<p>Hi Donna!
Great news that you are back and that surgery isn’t imminent. You must “feel” so much better being back in NYC and having had the chance to see your DS before he heads back to Chicago. Here’s to the healing powers of jello!</p>
<p>thank you im so glad i got to see my dear wonderful son before he left i talked to him this morning before he got on plane i just missed his call he must have arrived. i told him im going to be ok and now that im here i really believe it i habve to admit there were a couple of days this past week when i wasnt so sure and i know j wasnt either after he saw firsthand how sick i was he kept bursting into tears and i couldnt console him but i think hes a lot more positive now. i finally got moved to a room from the er at 4 am (the first time ive been anyplace without massive noise in what seems like forever.) but i didnt sleep at all it felt like ive forgotten how all the stress and agitation my blood pressure is still way high. but all doctors so far are hopeful of avoiding further surgery so fingers crossed. i am so weak need help just getting out of bed to go to bathroom but am insisting because i just wont do bedpan thing anymore. in montreal they didnt bother getting me up ever what a nightmare it already feels a little surreal 6 straight days on that stretcher in their er. was pretty upset to learn last night that in just 13 days ive gone from 115 to 98 pounds, 17 lbs lost in just that time i am horribly skeletal and judging from last time i was so sick and lost so much weight 5 years ago it will take months and months to get it back kind of discouraging but hey i look forward to having chance to try, beginning fairly soon i hope. any and all visitors very welcome ive vowed to swallow my pride at how awful i look i can send my room # by pm. just please understand that although my natural instinct is always to try to entertain and amuse its pretty hard right now to talk except tiny amt with tube still down my nose and throat very sore still nothing by mouth except ice cips and theyre stricter about that than thhey were in mtl! thx again love you all donna</p>
<p>wow. i’m watching top chef masters. oh my god. it’s almost pornographic. i dont know how much longer i can stand it!</p>
<p>Hi Donna,</p>
<p>You sound so much better! That’s wonderful. If you can stand the food porn, by all means drool away! Let’s hope it’s not too much longer before you can indulge yourself. </p>
<p>I wish I lived closer so I could drop by for a visit. If you PM me your room number I would love to send you a little care package. </p>
<p>Love,
jnsq</p>
<p>might as well post your room number so you can reach the guiness book of records for most cards received :)</p>
<p>Do we really need your room number to visit, or will the nice people in the lobby of the hospital tell us how to find you??</p>
<p>VeryHappy–Are you planning to skoodle on down to Mt. Sinai to visit Donna? :)</p>
<p>VeryHappy - I wouldn’t count on the hospital giving out that information due to HIPAA; I’d go armed with as much information as you can.</p>
<p>And then you must report back to us all ;)</p>
<p>I am planning to go tomorrow (Monday).</p>
<p>One of the benefits of being unemployed (:() but very healthy (:)) is that I look for worthwhile things to do. I can’t think of anything more worthwhile than helping Donna pass the time.</p>
<p>Please post or pm the room number at Mt. Sinai. If all the posters and lurkers send cards, it’ll take a month of Sundays for Donna to read all of them. Knowing how many people care, along with all those good wishes, will be great for Donna and James.</p>
<p>To Donna, so relieved that you are now safely at Mt. Sinai and closer to home after that ordeal and scary situation in Montreal. Hoping your spirits are high and that you heal rapidly without the need for additional surgery.</p>
<p>I second posting the hospital’s room # address and thought it might be fun to send a postcard of good wishes from all our respective locations. Donna would receive scores of postcards from all sorts of places across the country as another way to bring home that so many of us care about her well being, and see where we all come from.</p>
<p>please don’t anyone actually post my room number; I don’t want to be <em>quite</em> that public! both very happy and je ne sais quoi have it if anyone wants it.</p>
<p>some more very hopeful signs of progress this morning. obstruction appears to be continuing to gradually resolve itself. They pulled out my n-g tube this morning after 8 days (yay! sore throat gone!!) and i very nervously await my first clear liquids to see if i can tolerate them. so fingers crossed. rye bread and cream cheese will have to wait a while i’m afraid.</p>
<p>then they cut suture holding in foley catheter and finally pulled it out after 14 1/2 days since surgery. Now they, and I, are waiting to see if everything works there too. </p>
<p>but being untethered now except for iv is nice. i can actually unplug iv pole from wall and get out of bed and go to bathroom myself now without waiting for help.</p>
<p>worst physical handicap right now is really extreme weakness (i have tried taking short walks holding onto iv pole but even at turtle speed cant do for long). plus weight loss more than 17 pounds down from 115; i took good look at my face in bathroom mirror this morning and was horrified i look so awful very discouraging. it’ll be a long roaf back.</p>
<p>Donna, That is very encouraging news. The progress on the obstruction is positive and may mean no surgery. You will recover from your initial surgery but it takes time. The issues with your intestines/Crohn’s is unfortunate but seems to be improving. And you are attached to less things. Yay!</p>
<p>Here’s to continual recovery. It takes time but you seem to be on an upward trend. :)</p>
<p>Best.</p>
<p>Donna, I just want you to know that I happen to have 17 lbs to spare that I would be happy to donate to the cause! :D</p>
<p>Good to know that you are on the road back.</p>
<p>^^^LOL…perhaps instead of sending postcards, we should all donate a few pounds. Sounds good!</p>
<p>Add me to the list - if there is anything James needs in Chicago, I would be happy to help him. Feel better soon!</p>
<p>That is incredibly great news, Donna! So far, so good. I am very happy to know the obstruction is clearing on its own. I just bet all systems decide to function properly before too long.</p>
<p>Good luck with the fluids today. Take it slow, as you know.</p>
<p>Hospital mirrors aren’t known for being flattering to anyone! Think nothing of it. What matters is you are here. Besides, I’m sure you are beautiful. </p>
<p>I will be on UChicago campus tomorrow afternoon if James needs anything. </p>
<p>Love,
jnsq</p>
<p>Wonderful news, Donna! It must feel so great not to be tied down any more, and you will get your strength back as the days go by and you can slowly begin to eat. Sending you hugs and pounds…</p>
<p>It sounds as if things are looking up now with some improvement, this is wonderful positive news. Baby steps…your strength, and pounds, will come back in time. Best wishes for continued recovery.</p>
<p>“i took good look at my face in bathroom mirror this morning and was horrified i look so awful very discouraging. it’ll be a long roaf back.”</p>
<p>I think you meant “loaf” (as in “meatloaf”). Hopefully, not in liquid form.</p>
<p>Best for a speedy!</p>