Re: Fw: What fun!

[http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert (Robert)]

We all need a shoulder.  To not lean on.

 > From: Bhavani <http://www.juno.com/~bhavaniowl>
 > Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:48:18 -0500
 >
 > FROM JIM RE: SHOULDER SURGERY!!
 > 
 > Regarding the shoulder situation...
 > 
 > Dick will be VERY CRANKY...
 > 
 > The problem with the shoulder surgery is that it really hurts and,
 > even though percs help, they do not get rid of the pain, it is simply
 > diminished.  When I had my first shoulder done I had a morphine pump
 > for the first few days and then switched to percs.  They no longer use
 > that approach.
 > 
 > Sleeping is the biggest problem.  You both have to have your own room
 > and schedule.  For the first week or so I got no more than an hour and
 > a half of sleep straight during the night.  I would be up AND CRANKY
 > four or more times per night.  And there was nothing to be done.  You
 > cannot take more than two percs every four hours or you could stop
 > breathing which, although it is a complete solution to the pain
 > problem, is not recommended at this time.  Have your own room, Marg,
 > and earplugs.
 > 
 > The other thing to remember is that, no matter how prepared you are,
 > you are not.  It still pisses me off that it hurts and that I can't
 > sleep.  But at least I knew it was coming.
 > 
 > Fortunately for me, this time around does not seem as drastic as the
 > last time.  And Judy's sister, Lynne, had two shoulders done with the
 > second being considerably easier than the first.  Therefore, there is,
 > at least, a possibility that the experience will not be crushingly
 > painful and merely awful.  Now there's encouragement for you!
 > 
 > If you get a chance, let me know how things went yesterday.
 > 
 > JIm
 > 
 > PS  My surgeon was Eric Tolo and I have been quite satisfied with the
 > whole thing.
 > 
 > Also, I am going to forward an article from the NYTimes re end of life
 > techniques which, I think, should be thought about by us all.