Surgery: Update

Wow. This hurts. I am ok though. Friday started out early with a 6.45 check in. If you've ever been to TMH here, you know that getting in and finding where you are supposed to be is Challenging. Once we found where we were to be everything went very smoothly and all the staff were very helpful and friendly. Like all hospitals stays there were a lot of questions, some of them more than once and then a lot of waiting. At about 8.45 I got wheeled down to pre-op and started all of that.

I must mention that this was my first trip to the hospital since I was born. I've never had surgery or even had an IV before. so it was all new to me. The IV was weird because it made my arm cold. the Dr. came in and went over some things before hand and he was very detailed, so that set me at ease.

For some silly ass reason I thought I was going to just have a local or something. Wrong. Totally going to sleep. This caused a bit of concern, since I had never done this and I had no idea what it would be like.

Once I was all prepped up and ready, they came to take me to the OR. This is where i gets surreal: As they're wheeling me down the hall all I can see is the ceiling, like in the movies. In through the doors of the OR and then stop under the big lights. No idea what the room looks like except it's bright. Then they get me to move over to the table and begin to strap me down and all that. This operation is a well oiled machine and I am just in the way. The Knock out DR. must have started the drugs right away because I started to feel tingly right away and he puts an oxygen mask over my face ad says just go ahead and breathe deeply. Two breaths and then I was waking up/being woken up in recovery.

Let me tell you something about recovery room nurses: They can suck balls. Never done this before, totally disoriented, I was dreaming and then thinking I was waiting for my surgery to start and they're telling me I need to stop moving. I have no idea where I am and I am freaking out and telling them it hurts. She explains to me that my BP has to come down before I can get anything. So instead of talking me down and trying to help me relax, she sits down and reads a book. I can't stop moving and my eyes can't stop and focus on anything and my body still thinks it's in OR, but please, by all means, let's see what interest plot shift James Patterson has come up with now. Didn't realize this bothered me so much until yesterday.

So, anyway, get back to the room my Mom is there and Vicki is on her way. Still a little wobbly and no idea what's really going on.

The nurse comes in and asks about the pain, I had to give it about a 7. I think it was the dismount. She gives me some morphine. Comes back an hour later, how is the pain? It's about the same. That's right! I am immune to Morphine. She gave me percocet and then some more Morphine. Nothing. Well, it did bring the pain down, but not totally away and I wasn't as loopy as the other people in the room thought I should be. I am above your silly medicines.

So spent all day in the room and I wasn't allowed to leave until I peed. Nurse helped me up to go pee and I went in and nothing really happened expect I suddenly became very nauseous, very quickly. I opened the door and the nurse, who to her credit played it cool, grabbed me by the arm and said I should get in bed. I was apparently pale. I felt pretty bad.

Eventually, I got to go home and the first night was kind of rough. I can't sit up and getting up is still painful.

Thankfully, I had two wonderful people here to help me out. My mom was stellar while she was here as usual, but the person who has shined through this has been Vicki. Seriously, she has been a champ. (and she's reading this site now, so watch your language-this means you Mormon Girl).
My mom could only stay Friday night and she left early Saturday. Vicki has stepped right in and taken care of me. Made sure I had what I needed helping me get to the bathroom (and waiting outside, she says to make sure I'm ok, but I think she's some kind of pee freak). She's also here to fuss at me when I get up before her and move around too much without her being here to help. Got up this morning and walked out to get the paper and got a look when she got up and realized how it had gotten in the house. She's also forbidden me from working tomorrow. And she totally ratted me out to Amanda and my mom for moving around too much. She's a total snitch. And she just went to get Advil and Ice cream. good times.

I am doing better. Still hurt sometimes and hurts to move. Took off the dressing yesterday and I can shower now. Removing the dressing was fun. They had to shave the area and only shaved half of it. Who does that? Just go ahead and do the whole thing. I got Percocet and it's keeping the pain away, but not knocking me out. So, now I am resting, and we are watching the end of The Masters. The only side effect I'm having with the pills is my eyes are watering and since I'm rubbing them, now they're raw and hurt.

I wanted to thank everyone for your support and concern. It meant a lot and was very helpful. It was very humbling. Thank you

So, I'm ok and looking forward to being fully recovered. Cause this hurts.

Did I leave anything out?