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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
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Sprouting
Beef
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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
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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
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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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Once
Home Breakfast
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