One Dumm Hikks Blog

[OneDummHikk]

Yada, Yada, Yada. Another day in hikk-a-dice. Didn't sleep long before my back said "WAKE UP!". Nothing really interesting today, still trying to find a pump for what I want. Be glad when this skimmer stuff is over and can move on to a Ca Reactor.

[OneDummHikk]

Today is the day I have to call my Doctors Office to find out if they have gotten approval from my insurance company and then schedule surgery. Yippee!!!!

After spending almost 4 hours reading about skimmers, I have a new design in the works. Trying to fix some things that were wrong in some previous designs I have drawn up. Its a learning process.

Not sure whats supposed to be in a blog since this is the only one I have ever had so I am simply putting my thoughts in it. Well, some of my thoughts.

[OneDummHikk]

I found out the pre-op is tomorrow (the 13th) and that surgery is the 26th. Double disc fusion. L5/S1 and L4/L5. With a 70% chance of it helping, it isn't turning into a good day or a good month. I might be ok if wireless works in the hospital or if they have access.

If anybody hears Baptist Hospital explode that week, you will know my Internet connection didn't work. With being stuck in a bed and needing help rolling over after surgery, they BETTER give me TRT access.

Randy ain't happy right now.

[OneDummHikk]

Pre-op was rescheduled for next Thursday (Jan 22). Testing at the hospital that day as well to make sure I am "surgery safe". Trying not to let it bug me but it isn't working. The possibility of being in more pain the rest of my life from it worries me. I guess you keep your chin up, hope for the best, and deal with what comes from it.

[OneDummHikk]

Another wonderful day in Hillbillyville. Not a lot happening today but I slept until almost 4. Probably the best and most sleep I have managed in a month or so.

Still trying to figure out the layout and design for a sump for my 120. I was hoping to get it setup before surgery but that isn't going to happen. Recovery time will give me time to plan it out some more so that I can completely change my mind when it comes time to do it because of something I will forget about, something that won't work right, some reason.

[OneDummHikk]

I finally got my dog to go outside tonight. Now she only weighs 4.5 pounds instead of 5.2 pounds. She wouldn't go in the house (smart dog) but she wouldn't go outside in the cold (dumb dog). I still think shes smarter than I am. The only way I can weigh her is to hold her, weigh me and her, then put her down and just weigh myself. I don't know why but she will NOT sit still on the scales by herself. I guess she associates the scale with being hurt the last time she got in a fight.

Getting more anxious about my surgery. Its in 8 days. As it gets closer, I get more anxious. Not sure if its a good anxiety or a bad one, just know it makes me anxious to get it over with so I can stop planning on it. One of those "I dread it but will be glad when its over" type things.

[OneDummHikk]

5:30 am and I still can't go to sleep. This is gonna drive me nuts in the next 8 days. Well, what little distance I have left to get to completely nuts. Its almost time to wake up and try to get some things done today to get ready for the trip and all I want to do is sleep but I can't.

Sheesh.

[OneDummHikk]

I don't remember where I got that picture from, but I thought it was cool so I made it my Avatar.

[OneDummHikk]

3 days without a post in here. I am slacking off. Been a busy two days trying to get things arranged and settled to make a trip out of town to the doctor. I should easily be ready to leave tomorrow night.

[OneDummHikk]

Leaving in about 30 minutes to go to Florida. Not sure if I will have access to TRT or not. If I don't, I will keep a daily log and post all the updates at once when I get back.

Its off to the land of surgery.........

[OneDummHikk]

01-22-09
Arrived at Drs Office 30 minutes early (12:30, appt at 1). Sat in that little waiting room until almost 2. If I get there 15 mins late, they make me reschedule. I get there 30 mins early, they make me wait 90 minutes. Sheesh.
Surgery is scheduled monday morning at 8:15. Have to be at the Hospital at 5:30 AM. Anybody who knows me at all knows how happy being up at 5am is going to make me. I usually go to bed around that time.
Scheduled to go home next Saturday unless there is a complication.
Only one incision. They will take bone from my pelvis and do a graft for the fusion. That thrills me since he told me I would be able to physically feel which bone he took it off of. Wow, can feel that pain while on Morphine, should be a freaking blast.
Went to do a PACE thing at the hospital. EKG, X-ray, bloodwork. Preliminary stuff. Thankfully, my hearts beating nicely, my bloods still red and my bones show up on X-ray. I will figure out later why they X-rayed my chest to do surgery on my lower back.
Won't talk to the anesthesiologist until Monday morning to find out about that. Last surgery I woke up around 3 pm from an 8am surgery but I went back to sleep at 3:05 when the nurse explained how the morphine button worked.

Finally left the hospital at 5 minutes before 5. 4 1/2 hours prep work for 90 minutes of surgery. Gotta love efficient people.

Today: Mostly goofed off. Went to a new LFS that took us 2 hours and a call to a local club member to find the place. Wonder how many "walk ins" they get in that store.

That's all for now. Or rather, its all I feel like typing at the moment.

[OneDummHikk]

Yesterday I went to see a new LFS (5 months old) and to get an estimate on a setup. Wasn't real impressed with the store itself but was grateful and very satisfied with the service I got with the estimate.

Today I went to see Jason (Jadinop) and his frag setup. That thing is AWESOME! A friend that was with me got a cucumber for the 75.

While there, I talked to him a little bit about ways to filter my 120 (if I ever get to set it up again) without having any Live Rock in the tank. He suggested looking into a fake rock from Red Sea. I looked at the website and it seems promising. Will have to add it to the thread on my 120 and see if anybody has used it or can give some feedback on it.

Tomorrow I have to go finish cleaning out a Uhaul storage unit (with some friends help) then it will be time to relax and dread going to the hospital Monday morning.

[OneDummHikk]

Its 4am and I can't sleep. The doctor had me stop my pain medication yesterday (Friday) so that it wouldn't interfere with anesthesia or the morphine after surgery. Makes for a wonderful time trying to sleep This stuff sucks!!!

[OneDummHikk]

The condemned ones last meal is coming soon. Can't eat after midnight so it gives me an hour for my "last meal". Probably going to be the can of Pringles I just finished and then a trip to McD's for some double grease burgers, ummm, cheeseburgers unless I get too lazy to go up there. Then it will be time to try to sleep (I doubt I will sleep though) before going to the hospital at 5:15 or so. I figure I will sleep all day tomorrow so why do I need sleep now?

[OneDummHikk]

Got lazy and didn't go in time so my last meal was a can of Pringles and Mountain Dew. Yippee!! Now, its 2:30 and I can't sleep. 5 hours until I am moved to the execution chamber. Oops, I mean I go to the hospital. This is becoming very nerve wracking. Just ready to get it over with.