Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Little jackie paper loved that rascal puff,
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff...

I've started doing some walking to try and build up my muscles and strength again. I've been picking a store to drive to every other day and then wander up and down the aisles window shopping. Gives me incentive to walk and see what's out there and a day to recover. Yesterday I went to Michael's Craft store and bought some candle wicks and a small candle form for less than $10 so I can melt down all my half-used candles, where the wicks burned up before the wax did, and recycle them into a new candles. Today I made 4 candles out of a bunch of half used ones. Next on my list are the new IKEA and RC Wiley stores that recently opened in the area. The furniture stores are a better place for my walking. Gives me lots of nearby choices for sitting when I get too tired to keep walking without resting first. Also not nearly as tempting to buy anything there since most things are several hundred dollars. IKEA will take a lot of willpower to get through with my wallet intact.

I also got my hair cut yesterday at Supercuts for $6. First real cut in over 5 years other than an occasional trim to eliminate split ends. It's a little shorter than collar length now, and was razor cut with lots of layers and I have bangs again. I'll miss not being able to put my long hair up in a ponytail or braid but it is a lot easier taking care of it. It doesn't get snarled as easily so I'm not losing more hair than necessary from combing out the snarls. An older Asian woman cut it and it has a definite Asian look to the style. She couldn't get over how wavy my hair was. She kept commenting on how pretty the shorter hair was. I like it too.

Almost all of the butterfly bandages have fallen from my incision. Still have 6 at the very lower end that aren't ready to detatch from the scabs on their own yet. Other than occasional tender areas after exerting myself too much, I seem to still be healing well for it being only 3 and a half weeks since discharge from the hospital. My appetite has returned with a vengence. I've been eating like a pig trying to satisfy enormous cravings for fresh fruit, winter squash and sweet potatoes of all things. I can't get myself to eat much in the way of protein yet, other than cheese and eggs. I just don't seem to have a desire to eat much beef or chicken.

I finally have an appointment with my case worker on Tuesday next week. Between the county worker's strike and his vacation, I've had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment. Sure hope I don't get denied financial assistance for the hospital bill. They're up to $89,000 so far and still climbing. Having no job and no insurance doesn't leave much for them to collect from. At least I finally got bad enough for them to have to do emergency surgery regardless of my financial status. The good news is that now with this unexpected weight loss, maybe Kaiser will accept my insurance application this time rather than deny it because of my weight!

After having my staples removed, I've been experiencing a lot of internal pains. I did way too much on Friday after they were removed. I cleaned off my balcony of a year's worth of fallen leaves, bagged them up and dragged 3 bags of them to the dumpsters. I guess it was too heavy for me and I've been paying for it since. Been taking it easy by staying in bed or on the couch and not moving much. I'm also feeling constipated and I think my intestines are aching from that too, especially in the area where my navel used to be and where the hernia was repaired.

I just need to take my recovery a lot slower and not get over eager to do the things I haven't been able to do for months, no matter how crazy it makes me to have to put it off. I keep trying to push myself into doing things while the weather is still nice.

Just got back from the doctor. All staples and stitches removed, incision healing remarkably well. Weight is down to 224 from 244 after surgery. Loss of 123 pounds! And that's without even trying or doing any exercise! I'm shocked and amazed. Doctor wants me to wait another 10 days to finish healing before swimming in public pools. By that time the colder weather will be here so I guess I won't be swimming until next summer unless I find an indoor pool somewhere.

I think I am going to treat myself to a hair cut next week. Haven't cut my hair in more than 5 years and I want to try something new to go along with the new body. Bought some herbal phytoestrogen vitamins on the recommendation of my doctor to try to alleviate the hot flashes. Black Cohash and Evening Primrose oil are the main ingredients. I'll get some pictures taken eventually so you folks can see my new skinny body.

Gotta go rest for a while. I'm pooped!

Big day for me today, exertion wise. Took my first shower since coming home. Did alright. Got a little light headed but turning down the hot water and standing in cold water shower took care of that.

Also went down the stairs of my apartment for the first time to take a bag of smelly trash out, then climbed back up and called a taxi to take me back to the hospital to get my car. That was another trip down and back up the stairs. Just got back from there. Am sore and exhausted, but relieved to have my car near me again.

Will be calling the doctor this afternoon to make an appointment to get the staples and stitches removed.

Happy anniversary Linda and Stu! Hard to believe it was just 19 years ago that you two married and not only found love, but also a deep friendship. My bro is one lucky dude. Linda is the sister I always wanted and just quacks me up! Love you both!

cyst
–noun 1. Pathology. a closed, bladderlike sac formed in animal tissues, containing fluid or semifluid matter.
2. a bladder, sac, or vesicle.


tu·mor
An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled, progressive multiplication of cells and serving no physiological function; a neoplasm.
A swollen part; a swelling.


Definitely was a cyst, not a tumor as reported elsewhere by others.

I can't wait for my body to heal so I can do all the things I've not been able to do in the last few months! First thing I did that first night home was trim my toe nails. Hadn't been able to reach them in awhile and I was tired of the wounds from not always avoiding the daggers dangling from my toes. Can't wait til I'm healed enough to be able to sleep on my side again instead of my back.

Am doing good so far. Had a bunch of groceries delivered and was able to put a load of dishes into the dishwasher and sweep the kitchen floor. Today I did a couple loads of laundry. My lower back pain is the worst of it so far. It is a big strain on the back for me to do anything but lay flat with no tension on the back muscles. Each day brings improvement and new strength in the back muscles so I know it is just a matter of time and patience and slow rebuilding.

I took the chance of trying to sit on my couch because I was bored to tears without something to do or watch on TV. I've already read every book in the house at least 5 times. I've had a much easier time getting up off the couch than I thought I would. I figured out how to maneuver my legs so it doesn't pull on my incision at all.

Nothing new to add other than I am starting to experience some serious hot flashes so I guess that means I need to figure out what to do hormone wise to keep that under control. I want to go the natural hormone route if possible. What I'd always assumed hot flashes would feel like is nothing like what it actually is. They are some powerful waves of heat. Even chomping on ice cubes didn't cut it. Last night I finally just took off all my clothes and layed in front of a portable fan on my bed until the heat went away so I could sleep. They only last about 15 minutes thank goodness!


I still can't get over how much weight I've lost. My clothes just hang off me, all over, not just my tummy. Going to wait awhile before I try to buy anything that fits though. Want to see how successful I'll be with the continued weight loss. To be honest, I'm pretty happy with where I am at now. I need a lot of toning up of muscles and skin, not more weight loss. I tried on the swimsuit my mom gave me when I visited her a couple years ago. I had to laugh. It just hangs on me like a sack of potatoes, and my loose skin looks like the potatoes.

I go back to the doctor this week sometime to have the staples removed from the incision, then am scheduled for more follow-up thyroid tests and chest x-rays in a month. Still can't sit for long lengths of time yet, so spend most of my time flat on my back in bed or the couch, with walks back and forth to the bathroom. My intestines and bladder are certainly not experiencing any blockage now!

Still afraid to try taking a shower while by myself. Still a little too weak for that yet. Thank goodness for body spray and aeresol room sprays! Speaking of which, two days after my surgery I begged one of the nurses to help me bathe myself because I just couldn't stand the smell any longer. I was way too tender for her to do much in my abdomen and pelvic region so she looked around, grabbed a bottle of mouthwash and dumped it on my pelvis. About killed myself laughing. I kept having these commercials run through my head with the theme of being minty fresh! When she asked if I wanted to brush my teeth, I said "hell no! You'll probably give me a tube of Vagisil for that!"

Lots of funny and scary moments to retell. Will pop some more in as time in the chair permits. Right now, I gotta go lay down again and give my back a break.

Just got home from a 13 day hospital stay and am totally exhausted. Muscles are so sore and tired I can't stop shaking. Laid in bed for a couple of hours but needed to get up and cough out some of the phlegm in my throat so am taking the opportunity for a very short sit down at the computer.

The short story is that I had a 59 LB ovarian cyst removed, a total hysterectomy and a hernia repaired, along with a slight tummy tuck thrown in by my doctor to gather up some of the abundant loose skin. Everything is fine. All tests have come back clean -- no cancer. My iron and red cell count was dangerously low. Had to have 2 pints of blood to beef up my body in preparation for surgery. I looked like I was 9 months pregnant when I went into emergency for medical attention. Surgery was on Aug. 31 and went very well, no complications, nothing unexpected. I am physically getting stronger every day, so much so that I amaze myself in what I've been able to do in such a short amount of time. The nicest thing my doctor said to me before surgery when I asked if my weight would cause a problem on the operating table: "Lynn, you are not nearly as fat as you think you are."

In less than 6 months I've had a total weight loss of over 100 pounds, 59 of it was overnight and I didn't even notice the first 50 until it all appeared on my belly. I haven't been this skinny since my early 30's. (My own version of a gastric bypass without the permenance of it.) I can't wait to get stronger and be more mobile. I'll have a better chance at exercising to keep working on this unexpected gift. I've made too many futile attempts at weight loss to let this head start fall from my hands. It is going to take awhile for my mind to catch up with my body. I still feel and think I look like I weigh 100 pounds more than I do. So, for now 244 pounds and dropping! I have to get used to all this loose flabby skin and figure out how to use my abs and back muscles again.

I'll write more details in the coming days as I'm able to sit at the computer. For now, I need to go lay down again. I feel like I have done 150 sit ups and then got punched in the stomach.