Things like doing my exercises will leave me
dreaming of my bed and a nap all the way home and if we are returning from
exercises in Toronto I do the head bob snooze most of the way home. Grocery
shopping has changed too. I used to sprint around the store like I was in
a race and I took pride in beating my own record. I would leave any
little old ladies who got in my way eating my dust. Now I’m the one making my
way around the store with a walker and young people are nice to me. They
smile at me and hold doors for me and everything. Smart alecky whipper
snappers!
Taking a shower has also become a major undertaking
that requires advance planning and a bath chair. This activity also requires an
after-shower rest. I have a nap and feel refreshed for a couple hours
before the fatigue once again returns. The biggest trick I’ve learned is
never to rush myself, always leave lots of time because the stress of feeling
rushed exhausts me. That was a big lesson for a person who used to wait
till twenty minutes before I needed to be somewhere to start getting ready.
The second thing is the um…hmm..what was it
again? Oh yeah..the forgetfulness and confusion I experience
sometimes. The lady down the hall (I can’t think of her name right now)
met up with me at the elevators. She was telling me that she was going
for the best fish and chips in town and told me the name of the place. I
told her that we always went to this really good place the name of which I
can’t think of at the moment. I said I would get Eric to tell her next time he
sees her. I came in the door and told Eric that I met Ida (finally her
name comes to me) and she told me of this wonderful place where she goes for
fish and chips. Trouble is, you guessed it, I couldn’t remember the name of the
place. So I asked him to ask her where it is the next time he sees her
and could he please tell her the place we always go to as well. I
take comfort in the knowledge that at least I haven’t forgotten my own
name yet. (Psst, I’ll tell you a little secret. I always … um .. well
nevermind, it probably wasn’t that important anyway).
The confusion and the forgetfulness probably tie in with my oxygen
levels somehow but it is exasperating. My family is aware that if I’m
acting really confused (translated ‘dorky’) they should check my hosing to make
sure everything is attached as it should be. So far that has always been
the problem and is easily solved. I should be very entertaining when I have the
medication-induced hallucinations everyone tells me will happen
post-operatively.
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