I woke early this morning and feel pretty good again! I slept through the entire night and only woke this morning because I had to pee–a good thing since it means my kidneys are functioning properly. I made my first cup of coffee today since 5/19 (2 weeks ago!) and it tastes pretty good. Think I’ll be ready for some Starbucks soon!

Yesterday was absolutely the best! No nausea, no heartburn, and I was able to eat somewhat normally. It was beautiful outside and I took some time to pull a few weeds in the yard and then cleaned up the outside of my grill. Not a lot of physical activity, but enough that I felt I did something with my day other than just laying around. And I think that actually helped my body to begin to work as it should once more. I still have to take it easy and spend a good portion of my day resting (which is hard for me to do), but I just don’t have the endurance to keep going for more than a short period of time.

I have pretty much weaned myself from all drugs other than Protonix which helps to stave off the heartburn. I’ll continue to take that until it’s gone and see how it goes once I’m no longer taking it. It feels really good not to have drugs in my system and makes me wonder how folks who don’t need drugs for medical purposes can go through life in a daze all the time. I feel clean and clear-headed right now and that is the best feeling I can imagine. I am even resisting taking Tylenol ’cause I think it’s just not that necessary. I’m only experiencing very minor pain at the site of the incision and that’s easily alleviated with rest.

Wish I could go swimming this weekend, but I’ll have to get by with just dipping my legs in the pool. The temps are supposed to get into the high 90’s starting on Saturday and the temptation will be great. I expect I’ll see Patrick and Veronica at some point since she won’t be able to resist the pool as the sun starts blasting away! And possibly we can have a cookout or something since I expect I’ll be able to eat some grilled chicken or something like that. Don’t think I’m quite ready for steaks on the grill, but possibly that can happen in time for the 4th of July!

I’m going to increase my food intake just a bit today, adding something a little more substantial than oatmeal, soup and sherbet. I had a grilled cheese sandwich last night at dinner, and that seemed to work out okay. Going to make up a batch of egg salad for sandwiches today. My weight seems to be staying in the mid-130’s and I’d like to keep it there if at all possible, so I have to be careful not to go crazy with food once I’m able to eat normally again. Unfortunately, I can’t eat salads right now since lettuce and other greens are not easily digestible, meaning I just have to pay lots of attention to what I’m putting in my mouth.

Overall, though, I seem to be on the track to recovery! I certainly didn’t think this day would come at this time last week. And now it all seems like a very bad dream. I think I would have felt lots better if it hadn’t been for the nausea and vomiting. That did me in. And now that that’s over, I really feel I can recover! And I thought pain would be my worst problem–who knew!