My DS Surgery and the first week

May 09, 2009

I had my surgery on the morning or Thursday, April 2, 2009.  It was all very uneventful.  I remember getting a mild sedative and then waking up in my room.  I don't remember anything in the OR or recovery.

When I woke up I was very tired.  There was mild nausea.  Pain was very minimal.  I had a morphine pain pump.  I used it every time I woke up- rather I felt I needed it or not.  I was woken up to walk Thursday evening. Getting out of bed hurt.  So much so...I refused to get back in.  I slept and relaxed in the recliner in my room.  Walking was not too bad at all.

I had two drains.  They didn't hurt.  They were just there.  My nurses showed me how to strip the lines and empty them.  They were really no big deal.  That's not to say I wasn't glad to get rid of them at my 1 week appointment.

On Friday I felt fear and just a sense of being completely overwhelmed.  I wasn't in pain.  My nausea was well controled.  I'm not sure where those emotions came from.  I was scared that I just wasn't going to be able to do the necessary things to keep myself healthy.  I didn't want to eat or drink.  I was served jello, broth, overly sweetened crystal light, and a protein supplement that I was supposed to mix with one those items.  Thank goodness for IV hydration.  I might have taken in 4 oz's by mouth on friday.  Walking was okay.  It wasn't overly tiring or painful.  Anything by mouth was just hard.  I walked and slept.  I had no interest in the TV, phone, or computer....let alone the novel by a favorite author that I brought.  They took out my catheter.  I couldn't pee.  They reinserted the Cath in the evening just long enough to drain my bladder.  My nurses let me know that I wouldn't be able to go home unless I peed on my own-  No Pressure Jeez.  I was able to go finally in the early morning hours of Saturday

I was released Saturday at noon.  I was feeling much better emotionally.  My IV had been taken out.  I was sipping pretty good.  I was on oral Hydrocodone.  I really had no need for it except at bedtime.  I took it to help me through the night for the first week.  I didn't need it through the day.  I pushed fluids getting about 40-48 oz per day.  I drank alot of milk, SF Chocolate pudding with protein added.  I also ate a lot of small curd cottage cheese with about t teaspoons of salsa mixed in.  It took 6 days before I had my first BM.

By the end of the first week/ start of the second week I was fine to do light grocery shopping and short driving trips.  I spent the day at the park with the kids- lots of walking and watching.  I drove kids to sports practices (10 miles or less).  Turning to look beyond 90 degrees was a bit uncomfortable.  I was able to walk for about 25 minutes at a time without stopping.  I was getting in about 50 grams of protein and fluid a day.  I was still sleeping on the couch and taking about a 2 hour nap during the day.

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