One more hing to relearn.

Well Surgery went well, but the hours after surgery were quite difficult.  Like 4-5 hours after I got to my room I had to urinate and find it impossible to do in or near a bed, even in the hospital.  My wife helped me to the toilet where I did my business in their jug. At this point my wife noticed I was bleeding from oe of my sites. Needless to say the next few minutes are a total blur as the next thing I remember is wakng up on the toilet with a dozen hospital staff yelling for e to open my eyes.  See,s I had blacked out and a code blue was called, it wasn't the site of blood but rather my blood pressure bottomed out.  Later on that evening the night staff wanted me to walk and well made it to the end of the hall at which point a wheel chair was needed.


Things turned around about 3pm Saturday where I was able to really hit the fluids and my BP finally stablized. Satrday evening my wife noticed a massive bruise near the site that bled.  Surgeon said no worries on the ruise and releaed me Sunday afternoon.

I so looked forward to sleeping in my own bed with no one bugging me for vitals orthings like that.  Unfortunately it is 4am and I am not sleeping in my bed.  Not only do I need to reteach myself to drink and eventually eat but it appears I need to relearn how to sleep.  I am a side sleeper and typically sleep on my left side but I do toss and turn, which is why I am up now.  It seems that side sleeping is causing one of my sites to contue to bleed.  So here I am sitting on the sofa with pillows behind me trying to sleep sitting up as I am scared to death to lay down.


I am happy I had the procedure and would go through all of this again, and never thought it would be easy but was hoping that some small thing would be easy.

Paul,

It will get better.  I'm only about 4 weeks out and I have absolutely no trouble sleeping.  In fact I am a side/stomach sleeper myself and by about week 2 I was not having much trouble with it.  Of course YMMV, but that was my experiance. 

and welcome to your new life.

This too shall pass.  Glad you can pee!

I had beeen a side sleeper for 50 years but have had to sleep on my back since then.  Actually, I recline.  It works fine for me but at first my pulmonologist and cardiologist insisted I lay on my back.  Once I returned to using the C-PAP machine, they didn't care anymore.

By the way, if you do have to use a C-PAP, ask about using nose pillows.  They are a lot more comfortable than a mask.  You can scratch your nose or quickly remove and return the nose pillows to blow your nose or take a drink, etc. 

I'll trade you...I had to go home with a catheter!!  Because of the anesthesia I couldn't pee for acouple of days...Had to carry the bag with me everywhere I went...For about a week.  Each day should get better and better.  Don't be too proud (or stubborn) to call the doctor if you think there is a problem.  Sleep when and where you can...Same with walking...when and where you can.  Later, Brian

Mnn you had a bit of a rough start...suprised you never had a catheter in post op... I am a stomach sleepr and was back to that within 2 weeks so hope you are too.

Side note I never have passed out in my life but have had to have my B.P. pills adjusted down twice already cause I was nearly falling over  when I stood up fast...need a 3rd time soon cause its back

It will be, I'm six days post-op and life is slowly starting to get back to normal.  Take it slow, you won't starve to death or die from a lack of exercise.  I went back right to "Clear Liquids" after my "Friday from hell" which involved about a half hour of sleep and gas ravaging my innards.  Figured out it was my protein shakes that caused it.