WetLeather Motorcycle Rider Information

It's done.

I got out of recovery (great name) around 6:00 PM on Wednesday. My memories of that evening are few and far between. I do recall snapping back to something like conciousness around midnight and then having little luck falling back to sleep. Lot's of poking and prodding by the Legacy Nursing Staff including morphine shots for the pain.

Thursday was a bit clearer. I had to go to the radiology department and have my chest flouroscoped to verify that the band was correctly placed and that my swallow reflex was working properly. All I had to do was take a couple of mouthfuls of totally vile liquid and swallow on command. The radiologist pronounced my swallow to be working well and I got to go back to my bed.

With my swallow confirmed I got the better oral pain meds. These took away all sense of pain or discomfort at the expense of my lucidity. I found the full dose made it hard to form sentences. By this time I was getting calls from or returning calls to family to reassure them that I was fine.

The doctors stopped by to check-up on me. Everyone seemed to think I was doing well. I did a walking loop of the floor, took a shower, and told the staff I was ready to go home. I had a visit from the dietician who went over my instructions for the next two weeks.

Right now my diet consists of 3 liters of water a day, 80 grams of protein, 20 grams of fat, and 100 grams of carbs. I have been using protein shake mixes, yogurt, soy milk, and creamy soups to meet my daily quotas. I also have to crush my meds as the pills are too large to take whole.

I hit the gym on Friday and walked a mile on the tread mill. This helps get my lungs working again and keeps away the annoying low grade fever I seem to get whenever I sit for a few hours. The hospital sent me home with a breathing trainer gizmo that helps me increase my lung capacity even when sitting still. Unlike previous gizmos of this sort the new one works on the inhale side. I'll try to post a picture of it.

I'm sitting here on Saturday morning sipping on my water bottle and writing all this down. Maybe someone else on Wetleather will benefit from my experience. I better go get something to eat.