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Well, I wrote this post a little over 7 hours post surgery. It went well. :)
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I woke up about 9:30, showered, washed my hair and scrubbed all over really well with Hibiclens.
At
10:30am, I took Emend (a pill to help with nausea.... When I had my
wisdom teeth pulled YEARS ago, it made me violently ill, so the doctor
and anesthesiologist planned ahead for me to try to help me not get
sick).
By 11:30, I was showered and ready to go. I was also hungry and thirsty. :( I hadn't eaten since 12a and no water since 4a.
The
ride there was quiet.... My fiancé held my hand and told me that
everything will be just fine. Just his presence made me feel better.
We got to the surgery center, signed in, I signed final paperwork, and was temporarily separated from my fiancé.
The
nurse brought to my recovery room and he was asked to wait for a few
minutes while they started my process. I put on a gown and silly surgery
grippy socks and got comfortable.
The nurse asked me a
few final questions, answered my questions and took my vitals. Another
nurse who would assist in surgery came in to say hi and see how I was
doing. She was sweet, very warm and friendly like the first nurse.
The
anesthesiologist came in and helped to calm me. He gave me a pain-free
IV and said when I get in the surgery room, he will let me know when the
"sleep time" will start.
I had to give a urine sample to the nurse and when I returned, my fiancé and the doctor were waiting for me.
We
talked to the doctor. He answered final questions, put me at ease, and
marked my chest for surgery. He said I'll be in surgery for 45 minutes
to an hour and we will be starting soon.
He left to prepare and within minutes it was time to go. My fiancé kissed me and I was wheeled off on my recovery bed.
In the surgery room I started to get really nervous. But the staff was AMAZING!!
The
nurse had me slide from my recovery bed to the surgery bed and got me
comfortable. She laid a warm blanket on me and massaging leg wraps on my
calves. I had to stretch my arms out and they were covered up with warm
towels.
The anesthesiologist told me that it's time
to start and to relax. He said I'll close my eyes and when I open them,
I'll be in recovery. He did warn me that there would be a chance that I
might wake up a little when I am sat up to be bandaged (but I did not).
He
said to tell him when I feel something... And about that time I sure
felt something. I was able to say "I think I am starting to feel..." and
that's all I remember.
About an hour or so later, I
started to come around in the recovery room. I was greeted by an
incredible recovery nurse. He was the best of them all.
I don't recall too much right away other than having to move from the recovery bed. And I know I felt a little nauseous
The
anesthesiologist came in and he and the nurse gave me more meds. The
anesthesiologist told me he also gave me a lot of anti-nausea in my IV
too.
I was in and out of it for what felt like a long
time. My fiancé was the best though! He helped me take sips of water and
ginger ale and have me cracker bites.
When I had to focus and do something, I could. But I fell asleep in between those times.
I
didn't feel true pain (and now it's 9:46 and I still haven't). My arms
sore (the nurse told me its from the way they have to manipulate them
during the surgery( and armpits are a little "pinchy" (again my
incisions are there and all the gauze and bandages are kinda rubbing me
funny).
Otherwise the feeling is a terrible pressure on
your chest, the weight and tightness is manageable but is very present.
I won't call it pain really.... It's more of an uncomfortable,
constant pressure and tightness.
Plus it's taken up
till now to be able to take a deep breathe without a great deal of
pressure and increased tightness. The nurse gave me a breathing toy
where I have to make the ball float in the tube when I breathe in to
help me use deep lung breathing.
(Later I realize how much it helps.)
My
doctor came in to check on me, have me take a hydrocodone (Vicodin) for
pain (even though I wasn't in that bad of pain). He said everything
went very well and that they look great. He seems genuinely excited to
show me them tomorrow.
He said I still have to pee before they will let me leave and to try to go soon.
The nurse came in and helped me walk to the rest room... And it was a no go.
So
I drank a cup of water, a can of ginger ale, and three little cans of
cranberry juice (on top of two IV bags I already had running through
me..... Guess who was probably dehydrated when she went into
surgery...).
The nurse also showed me a few tricks
like pouring warm water over the genitals, bare feet on the cold floor,
running water, and finally walking laps.
Then he dropped the catheter bomb if I couldn't pee on my own....
I tried one last time and I really strained. I finally peed!!
But the activity and straining made me nauseous!
I
returned to the room my fiancé helped me to dress and the nurse gave me
Zofran for the nausea. And it took a little bit, but it eventually
helped.
The nurse wheeled me out to my car and
assisted me in. He was so sweet and comforting. And he commended my
fiancé for his excellent care of me. He said that he is hired! :)
Since we don't live close to the doctor's office, we opted to stay at a hotel close by. And I am SO thankful for that!!
The
short few mile drive was slightly painful. I really couldn't support
myself all that well since I have the armpit incision and the gauze is
padded up pretty thick under there.
We finally got to the Hilton and I was wheeled up to the hotel room. I didn't feel nauseous anymore and was just sore.
And
I got my first glimpse of my chest. WOW! They already look good and I'm
so excited to see them tomorrow. My fiancé seems excited too. :) And
he also seems more calm.
My fiancé got my all set up
on a bed and comfortable. and we ordered something to eat. I enjoyed a
nice fresh caprese salad and I did not feel ill at all. I took my
antibiotic and painkiller and had some Gatorade.
I am
now resting comfortably, and am going to watch some TV and relax. I'll
be taking more painkillers and a muscle relaxer soon. The pain pump
seems to be helping too. Not that I have anything to compare it too, but
if you're on the fence about it, I would say it's worth it. I wouldn't
want to know what it feels like without it.
I will say
this though, I am experiencing a little bleeding from the tubes from
the pain pump. It's not terrible and doesn't hurt. But it does look a
little freaky.
http://www.iflo.com/prod_onq_classic.php
My
post-op appointment is at 10am on 06/27/2012. I'm excited for that and
yes... I'll be updating that appointment and finishing older posts too.
