SURGERY COUNTDOWN - DAY ONE

My surgery is tomorrow. One more day.

Today is an all liquid diet day. You'd laugh if you saw how stocked my fridge is with fluids. It's just one day, after all. I've also got jello, vegetable broth & popsicles. I'm irrationally afraid I will forget & eat something solid or have a drink after midnight. I'm ridiculous.

I will be starting my bowel prep shortly, and therefore I won't be leisurely sitting at the computer today.

I have only done one other bowel prep. It was in February for my third lap. This time I know what to expect...and it ain't fun. I'm as prepared as I can be - I cleaned the bathroom last night, have a delicious smelling candle, gentle wipes, reading material, sudoku book & vomit bucket. I'm already wearing the Sea-Bands & I'm praying they'll help with the queasiness. 

Let's get this shit over with...literally.

I want to thank my friendo Jeanne for sharing her post about bowel preps with me. You can find it here. Thanks to Jeanne, I do not have to drink the Golytely my doctor originally prescribed. I asked him at my pre-op appointment if I could instead take Dulcolax + Miralax mixed in blue Gatorade. He said either way was fine. He wouldn't have provided it as an option if I hadn't had been informed about it. Yet another example of why you have to do your own research & be your own advocate!

Thanks again Jeanne! You (& your blog) are the best!!

Wish me luck friendos. Thanks for your support!

BATHROOM TIP

Speaking of constipation...

(Disclosure) I realize that some of my posts may be TMI. Here's the thing, Endo is not pretty. Believe me in other contexts, I wouldn't get into all of this with random people.

But this is my blog about living with Endo & I've got a tip worth sharing. Especially if you are a bathroom reader like moi.

One major consequence of my Endo is that my bowel is entangled with my uterus. Bowel movements are often excruciating.

Now, I have always been one to read while I sit on the commode. It runs in my family. Actually, it's more like I have to read in there. I'll make do with a shampoo bottle or soap dispenser if nothing else is available.

Anyway, here's my tip. I started doing sudoku puzzles on the potty. It helps me focus on something other than the pain. I don't have time to suffer, I have an important goal to complete. This is tricky work folks, one wrong number & you screw up the entire puzzle!

I discovered finishing my business and completing an easy level sudoku, often time up the same. Sometimes it takes more than one.

I keep my small book with attached pencil on the shelf in our bathroom. Oh, and I keep my big fat book in the living room with the other magazines.

...I guess I really like sudoku. It's something from my "normal" life I can still do.

Here's a link to a free sudoku site, if you want to play. Here's a description of how to play, in case you need some tips. If you have this predicament, maybe a sudoku might distract you too.