The "How's Kim Doing?" Thread

Trying once again to get all my ducks in a row.

Kim's surgery is scheduled for this afternoon. At the very earliest, I expect to hear from her husband at 5PM Pacific time, 7pm my time. I will update everyone as I know anything.

Kim is going to be in the hospital for 5-7 days, so I will keep up the thread for her as long as need be. Please chime in with your good wishes.

*chime*
My wishes that everything works out as planned and she will enjoy better health afterwards.

I got a text message from Kim about 4 hours ago - sorry, I was asleep then - and she was in Pre-Op. I know it will be at least another 90 minutes or so before she is out of surgery. I will pass updates along as I have them!

Thanks for creating this thread, Stasia. I hope that Kim's surgery goes well!

Dear Ambassador Stasia,

Thanks for all you do! You are incredible! I'm thinking of Kim and sending heavy duty prayers.

I spoke to Walt a few minutes ago, but unfortunately, the phone connection was so poor I found out little beyond the fact that Kim is out of surgery. I hope I have a further update later tonight.

1st ... Stasia - Thank you again for stepping up to support Kim (berly) and all of her friends being up to date on the progress of her surgery and recovery.

Kim - All the love and the belief that everything has gone well for you. I will keep checking in often.

Ruth/womansheart

I hope everything has gone well!

Stas : You are a living angel! Seriously you are such a wonderful friend. Thank you for taking the time to keep us all updated with Kim and Linda's progress. Now we just need to find a way to clone you and the world will be a much better place.

Sending love and and healing thoughts to Kim,

Checking in for the news that is--hope Kim is doing well in recovery and thank you, Stasia, for organizing it.

Kim Update: Walt just texted me. Kim's surgery was over 5 hours long and every bit as complicated as the surgeons had anticipated. She lost a lot of blood during the surgery but she is now resting in her room, lucid but groggy.

Glad that it is over and hope she starts feeling better very soon..

Stasia- Thanks so much for the updates! You are wonderful!

Five hours is a long time to be under anesthesia. That darn stuff seems to stay in your body for a while after surgery.

I'm concerned that she lost a lot of blood.

Prayers and gentle hugs!

Hope everything works out for you Kim.

Sending big positive thoughts to Kim, and thanks to Stasia.

No thanks are necessary for me, folks. I am happy to do it.

Sending positive thoughts for a speedy recovery.


glitter-graphics.com

Sending best wished for a quick recovery.

And some virtual flowers.

Hey, Kim! You have a lot of friends who are thinking of you and wanting to see you back here.

I'm glad that long surgery is over! I hope your "new" blood revitalizes you soon. I'd send you some of mine if I could.

Rest easy and bask in the glow of caring and friendship wafting your way from all over the country...and world for that matter. {{{Bunny Hugs}}}

Thanks for the update, Stasia.

Kim, best wishes for a rapid recovery!

I am so grateful to hear that you are very likely in your room by now, groggy, but recovering. I am also grateful for all of the people who have made blood donations as they may be needed for you, dear Kim. I hope that every nurse you have treats you wonderfully well and that they are all kind and thoughtful, too.

Love and blessings to you for peace and healing time. You drink so deeply from life and laugh with a happy heart. I am blessed to have you as a friend, Kim.

Thank you, Stasia for facilitating.

Rest well, Kimmers ... we're all thinking of you.

Kim Update: I just spoke to Kim, who sounds very good, considering the surgery she went through yesterday. She told me she is ahead of schedule, very good news, and has already been up and walking to the nurse's station, which merited her a hand of applause. Hopefully, she can get out of the hospital before the 5-7 day time span originally projected.

I will have another update tomorrow about this same time.

Stasia- Thanks!!

>25 alcottacre: Excellent news, Stasia, and of course KIMMERS!!

Thanks for the update re. Kim. Lots of prayers were said today.

Love to you Kim!

Kim! Kim! Kim! Way to go, girl. Take care. Keep 'em applauding.

Thanks for the updates Stasia, and Kim it sounds like you are recovering really well!! Best wishes from Switzerland!

Woohoo! :)

Sending more applause....giving and receiving energy. I hope your energy continues to improve, Kim. It's great that you're up and about so soon!

Wow .. amazing! Good job Kim, but don't do too much too soon, will you? *worrywort here chewing on lips*

Hi Kim, just found this thread and am happy to see it. I'm glad your surgery is over and the healing can begin. Ever onward my friend. Speedy recovery too:)

Kim Update: I spoke to Kim a few minutes ago. Very good news! She is doing well and off her IVs completely today. Her hubby bought her an IPad and she is hoping to be online tomorrow. She is having problems focusing her eyes yet, so is not able to read, but she is hoping that she can use the IPad and if nothing else, at least be able to check threads.

Glad to hear you're feeling well, Kim! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

ditto what Terri said!

Yay! So glad to hear things are going well! Best wishes, Kim.

mmmm....iPad. I loves mine. My precious....

Glad to hear things are going well!

The news keeps making me happy. I love Kim's surgeons. Clearly they did this difficult surgery right!

Woot! Kim, that is such good news. You sound like you are doing so well. I am thrilled. Oh,my ... happiness is reading such good news about your recovery and about your new *toy*.

What a great gift from your husband. That will help with your recovery, for sure.

Down the road I am hoping to have an iPad myself. My birthday and the holidays are coming up before too long. Fingers and toes crossed.

Jim, glad to hear you love yours.

Good morning Kim, glad to know things are going well for you. Keep on keeping on.

>35 alcottacre:: That new IPad will make your recovery so much more enjoyable, Kim. Hope the eyes are focusing better today. They probably won't let you out of the hospital until you can see straight! Let the good news continue...

Glad to hear that recovery is proceeding apace! And remember you can change the font size on the iPad!!

Thinking about you Kim. Enjoy your iPad--I love mine. And if a day gets tough, just consider: "a day in the life of the swiss army"

All right , everyone, listen up. I'm not going to lie to you. We lost a lot of good men today, but we haven't lost the the war yet. It's time to hunker down and talk strategy: Has everybody been taking care of his fingernails? Because yesterday, during the battle, I noticed that some men--in fact, a lot of men--were having trouble opening their knives. Remember, you have to dig pretty hard to get the blade out. It's not like the magnifying glass.

Okay, another thing. Yesterday, on the battlefield, there was some confusion about the location of the blade. If the logo is facing you, the blade is the third instrument on the right side of the knife. It looks like the tweezers, but it's actually the one just above the tweezers. This is important to remember.

Let's have a moment of silence to mourn all the me who died today.

Okay. One more thing: I can see that many of you have accidentally cut yourselves while trying to open your knives. Listen, this happens sometimes, it's just another part of war and army life. But try to be careful.

Tobias, how's the fire coming? Still sawing down the tree? Okay. Remember to be careful with that saw, Tobias. Just because it's little doesn't mean it isn't sharp.

All right, men, it looks like we have some more time before dinner. And as long as you're all here, I'd like to talk to you about respect. During weapons inspection, I noticed that many of you have lost your toothpicks. This is unacceptable. The toothpick is part of the Swiss Army knife. Yes, I know, it comes out. But that's not an excuse t lose it.

All right, that's it. Get some rest. Tomorrow we wage war.

From Ant Farm by Simon Rich. I'll zap it when you're done reading it, Kim. Get some rest! ;-)

Kim:

Simply checking in to see how you are feeling today and sending lots of love and energy.

Bonnie : I loved that .... adding that to my obese wish list.

*waves to Kim* ... hooray for being IV-free and double hooray for the new 'toy' .. hope your eyes start to focus again tomorrow so you can start reading again ... but no straining, ok?

Kim Update: Kim had a setback today. She got dehydrated, with bouts of vomiting, and they have put her back on the IV. She sounded tired when I spoke with her this evening. She did get her IPad today but has not used it yet. I did tell her everyone is wishing her the best.

So, I do not recommend barfing after abdominal surgery. Ouchie, ouch!! I ham using the new iPad, but haven,t figured out how to change the font yet. And obviously my typing is not up to snuff either, oh well. Here's hoping fo a better tomorrow. Smiles wanly, but it is a smile dammit!

Woot! Posting on your own thread! Good for you.

Yay, Kim. Hope the barfing is all gone and you are feeling better!

Hey kim! Yikes to the barfing..
Hooray to the iPad! nice gift :)

Hopefully it was just one of those quick uh oh things that will be a distant memory by this morning. Have fun with your new toy..

Hi Kim! :) I hope the iPad is easing your recovery. I'm keeping you in my thoughts. *hugs*

Kim- Great to hear from you! Keep smiling and get your butt home!

Hi, Dear Kim -

Uh oh, on the news about the dehydration. Thank goodness for IV fluids during this time! So, good to read about you giving the new iPad a whirl. That is so kewl.

I am hoping for them to serve you the best jello or broth in the house/hospital. And, it better stay down, dag nab it.

Thank goodness that the river of life continues to flow along and very soon this *unpleasant* patch of *the greatest recovery ever* will be a distant memory.

All we need is love ... da da da da da. All we need is love ... da da da da da. All we need is love, love. Love is all we need. Smooch.

*Waves hello to Kim* Hope you're feeling better soon

I'm sorry to hear that you had those bouts of vomiting, but at least it didn't happen after you were discharged from the hospital. I hope that you feel better today.

Hi there Kim, now that the dehydration is under control, here's hoping you're on a smooth road to recovery. iPad=happiness:)

Hi guys. Thanks for all the well wishes. Still feeling nauseous, but not violently so. Thank goodness! Darryrl, yes, my husband was glad that all happened in the hospital and not at home. Bowels still not working properly, eating saltines and some soda and juice. Yuk. Love the iPad,just can't get my eyento focus for long. Needleses say, no reading going on here! Wathcing really bad Hallmark movies. Till later!

Barfy Berly does have a certain ring to it but it also sounds icky and painful after having your insides rearranged! I'm hoping that's over soon, Kim.

Bad Hallmark movies are perfect. You can sleep through most of them without missing much. Also, it's good to hear about people whose lives are worse than your own when you're feeling like crap!

No more setbacks today! Happy Sunday to you.

Feel better soon!:)

Barfy Berly blows bucketloads of beastly bile by binging on buttered bologna bacon breakfast bean burritos.

Beastly beautiful, Stephen. What talent.

Kimmers, no more urping. None, zilch, nada. Is that clear?

I am glad you're being cared for so well, and I wish you speed and completeness in recovery SOON. xoxo

Kim, listening to podcasts and watching movies is a great way to use your iPad too. Have hubby (or your kids) download "Wait, Wait, don't Tell Me!". That's the perfect show to listen to when you're half asleep. Funny short bits that you can ignore or listen to as desired. And it's a happy show, so I feel happy when I listen to it. Keep getting better, Kim!

#62 a+ on the alliteration Ape! Attaboy. Thinga are much better this afternoon. I will have to check out the podcasts. I also have downloaded Becoming Jane (referring to Jane Austen). Thanks for keeping me company in here.

There's also a free PBS app for the iPad that among other things, lets you watch recent shows. I believe the latest episode of Sherlock is up, and it's an awesome series.

NPR also has a nice app with music links and the ability to listen to shows.

If you've got a Netflix account, there's tons of stuff to watch instantly on the iPad.

If all else fails, try Pandora. It'll make instant playlists for you if you search for an artist or music genre.

I'm glad you've stopped hurling your stomach contents, Kimmy and that you're getting the hydration you need.

Oh gosh... Bonnie has it right... the PBS program I love is 'Wait, Wait, don't Tell me' and not 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' as I mistakenly typed in a different thread. haha.

Ooh, I hope you enjoy 'Becoming Jane' ... I did. If you're up for it, 'Gosford Park' is enjoyable too. I just watched it on Netflix.

Kim

Stopping by to say I'm thinking of you. I'm sorry that you had a set back. Gentle hugs to you.

Good Morning, Sunshine -

How's our most recent woman in surgical recovery doing today? Everyday, better and better, I hope.

Sending lots of love, as always, Kim.

Kim Update: Kim is off the IV and it looks as though she may get to go home today. She has to meet with her doctor first as she is still having minor bouts of vomiting, but she is hopeful. I will let you know for sure when I do.

Good news! I hope Kim gets to go home today.

ditto what Darryl said!

Home, what a sweet sound there is to that word, Kim. Hope you are ready to be discharged to Home Sweet Home.

Sending love.

While I know you want to be at home, Kim, I hope they allow you home only if you're ready to be home. I don't like the sound of the bouts of vomiting, minor or otherwise.

*sending healing waves*

I hope you're home and on the road to a complete recovery Kim:)

Kim Update: Kim is home! She got home about 4:30PM yesterday. She is in very good spirits now that she is home. She thinks she might actually get some reading done today too!

Hooray, for you Kim! Enjoy your very own bed, your room, your resting, your hubby and children, etc. etc.

Thanks for the update, Stasia.

Great news! Thanks as always, Stasia.

YAY! Home is good. Read well!

Good news! Glad you're well enough to be home now, Kim. :)

Yay, Kim! Nothing like home for finally getting some rest. Keep your feet up and let everyone wait on you--it makes them feel better to have something to do.

Good evening Kim. I'm glad you are home in your own space. I continue to hold you in my thoughts and prayers!

Wonderful news, Kim. Enjoy your comfortable surroundings and rest well.

So, today i am reading the messages to my hubby, and I read the part where i say I have to figure out the font size thingy and he says you mean,ike this and puts two fingers onto page and then spreads them apart and like magic the whole darn thing gets bigger and i can read!!!!!!!!! LOL. So now that i can see what alla you nice people have written, i will try to b on more tomorrow. Xoxoxox

You go, Kim!

HI Sweetie

I'm sending healing thoughts your way!

Take care... enjoy your new toy :)

Hooray for being able to read the font!

Hope you're feeling better. :)

Happy to hear you can now read all the important things I'm posting to you, Kim. I'd hate to think you would have to go all this time without reading all the love and support I've been sending you to my most barfiest berly. :)

(Seriously, happy you are doing so well in recovery!)

*growls* Technology that isn't intuitive makes me mad. *smooch*

Berly, type your screen twice and the words/pics not only get bigger, but they fill the screen perfectly--no missing parts. Thinking of you!

Hey, Kim, glad you are home and that the barfing is over (I hope!)--I hate that even when my abdomen hasn't just been cut open.

Good mornining! Yes,it is good to be home. I ate well yesterday and it all stayed down! My friends have been absolutely great at dropping off meals,desserts and even some wine. Course i have to wait on imbibing because i think it might be a bit much with the hydrocodeine, LOL.

Glad to see you up and around this morning! Yes, let's not mix the drugs and alcohol. We do not want you back in the hospital :)

Thanks for looking out for me Stasia. And a big thanks for running this thread for me and making it possible for me to "feel the love" from all my LT friends.

Ape, BB here. Yes I know you are sending funny get well thoughts my way.

Bonnie, I love the double tap hint! Thanks.

Ruthie, Richard, ronincats,, Kath, katyM, and Linda--hi you guys! You are the best worldwide network a gal could ask for. :)

Kimmers! So good to see you back. I hope your rest-to-reading quotient goes up significantly every day.

#96: No problem!

So, I am actually reading today! Although I find it fascinating and totally relevant, I recognize that a vast majority will not be immediatlaey enthralled with this book. Sudden Menopause by DeAngelo is pretty self-explanatory title! There, now did I lose half my audience right away? Well, hang with me guys and young gals, just keep this one in mind for a friend or loved one. Hope no one you know ever has to use it, but I must say I like the writing style and the information is easily accessible.

Congratulations on getting some reading in, Kim!

Now, since I can't have sex for six weeks, i decided to live vicariously through a book and what better candidate than Bonk! See now have my reader base back again, LOL. Just started it, so I am into foreplay, you might say. More later...I am sure!

Have fun Berly. I loved that one!

...six...*WEEKS*...*faints dead away*

Hi there Kim, not touching #101 nope, un unh. Glad to see you're feeling better :)

Hey S--just caught up on your thread. LedMAO!!

R, weakling. Where are the words of encouragement, the bald-faced lie that sex just doesn't matter? Come on man, help me out here!

B, nothing? Chicken. ;)

Kim- Good to see you up and about! Sorry about the sex thing! It'll go by fast or I hope so anyway! Keep us updated with your reading!
BTW- You did get my PM about the "Book Swap"?

*groggily lifts head* Berly, my angel, sainted one, SIX WEEKS OF NO SEX?!?!?!?!? How?!?!? HOW?!?!?
*passes out again*

Haha...maybe it can be a like a readathon...except a no-sex-athon!

Anyone else going to volunteer to go along with her?

#108: You will note the complete lack of volunteers . . .

Thanks Stasia! I did note the lack of cheerful voices raised in a chorus of support! Snorts.

Dashes bucket of water on Richards head, half in spite because I know he still can you know what!

Slept six hours straight last night. Wow! I feel great! Off to read about sex...

>110 Berly: Vicarious is better than no-carious, eh what? Poor lambkin!

#110: Glad to hear you are feeling great this morning, Kim!

Don't worry Kim, I'll go on your no-sex-athon with you!

...

We don't have to post hourly updates, do we?

111: Errr, didn't you try to use a similar argument on me once? Something about bi-curious is better han no-curious or something? ... :o

Ape--you're the man! Hourly updates would be tiresome. We'll just have weekly checkins. ;)

no sex a thon? count me in.

Hurray! It's a threesome! An orgy! Yippee!

...ok...bad choice of words?

Kim Update: Kim is doing fine today. I just talked to her. She spent her day being 'productive,' which I guess, precludes her not being on LT today :) She wants everyone to know that she misses them.

Thanks for being the LT ambassador Stasia. Kim, I'm glad you are doing fine today.

Being productive. Yikes! Don't do that, Kim. ;-). I guiltily confess to wanting you to be more of a "slouch potato" so that we can have more of your company here on LT. Glad you're feeling better, though.

Kim, productive?? Really? Don't rush it; take advantage of the down time.

Productivity is for people who have not recently had their innards sliced and diced! Now unless your productivity consists of whittling down a list of old movies to watch, updating a reading journal, or some other quiet activity then I agree with the Bonnies.

I think catching up --both lurking and posting -- on LT is a very productive post-surgical activity. Easy does it, Kim. I'm sure that Ambassador Stasia does not want to have to deliver a bad report on you!

LOL! I wasn't that productive. Just trying to plow through countless useless emails to make sure I didn't miss something important, like signing up for conference times for my daughter's school...

I have given up on my intellectual books and resorted to trash. I finished The Twelve by
Willliam Gladstone and it was just fair.

I am still on major pain meds, but I am having to take a little less. yeah! Sorry my posts are so short, but I still tire easily. When i left the hospital may RBC was o8.1 when it should be in the 12s. Taking iron to boost it back up. Big hugs to all!

8.1! MORE REST! Lots of iron, and nummy-num-num-num red meat!

Ah! What I wouldn't give for some nice red meat! Unfortunately, I haven't re-introduced meats or raw veggies to my diet, as they are harder to digest. Couple more days I think. I measured my incision. It is pretty decent sized: 9 inches!! I get the staples out Tuesday. (Yes, rather Frankensteinish, staples vs. sutures, but I actually think they heal nicely and they are easier to get out, having had them before.) My son keeps asking to see them because they are kinda cool on the gross scale. (He is 10 afterall!)

Linda sent me a book (Thanks!) and so I am going to start that one next. Agnes Brown, previously published as The Mammy.

So nice to see you posting! Major pain meds are needed, but I hate the effects. Perocet seems to give me nasty, wicked nightmares. I'm not prone to bad dreams!

I hope you like Agnes Brown

Glad to see you posting, Kim!

Best wishes for your continued progress, Kim!

Sorry, been away for a while,.... but I've caught up with your thread here now .... belated but very happy congratulations on your continued progress, Kim.

How many staples did they need to close your incision? For all my odd accidents, I've never (thankfully) had cuts that came close to 9".

Won't they give you blood transfusions rather than hoping iron will sort out the RBC? (Or am I being confused?) I had a few transfusions when my counts were at rock bottom, and they always worked, plus gave me lots of energy (temporarily!).

You are right. I had two transfusions in the hospital and I have my numbers mixed up. I went from 8.1 to 9 something, which they considered high enough not to do anymore. Since I am home now and surviving, and it takes like 4 hours to drip a bag, I think I am on my own unless things get worse. It's OK. I am gaining ground. The pain still sucks, but I am a little more agile each day and a little more present each day. : )

#130: Glad to see you up and posting already this morning, considering how late you were up last night!

Yeah, this lady just kept talking and talking to me! ; ) Thanks for keeping me company last night, Stasia.

#132: No problem! When you need to go, just say 'Shut up, Stasia' or I will keep you up for hours :)

Deal!

LOL!

Hi Kim! I'm glad to hear that you're doing better, albeit slowly. I'm preparing to do my famous red blood cell chant and dance, which is guaranteed to ward off future blood transfusions.

Thanks D! Dance away...PS: I heard through the grapevine that you have been feeling under the weather yourself. Feel better too!

Glad you're doing okay, Kim. Hope that RBC count improves with the iron tablets.

So how's the no sex thing going, Kim? No cheating!

THanks CatyM. Nice to see you. : )

Thanks for the reminder Stephen...okay, I totally miss it, but the mere thought of any kind of robust activity frightens me. I am just surviving walking from room to room right now, and even then I have pain. Nope, gonna have to continue with the mild fantasies in my head and wait on the real deal. How are YOU doing my faithful purist?! LOL

You might say I'm 'holding up' well...

Don't make me laugh!! It hurts. Evil boy.

#136 : I want to see this famous red blood cell chant and dance, Darryl .... please post the video link asap!

Wow---how on earth did I lose you? I've just spent the better part of an hour catching up on all your 'adventures' (like three whole threads I had to go back) to figure out what the surgery was all about.

SO so so glad everything went well. Speaking as another survivor of major surgery - I had a kidney and the accompanying rib to get to it removed back in 2001---the 10 inch incision around my waist can still be a bitch, but you WILL recover and get off those debillitating, constipating and nightmare inducing pain meds, be able to graduate to the good stuff (can you say "Wine?") and get on with your life. (even your sex life).

Speaking of sex, I am laughing because as a Navy wife, there were many times in my life when sex was NOT on the agenda. In fact, I remember telling one of our chaplains that I had given up sex for lent (hubbie was deployed for 4 months) and I sure wasn't going to give up wine and/or cigarettes too!

Just glad to hear you're doing well, enjoying your new Ipad toy, and getting back to some reading. Lots of gentle virtual hugs wafting your way.

edited to correct deplorable spelling!

Tut!! How great to see you! I am honored you took the time to go back and catch up on everything. Wow. I loved your upbeat message. My dad tells me the way to go is red wine, too. ; ) I will be glad to join the ranks of surgery survivors soon. It doesn't feel quite like I am there yet, but I took a small step forward today--literally--because I went for a gentle walk. It was so nice to be outside! I have to confess that I squinted the whole time, and it was a cloudy day. I really should get out more! Tomorrow I get the staples out, which should feel good.

Cameling--Did Darryl send you the video link yet? LOL

Kim

Two wonderful things after surgery...a shower and a short walk.

Good luck with the staple removal.

Hugs

Hi, Kim, glad it's going pretty well. Congratulations on getting out for a walk. That is a huge milestone and return to the "normal world"!

Being a blue-eyed, born and bred Northwesterner, I sort of prefer the cloudy, rainy days. Nothing goes better with a book than the sound of rain drumming on the roof. Sunshine makes me want to clean, and we can't have that now, can we? Glad to hear you're doing so well, Kim.

oh yeah! a shower.. mend quickly please :)

Well, no shower today, but I did get my staples out: all 32 of them!! I have little steri strips on now for a week or so. MUCH more comfortable.

My son stayed home with me today. He got dirt in his eye at a soccer game and managed to rub his eye enough to take off a layer, so he is home from school with antibiotic goop in his eye. We spent the better part of the day trying to find the floor in his room. It is a lego bananza!! Our goal was reached and a good time was had in the process.

In addition, he has to finish a book by Friday for a book report, and it was hard going with one eye, so I read to him. I like the book. It is called Schooled and covers the school year of Cap, who has always lived on a hippie compound with his Grandma and knows almost nothing of the "real" world. Despite his oddness, he winds up winning the hearts of his classmates and teaching them a few lessons along the way.

Hi Janet!! Hi Bonnie!! Hi Kath!!

*drive-by hug*

Glad to hear that the staples are out! Congratulations!

Yes, and my iron count has gone up to 10.1. Not 12 yet, but going in the right direction.

I want to say thanks to everyone who has posted here. I have really appreciated all your kind words of encouragement. And special thanks to Stasia for setting it up and keeping everyone posted on my progress.

I think I am going to move back to my original thread now, so please come visit me there. : )
http://www.librarything.com/topic/101295