3 Days Since Surgery

Aug 24, 2011

Just about everything went as Dr. Mailapur planned. My liver was excessively large and that caused the surgery to last a little longer (about 2 hours), the recovery to be a little longer (about 2.5 hours) and my hospital stay to be one extra day (2 nights total).

I got up as soon as the Nurses said I could (about 6 hours after surgery) and walked a lap around the floor. I used the breatho-meter (not the real name) a few times an hour and kept walking (17 times) about every waking hour - as per my Nurse's (Rachel and Michele) directions.

I got home yesterday at about 10 and walked 4 times totalling about 1.5 miles. It felt great to be out in the sunshine!

I haven't taken any pain meds since the night before last - so I guess I am good to drive already. I feel pretty good. I'm still using the breathing tool; trying to get my intake reading up to 2000 or more (it is about 1750 now at best). It still hurts some (in my belly) when I breath - but not anything unbearable.

Big thank you's to all the folks who I met at Huntsville Hospital - expecially my Nurses (Rachel and Michele) and Techs (Steven and Arelle); Dr Mailapur for doing all he could to avoid having to "open me up" and for being cautious and keeping me an extra night; Angie, Bobby and Danny from the support group - for visiting me and bringing me a birthday card and encouraging words and friendly faces; and of course my family and friends who called, texted, emailed and/or looked in on me in person.

I figured I'd post this in case it might help someone else coming up on the schedule to anticipate what to expect. However, if you listened during our support group meetings and especially at the pre-surgery educational seminar (with Angie Achenbach and Linda), you will anticipate each step of your path. Good luck to us all!!

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