I really appreciate all of your comments on my last post. I was so scared! It was nice to see some of the comments before surgery. I gave myself a pass and didn't reply, but this is me giving you a big giant reply all thank you right now.
Friday was a really long day. As long as it was for me it was even longer for MJ since I was basically unconscious for part of it. We left the house around 8:30 and didn't get home until around 7pm. It was all very organized but there were many stations to get through. We checked in, I was sent to pre op where I got these cute little purple non skid socks with white paws on them and a purple gown. The coolest thing about this gown is that it had a ventilation system. When I got all trembly and freaked out about the IV they were able to put the hose right into a hole and heat me up from the inside out. I really need something like that for work where it's always freezing.
I was in surgery for 3 1/2 hours. When they wheeled me into the operating room Wake Me Up by Avicci was playing. Usually I listen to that song at the gym but it was perfect operation music. "So wake me up when it's all over." So they woke me up when it was all over and I had 3 holes in my belly. My first thought was; I did it!! It's over!! Once the anesthesia wore off I moved onto the final recovery station before you get to go home. It took me about an hour to eat 2 crackers because I was still nauseated. I nibbled on them like a rabbit and was rewarded with two Percocet. They don't rush you, but I was really tired and I know MJ was probably really over it by then. Once I finally finished those crackers I moved onto next challenge. Nobody goes home unless they demonstrate the ability to get up and go potty. Less then two hours after surgery I was standing up and hobbling my way to the bathroom. Standing up brought on more nausea so I asked for a barf bag just in case but I didn't need it.
I'm a big wimp and a huge chicken. Like most people I hate needles and pain. Surgery it not exactly something you put on your list of monthly goals but it felt like a big accomplishment. As I was wheeled out of the hospital I felt really proud of myself for being stronger then I thought I would be. MJ thought I'd be a complete disaster but I wasn't. I didn't even take the anti anxiety meds that I asked my doctor to prescribe in case I needed it to get in the door. The worse part really, was getting the IV-which they had to do twice because apparently I have tiny veins. After that you are knocked out for everything else that's gonna hurt. My doctor the surgeon was awesome and everyone was so nice. The pre op room is huge and kind of like an assembly line with rows of patients on each side waiting for the operating room but the nurses are so attentive. There is an entire team dedicated to getting you prepped, attending to your surgery and then taking care of you after. They made me feel very comfortable and well cared for from start to finish.
On the day of surgery I ate 9 crackers. 2 at the hospital and 7 later that night. I call it the surgery diet. I don't recommend it. On Saturday I was still eating light. MJ had football in the morning so my parents came down early to be with me. My mom is so sweet. She brought flowers and made me soup. By Sunday my appetite was back to normal. I've been eating leftovers for 3 days from a super bowl party I didn't even attend. MJ went to his friend's house (with my blessing) to watch the game. I ate a slice of pizza for dinner two nights in a row and today I started in on the Chili.
On night one I was almost in tears trying to get up for the bathroom in the middle of the night but it's taking me less time to get up now and I'm getting more and more mobile every day. Being forced to sleep on my back all night makes it hard to get comfortable and I miss cuddling with MJ but overall I'm doing okay. The drugs are doing their thing so I haven't really been in too much pain. Mostly just discomfort. Every time I move. Totally manageable.
Friday was a really long day. As long as it was for me it was even longer for MJ since I was basically unconscious for part of it. We left the house around 8:30 and didn't get home until around 7pm. It was all very organized but there were many stations to get through. We checked in, I was sent to pre op where I got these cute little purple non skid socks with white paws on them and a purple gown. The coolest thing about this gown is that it had a ventilation system. When I got all trembly and freaked out about the IV they were able to put the hose right into a hole and heat me up from the inside out. I really need something like that for work where it's always freezing.
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| My own surgery collage. I look so awesome I couldn't just decide on one. |
I'm a big wimp and a huge chicken. Like most people I hate needles and pain. Surgery it not exactly something you put on your list of monthly goals but it felt like a big accomplishment. As I was wheeled out of the hospital I felt really proud of myself for being stronger then I thought I would be. MJ thought I'd be a complete disaster but I wasn't. I didn't even take the anti anxiety meds that I asked my doctor to prescribe in case I needed it to get in the door. The worse part really, was getting the IV-which they had to do twice because apparently I have tiny veins. After that you are knocked out for everything else that's gonna hurt. My doctor the surgeon was awesome and everyone was so nice. The pre op room is huge and kind of like an assembly line with rows of patients on each side waiting for the operating room but the nurses are so attentive. There is an entire team dedicated to getting you prepped, attending to your surgery and then taking care of you after. They made me feel very comfortable and well cared for from start to finish.
On the day of surgery I ate 9 crackers. 2 at the hospital and 7 later that night. I call it the surgery diet. I don't recommend it. On Saturday I was still eating light. MJ had football in the morning so my parents came down early to be with me. My mom is so sweet. She brought flowers and made me soup. By Sunday my appetite was back to normal. I've been eating leftovers for 3 days from a super bowl party I didn't even attend. MJ went to his friend's house (with my blessing) to watch the game. I ate a slice of pizza for dinner two nights in a row and today I started in on the Chili.
On night one I was almost in tears trying to get up for the bathroom in the middle of the night but it's taking me less time to get up now and I'm getting more and more mobile every day. Being forced to sleep on my back all night makes it hard to get comfortable and I miss cuddling with MJ but overall I'm doing okay. The drugs are doing their thing so I haven't really been in too much pain. Mostly just discomfort. Every time I move. Totally manageable.
MJ has been taking such good care of me. He makes sure I take my pills, he feeds me. He took my bandages off when I was too scared too look at my incisions and coaxed me into the shower when I was afraid of getting them wet. You gotta love a guy who helps you put on your underwear when you can barely stand up, waits on you hand and foot, sees you in tired old baggy pajamas for days and still calls you cute. He's the best. I don't know what I would have done without him. I am mad at him for "accidentally" scaring me so bad that I screamed hard enough to hurt my belly. He's really going to have to stop that when we get old or he might cause a heart attack.
It's still really hard to believe that my only job for at least two weeks is to rest. I can't drive. I'm not supposed to be cleaning, doing errands or working out. I can sit on the couch watching TV all day long and be a total and complete bum without guilt. How often does one get an opportunity like this? Pretty much never and it sucks that it requires major surgery to get it, but I'll take it. I haven't gone anywhere since Friday's surgery. It's like being on house arrest without the ankle bracelet and the introvert that I am is totally embracing it. Normally I loathe the rain but after months of oddly warmer temps we finally got some. I didn't mind it one bit because I got to burrow under the covers all morning and then spend all day in jammies. I got out of bed when I felt like it and gingerly made my way downstairs to set up camp on the couch.
Mj thinks I'll get sick of it but I'm not so sure.
It's still really hard to believe that my only job for at least two weeks is to rest. I can't drive. I'm not supposed to be cleaning, doing errands or working out. I can sit on the couch watching TV all day long and be a total and complete bum without guilt. How often does one get an opportunity like this? Pretty much never and it sucks that it requires major surgery to get it, but I'll take it. I haven't gone anywhere since Friday's surgery. It's like being on house arrest without the ankle bracelet and the introvert that I am is totally embracing it. Normally I loathe the rain but after months of oddly warmer temps we finally got some. I didn't mind it one bit because I got to burrow under the covers all morning and then spend all day in jammies. I got out of bed when I felt like it and gingerly made my way downstairs to set up camp on the couch.
Mj thinks I'll get sick of it but I'm not so sure.
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