First Steps

I think my dietary changes and such are supposed to begin tomorrow, officially, but I've decided to start today. Nothing red or purple in my diet, not alcohol, and my last coffee was at breakfast this morning. Tomorrow, I think I'm supposed to be on clear liquids after breakfast, but I'll start that at breakfast. I had a couple of home brews last night, but won't tonight. I bought some white cranberry juice to sub for wine and beer.

Sharon asked if I would be willing to grill chicken breasts for dinner. I said yes. Do probably grilled chicken and salad for my last meal of real food until my gut comes back online after the operation.

Back when I was in school, I was sent to get a history and physical on a patient in the post-op ward. His belly was swollen. He had had an operation for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and had a post-op ileus, so gases produced by the bacteria in his gut kept accumulating. You could tap on his belly, and it sounded like a drum. That could happen to me. Then I wouldn't be allowed to eat, or even drink, except sips to wet my mouth, until things started moving again. Not a happy prospect. I really hope I never stop farting.

I should take a walk today. I've spent most of the week sitting down. I've read a few books, and spent a lot of time on the computer, and hours every day watching stuff on NetFlix. I haven't been moving much. That's bad. I think the nurses will want me to walk the day after surgery, maybe even the same evening. So I could use the practice. It's good for us to move our bodies. I just haven't had anywhere to go. Or any desire to do anything. Maybe I'm scared, and trying not to show it.

So, plans for today: Drink lots of water, and maybe some juice or tea. Eat a healthy dinner, and possibly a healthy lunch before that. I already ate eggs, fried potatoes, and veggie bacon for breakfast. And a cup of coffee. My usual coffee, with cocoa, brown sugar, and half and half. Eggs fried sunny side up. Yummy breakfast. I slept in, so breakfast began around 9:30, and I finished the coffee around 11. So I don't need lunch, but I might nibble something anyway.

Continuing the plans. Laundry. It is Sunday, and I do laundry on Sunday, so I'll do that today. Take a walk, somewhere. And I will probably read, and watch TV in the evening. Yesterday, the evening began at 4. We watched X-Files, Star Trek, Haven, and Poirot. We took a break from watching when Sharon went grocery shopping, for an hour of intimacy. I have to wonder when I'll be able to do that again.

I'm having major surgery. So many things could happen. I could get an ileus, and not pass gas or be able to eat for days. The connection between the small and large intestine could not take, and I'd have a colostomy (or ileostomy) for a while (or forever). I could have serious abdominal pain, and never have sex again. Hell, I could die.

Or everything could go as planned and predicted, and I'll be up walking the halls by Tuesday evening, farting and pooping by Wednesday evening, and home on Thursday or Friday. I could be back to work in two weeks, grilling steak and drinking a bottle of Cabernet, and fucking my brains out before our anniversary. That is, if Liz is willing. I kind of wish I knew how it would all work out, but only if it is going to be good, and not too unpleasant along the way. If it's going to be bad, I'd rather not know ahead of time, and just live with it as it comes.

Time for the next batch of laundry. And maybe I'll take that walk.