Post Op Holiday

So today my GI issues are still going on despite two doses of imodium. Monstermustdie drove me to the hospital to be tested for a bacterial infection. After finding what desk to check in at, get processed, and wait, I was taken to a small filthy bathroom to leave a sample for the lab. They said my test results will probably be ready by Monday afternoon. 

Meanwhile, I'm glad that MonsterMustDie is not having the same problems I am having. I would hate for him to be sick as a result of my visit to the hospital.

Clostridium difficile
One of the most well-known HAIs, C. diffcauses inflammation of the colon, and symptoms can range from diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is the most common symptom, following medication ingestion that eliminates good bacteria from the intestine along with the bad. The bacteria are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, most commonly being transferred from an infection site to another patient by a healthcare provider's hands. C. diff is resistant to many routine cleaning products, including alcohol-based hand cleaners, so it is able to survive in clinical locations for extended periods of time. C. diff can usually be treated with antibiotics, but in some cases a stool transplant may help restore bacterial imbalances.

Thanksgiving + Surgery

I went in for breast surgery on Tuesday. MonsterMustDie took the day off work to transport me to the Surgery Center and back home. I took a shower and washed my hair just before going, knowing I won't be able to was my hair for several days afterward just because I have to keep the surgical area dry and I can't lift my arms.
Everything went fine. I was kinda put off by the casual sanitary conditions there. The nurse, Janey, tore off tape for my IV and laid it on the footrest of the chair I was in until she was ready to use it. The arms of the chair in the prep room were sticky. I don't want to consider myself OCD about cleanliness - far from it, probably - but this was a medical facility.
Oh, well...
They sent me home with a Spanks-style tube top over my chest and a small ice pack over my left breast. I also had to purchase electronic leg compression devices that I wore home and will have to wear to sleep in for the next 9 - 10 days.

Wednesday morning before work, I managed to give myself a shallow sponge bath in the tub with my hair tied up and about three layers of plasic wrap around my chest to try to keep it dry. I'm planning to wear my hair tied back all week in a pony tail while I'm at work. I wore an old athletic bra-top, that was probably inadequate support, to work under my turtleneck sweater. It seemed like it would work okay but by the end of the work-day I was experiencing some discomfort. I ended up trading it in for a regular bra to sleep in last night. This morning, I woke up with immediate liquid bowel movements that I hope will cease as soon as everything is empty. I took an Immodium and am hoping for the best result because this is the worse day for GI troubles.

Today is Thanksgiving and I'm planning to make a mushroom tart with some beautiful wild mushrooms I got at the Farmers Market. We are invited to Karen and Bob's house in Greensboro for Thanksgiving. We're also bringing roasted vegetables and braised greens as a last minute thing. MonsterMustDie did not believe the tart and a small batch of sweet white turnips was enough.

This instead of That

The appointment I had for a biopsy of a cyst became a consultation instead of undergoing the procedure.  Rather than doing a biopsy and afterwards taking out the cyst regardless of what the biopsy shows, they are going with just the removal the cyst. This will be done under general anesthesia and MonsterMustDie has already made arrangements to take the day off to transport me.  That gives them a much better sample than a needle biopsy would, so why do two things instead of one. My doctor told me that he feels confident that it is totally benign but it won't go away on its own and might be a problem later so he wants to remove it.

painful bits

This morning before work, I have an appointment for a needle biopsy on a cyst in my left breast.
Nearly 30 years ago, I had a biopsy followed by a cyst removal in the right breast. Not looking forward to this procedure at all.

Also, my feet and legs hurt more than usual this morning.

driven to distraction

I can’t seem to get anything done tonight. That is all.

fashion statement

Now that the weather is cooler, I've been wearing my old skull sweater to work in the morning. Yesterday, one of my co-workers told me he'd like to have a jumpsuit made out of the same knitted fabric as my my sweater.

Redeemed

MonsterMustDie did nothing last week for our anniversary or my birthday.  Today, he took me to lunch at Crafted and gave me a belated birthday tiki cup and American Gods DVD.

I've felt ill all day. It finally occurs to me that it is probably from the change in the weather and the wild ups and downs in barometric pressure.

the promise of sleep

MonsterMustDie worked all night on the project for the Mill Collective. He got home at 5:00 a.m. just in time for me to wake up for work and for him to fall into bed for a couple of hours. Then, he gets up and does it all again today to finish everything in time for the Market.

Living with a narcissist

You can't fix a narcissist. You can edit and set boundaries your relationship with the narcissist and concentrate on other more positive relationships instead.
Enjoy what you share but don't make that person the main investment of yourself. 

9 Facts to Know About Narcissistic Personality Disorder Before Calling Someone a Narcissist

No body there

As an update on my cousin's
Death last week,  I got a text yesterday from my brother letting us  know there will be a small memorial for him on Wednesday. There's no way either of us can get off work to make the trip down to Georgia.  That's probably for the best. Our presence at a funeral we weren't invited to would,  at best, be very awkward and uncomfortable for everyone. The entire family shut us out when my mother died. I suppose they will just scatter ashes in the park and be done with it.

Trying to fulfill needs

I notice that MonsterMustDie has been requiring a lot more of my attention lately. He seems to be looking specifically for approval and praise for his creative efforts. This from the man who, at best, has no interest in what I do.

Still, I'm trying to be positive and encouraging but that does not seem to be enough for him. I'm frustrated by this situation and I don't know how to deal with this or why it's happening.

another death in the family

I've gotten so used to no one calling that I have not been remembering to turn my cell phone on when I am not at work. A call from my brother came in tonight on MonsterMustDie's phone. He wanted to let me know that there was one more legal form that we both need to sign next time I am in Atlanta. Also, BTW, the cousin that we grew up with is dead. He committed suicide a few days ago.
My niece found out by accident, reading a facebook post by his daughter-in-law. No one in the family bothered to tell us what was going on. I haven't heard from any of my mother's family since her funeral and neither has my brother.

I asked how his inlaws were and got the latest news from my sister-in-law. Her family has been going through a lot of transitions. I told them we were okay, that I probably would not be able to make a trip for a long time because I am working two jobs now (hopefully, he can mail any forms we have to sign in tandem a just have a notary witness authenticate them), and to please not be such a stranger.

two jobs

Thankfully, I am still working during the week at the graphics job for the photo studio. It's been a blessing to have a reason to get up every morning and get out of the house. I am also the main grocery and supply buyer at Casa WereMonster now, which takes some financial pressure off of MonsterMustDie. I'm not making enough to put money away for other things yet but I sleep much better and my dreams have improved. I'm also still working weekends at the retail gig which I refer to as “the dress shop”.
Working seven days a week does not leave me much time for social activities or other things but, since I have no social life here and probably never will, that isn't much of a loss and I feel more secure having two jobs now in case one disappears.

retail

Overheard from a customer  "...and I warned her about how I spend." from a guy wearing a wifebeater shirt who just spent at least an hour looking at watches.

The other highlight of the day was the man who took some shorts into the fitting room and found a can of chewing tobacco in the pocket.