That's right. Only 2 days left before surgery #2! IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!! *cue music*
I am in this EMU unit hanging out while they watch for seizures, and I've only got until Thursday. What am I doing here this whole time? Honestly, not much...A typical day looks something like this:
12am:
 |
| Franken-Brain |
4am: wake up for vitals check and meds
6am: wake up for SOME kind of check...it keeps changing so idk, maybe everyone is just bored at 6am
7-9 am: stare at the clock and refuse to wake up, until my pain meds get here
9am-9pm: lots of check-ins, naps, sitting around, laying around, taking meds, and potty break preps (I need to assemble an entire team and put on a seatbelt just to go pee)
10pm: usually conk out for some sleep....until they wake me up at 12am
As far as pain goes, I can't lie and say it's nothing. My eye and jaw were pretty swollen this weekend, and it was a little difficult to chew or smile...I looked like I hit the streets and got into a fight...but it has since gone down, and I no longer have to wink at everyone!
My head is a bit of a...well...pain. It's pretty much a constant pressure headache on the half of my brain that has the grid glued in it, and some occasional stabbing pains from the head staples holding me together under my turban. The medications I am given keep it well under control, but it still has its ups and downs. Most of the day, it is well-controlled, and I feel just fine. But under the turban head wrap I look pretty scary....Those are wires connected to the EEG under my skull, and the staples around the incision. I'm kinda scared for the future of my hair care....if I will have any...
But overall, it could be so much worse. I've gotten these free leg massages (to circulate blood), I can wear my onesies, and I finally had a seizure that was successfully recorded, ironically while watching Despicable Me 2-this is good news! The doctor stopped by this morning to let me know that the seizure started right around that pesky tumor in my temporal lobe, and it all matched the last 3 years of my treatment. So if I can manage to shut down a few more times before Thursday, they'll have plenty of info to make the right cuts in surgery.
Again, the good outweighs the bad. My parents come visit every day, and they have allowed me to complete my public service for the week by introducing them to the joy that is Despicable Me. I have lovely friends who keep in touch, pretty good hospital food, and a new cute bear from my grandma to keep me company! *Needed: name ideas* I am still amazingly getting a good amount of sleep every night, and am pretty much holding it together!
So lastly, a final itinerary!
Tuesday, Jan 31: EMU monitoring day
Thursday, Feb 2: FRONTAL LOBECTOMY SURGERY-the last scheduled surgery to remove my tumor and any other annoying areas of the brain
Friday, Feb 3: recovery day in the ICU, potentially moving back to the EMU
Saturday, Feb 4: recovery day...maybe going HOME!
Sunday, Feb 5: Superbowl Sunday #TurnUp
Thanks for the love everyone, I'm doing well, and I'm almost done! I may look like Frankenstein...but I'm feeling FrankenFINE! <3
More updates will come! : )