My Day Today
So I went to Kaiser Orthepedics today so that they could remove the wrapping off my left arm and take X-rays of my new hardware. It’s healing really nicely, but the metal and quantity of screws in there kinda freaked me out a bit! The doctor also had to clip the ends of the stitches down to the skin which looked like a thin fishing line on either end. The scar that goes down my wrist is about a 3” incision, but in a weeks time it’s really coming together nicely!
My Left Wrist X-ray from today showing the metal.
Freeing my arm from the dressing was quite a blessing because it’s been wrapped for over 3 weeks now and I was dying to wash it and shower without a plastic bag on for a change. What a relief!
New wrist brace!
They gave me a removable wrist brace with Velcro that helps secure it, but also allows for some flexibility. I will be doing my own physical therapy from home, which is also wonderful news. One more X-ray was scheduled for the end of November and they allowed me to go back to work a week sooner than expected so that’s really good news, especially since a bunch of people are also out this week and next.
But Kaiser was not the bad part of my day. The issue I had began this afternoon after Mike and I got home from my checkup. I have been taking pain medication these past 3 weeks and they’ve told me constipation could become a problem, but I thought I was immune and totally unaffected. Until today...
*Please stop reading now if this has become too real for you. (Cause ya know where I’m going with this.)
So it’s been 2 or 3 days since I’ve “gone” and I’ve had lots of liquids, soups, salads, coffee, rest and cut back on medication by half this week. But I am human and I guess now and then we all have these bodily problems, so today was quite a day for me.
I tried going the traditional way and suffered with groaning, writhing, cramping, sweating, feeling nauseous, crying, pushing, and even pre-lubricating with no luck. Next, I resorted to yoga stretching, drinking more water, taking a laxative pill, walking around the house, and then finally giving up and napping. I was super exhausted, physically drained and completely plugged. To be completely honest it was like a cork in a wine bottle. So painful, yet so infuriating! Get OUT!!!
Wahhh! Why???
After a hot shower, a cry and a three hour nap, I was ready to have another go at it. Let me tell you, the struggle is real people! From the bathroom echoed terrible sounds of cursing, screaming, groaning, asking why, stomping my feet, heaving into the trash can (almost throwing up but I didn’t), and admitting loudly that I may pass out at any time, but still not going. Mike was in pain just listening to me, and I must have scared the cat to death I’m sure!
That was the last straw. Mike left for a pharmacy run. He picked up an oral liquid laxative and two liquid enemas - oh joy! Desperation set in and although I laughed about what he must have gone through when buying all of this crap (please excuse the pun), I knew we’d have to utilize these items - and fast. I read the directions, we chuckled at the visual sketched pictures of how I had to position myself for the insertion of this mineral oil enema and I took a deep breath and thought relaxing thoughts. I have to say one thing, while laying face down, butt up in the air, all vulnerable and desperate for some help - thank god I’m married to this wonderful man!
Ok, now the packaging said to wait 2-15 minutes, so that’s what I did... then another 5, then 10 more. My cat was making sure I wasn’t dead while I was laying on the floor groaning like that and he sniffed me worriedly a couple of times. I thought: wait - here we go, it’s time. So I got up to sit on my royal throne again and still just some minor gas and more tummy cramping. Boo! I was beginning to panic again as I lay back down in the assumed position.
Suddenly, a guttural noise came from my lower abdomen, chills and goosebumps crept up into my spine, and a wave of that wonderful feeling like you need to go finally took effect!
I took my seat again and Hallelujah! Hooray! And thank goodness!!! It was pure bliss and I actually wept tears of joy and relief. Take that shithead! Conquered, vanquished, a total success! It was a real shitty day, but at last, I did it!
Ya know, I never realized what kind of agony I could be in over something like this. You take these normal things for granted until you suddenly can’t do them anymore. I will be taking some natural supplements including magnesium, cutting back even more on my medicine, eating more leafy greens, bananas, fruit juices and water, and just in case I have an extra enema and liquid laxative on hand for future emergencies only I hope.
Stay well my friends. Our health is our wealth!
Relief to all and thanks for reading,
-Crystal Olguin
October 16, 2018
