| Travel Portrait 30
Acclimation: Try Try Again
Thursday,
July 7, 2011 [listen]
Acclimation: Try Try Again As I progressed towards my second
pituitary tumor resection, my physicians had some concerns about the amount of
stress that could be potentially placed upon my heart, while under anesthesia
during the surgery. For I was not as fit as an astronaut--if I had ever been.
Although not a requirement for the operation, they were not certain as to how
my body would withstand being in suspended animation for several hours. A stress
test was ordered.
The goal of the stress test was to get my heart
rate up to one hundred and fifty beats per minute, then take an electrocardiogram
reading. The reading, coupled with an ECHO, was reviewed by my Cardiologist, who
would give the "go ahead." Prior to his approval, a good indicator, for me, was
that I did not hock up a lung during the test, nor did I hurl my lunch, which
I ate forty-five minutes later: must be control over the reflux nerves!
The surgery was scheduled for Wednesday, June 29, 2011. The Cardiologist
confirmed that my heart had enough stamina to handle the operation. So, on Tuesday
evening, before midnight, I prepared and devoured Sprouting Beef:
Sprouting Beef
- Boiled
-
Brussels Sprouts
- Garlic (minced)
- Egg Noodles
- Water (filtered)
- Pan-fried
- Cubed Chuck (bite-sized)
- Coriander
Seeds (ground)
- Jerk Spice
- Olive Oil
- Boiled Broth
- Arrowroot
Post-operation, I was monitored for a couple of days in the Intensive Care
Unit. Having no resounding complications, I was transferred to the Acclimation
Ward.
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| Acclimation
Ward |
The goal was to rehabilitate
the normal do-it-yourself (DIY) home healthcare tasks, and to take note of the
severe post-op symptoms: the warning signs of adrenal insufficiency. The DIY for me
to focus upon was bathing.
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| Contemplating
DIY Bathing |
A day later,
I was back home. I quickly re-acclimated myself with the kitchen: utensils and
all.
Subtle Tureen and Cute Ladle Soup
- Wasabi
Paste
- Garlic (minced)
- Pickled Ginger (minced)
- Chicken
Stock
- Veggie Noodle Strings
- Corn Niblets
- Shrimp (frozen)
As
I ate, I watched TV. Soon after, I was upstairs drawing a bath and bathing (and
while flushing
my nose and cleaning the tub), during which I caught-up on my podcasts. I
put on some shorts and t-shirt, then was at the coffee table reading the literature
given to me by my Endocrinologist. I checked my email, washed the dishes, and
acquired an appetite for a roast beef sandwich with swiss, spicy-mustard, mayonnaise,
thick tomato slice on wheat--cheese-powdered chips on the side.
Appetite
acclimated, I hungered for sleep and the morn--Once Home Breakfast:
Once Home Breakfast
- D'Anjou Pear (peeled, cored,
poached)
- Filtered Water
- Lemon Squeeze
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Sun Dried Tomato (minced)
- Turkey Bacon (chopped)
- Creme
de Coconut
- Heavy Cream
- Flounder Fillets (smothered)
- Croissants (petite)
- Pear (halves)
- Kokos Relish (spread)
- Dried
Herb Spine (mint)
- Eggs (sunny-side, pointed)
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