Recovering

I'm at home, watching the NCAA tournement (and Notre Dame in the NIT). Recovery has gone pretty well, I've alternated between feeling fine one day and sleeping the next. The incision has just about healed, I can finally wear normal pants and it doesn't hurt. I haven't taken any pain killers at all for about 2 days, so that's not a worry at all anymore. I was always afraid I was going to be an oxycodone addict, I guess that fear was a good thing, it motivated me to switch to Advil.

I'm having a little trouble coming to terms with the ileostomy, it's hard to deal with. It connects above the belt line, then hangs down about 10 inches. So the waistline of pants goes right over top of it. I'm always afraid it's going to come off or start to leak or something. It's also pretty disgusting. I know, too much information...

I'm looking forward to getting back to the office on Monday, I've gotten lazy sitting around the house for the last week.

More Progress

Well, it's day 4 home from the hospital and all is well. I'm getting used to the ileostomy and dealing with that. I should be off the pain meds today or tomorrow (probably tomorrow). I don't want to be on oxycodone any longer than necessary. My surgeon said I should switch to Advil at some point, using oxycodone only at night so I can sleep. The pain has really subsided a lot, so I don't think it'll be a problem.

I still get tired pretty easy. That or I'm using this as an excuse to take a lot of naps, haven't really decided yet.

My abdomen is feeling pretty good, I can sit up without pain. The scar itches a lot, which I guess is good, means it's healing. The hair under the ileostomy patch is growing, which causes a lot of irritation. I think today I'll shave it back down and put on a new bag, which is a really disgusting adventure, no matter how you look at it.

Everything is going well, I'm recovering right on schedule. No complaints here.