Today I am starting to make a little progress! I think we may have found something that is somewhat of a tolerable combination to take care of the pain! We switched up my long lasting pain reliever to take 1x every 8 hours from Oxycontin to MS Contin (Morphine).
I will be taking the Dilaudid for breakthrough pain. In addition, I am still taking Neurontin (used to treat nerve pain), decadron (steriod), and a new drug that I can’t remember the name, but supposed to help with the opiods. The Morphine that I have been taking over the past few days does help with the pain, but really makes me feel dosey.
I have a difficulties talking to someone for a long period of time without wanting to shut my eyes, even though I may not be that tired. I am hoping that my body’s tolerance will build up over the next short while and won’t be as affected. The last thing I want to do is walk around in a zombie- like state. It really sucks having to concentrate so hard to comprehend what doctors are saying.
I have to laugh though because I wonder if it’s just because I have heard most of what they are talking about before and our conversations seem to go around in circles. I have been in this hospital for way too long now. It’s funny because I now feel comfortable enough to walk down the hall by myself, help myself to the “staff kitchen” to refill my own water, get ice, graham crackers and other treats, and store food in the fridge like it’s my own house! Nobody says anything so I guess they don’t mind. They probably just look at me like, “Oh, there goes Melissa!” Everyone knows me on this floor by now.
I know I am starting to feel better because I don’t feel the need for constant naps during the day and am starting to feel really restless. My body feels strong and I have no problems walking for a period of time with the brace on for support. I walked tonight for about 20 minutes with Wes’s mother exploring the grounds of St. Joes. It felt good to get outta this room and stretch my legs. Most of you know that I am a very active person, so for me to not be able to workout or have any type of movement for MONTHS is killing me! I feel strong enough to climb mountains, but I am sure that really means I that am barely strong enough to climb 2 flights of stairs.
The docs did order me a “cardio” machine for my lungs. I breathe into a Incentive Spirometer 10 breaths in an hour to help expand the avioli in my lungs so they don’t “stick” together. Using an incentive spirometer mimics the natural sighing and yawning and encourage you to take slow, deep breaths. Not only will this help restore regular breathing rhythm, but it will also help to avoid atlectasis (a collapsed or airless condition of the lung) and pneumonia.
I was hoping to be out of here tomorrow. The oncologist came by and told me that they still want to get my I&R levels back to normal (blot clot levels) after surgery, so it probably won’t be until Monday. At least now I have a time frame to shoot for! I have noticed that my right ankle and calf is starting to get swollen again (maybe from the clot) so I will need to wear the massaging compression socks again at night. No big deal, I can handle that. Bring it on!