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| Before Surgery |
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| Before Surgery |
Day of surgery: I was not nervous, but anxious... I think it was more of the unknown more than anything. I knew WHAT would happen in surgery, but now really how I would feel afterwards, or what the recovery would REALLY be like. I was ready though. I was taken back to surgery and started an IV, and given a "happy pill" to take the edge off. I was instructed to take off my gown, and was washed down with betadine from neck to mid-thigh, front and back. The Anesthesiologist injected something into my IV, and I was instructed to lay on my side on the operating table so that the Anesthesiologist could inject the spinal block. That was pretty much the last thing that I remember. I was told later that another Dr came in and spoke to me- and apparently I had a full conversation with him, but I have NO recollection of that conversation!!! lol! 6 Hours later, I was out of surgery, and 22 lbs of skin- GONE! I vaguely remember my hubs in the window where they let spouses come check without contaminating the surgical area. but then I was out again.
Day 1: The first night after my surgery, I had a catheter, so I did not need to get up, but very early the next morning, it was taken out, and I needed to get up to go to the bathroom. Getting up was not painful, because I was still pretty doped up, anesthesia is running through your body, usually for about 3 days, and I had a spinal block, so basically anything below the waist was pretty numb. I was pretty hunched over as I walked, but it wasn't bad. However, once I started back to my bed, I told the nurse that I felt flushed and like I could not breath, she had me sit back on the toilet, and I basically blacked out. I came to, as the nurse was putting cool water an my head and face, and (with assistance) had gotten back to bed, but I do not remember it. Later in the morning, I remember seeing my husband, and was more awake. I guess I was pretty pale - almost the color or my white sheets that I was laying on. The Dr wanted to check some labs before he released me to the recovery boutique to begin the healing journey. The labs were good, so I was transferred. My Dr was still concerned, so he was getting reports every few hours. Once in my room, I was in and out of sleep. The Recovery Boutique is like a hotel, but with a hospital bed, hospital table, 24 hour nursing care, and food prepared and brought to you. I called the nurses to help me out of bed to the bathroom. I had drain tubes that went around my body, on both sides of my hips, and one seemed to always hit a nerve whenever I would move. It was painful. Not gonna lie. It would feel like my whole body would seize up and I could not go pee! Pain pills were given religiously, no need to suffer at all, it would only make you feel worse.
Day 2-4: The first few days, it was to the bathroom and back, and sleeping, and having my meals in bed. But I was feeling more awake and ready to move. After the passing out episode, my Dr did not want me walking around, especially alone, so I was in bed regaining some strength. I purchased some TED hose (the white compression tights that go to the knees), so I would prevent a blood clot. In hind site, it was good because I was in bed for a few days. I had my e-reader, phone, and TV. I was not too bored. I continued to have the issue with the pain in my groin from the nerve that the drain tube was hitting. Another thing that I was feeling, was when they would clean the wound, It would feel like a tingling sensation. Almost like when your foot falls asleep, and you try to walk on it, it doesn't hurt, but it FEELS like it does.... I hope that makes sense. By day 4, I don't know if it was being alone, or frustration, or all my hormones all out of whack, but I had a mental break down. I just started weeping for no reason. I called my husband, who reassured me that this is only temporary, and the results so far, look fantastic. I had some tea, and took a pain pill and slept. When I woke up, I felt much better. The Nurses are good about asking how you are doing... not just physically, but mentally. I was moving around better, and getting up and walking around the lobby. some discomfort, but I think that the pain meds kept things at bay, which was fine by me!! Getting up and moving, and out of my room, being social, and eating better, made me feel much better. I knew that I would be on the road to recovery now. It is hard to let people assist you. I am the wife, and mother... the caregiver, the "fixer" of all... not the one who is needing to be taken care of. It is just a hard thing to grasp.
In the hospital, the beds are not really comfortable, So I would take the pain pill at night. It makes for a long day, when you don't sleep well at night. Other than that, I was at 1-2 pain pills, max, in a 24 hr period. One thing I noticed, was being in one position for too long, then getting up, I was hunched over like an 80 yr old woman! But once I got moving, things relax, and I was able to stand straight up.
Well, stay tuned for the next few days!
Peace and love.
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