Jul 01 2008
Surgery and 1st 72 hrs…some pics
My brother took me first thing in the morning and they checked me in. “down to your bday suit” they say. And into a robe. We then had a series of nurses, assistants and a Chaplain come by (um….do I really need a Chaplain for this??? Oh no!). While not religious, my brother said – lets pray just for some positive thought! Then they gave me a sedative (which I requested in my pre anesthesia appt) which they had to administer right in the middle of my fanny. That worked immediately and didn’t really hurt.
They then wheeled me to the second pre op room where my brother couldn’t go, so I was on my own. The nurse took my vitals and hooked up my IV. Luckily it was just a one prick deal (some of you have had multiple tries….). Literally the next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room.
Before I went into the op room however, they gave me a pain blocker shot right above my knee in the side of my thigh. I don’t remember this at all – but want to thank the folks on this site for telling me about it. It really made a difference the first 24 hours. (keep in mind my insurance didn’t pay for it, and I’ll post the cost once I get it from the dr’s– I think around 700$). You cannot feel your toes for about a day due to the blocker but that wears off.
In the recovery room, the nurse was laughing at me and said that I had been reciting my address for the last 15 minutes (he was really cute, maybe I wanted to take him home!!!) – who knows what you do as you are waking up from the fake coma they put you in. Hopefully you keep your secrets to yourself! They gave me some morphine in the recovery room, and I was feeling pretty high. In fact, the memory of that day is all a little fuzzy. The nurses and anesthesiologist all came by to say good job! And then they wheeled me out in my new 5 lb half cast half bandage.
SELF PORTRAIT
My other brother took me to pick up my drugs (definitely do this right away). My drugs are Hydrocodone (NORCO) and I can take 2 every four hours. I’m also taking an aspirin a day based on advice on this site to keep the blood thin and avoid clots, but the surgeon said it wasn’t necessary. I have some Ativan (left over anxiety medicine from our fight - and loss – with my dad’s brain cancer this spring) that helped me sleep the first night, but don’t really need it.
24 – 72 hours POST OP: On Saturday, after the pain blocker wore off, I was extremely sore and in pain. Once I started taking the medication like clock work I was only uncomfortable for the last hour of each cycle.
Sunday/Monday were the worst of the pain and again, just stayed elevated and in bed. I think this is key for the first couple days. I got a cool foam thing (see pic) from the hospital, this has helped a lot – with lots of king sized pillows. My 7 yr old twin nephews stayed in the bed with me most of the weekend and we watched animal planet and cartoons. Not my fav, but boy were they cute to hang out with pathetic me.
Blue Foam Thingy
I’m back at home today and will see how I do on my own for a couple days. My buddy Dave will come on Thursday to take care of me and no doubt try to get me out to the bars for the fourth of July weekend…. I know I shouldn’t……but….
I hired someone to clean my house and come over everyday – my “girl Friday” as my family calls her. And I’m eating lots of fiber b/c the meds will stop you up. I got the tub/shower chair (thank god!) and baggies for my cast – but the duct tape/garbage bag worked pretty well. Today I’m in much less pain and I’m just settling in on the couch in the sun room to work (lucky to work from home for Cisco Systems in Silicon Valley), and figure out what I’m going to do with myself.
Now if I could just get some hot guy to come fix my drip system, and paint my bathroom and give a foot massage, I think I’ll be good for a bit…..
