing if I had any last minute questions and that she would see me Monday. What an awesome doctor she is! I can't wait for surgery to be done with and I'm recovered so I can get back to riding!

Oh, and I need to keep my eyes out of the Jeffers Equine catalog because I saw a headstall and a loping hackamore that I want! And some other things too, like new purple sport boots for Ginger! And some polo wraps, all kinds of colors I want!