Once again, playing catch up! (Or, my surgical story!)

Jan 02, 2010

I had every intention of posting while I was in the hospital but for whatever reason, I could not get the wifi to work for me so I ended up sending my laptop home with my mother back to the motel.  Hence, it is January 2, 2010 and I have several things to fill in!

Dec 4 - 16, 2009:  BUSY, BUSY, BUSY couple of weeks!  I went from thinking I was going to have a leisurely Christmas season to an absolute frenzy of activity as I had to make all my preparations both at work and here at home, in less than 2 weeks.  Mom started to fret about travel to Saranac Lake in the winter for her, but we quickly discovered that she could take a train to Plattsburgh and we could get here there so that made that easy.  School was not so easy to work with.  I had a ton of stuff to get graded, progress reports to get ready for, as well as getting my medical leave situated.  Surprise, surprise, my superintendent (who wears Carharts with a tie) wanted to give me some grief about it, telling me that I would need medical verification every three days while I am out. Really??  It's not enough for a doctor to say I will be out until at least January 26?  It always used to be enough...  Anyway... Managed to write sub plans enough to get through until Christmas, maintaining that as a long term medical leave, I am not expected to supply day by day plans.  I thought we had that covered. (Note the foreshadowing...)

December 16:  The day before surgery.  I traveled to Saranac Lake and got checked in at the motel in time to begin my bowel prep at noon.  Mom was due to arrive about 3, so a friend went to pick her up.  Well..... I'm telling you, that bowel prep is just about the worst thing ever.  After three hours my bowels completely let go with no cramping, no warning, and no time to make it to the bathroom. When I finally got there, much to my dismay, I began to vomit from the antibiotics, and having no basin to use, I had no choice but to vomit into a towel.  UGH.  I was so embarrassed!  Thankfully, I managed to get myself dressed in new clothes and got my other clothes and bath towel washed and dried before Mom arrived.  I had not been expecting the vomiting, so I called Dr Hill's office to make sure that was OK, and was told yes, unfortunately it was not uncommon and to tough it out.  So I drank my half-lytely every 10 minutes (gag) and took my antibiotics as told and continued to have an evening filled with diarrhea and vomiting.  Finally, about 10:30. I was all done and able to think about bed.  I slept well, no doubt exhausted from the prep.

December 17, 2009  SURGERY DAY!!  I was so calm.  Not a butterfly at all.  I was so ready to do this!  We were due at the hospital at 9:50 am, and by 10:00 I was in pre-op, in a johnny, and the nurse was starting my IV.  Mom kept patting my head, but knew I was really very calm about everything. The anesthesiologist came in and said he had reviewed my charts and thought I was going to be a great candidate and that he had no worries.  Nice man, nice handshake.  Mom said to him, "Take good care of her" and he said, "absolutely."  Dr. Hill came in about 11:30 or so, just to touch base and meet Mom. He said we'd be going in 45 minutes or so.  The OR called about 12:15 and said to bring me along, so they gave me my versed, which immediately made me say "Oh wow, look at the three Christmas trees! (there was only one).  They rolled me into the OR, moved me to the table and I remember the anesthesiologist saying OK Lois, a few deep breaths, and that was it.  Next thing I remember I was in my room, focusing on Mom, who was smiling and holding my hand, and I was pushing my PCA pump.  I found out later I was on the table from 1:00 - 4:00 and then in recovery from 4:00 until 5:30. I looked at Mom and said, "I DID it!!" and she smiled more. I was pretty out of it so Mom went back to the motel for the night about 6:00 pm.

December 17, 2009  SURGERY NIGHT  Thanks to an astute nurse doing vitals every hour, it was discovered that I was having an allergic reaction to the morphine in my PCA pump.  I was broken out in hives all over my body, and although I could not bend to see them below my waist, I saw them clear as a bell on my hands.  It looked like my hands were covered in spaghettios!  The nurse called the ER doctor up to have a look and he confirmed it was an allergy to the morphine, so my PCA pump was discontinued and they started another IV on me and loaded me with benadryl.  That night is foggy at best, but by morning my hives were gone and I had to call the nurses for pain meds instead of the PCA.  No problem.  They were always right there.

December 18, 2009:  First full day post op.  I was moved into a private room, next door and actually walked to that room.  A major undertaking, but I made it. A tray arrived for breakfast with a protein shake and some tea.  I had a couple spoonfuls of the shake by that was all I wanted for breakfast. Dr. Hill was in, said all was well so far. Pain was manageable with IV meds, slept a lot.

December 19 -20, 2009.  Still have the drain in.  The catheter was discontinued and so I had to be out of bed to the bathroom.  Bowels began to work again, nurses said everything looked just like it was supposed to.  Down to Tylenol for pain.  Dr. Hill was in both days, gave me the go -ahead for a shower, which was heavenly.  The nurse changed the dressing and I saw my incision for the first time. Longer than anticipated but Dr Hill had said he had some trouble with adhesions, so whatever.  It looked clean and healthy and was healing nicely. Walking in the halls when I can, still a bit wobbly on my feet.  Eating cream soups and tea and protein drinks and lots of ice water.  Still had such cotton mouth!

December 21, 2009:  DISCHARGED!  Dr. Hill came in, said I looked a lot better today and asked if I was ready to go.  He took my drain out at that point (wow...it didn't hurt at all but I was stunned to see how long it was!!) and then I got another shower and began to dress for discharge.  Mom and I managed...I walked all the way to the lobby and then sat and waited  for her to bring the car around.  Still very slow walking and still needed a little help in the bathroom, but found by that night that I was able to manage by myself.  Follow up appointment with Dr Hill scheduled for December 28, follow up with NUT scheduled for January 20.  Back to the motel in Saranac Lake for the night, and then if I am up to it, going to Connecticut to be with the family for Christmas.  I was already feeling thinner...my plus sized knee highs keep falling down!

December 22 - 27, 2009  Safely and easily rode to CT via Saratoga Springs with no discomfort or problems at all.  Great to see the family and even greater to have them be amazed at how well I was doing.  Eating cream soups, protein shakes, Popsicles, yogurt and tea.  The last couple days I convinced Mom to let me try a scrambled egg, which I tolerated well.  Christmas dinner was tough, as I was beginning to feel hungry again, and everything smelled so good.  But, I had cream of Chicken soup and was fine.  I did sneak a taste of mashed potatoes, which tasted really good, and settled fine. Sleeping very well, took a nap a couple days and did not go to midnight mass due to being so tired.  Up, showered and dressed each day by 10. Did a little shopping and lots of talking.  Still very thirsty!

December 28, 2009:  Back to Saranac Lake via Burlington as we took Alex back to school.  Snow!!!  Roads terrible from the ferry to Saranac Lake, and bitter, bitter cold.  Got to my appointment with Dr Hill on time.  (see entry about first follow up). Feeling good.  No pain.  Surgical incision healing very nicely.

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