5/8/2021-5/10/2021: The
Gallbladder Days. Was feeling bad Saturday and Susan suggested it might be my
appendix. Andy took me to the Emergency Room at 3 PM, and then it was just a
nightmare of waiting. Eventually I was put in a room about 9 PM. There were
tests and scans and ultrasounds and long dozy uncomfortable stretches of
waiting. On Sunday I was put under, and my gallbladder removed. Long periods of
urination and dry mouth and ketoacidosis (looks like I’ll be needing insulin).
About 6:30 PM Andy came to pick me up and took me to HEB Pharmacy where they
didn’t have everything I needed right away. Came back to guest house and called
John and Kenny and started to get things straightened up after a good doze.
Ordered healthier food from HEB.
5/11/2021: Still no bowel
movement as of 9:30 AM. Took garbage out. Groceries arrived at 8:15 AM, and I
had a long nightmarish trial getting them in, what with the uneven ground at
the side of the house where they are installing a new septic tank. Must rest my
incisions now.
“Still alive, but little
thanks to my pharmacy, which took until late afternoon to fill my prescription
for a glucometer and insulin after five or six phone calls to and from my
doctors and nurses. Then we had to go back again in the worst of the storm to
get needles for the insulin pens, which I guess they thought I didn't need.
Then back a third time to get the right sticks for the glucometer. Now I'm
medicined up and the blood sugar is headed the right way. The operation seems
to have sent my diabetes out of whack. Thanks for all the prayers and good
wishes, and especially for John and Susan for looking after me!” – from e-mail
to John.
Up about 12 AM and felt
awake so did the first cleaning and organization for a while. Now (hopefully) I
won’t lay there with thoughts of cleaning run through my head.
5/12/2021: Up about 5:30 AM.
Septic tank finally installed by 2:30 PM, but landscape still a mess. Besides
struggling through the day, I made Malt-o-Meal for breakfast, a salad for
lunch, and then chicken and broccoli for supper. Managed (with Kam’s help) to
make supper of sausages and cabbage fry. Poor Andy had to clean it up. Kenny
called this evening and talked a half hour. I injected my own insulin, and it
went easily.
5/13/2021: It is a great
irony that while something is now actually happening in my life, I feel no urge
to record it. I live in a sort of weird ocean of time that passes very slowly,
except for spikes that rise when I do things. This morning got an order from
HEB and worked to reorganize my fridge. My first blood sugar reading in the
morning was 200 before breakfast. Breakfast: Malt-o-Meal, lunch: tuna with
crackers, supper: chicken with broccoli and carrots. Ryan came and got Jade
[their Doberman]. The house and the yard are starting to look quite different.
Kam a great help again. Second blood sugar 367. Cooked supper for Shanafelts; chicken
with broccoli, rice, and mushrooms. Insulin at 8 PM. Washed dishes. Is a BM finally
near?
5/14/2021: And so the world
goes on and on. Blood sugar still high; about 260 at each reading. Made an
omelet (4 eggs and cauliflower and broccoli) for breakfast. About 2 PM I tried
shaving head and beard and dropped the shaver with my head half-way done.
Called John and he was just on his way into town to get Joey a haircut. He came
by to finish the job (and gave me a new razor) and Kam and Joey got to visit.
Made supper (fish, taco noodles, squash); had fish and noodles myself. Insulin
at 8 PM. Now 11:30 PM.
Notes
Now I am no longer on insulin injections. My glucose has been running about 130, thought it’s higher lately. Looking back, I’m not sure all my dietary choices were that great. I’m getting to the point where I feel I need to buzz my head again; maybe tomorrow. I was little surprised to learn that the gallbladder actually is greenish.
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