Fables of the Reconstruction

Well, Deb had a bit of a down day yesterday.  She didn’t really feel very good all day.  Sometimes it was being unable to regulate her temperature (going from freezing to sweating at the drop of a hat).  Sometimes it was being unable to conjure up much of an appetite.  Sometimes it was feeling very run down (more than on previous days).  Mostly it was all three.  Underlying it all was a general malaise/ennui.  Yep.  I’ve been there before.  I call it ‘narcotic burn-in/burn-out’, but I’m sure there’s a medical term for it.  Deb did start the weaning-off process only recently (like, the evening before?), so I hope that this is something that improves … quickly.  She does feel better today and is in a lot better mood. 

She’s also upped the length of her walks around the house (at least time-wise, which should translate to distance-wise as well).  She’s also been staying awake more (she’s been binge-watching ‘Orange …’ on Netflix), though she still tends to nod off within 45-60 minutes of taking her OxyCodone (even at the reduced dosage).

I can tell she’s starting to get a little bit of cabin-fever.  She mentioned today how she looks forward to getting out to go for a walk at Richmond Beach Park soon.  Richmond Beach Park has an upper walking path that stays on top of the bluff (so not much, if any, elevation change) and has a great view of the Puget Sound and Kitsap Peninsula.  Not a long walk, but relatively easy to start off with.  Eventually we’ll try to get over to the Japanese Gardens at Washington Park Arboretum and work our way up to the Bloedel Preserve on Bainbridge Island.  No climbing Rainier, I’m afraid.

Deb’s update:

• -        Beginning to wean herself off of the OxyContin.
• -        Drain production still diminishing, but it looks like she may have to keep one around for awhile longer (I think that one will be removed at her appointment on Friday).
• -        There’s still some post-surgical bruising, but it is slowly beginning to improve.
• -        The navel is still … well, it’s still something.  I don’t know.  It’s scabbed over and until the scab comes away we really can’t tell how it looks.
• -        Energy is up today, alertness is up, but we’re to the point where some days are better than others.  Yesterday wasn’t a great day for Deb.

But I did buy her some Fran’s salted caramels at Central Market yesterday while grocery shopping.  Maybe that will help too.