Update: As Close to Lucid as I Can Get

So there is about a 5% chance that I could write an update that would make sense chronologically. So I'm going to attempt to write one anatomically - starting at the head and going down to the toes.

- Head: A bit tired and an occasional headache. Nothing to overly complain about except for the hair loss which has not come back yet.

- Face: When I first started growing facial hair, my moustache was the last thing to come in... Now it's coming in quick and full and I'm wondering if I should develop my Tom Selleck, Private Investigator-look? I've also noticed that my eyebrows and eyelashes have begun to thin. My face looks very gaunt from the weight I've lost. And my ears are a bit funky. It seems like my ear canal is hollowed out (the opposite feeling of having it clogged like when you're going to a higher or lowered altitude and need to hold your nose and blow out.

-Mouth: BAD case of dry mouth. This can be chalked up to any of the drugs that I'm taking right now. I'll get into my drugs later. But I am taking a prescription mouthwash, called Nystatin, to combat a bout of thrush in my mouth and throat. This has helped a bit with my dry mouth. And I continuously, accidentally bite the insides of my cheeks. I usually curse myself after doing that.

-Back: Not bad. Can be a little sore after sleeping in one spot the entire night (which is usually NOT the case). My sleeping pattern is unpredictable. We'll talk about that later too.

-Exterior Torso: Itchy. I have 3 insertions to my torso.
    a. My port is inserted under the skin on my right chest. This is used for IV infusions instead of having to stick my arm with a needle. A god-send for those of us who have a need for it.
    b. A drain catheter into my gall bladder. My gall bladder is technically not functioning now. This is not serious. You can live without a gall bladder. Surgery to remove my gall bladder would be too risky, possibly spreading cancer cells or perforating something internally, which could lead to dangerous infections. Right now, the tube leads to a plastic bag that straps to my leg. The bag collects the liquid that comes out of my gall bladder which is solely natural secretions and mucosa. The inconvenience that this drain causes is fairly large. It often leaks out from the sides of the gauze dressing that we tape down to hold the gauze and protect my clothes from the liquid. I have to change the bandages every time they get wet - which is too often for my patience.
    c. A drain catheter into my liver. I think I've wrote about this extensively in previous posts, so I'll try to keep this simple. This drain, though not leaking as much, does put out a really gross mix of bile and mucous that I'm sure fascinates people that are fascinated by that sort of thing. The flow through that drain is much greater than the one through the gall bladder.
Everytime we change the dressing on the drains, we need to replace the tape used to keep it in place, which causes my skin to become raw and then, itchy. Kind of like having a cast.
    d. My "innie" belly button has turned itself to an "outie". It's kind of sensitive to pressure now.
    e. Interior Torso: This has been the biggest discomfort from the beginning. Currently, I am very bloated - my abdomen muscle is stretched pretty tightly. This makes it very sensitive to anything that causes pressure. I swallowed some juice down the wrong pipe today. Ugh, agony! Coughing. Randomly, pain will  appear around the entry sites of the drains,  or in my lower back, or in some other random spot.
    f. I'm working on healing my urinal tract infection. I was having trouble urinating so Dr. Moss introduced an antibiotic for 5 days (Levaquin) and I'm sucking down cranberry juice as frequently as I can. It's helped in just two days. I feel better already.
    g. Legs and Feet. Besides my muscles being atrophied from a lack of a proper exercise routine, my legs don't hurt.Nor do my feet.  

OK - now for the drugs.
- Lialda for my ulcerative colitis.

- Ursodiol - to help in the production of bile acids.

-Senna - to avoid constipation.

- Lexapro - an anti-depressant.

- Ritalin - Helps to combat fatigue in the morning and early afternoon.

- Oxycontin - For long-lasting ("extended") pain relief.

-Levaquin (reviously mentioned... for the suspected UTI.

- Marinol - This drug contains the compound, THC, the active element in marijuana. This pill was presribed to help my appetite. It does not cause me to get high. The one downfall of Marinol is it causes dry mouth, which I'm fighting against anyway.

Mirtazapine - This drug is also an anti-depressant with the benefit making me a bit drowsy and helping me to sleep.

Lovenox - This is my daily  blood thinner, injected like insulin for those with diabetes.

I'm losing the battle to stay awake. I might have to write more tomorrow. Let me know what you want to hear about.

-

Comments

[Edith Roman]

Hi John,

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Don't give up hope. Try to eat and get your strength back so that you can fight the invader that is in your body.

God Bless You.

Edith

[Jean Santopatre]

Hi John--

I am happy to see that you still have that dazzling smile! Sending you prayers, good energy, and a cyber hug! I heard about your illness from Jim, and want you to know I am thinking of you & sending healing thoughts and blessings your way.

--and thanks for that back crack in the Media Center when i was hurting! i now go to the chiropractor on a regular basis...

Your photos are wonderful..and your writing is awesome...thanks for sharing with all of us out here..

Peace, love, and rock & roll..

Warm regards,
Jean

[Jean Santopatre]

Hi John,

I am happy to see that you still have that dazzling smile! Not happy to hear of your illness--Jim let me know what was happening..

Sending you prayers, good energy and a cyber hug! I still remember the day you cracked my back in the Media Centerwhen i was hurting...and i go to a chiropractor regularly to keep me in alignment!

--your photos are great & your writing is awesome! Keep going...and hope your appetite is coming back--wish i could give you mine!

Peace, Love, Rock & Roll--

Warm Regards,
Jean
(the photographer)

[Danielle M]

as usual your posts are still filled with your humor. thinking of you..keep being strong...

[Moorhead]

Not to nitpick, but there's no mention of how your arms are, unless you're lumping them in with your torso. In which case, please disregard.

Keep up the good work, Johnny. You're an effin' hero.

[John Terhar]

I don't know what that "Moorhead" is talking about, if, indeed, that is his real name. What's his deal? Don't let him get you down. He some kind of chuckle-butt.

[John Terhar]

Oh, I forgot to tell you...About the moustache...If you have a choice, go with the 70's porn-stache. It will be a good look on you.

[ismael ramirez]

Hi:

The 70's stache would go well with flared polyester slacks and platform shoes, not to mention the stretch lycra button shirt.

[Kate Kidd]

Dear John,

I can see the moustache and the eyebrows and it makes me smile. Thanks for continuing to share your ups and downs with us. We are thinking of you and keep you in our prayers.

Kate Kidd