MMsFlick78
Update
Jan 29, 2009
Thursday January 29, 2009 at 5:10 pmWell...I'm back and I survived everything! Now to update you from the 22nd, until now.
1/22/09
This was my surgery day, and I was at the hospital by 5:30am. I was registered in and taken back to get some IV's running. By 7:30 I was wheeled to the operating room. I may be off on the times, but you get the point. The whole time my sissy-in-law stayed with me, which was really nice of her! In the operating room they put you on a cold flat metal table, and strap you in. When that is all done they put a mask over your face and let you know that you are getting sleepy. I didn't get sleepy, I kind of felt dizzy. Next thing I know, I have nurses looking me in the face, asking if I knew where I was. First of all the medicine was still working, so these nurses looked like they heads and faces the size of beach balls. Everything was blurry and echoing and I just wanted to get those big heads out of my face. Eventually I woke up enough to go to my room on Main 5 of the hospital. Brittany, Randy, and Susan stayed until visiting hours were over. The night was a long one. I couldn't sleep because of the rock hard beds. The nurses kept saying I had gas, and to get up and walk. I walked, and walked, and walked....pushed my PCA button a lot too.
1/23/09
Finally morning came and I went for my swallowing test. This took a long time! Apparently my small bowel was still temporarily paralyzed from the surgery, and the white contrast couldn't move the whole way down. After waiting over 2 hours and checking 3 times, they gave it an ok. Got back to the room and was aching in my back and hurting at my drain site. They did little to help you up and down off the table, when doing the swallow test. I tried to rest, but my back ached too much. It's gas they say...so I walk!! They told me that when the surgery is done you are put into an awkward position. You lay flat, but they drop your feet all the way down, and they also drop your head all the way down. So, I guess it's like your in a bridge shape. I wasn't able to go home this evening, because I was feeling nauseated. Then, the lab people couldn't find a vein and were poking me everywhere. At that point I couldn't take it anymore, and just broke down crying. Which then made my baby cry, but we settled down and felt better. My sissy pounded on my back all over, and it was the best thing I felt since the surgery. It took the ache away and I only had to worry about the pain.
1/24/2009
Slept good last night, a few times they had to wake me up! I got a shower which felt nice. I think around noon I was able to go home. It felt really good to be home!!! Randy and Susan spent the night and besides getting up every 3-4 hours...it wasn't bad.
1/25/2009
Randy and Susan stayed with me all day. Things were going good. Had jello and chicken broth. Still had really bad dry mouth, and things seem to have a stronger taste to them now.
1/26/2009
Randy had off work, and Susan had to go back to work. Randy kept me company and things were fine. Sue at Monks office said to try and wean off the Oxy, and use Tylenol. So I did just that, and it was a little harder to get around during the night.
1/27/2009
Randy was with me again today. I had plans to do a few chores, but never got that done. The pain was a 10 all day, the one time I had to get Randy to get me out of bed. I couldn't stand up straight, and hardly could walk. I wasn't able to get comfortable anywhere!! Called Monks office, but they never called me back. I did get a call from the WLC and they told me to start on the OXY again and let it catch up with all the pain that I was having. After 3 doses, it still didn't work. When Susan got off work she decided to get my butt to the ER. Didn't want to go, but I did. They started poking me everywhere and I had to tell my story to 8 different people. Got an X-ray, a finger up my ass, and was admitted for observation. I had a CT scan done, which luckily they were nice enough to help me up and down. Even so it hurt really bad at the drain site. Cramping and knife stabbing pain. I had to do a lot of deep breathing to calm myself down. Around 4am Monks assistant came in to take the drain tube out. That was the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life. Pain level was a 10 plus 20 more!!! Of course he would stop and ask if I was ok, because I was screaming in pain. I then proceeded to tell them to get it the hell out...NOW!!! It was the same pain I was having, just 20 times worse. So I asked the DR. could this be what was causing all the pain. They said no, it shouldn't be causing that much.
1/28/2009
This morning I was taken down to ultrasound, to rule out a ruptured gall bladder. I got there, but they had no order. I was sent back up. The nurse said that Dr. Monk canceled the ultrasound and said to send me home. He said the drainage tubing is what caused it. Apparently it healed faster then expected and the tissue on the inside was growing fast to the tube. Every time that I would move, it would rip the tissue causing all the pain. That explains the excruciating pain I had when he pulled the whole thing out. It felt like it was a mile long!!! Now I have an appointment with Dr. Monk on Monday. I want to ask him if the tubing would have hurt that much, if it was taken out a couple days earlier.
1/29/2009
Everything seems to be going fine again. I was going around the apartment doing odds and ends. I layed down once to rest, but couldn't really sleep. I still have to lay a certain way, for the pain to not increase. It is much better then the other night though. I hope now that things will only get better and not worse!! I had a friend ask me if I would do it all over again. I said at this point NO....but ask me in a couple months and my answer could be different!! I will post more on Monday, and let you know what Dr. Monk had to say.
