I'm back!
Hey everyone! I'm back home. Actually, I got back yesterday around 6pm, but didn't feel up to going upstairs to sit on the computer until now. Well, Dr. Lucktong said that the surgery went beautifully! I remember the anethesiologist asking me about my Dalmatian (he overheard me talking to the nurse) and that is the last thing I remembered until I woke up in recovery. I remeber being asked if I wanted to be moved up to my room, but I told them I felt nautious and wanted to stay where I was. When I came to again, they were moving me to my room. The next time, I looked up to find my husband and mom sitting in front of me staring at me. I cracked a joke at them and then was out agian until later that evening.
My first night in the hospital was miserable. Not because of my stomach but my back. Dr. Lucktong had told me I could get up and walk that evening if I wanted, but everytime I asked someone, they told I could walk tomorrow. I should have demanded to walk, because that night I spent in agony because of my back spasms. Once I was allowed to walk around later in the morning, my back straightened right out. Then I only had to deal with the million situps I must have done while I was under anesthesia After my back situation, the nurses were wonderful! Too bad they kept running into problems with my pain meds. The first night, they couldn't get me to show up in the system, so I couldn't get anything for pain until that was taken care of. They kept on running into similar problems the next day. On my last day, I waited patiently for the time when I could have some pain meds. My mophine pump was gone, and I didn't get anything via IV because I was doing so well. Well, 90 minutes later, I finally got my meds. My nurse came in and was VERY upset because according to upstairs, I was not authorized to receive anything due to a computer problem. She told me that she informed them to get breifly in tears! When I finally received my meds, I was so far gone, it only touched on my pain. Luckily, Dr. Lucktong came by shortly thereafter, and I told him what had been happening. He said that I would be better off at home because it appeared that I would be much better off at home and could take care of my own administration of medications. He told me under the cir****tances, I was doing beautifully and my incisions looked perfect. Thankfully, he had them give me a shot of pain medications to suppliment the oral stuff, once I mentioned the long drive we had home.
After a nice rest last night on the couch (we have a reclining couch), I woke up feeling good this morning. Stiff but good. If I gripped a little too much in this email it is only to warn those getting ready for surgery. Be sure to stand up for yourself. If I had not taken no for an answer the first night, the whole experience wouldn't have been nearly as rough.
It's great to be back! I'll probably take a few days away from the computer to recouperate, but once I feel up to it, I will be back again. Thanks so much for all of the supportive emails I received before and after surgery; they meant a lot to me!
Talk to you all later
Julie
Finally on the losing side
Oh, Julie...I am so sorry about the situation on the pain meds...I know when I was there the nurses were over worked and it took awhile to get anything...All in all, I had a good experience in the hospital..I was in for five days...Loved their beds...I am glad you are now a loser!!!! You are really in for the ride of your life, girlfriend! It is exciting and I am thrilled with my results.
Hugs a bunch,
Betsy