BriannaKye's Xanga

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:41:10 GMT

Latest pic of me. My doc says I am a "text book" case for this operation and thanked me for being the perfect example of how the surgery can definately work well!! No complications, no problems, no major difficulties (I still can't drink alcohol and I can't eat sugar, but these are minor to nothing in the grand scheme of things!!!)

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Sat, 22 Jan 2005 04:45:57 GMT

Last but not least, also inspired by an Earthrise blog posting, here's my younger female cat, Maya

image ©2004 Moonwolf Studios

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Sat, 22 Jan 2005 04:34:29 GMT

And one of my older female cat, Hunter -- what exactly IS that expression, do you think?

image ©2004 Moonwolf Studios

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Sat, 22 Jan 2005 04:13:24 GMT

Since I'm sorta in a picture posting mood -- here is one of my favorite shots of my younger male cat, Ivan, jumping down off a single "tree" My older male cat, Oscar, is totally disinterested in his brother's antics at this point.

image ©2004 Moonwolf Studios

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Sat, 22 Jan 2005 03:58:42 GMT

As per Earthrise's invitation earlier in the month -- inspired by Pixie_Taker -- here is my own single tree photo:)

image ©2003 Moonwolf Studios

Sunday, December 19, 2004

Sun, 19 Dec 2004 23:34:04 GMT

Welcome to Bri's vent session.

Incompetent doctors: A pain in the BACK!!

Yikes! Last Sunday I bent over in the grocery store to pick something up from the bottom shelf -- and threw my darned back out again *sigh* I was unable to go to work Mon or Tues because I could barely move. I called my GP on Mon morning and left a message asking my doc to call in a perscription for me (see, I have had this problem before and gone to this doc for meds). The nurse said she would pass on the message. I called 5 hours later and was told the message had not been passed on (by a new nurse) and that SHE (the new nurse) would take a new message and somebody would get back to me before 5. Did I get a phone call? Hell no!!

So, the next morning, I actually dragged my barely mobile body out of the house and to the doctor's office.   The doc had given me a prescription for a muscle relaxer and then offered a choice between a narcotic pain killer, and a non-narcotic one. I chose the non-narcotic because even though it is not as potent, I figured it would still work okay and would be less dangerous.   Unfortunately, because of my gastric bypass surgery, I can't take anti-inflamatories (prescription OR over the counter).

Well, Wed morning came and I still hurt -- but I thought I might be okay so I went to work -- only to have to leave around noon because sitting at a desk was killing me (ok, not literally, but it felt like it!!).    The pain killer I had chosen wasn't even touching the pain.

So on Friday morning, at 9:04 (I know this because I was counting the seconds until the office opened!!) I called the doc and asked her to please let me try the other pain killers. I waited all day for a call back, even called again at 1:00 only to be told they were out to lunch, but heard NOTHING until 6:00 -- AFTER the office was closed. Now, the problem here is that the nurse said she could call the new perscription in for me -- which she did -- but then was GONE for the night when the pharmacy called back because the doc screwed the prescription up. Not knowing this, I had my hubby drive me to the pharmacy and stood anxiously in line waiting for my turn -- only to be told that 1. the doc had not put on the strength for the percoset and 2. the pharmacy can not fill narcotic perscriptions that are FAXED TO THEM, it has to be the original. Grrrrrr. Now, there is no WAY the doc office didn't know that!!! But, of coarse, the pharmacy couldn't get in touch with the doc office because they had closed. So, I was screwed for the night.

The next morning, I called the docs office and was told that she was not in, a different doc was there that morning, and that the other doc probably could not change my perscription *arrrghhh* and that I would likely have to wait until Monday. Still, the nurse said she would call me either way to let me know. Did she?   Hell no.

Luckily, nature or luck or just plain perserverence had paid off and the pain began to subside somewhat by itself on Fri afternoon -- I can stand and walk fairly pain free now, but it still hurts to sit for too long!! -- so the pain meds would be nice but were no longer crucial to my relative comfort. But what the HELL!! If the pain had not began to subside on it's own, I would have been in agony all weekend because of the IDIOTS at the doctor's office!! I am calling tomorrow, getting the new perscription, and then telling them I want copies of my records so that I can find myself a COMPETENT doctor's office where they actually GIVE A DAMN about their patients!!

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Sat, 04 Dec 2004 03:39:11 GMT

Results of gastric bypass surgery to date

Pre-surgery:

Six months out:

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Thu, 24 Jun 2004 01:29:52 GMT

Sorry about the lack of update -- I just haven't been comfortable sitting at my desk for long periods of time.

Anyhow, I am still doing well. I am recovering quickly, although I am still pretty tired, and owe it all to the wonderful prayers and energy that my hubby, friends, family and others have been sending my way:) That and, of coarse, the incredible healing powers of petting purring cats!! *g*

So I had my next doc visit today -- lost another 12 pounds!!! Whoooo-hoooo!! This was particularly wonderful for me because I, being a bonehead, got on my bathroom scale the other day and IT said I had GAINED 8 pounds!! I was in shock and kinda depressed for a while ... until I made the decision that it DID NOT MATTER what the scale said because my clothes fitting looser told a totally different story. I don't know WHY my bathroom scale is off by 20 pounds, but I don't really give a damn because it is going to the trash bin ASAP!!

Other than that one night of depression I have been fairly upbeat. My sweetie Q and I take a walk every night ... and I try to go a little further each time. I am still having a hard time getting in my 64oz of fluid every day but I keep trying. The only other problem I am having is that I am getting bored stiff with my protein shakes. I have added peppermint extract, I have added frozen fruit, I have made it with Diet V8 Splash and I need something NEW!!

Peace and Huggs,

Bri

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

Wed, 09 Jun 2004 23:22:46 GMT

Staples are OUT!! Whooooo-hoooo!! I was told by several people that it was going to be an unimaginable relief just getting those little steel suckers out but I still wasn't totally prepared for it. I'm astounded at how much better I feel with those damned things OUT of my abdomen

The even better news -- I have lost EIGHTEEN POUNDS!! I don't usually curse out in public, but the first words out of my mouth when I saw the reading on the scale were "Holy Shit!" I couldn't help myself -- eighteen pounds in 1 week and a day totally floored the hell out of me!!

Tuesday, June 08, 2004

Tue, 08 Jun 2004 01:05:12 GMT

I have gotten more flowers in the past few days than I have ever gotten in my life:) Two arrangements came to the hospital within the first two days after surgery, one arrived just as I was being wheeled out to the car on Thurs, and the rest have shown up periodically at home!! I love flowers One even had a teddy bear attached ... and I love Teddy Bears even more than flowers Oddly, the one with the bear came from the company where I work ... the odd part being that it also came with a bag of Hershey's Kisses LOL!!!

Anyhow, ALL the flowers and well wishes I have been getting are much appreciated and very energizing!! I have been doing a bit better on the fluid intake. The nausea still comes and goes but seems to be disipating somewhat. The pain I can manange now with just one dose of meds at night and one in the morning -- and actually I am going to try to get through tonight without any.

The staples are kinda bothersome and the band I have to wear around my abdomen is irritating as hell ... but it's a small price to pay, IMO