I went to my surgeon yesterday. He concurred with our family doctor that I do have an incisional hernia. It is due to the extensive abdominal surgeries I had last year. I have lots of scar tissue and weak muscles. He did not agree with the surgical process our family doctor presented to me.
He will not repair this on an outpatient basis. He will not do laparoscopic surgery. His plan is to open me up, implant mesh to cover the hole in my abdominal wall, close me up, and keep me in the hospital for 2 – 3 days. WHAT? Not only will he keep me hospitalized for 2 – 3 days, but he won’t release me back to work for 2 – 3 weeks. He wants me to rest.
I go for a second opinion (on Thursday the 11th) with a general surgeon who specializes in bellies. If the second surgeon says it has to be an open surgery with a hospital stay, then I will reluctantly stay the night(s) in the hospital.
If the second surgeon says he can do it as an outpatient procedure, then what? Should I go the outpatient route and be released quickly, or should I have the open surgery with the doctor who is all too familiar with the scar tissue that he made in my abdomen?
How about I stop wondering about a predicament that hasn’t developed yet?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Frustration and then Relief
Yesterday Pher received a big white envelope from Beloit College. He was already at Zeke's for a jam session, so I called him to interrupt. Well, you know, that's what any good mom does is interrupt her kid's jam session time! Also, isn't that why we got him a cell phone?
Me: Pher, you got a huge envelope from Beloit in the mail today.
Pher: OK
Me: Can I open it?
Pher: I guess.
Me (opening the envelope): There's a folder in here... There's a "Congratulations, you've been provided a spot in the class of 2014 at Beloit College" acceptance letter in the folder!!!
Pher: I kinda figured that's what it was.
Me: Aren't you excited???!!!
Pher: I guess
Me: Can't you show me some excitement then!
Pher: Neat-o, yippee (in a monotone voice)
Frustration.
Today I received a Facebook note from Zeke's mom.
"I congratulated Chris on his acceptance to Beloit and he told me he was probably going to go to college now because he really liked Beloit."
Relief!
Me: Pher, you got a huge envelope from Beloit in the mail today.
Pher: OK
Me: Can I open it?
Pher: I guess.
Me (opening the envelope): There's a folder in here... There's a "Congratulations, you've been provided a spot in the class of 2014 at Beloit College" acceptance letter in the folder!!!
Pher: I kinda figured that's what it was.
Me: Aren't you excited???!!!
Pher: I guess
Me: Can't you show me some excitement then!
Pher: Neat-o, yippee (in a monotone voice)
Frustration.
Today I received a Facebook note from Zeke's mom.
"I congratulated Chris on his acceptance to Beloit and he told me he was probably going to go to college now because he really liked Beloit."
Relief!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Not ready
It's a Friday night. Cameron is waiting for his friend to pick him up. We've known Marcus for 7 years. His dad is one of Todd's best friends. We trust them both completely.
I'm just not ready for my Cameron-boy to grow up. Nope. I'm not ready for it.
I'm just not ready for my Cameron-boy to grow up. Nope. I'm not ready for it.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Dear Beloit
"Dear Beloit College,
I am scared. I am afraid that my son will not attend college if you don't accept him. I know he's not perfect. I know he leans away from conformity and being a "sheep" just herded through life. I know that he believes in ideals that are not realistic and in cultures that are archaic. He wants to experience all that life has to offer, but he needs guidance and education as to how to go about doing this the right way. I feel that your institution is best suited to help him mature and grow into a man that will make changes in the world. Given the right opportunities and the right forum, he will make great changes in the world.
Thank you for listening,
Christopher's Mom"
I would write something like that if I thought begging would help! Please help us by praying that he gets accepted by Beloit. Yes, he was accepted by Hiram. He seems pleased by that, but it's Beloit he still talks about when he talks about college. On the bright side, at least it's not Reed in Portland, OR anymore!
I am scared. I am afraid that my son will not attend college if you don't accept him. I know he's not perfect. I know he leans away from conformity and being a "sheep" just herded through life. I know that he believes in ideals that are not realistic and in cultures that are archaic. He wants to experience all that life has to offer, but he needs guidance and education as to how to go about doing this the right way. I feel that your institution is best suited to help him mature and grow into a man that will make changes in the world. Given the right opportunities and the right forum, he will make great changes in the world.
Thank you for listening,
Christopher's Mom"
I would write something like that if I thought begging would help! Please help us by praying that he gets accepted by Beloit. Yes, he was accepted by Hiram. He seems pleased by that, but it's Beloit he still talks about when he talks about college. On the bright side, at least it's not Reed in Portland, OR anymore!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
"... after what you've been through."
After two major abdominal surgeries last year, I decided that 2010 is the year to get healthy. I have been conscious of what I eat and my portion sizes. I have been walking around the plant at work after the production floor employees go home in the afternoon. I've been doing the Wii Fit Plus and monitoring my weight and daily caloric burn.
Doesn't that all sound great? Yeah, it was until I noticed that the tiny bulge in my abdomen was getting bigger. It's right above an incision from the surgeries. Todd told me it was a hernia. I thought he was nuts. Turns out he's not so nuts. The abdomen is his playground, and I don't know why I doubted him. Yes, in all honesty, I do know... I did not want it to be a hernia. I went to Dr. Mike today. It's a ventral hernia. Yes, the exercises will make it enlarge. Abdominal exercies especially will make the bulge enlarge. The only "cure" is surgery. "But this is an easy one compared to what you've been through," he said.
Really? Easy? Would someone please understand that I AM TIRED OF SURGEONS... Please?
My doctor made an appointment for me. I see my surgeon on March 8. My surgeon's rounding nurse is a good friend. I called her tonight to make sure that this is a surgery that he should be doing. She said that it is protocol for the initial surgeon to be the referral surgeron when there is an incisional hernia. It actually happens often "...after what you've been through." My abdominal wall is weakened thereby allowing my intestines to penetrate the abdominal wall. She reiterated that "It's an easy fix."
My question to her was, "Am I under warranty?"
Doesn't that all sound great? Yeah, it was until I noticed that the tiny bulge in my abdomen was getting bigger. It's right above an incision from the surgeries. Todd told me it was a hernia. I thought he was nuts. Turns out he's not so nuts. The abdomen is his playground, and I don't know why I doubted him. Yes, in all honesty, I do know... I did not want it to be a hernia. I went to Dr. Mike today. It's a ventral hernia. Yes, the exercises will make it enlarge. Abdominal exercies especially will make the bulge enlarge. The only "cure" is surgery. "But this is an easy one compared to what you've been through," he said.
Really? Easy? Would someone please understand that I AM TIRED OF SURGEONS... Please?
My doctor made an appointment for me. I see my surgeon on March 8. My surgeon's rounding nurse is a good friend. I called her tonight to make sure that this is a surgery that he should be doing. She said that it is protocol for the initial surgeon to be the referral surgeron when there is an incisional hernia. It actually happens often "...after what you've been through." My abdominal wall is weakened thereby allowing my intestines to penetrate the abdominal wall. She reiterated that "It's an easy fix."
My question to her was, "Am I under warranty?"
Monday, February 15, 2010
Taxes and FAFSA
Today is President's Day. I had the day off work. I spent late morning until mid-afternoon filing taxes and FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). Taxes were more of a pain than FAFSA turned out to be. FAFSA will provide the Pher's application to the five colleges he has applied to. Once the schools sort through all of the student applications, they will sort through the FAFSA filings and determine who needs aid and how much they need. I hope they think we need aid and A LOT OF IT. For a kid that does not embrace material possessions, he sure has applied to some high-end tuition colleges.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Sorry Mom
Mom, I'm sorry. Please excuse the language. I know you agree with the basic premise of both. I really did laugh out loud when I saw both of these. The funniest part is that I remember when Cathy had Christopher surrounded by signs for George H.W. Bush and she was taking his picture. She had him so worked up about that election that he went to preschool (which was a polling place) and demanded that his teacher take him up to where ballots were being cast. He then proceeded to poll voters as to who was voting for that "liar, cheater, Bill Clinton." He had his teacher frightened and intrigued. What happened to that little Republican anyway?
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