I had my second appointment with Dr. Samstein this morning and even though it wasn't bad, it wasn't great either. So I'm the type that likes to see the glass half full so when the doctor told me that my progress level was a 3 on a 1-10 scale, I smiled and said "oh good, I'm almost at 1!" He graciously smiled back and informed me that 10 was our goal and we had some work to do. But I told him that I'm doing everything he recommended and getting plenty of rest. The only thing I'm unable to do is eat well or get rid of this 2 week long headache that lingers no matter what I take. He ordered a CT scan just to be safe and everything looks great! As I waited three longs hours to get the CT scan today, they require that you drink two huge bottles of this liquid something in order to do the scan. I'm already having issues with eating or drinking anything so being forced to drink the fake banana something drink was pretty much torture and I think I'm scarred for life. They give you two 450ml bottles and one small cup. You're instructed to drink a cup every 15 minutes and that you'll be done in an hour if you follow the directions. Again, pure torture and I have no idea how I finished those two bottles. Maybe I let it sit so long that it consumed into the air? So after that torture, they need to put an IV before you go do the CT scan.
You can't tell form the pictures, but my body was black and blue from all the needles and poking that was done after the surgery. My skin color was no longer tan, I described my color as an array of purples, greens and blues. The colors were quite lovely, but they are finally fading and I see my normal color again! The main problem is that nurses have a hard time finding my veins so they often poke in one and blood doesn't come out so they poke again and agin. I have a huge tolerance for needles and giving blood, but today was different and painful. They brought in two different nurses and the more painful it got. As they tried putting this IV in my arm, it reminded me of what my dad said earlier this week as we waited to be called so that they could draw his blood. He said "I don't want it to hurt anymore." not only did I silently cry after he said this to me, I silently cried again today as they grabbed and pierced like every wrong vein and knew actually what dad meant. But my four weeks doesn't even compare to the years that he's suffered so I'm totally ok with taking the pain now and knowing that this will hopefully give him a chance to start new and minimize any moment of pain going forward.
But I'll need to start eating and he scheduled a few appointments for next week to help with getting me closer to a 10 and ensure he gives me the green light to leave New York. As of today, he said I wouldn't be able to go just yet. I'll work on it :)
On a happier note, I really do have the most amazing family & friends and found that all my strength comes from your constant calls, packages, mail, texts, visits, get-to-gethers and Love!! I wanted to make sure you all knew that I'm so grateful for the connections I have with every one of you and how much I appreciate everything you've all done for me!!
And on a random note, looks like the Texas Rangers pulled off a victory for my pre-birthday and all the Texas music in the background makes me want to move back to Texas!!! Since David won't move to New York, maybe he'll consider Texas?!
TATI,
ReplyDeleteDO I NEED TO MAKE YOUR FAVORITE VODKA AND KAHLUA CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR YOU; I BET YOU EAT IT?
PAIN MAKES US STRONGER AND I KNEW YESTERDAY WHEN I HEARD YOUR VOICEMAIL YOU WERE HAVING A ROUGH DAY. YOU NEED SOME CHICKEN N DUMPLINGS DONT YOU; I THINK I NEED TO COME BACK AND COOK FOR YOU GET YOU EATING AGAIN.
I WAS OUT SHOPPING FOR UNCLE DAVID AND ETHAN BIRTHDAY PRESENTS AND FOUND YU AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT. SHE IS SO CUTE; IT IS A GIRL; WE NEED A NAME FOR HER SO THINK OF A NAME;
IF YOU WANT ME TO MAIL IT TO YOU NOW; IT COULD BE THE EARLY PRESENT TO OPEN; HA HA
DID BUDDY MAKE IT HOME?
WE BELIEVE IN THE RANGERS; DOES RANDO KNOW ANY OF THE GUYS ON THE TEAM. IS HER BABY GIRL WALKING YET? HA
LOVE
MAMA SHEILA
Tati thank you for continuing to inspire us with your humor and strenght through all this.....I can't even image how hard this must be for you and your dad. Pls let your mom and David know we have not forgotten about them....I think about them often and ask God to give them strenght through all this.
ReplyDeleteWe would all love to have you guys back in Texas!!!!! Hold on tight to God's promises.....soon this will all pass. Love you!
Hey i can do your IV now! i just put in an IV on thursday ahahahaha
ReplyDeletelove,
Recy :D
Tati I hope your appetite is better sweetheart! Are you still leaving to TX soon, please let me know. Love you!
ReplyDeletetati tati tati
ReplyDeleteremember you just gave a huge part of your liver; it is smaller now than ever and to me that is like losing have your stomach in one of those stomach band surgeries and they eat like birds after surgery;this chopped liver thing is real; your liver and gall bladder are in shock; put yourself in their place; shocker; this means your digestive track; your trash can; has just been recycled. when something is recycled what happens? i learned something from Doctor Oz; I love that guy; NEVER DRINK COLD THINGS AFTER DURING YOU EATING TIMES; DRINK WARM THINGS INSTEAD OR JUST PLANE WARM NO ICE; IN EUROPE WHEN WE GO NEXT YEAR YOU WILL SEE; YOU ARE ALWAYS SERVED DRINK WITH NO ICE AND IF YOU ASK FOR IT ONLY GET MAYBE 2 CUBES OF ICE.WE WILL BE DRINKING LOTS OF WINE AND BEER SO THAT LIVER HAS TO BE PERFECT BEFORE WE go; HA THEY DO HAVE COKE PRODUCTS BUT THEY TASTE SO DIFFERENT.ALSO SAVE MONEY FOR THE TOILET; EVERYTIME WE GO POTTY WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT;I AM TELLING THE TRUTH;
WE MUST GO TO HOLLAND; BELGIUM NORTH AND SOUTH; GERMANY; AUSTRIA; SWITZERLAND AND FRANCE; AT LEAST; WE WILL SPEND NIGHTS IN ROMANTIC INNS; PENSION HOUSES WE WILL SPEND AT LEAST 2 DAYS IN ROTHENBURG GERMANY WHERE WE SPENT EVERY CHRISTMAS; WHERE MOVIE "CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" WAS FILMED HALLGARTEN ON THE RHEIN RIVER IN GERMANY IS PLACE WE WILL STAY TOO; AT THE TOP OF A VINEYARD; YOU CAN SEE THE WINE VINEYARDS AND RHEIN RIVER RIGHT BELOW IT; SO AWESOME; WE CAN DRIVE THE RIVER INSTEAD OF SEEING IT BY BOAT; THE BOAT RIDE IS TOO SLOW AND CANT STOP AND HAVE A BEER AT EACH LOITTLE TOWN;
WE WILL SPEND A NIGHT IN LAKE LUCERNE SWITZERLAND AND TAKE COG RAIL RIDE TO TOP OF MOUNTAIN TITTUS; HEAR THE COWS WITH THE BELLS AROUND THEIR NECK AND SEE THE SWITAERLAND HORN BLOWERS
EAT ALL EGGS YOUR WANT ONLY ONES YOU WILL GET WILL BE HARD BOILED; ONLY BREAKFAST WILL BE CONTINENTAL; BUT THE MUSSELS; FISH; STEAK WILL BE MAIN COURSES; NO HAMBURGER MEAT CAUSE THEY CALL IT RAW FILLET AMERICAN AND I MEAN RAW; THEY SERVIE RAW HAMBURGER MEAT FOR HAMBURGERS; SO NO HAMBURGERS ETHER; PUT YOU DONT GO THERE FOR HAMBURGERS; HA
BACK TO THE ENSURE PRODUCT YOU ARE USING; GOOD FOR OLD PEOPLE AND YOUNG CHLDREN WHO HAVE SURGERY AND NEED EXTRA PROTEIN; YOU ARE 30 NOW SO PERHAPS THAT IS NEW YEAR SETTING STAGE FOR GETTING OLD AND GETTING ENSURE AS PART OF NEW APPETITE FOR OLD PEOPLE HA HA
KEEP "CHOPPED LIVER" MOVING ON WE ARE NOT READY YET FOR YOU TO BRING IT TO A CLOSE; I KNOW DAYLE AND I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED READING IT NOT ONCE BUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU ARE A GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT
WRITER; YOU WOULD ALSO BE A GREAT CHILDREN'S WRITER ESPECIALLY FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN; HOW MANY BOOKS HAve been written for autistic children; would they be inactive books?you have spoiled us now; we want to read more of your book; please keep us updated; every day you do better and your dad; and the relief you mom has and her high hopes for getting her husband back ;mama sheila