After 5 long days in the hospital for pneumonia, I am finally strong enough to come home. I still have to take antibiotic, percaset (sp??) and pepcid though. I am glad to be home so I can rest. I cannot rest at the hospital at all because between blood draw every 6 hours, iv changing, anti biotic changing, pain medicine every 4 hours and check my temp, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing treatment, there was no way I can sleep.

I am so glad that I am home now so I can start to heal. About liquid food, at the hospital I could not eat the first couple of days. The rest I can sip some broth here and their. Since I am home, I am going to fix my own broth; however, how do you know if you get enough liquid? Also. everytime I take my med (break it up in half), I still feel that it stuck and won't go down, and it hurt so bad. Will this feeling ever going to go away?

Last, I am really appreciate you guys praying for my recovery and only you know what I am feeling right now. I have been crying everyday at the hospital because nobody understand what I was feeling until my last night when the nurse came in and told me she had lap band done 2 years ago and what I am feeling is normal. I have never felt that good before. I know God sent her to me so I won't have to be scared anymore.

Thanks again for all the prayers.

So glad to hear you're home!! Pnemonia is no fun!! I'm guessing they controlled your coughing with meds? I know I almost cried when they almost held me a second night...I feel your sorrow!

My doc says we can't take anything larger than a Nexium (small capsule). I think you've probably got more swelling than normal right now (stress and illness can both swell the stoma), so you might ask your doc about getting liquids or even suppositories if liquids aren't available. I can feel the Nexium pill going down, but it's only slightly painful (5 days out). I also take some of my pills with hot decaf tea...I have it in my mind that they'll disolve quicker, although I have no idea.

I constantly have a liquid by my side and I dose it out usually in 4oz amounts (so it stays cold or hot long enough). I'm sipping all the time and I write down every ounce. It hasn't been difficult after the first day or two to get in at least 64 oz. I have 2.5 more weeks of Clear Liquids, so I think it might be harder to get as much in once I add mushy 'meals' with no drinking before or after (except by that point the swelling will be down and I'll be wide open again so I'll be able to take bigger sips).

Feel better soon!!! -BG

So glad to hear you are doing better. We were all rooting for you.:laugh:

So glad to hear that you are home and feeling better. I can only imagine how hard, frustratins, scary, maddening and challenging that was for you. We were here for you in sickness and in health!