Ouch, that's gonna leave a mark!

Bear with me, my friends, as I am reduced to one-handed typing.  Sugery went well yesterday, I guess.  Doc was able to fix things.  Unfortunately, it was more complex than the MRI indicated.  He had to make an open incision like last time, but he said it isn't a big one, maybe 1.5" instead of 5".

Infamous pre-op selfie...

So, from what my anesthesia-addled brain remembers, he anchored the subscapularis tendon, cleaned up the supraspinatus tendon and put stitch or two in the split he found in it.  Lastly he cut free the dislocated biceps tendon.  He said it should re-anchor itself  just fine.  I hope so! The pain, well, if I get into the right position, is minor, 2-3 on a scale of 1-10.  If I shift around though, it clocks in over 8 easily.

I have some decent pain meds, but they sure slow down the gut, so I am trying to limit their use to evenings or if it really starts hurting.   I'd take some OTC NSAIDS, but doc said it would slow healing.  I don't want to slow that down!

Post-op at home.

I am hoping to go to the TIRR Spring Open House on Sunday.  It is an event we usually make into a working weekend, but not this year as the most I'll be able to do is flip burgers and hold down one end of the couch.  We may loan them the Monkeys to work Saturday though.

Surgery update

Just got the news that the surgeon can't fix the damage arthroscopicly.  She's getting a matched set of shoulders.

Doc is using a mini incision to go in and set the bone anchors and reattach the tendon.

Guess the damage was worse than we had expected.

My Random 5 April 24 2015

Though she isn't able to sponsor the R5F fun anymore, Nancy at A Rural Journal is still a website worth the visit.

My Random 5 for this week.

1.  My gut is just about healed from the diverticulitis.  YAY!

2.  Lake Lavon is almost full!  That is our local reservoir and primary water supply.  7 months ago it was 13 feet below full pool, and you could hardly see water in the north 2/3 of the lake.  This is great news for NTX, and especially the city of Allen TX.

3.  With all this rain, I have not been able to ride as much as I would like to, before my upcoming shoulder repair.  My back yard is a swamp.  My side yard is either a lake or a river (hard to tell if the water is flowing or just standing).  The Monkeys and the dogs are all restless and tired of being cooped up.

4.  My friend L.B. Johnson, has published her second book!  Saving Grace:  A Story of Adoption is available on Amazon in paperback, and soon to be on Kindle!  This is the same author who wrote The Book of Barkley.  I haven't had a chance to read it yet, as it only got released for sale today.  My copy's already on order!  But you can get your own copy, just click the link above.  Plus, on my sidebar, you can find links to the Book of Barkley, if you haven't already read it.

5.  I have to say, I am looking forward to the next installment of Star Wars.  I loved the latest trailer.  The last 3 seconds or so, are the best!  Welcome home, Chewie and Han!

Parboiled?

Sun's out!  Guns out!

Or in other words, somebody didn't use sunscreen on his bike ride yesterday...

And the bright side of this is...?

Yeah, I am trying to find the bright side in my current medical rodeo.  So the days ago, I noshed on some smoked almonds, instead of a sweet snack, probably a cup in total.  Not anything unusual in that, so I did not expect what came next.

Diverticulitis.  Yes, my gut has staged a revolt, complete with gut-wrenching cramps, point tenderness in the sigmoid region (lower left inside pelvis), low grade fever and general malaise.  This is not my first diverticular rodeo, but the last time I had this crop up I didn't have shoulder surgery scheduled for next Thursday either.  The big D complicates things somewhat.

I called my doc at TDDC, bright and early this morning since it wasn't getting better on its own.  As expected I got the standard "It'll Kill Everything" prescription--levaquin and Flagyl.  I did ask if there was anything else I could take, and got the response, "not if you want to get well quickly".  This being my third go-round with Flagyl, I was hoping to avoid that one,  The side effects leave much to be desired. Nausea, loss of appetite, and the really fun one, a change in how everything tastes.  I mean, for me it is as if someone is constantly spraying your mouth with hairspray and perfume, 24/7. It's horrible!  And it doesn't go away as soon as you finish the medication either.  It continues on for another week or so.  My gut already hurts and I feel crappy, and now you want to medicate me with a drug that makes me nauseated...joy.

Plus, I'm supposed to avoid fiber for about two weeks, so no fruit, no nuts, (that rules out California, eh?), no veggies, no whole wheat bread.  I get to eat white bread and low fiber junk food.  That is, if the Flagyl will let me choke down any food.

I go for my pre-surgical consult on Monday afternoon.  I get to see IF Doc wants to still do the cut on Thursday, knowing I will have been on meds for 5 days, and that I will need to be on pain meds after surgery that will dramatically slow down gut motility.  It's up to Doc if he thinks the surgery will go ok, or if he thinks I should postpone it.  I don't honestly know what he will suggest.

This whole medical mess has me somewhat down in the dumps.  Can't go ride, can't go enjoy the gorgeous morning today,  will probably miss the Rescue Open House on the 3rd, have totally thrashed all my ride plans, goals and hopes, and I can't lift for who knows how long...

I keep looking for a bright spot in all this and am not finding it.  I had hoped to do another fox and hound ride with DH today since the weather is so nice after last night's storms.  Well at least he is out riding a 100k today.  Maybe I will go haunt the local bike shops and pick up some little goodies...Nuun tabs, latex tubes, and ...??

I guess there may be a bright spot in all this, if I really stretch it.  The nausea and loss of appetite, means I should be able to  lose weight without having to work out.  It's not much of a bright spot, but I'll have to take it.