Move Over -- Fresh Flesh to the Losers' Bench!!!
Hi everybody! It is Saturday around 5 p.m. and this is the first access that I've had to a computer since my surgery on Monday. Praise be to God for the wonderful journey I've had -- I have been completely blessed throughout this experience with His watchful eyes upon me....
I am almost sheepish to say that my surgery and 5 days post-op have been a snap 
My husband, brother and sister (my only siblings) were all on hand for the surgery, and as my husband reported to Melissa, it went off without a hitch. The anesthesiologist did have a question about the EKG that I'd had done in conjunction with my pre-op appointment a few days earlier, but after comparing it with stress test I'd had in July and doing another quick EKG in the pre-op area, she was confident that I was good to go. (I think she was fine once she compared last week's EKG with stress test, but it was apparent to all that my husband was extremely concerned and so the last minute EKG was as much for him as for anyone! Digressing for a minute, I may have mentioned before that my husband is a great guy -- we've been married for nearly 23 years -- but where I'm an extroverted optimist, he is very private and in his view if something can go wrong, it surly will. I got a huge kick out of the fact that my sister said that he insisted on calling the people on my "post-surgery call list" himself rather than having her do it -- she said he was being very protective/possessive, which is uncharacteristic of our relationship. I can only imagine what his phone call to Melissa was like -- he was probably off the phone before she could even figure out who was calling!).
At any rate, I walked down the hall that evening and then sat up in a chair for 2 hours before another stroll down the hall prior to getting back into bed at 9 Monday evening. Although there was some pain, nothing at all like I'd anticipated and certainly totally bearable. By the time my leak test came around the next morning, followed by the blue ice chips, I was so thirsty that I don't think it would have mattered what they gave me to drink, just so it was something wet. And for anyone coming down the road after me who is concerned about the taste of the stuff you drink for the leak test, I was given three little medicine cups of the stuff to drink and I found that tossing it to the back of my throat like one might do if they were to take a shot of tequila (as I may have done a time or two in my younger days, I must admit) made it go down without a problem and minimal taste.
I was dismisssed from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, but honestly would have been good to go (in my mind at least) Tuesday afternoon. I did get a headache Tuesday evening that would not stop until Thursday, that I'm thinking could have been from the anesthesia, from the morphine, or from the woman in the other bed in the room they moved me to Tuesday afternoon. Up to that point I'd been in a great private room in the step-down unit, but Tuesday they moved me upstairs to a semi-private room because I no longer needed the level of care provided by the step-down unit, and of course, there were others who needed those beds. Suffice to say my roommate of 24 hours spent her time out of the room smoking or in the room moaning, but regardless of which, with her television on loud enough to be heard in the next county. I asked the nursing tech for headphones, which I promptly plugged in for the remainder of my stay. 
On Thursday, Dr. Scott's office prescribed a second round of Imitrix for me (I'd been give one shot in the hospital Wednesday morning) and with the second dose, the headache left, thank heavens. That has been the worst part of the whole experience thus far. Also, on Thursday afternoon my drain decided to come out at its own invitiation (it was to have been removed at my appointment next Wednesday). I called Dr Scott's office and they said no big deal, come on in and they'd snip the stitch that had been put to hold it in and I could be done with it. So now, I just have gauze dressing over drain site, which I prefer anyway -- no icky tube.
I have family in Columbia, including my sister who is one of my best friends, so I decided just to stay down here until my one-week appointment. It has worked out great. My niece lives in my parents' former home and it has a little basement apartment that I'm staying in -- just had to knock through a few cobwebs! Although I could stay at my sister's home, she's close by and it's been nice to have the privacy when I want it. Only downside is that there is no computer there, so I have to find something else to occupy my time!
This morning my sister, her husband, my 20-something niece and I went to the Farmer's Market -- they have a great one here in Columbia, and then spent the afternoon at the pool. It was so beautiful out, and since it wasn't dreadfully hot didn't matter that I couldn't get in the water. This evening they've all gone to Mizzou football game (home opener -- go Tigers!) but I decided to skip tonight. Liquid diet has not been a problem at all, but I wasn't up to tailgating with my sugar-free jello! Plus, gave me some uniterrupted computer time!
I can only hope that you guys (in the generic sense) behind me have what appears to have been as easy a time as I have had thus far.
Thanks for the wonderful thoughts and prayers that have been sent my way and on my behalf. They have meant a great deal to me.
My husband, brother and sister (my only siblings) were all on hand for the surgery, and as my husband reported to Melissa, it went off without a hitch. The anesthesiologist did have a question about the EKG that I'd had done in conjunction with my pre-op appointment a few days earlier, but after comparing it with stress test I'd had in July and doing another quick EKG in the pre-op area, she was confident that I was good to go. (I think she was fine once she compared last week's EKG with stress test, but it was apparent to all that my husband was extremely concerned and so the last minute EKG was as much for him as for anyone! Digressing for a minute, I may have mentioned before that my husband is a great guy -- we've been married for nearly 23 years -- but where I'm an extroverted optimist, he is very private and in his view if something can go wrong, it surly will. I got a huge kick out of the fact that my sister said that he insisted on calling the people on my "post-surgery call list" himself rather than having her do it -- she said he was being very protective/possessive, which is uncharacteristic of our relationship. I can only imagine what his phone call to Melissa was like -- he was probably off the phone before she could even figure out who was calling!).
At any rate, I walked down the hall that evening and then sat up in a chair for 2 hours before another stroll down the hall prior to getting back into bed at 9 Monday evening. Although there was some pain, nothing at all like I'd anticipated and certainly totally bearable. By the time my leak test came around the next morning, followed by the blue ice chips, I was so thirsty that I don't think it would have mattered what they gave me to drink, just so it was something wet. And for anyone coming down the road after me who is concerned about the taste of the stuff you drink for the leak test, I was given three little medicine cups of the stuff to drink and I found that tossing it to the back of my throat like one might do if they were to take a shot of tequila (as I may have done a time or two in my younger days, I must admit) made it go down without a problem and minimal taste.
I was dismisssed from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, but honestly would have been good to go (in my mind at least) Tuesday afternoon. I did get a headache Tuesday evening that would not stop until Thursday, that I'm thinking could have been from the anesthesia, from the morphine, or from the woman in the other bed in the room they moved me to Tuesday afternoon. Up to that point I'd been in a great private room in the step-down unit, but Tuesday they moved me upstairs to a semi-private room because I no longer needed the level of care provided by the step-down unit, and of course, there were others who needed those beds. Suffice to say my roommate of 24 hours spent her time out of the room smoking or in the room moaning, but regardless of which, with her television on loud enough to be heard in the next county. I asked the nursing tech for headphones, which I promptly plugged in for the remainder of my stay.
On Thursday, Dr. Scott's office prescribed a second round of Imitrix for me (I'd been give one shot in the hospital Wednesday morning) and with the second dose, the headache left, thank heavens. That has been the worst part of the whole experience thus far. Also, on Thursday afternoon my drain decided to come out at its own invitiation (it was to have been removed at my appointment next Wednesday). I called Dr Scott's office and they said no big deal, come on in and they'd snip the stitch that had been put to hold it in and I could be done with it. So now, I just have gauze dressing over drain site, which I prefer anyway -- no icky tube.
I have family in Columbia, including my sister who is one of my best friends, so I decided just to stay down here until my one-week appointment. It has worked out great. My niece lives in my parents' former home and it has a little basement apartment that I'm staying in -- just had to knock through a few cobwebs! Although I could stay at my sister's home, she's close by and it's been nice to have the privacy when I want it. Only downside is that there is no computer there, so I have to find something else to occupy my time!
This morning my sister, her husband, my 20-something niece and I went to the Farmer's Market -- they have a great one here in Columbia, and then spent the afternoon at the pool. It was so beautiful out, and since it wasn't dreadfully hot didn't matter that I couldn't get in the water. This evening they've all gone to Mizzou football game (home opener -- go Tigers!) but I decided to skip tonight. Liquid diet has not been a problem at all, but I wasn't up to tailgating with my sugar-free jello! Plus, gave me some uniterrupted computer time!
I can only hope that you guys (in the generic sense) behind me have what appears to have been as easy a time as I have had thus far.
Thanks for the wonderful thoughts and prayers that have been sent my way and on my behalf. They have meant a great deal to me. 
Lucks:
So good to hear from you!!! I am so glad to hear that you are feeling great!
I am going to do like you and stay in Columbia the week from surgery thru to the follow up appt.; just can't see me making that long drive back and then turning around a couple of days and coming back!
Can't wait til you are well enough to be silly with me in email again!
Take care of yourself!
Sherr
congradulations Lucky. sure seems as tho everyone is doing so well after surgery. I think the doctors have gotten this down so well now that it is a simple surgrery for them. I havent had a minutes worth of trouble since my surgery. I too had a headache and i thought it might be the morphine too. So glad you are doing so well and cant wait to hear more how you are doing. Jan
Lucky
CONGRATS!!!!! I am so happy to see you posting back on the board. And to know that you are doing so well. I am sorry to hear about your headache. I am so thankful that I am allergic to Morphine. I had it before and I had the worst headache and nightmares. Really vivid nightmares that I would wake up in a pool of sweat screaming. Dont want that stuff anymore. Anyways I am so glad to see that your doing so great and I look foward to seeing you again when hopefully one day back in Dr. Scotts office.
God Bless
Melissa
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