In my last post I mentioned that I was taking 40 mg of Oxycontin every 12 hours. For those of you who are not familiar with narcotic medication, that is a fairly large dose. I had been on pain medicine for months on end, resulting in an abnormally high tolerance. I didn't even really feel loopy at all. I started seeing a psychologist for Post Postpartum PTSD and started taking a number a medications to help me function daily without being terrified of my body or my dreams. I had a different medication for every little thing. My night stand looked like this.
The first couple of weeks I spent in bed with pillows and pets surrounding me. My original CNA flaked out on me and we found a new nanny, Elizabeth, who quickly became my favorite person. She was so helpful and eager to learn. She came before the sun came up every single day. Her priority was making me comfortable and making sure I didn't have anything to worry about. She cared for Johnny, the house and pets. She basically took care of anything and everything that needed done so that I could heal. I tried to thank her numerous times, but, how do you thank someone for standing in for your life? She never made me feel like I was missing out on anything, even though she was taking care of everything. Elizabeth is truly a special woman who I cherish deeply.
At first I had follow up appointments with Dr. O'Boyle every week for three weeks, then every 2 weeks. She intended to do a rectal exam at the first appointment but I was panicked and queasy so she spared me the pain. Her intention was to insert one finger into the rectum and one into the vagina and squeeze the perineum to asses the healing. She was finally able to complete this exam around the one month post op mark. It hurt. A LOT.
The good news was, I was healing.
Dr. O'Boyle was concerned that I would need help coming off of the pain medicine. Dependence of some sort had developed. If not mental, definitely physical dependence. I had to get off these medications before my Ileostomy reversal, because narcotics can cause constipation. The last thing I needed was to tear my healing would.
I figured that I could come off the Oxycontin on my own. I dropped one pill off per week. The results were; Fevers, sweats, nausea and rebound migraines so bad I had to go to the ER for pain control. One of these migraines I remember in particular. Elizabeth took me to the ER and John stayed home with Johnny. We were there all night long. I was vomiting in the waiting area for hours on end, pressing on my stoma with the palm of my hand, with the hopes of not developing a hernia. (Too much abdominal activity can cause the stoma to rip from the attached tissue and more of the small bowel can detach, causing a hernia) Finally they took me back and, after waiting a few more hours, I had pain relief. I had about 4 Er migraine visits between Johnny's birth and my Ostomy reversal.
I continued dropping off one pill per week and visiting my Dr. in Bethesda and my Psychologist in Dumfries. Every week was pretty much the same. Lots of rest, lots of healing, lots of progress. Johnny kept growing.
The pain in my pelvic floor gradually lessened. I was able to take Flexeril (Muscle relaxer) and Motrin, and use heat to sooth the area. In some desperate cases, I would take some of the instant release Oxy that I had left over. I was able to manage it well.
I was counting down to my ileostomy reversal. I had finally figured out how to apply the pouch so that it would last three or four days without leaking. Here's the process in detail.
to be continued...
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| Sookie and Lucy and Elizabeth |
The good news was, I was healing.
Dr. O'Boyle was concerned that I would need help coming off of the pain medicine. Dependence of some sort had developed. If not mental, definitely physical dependence. I had to get off these medications before my Ileostomy reversal, because narcotics can cause constipation. The last thing I needed was to tear my healing would.
I figured that I could come off the Oxycontin on my own. I dropped one pill off per week. The results were; Fevers, sweats, nausea and rebound migraines so bad I had to go to the ER for pain control. One of these migraines I remember in particular. Elizabeth took me to the ER and John stayed home with Johnny. We were there all night long. I was vomiting in the waiting area for hours on end, pressing on my stoma with the palm of my hand, with the hopes of not developing a hernia. (Too much abdominal activity can cause the stoma to rip from the attached tissue and more of the small bowel can detach, causing a hernia) Finally they took me back and, after waiting a few more hours, I had pain relief. I had about 4 Er migraine visits between Johnny's birth and my Ostomy reversal.
I continued dropping off one pill per week and visiting my Dr. in Bethesda and my Psychologist in Dumfries. Every week was pretty much the same. Lots of rest, lots of healing, lots of progress. Johnny kept growing.
I was counting down to my ileostomy reversal. I had finally figured out how to apply the pouch so that it would last three or four days without leaking. Here's the process in detail.
- Start first thing in the morning, nothing to eat or drink until after.
- Cut the wafer to the size of the stoma and apply the paste seal to the wafer so that it is ready to apply
- Use adhesive remover under the wafer until it separates from the skin.
- Take a shower, wash all around the stoma and remove all residue
- Apply a few layers of clean gauze to the stoma while towel drying, in case any output leaks from the stoma.
- Apply skin barrier around stoma and where wafer will stick to skin
- Apply stoma powder to skin
- Press wafer to skin, use fingers to press around the stoma.
- Attach the bag and hold with palm for one minute to create a good seal.
to be continued...
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