You guys kept me going!

Hey everyone! I am so glad for your emails and posts. I had a clown deliver the 2nd batch of emails. He had me laughing so hard, I thought I was going to rip open. I would read and re-read those emails, they really kept me going when I got down in the dumps at the hospital. I was not allowed to walk at all my first day, nor did I feel like it. I had drainage problems from the start and that dang drain needed to be emptied less than every 2 hours. The first night my roomies drain let loose in the middle of the night. They had to stitch her back up. She was in a lot a pain and I felt so bad for her. The next thing I knew, my drain popped. Lucky for me there were still nurses in the room from my roomy and they were able to clean me up very fast. Lesson here is -If your drain gets full, make sure you call and have it emptied. Keep track of it yourself-because as hard as those overworked nurses try, they just can't do it all. (I know there is a special cloud in heaven for them!) My white count is still high but they decieded to let me go home anyway. My roomy went in for ER surgery the next day. She is not a member of our group, but my prayers go out to her. On a better note. Linda came waltzing in with her husband THE EVENING of HER surgery- she looked wonderful! Their visit really cheered me up because my own family was not able to come. My son fractured his ankle and my husband spent most of the time running around with him. I hope you all get a chance to meet Linda, she is a sweet person. I have a few post op questions-but will post them later! Michele

Hi Michele, I am glad you are doing well, and home recovering! Sorry about your son, I hope he heals real fast! Take care hugs Dana

Mish So glad to hear from you. Glad you are doing well. Thanks for the info about the drain. Sorry your son has an injury, hope you have someone to help you do things. Take care of yourself. Dianne

Hi Mish T I'm glad to hear your surgery went well, and your home from the hospital. Take good care of yourself! Patti C

Welcome Home!!! Take good care of yourself......and enjoy being a "loser". Take care..... Shay a/k/a Snuggles

Michele, Congrats! I'm glad you are home and on the mend. I too had the drain blow out a few times. They were talking transfusion, but I'm glad I didn't have to. I was put on extra iron.. 350 mg of ferrous sulfate.. are you?? Didn't it feel good to get a shower?? LOL take care of yourself. T

Hi Mish! Welcome home! One question for you, or anyone who can answer it........you had mentioned that your drain popped because it was full, and you had said to keep an eye on it and have someone empty it for you if it gets too full, my question is this........how do you know when it is full??? Just curious..........as you can tell, I'm still Pre-Op.

Good question Joe.The drain is see through plastic. The bottle at the end of the drain tube is what needs to be emptied periodically. The fluid is reddish in color.The nurses are pretty good. Some patients drain more & faster than others. Hence "keep an eye on it." It is messy if it pops off. Mine was okay, my roomie Tina's came off in the middle of the night. The nurses had to clean her up & change the bedding cause it was messy. She was scared & I was worried for her. Hope this explains somewhat for you. Please ask cause how else will you know. ((HUGS)) Elissa