First days post-op

Dec 25, 2008

Day 1 - Monday 12/22/08.  Left house at 4:45 am to discover the car battery was dead!  Fortunately M was able to boost it with the battery pack (best investment ever) so we were only 15 mins late.  Everyone scheduled for early surgery was assembled in a main waiting room, and when I arrived we were taken into a prep area where blood was taken and IV hooked up.  At about 8:00, anasthesiologist spoke with me and then around 8:15 came the doctor.  I don't recall what time I was moved into the OR but I do remember being brought to my room at 11:00 and told they were removing the catheter now and would be walking the hallways by 3.

It was a rough day.  I was not allowed to drink anything at all and was very thirsty!  At least I could wet my lips with a small sponge on a straw (although it was hard not to let any slip down my throat)!  Pain from gas was very severe most of the time, although I was certain it wasn't gas because it was in the same place - on my side and not moving.  I was given dilordin for the pain which worked immediately, so I was either in pain or knocked out.

My roommate was also from my Center and was right after me by the same doctor. She was a young kid (compared to me!) and her mom was there the whole time, as was M with me.

Day 2 - Tuesday 12/23/08.  Pretty much felt the same way as Monday except that I was now allowed to sip a little - not much but enough to let a bit of the fluid slip down my throat while wetting my lips.  By 1:00 pm, I was brought a pitcher of water and a 1 oz medicine cup and told I could now sip one of those cups in an hour.  Pretty much my routine was sit up at edge of bed, take a sip, take a walk down the hall, sit in the day room on a hard backed chair for about 1/2 hour, then be in enough pain to ask for pain meds.  Slept for about 2 hours when woken by nurses to take vitals.  Discomfort started returning.  Repeat.

Doctor came by at around 3:00.  I insisted it wasn't gas but he explained that they had to blow me up with air to see what they were doing so it wouldn't be like normal digestive system gas and all I could do is walk and walk.  I wanted to stay another day but he said I would have a faster recovery at home (where I could rest as needed without being woken up).  I finally got the marching orders at 5:30, left at 6 and was home by 6:30 where I took a pain pill (percoset) and went to sleep.  I could only sleep on my right side which got a bit uncomfortable after a while.

Day 3 - Wednesday 12/24/08.  Was this yesterday already??  This week is flying by faster than the speed of light!  In the morning my stomach started making loud gurgling sounds and at 10:00-ish I let out my first baby sized fart!  My midday I had a few more and by late afternoon I had a bm.  I felt the gas starting to move around and the pain was starting to go from severe discomfort to just discomfort.  I only needed a pain pill before bed.  Still only on clear liquids 1 oz per hour but mostly just sucking water (melted ice cubes) from the sponge.  Routine was pretty much rest, sit at edge of bed about 1/2 hour, walk back & forth from bedroom to living room 3 times, go to the bathroom, sit at edge of bed again for another 1/2 hour (sipping all the while) then resting for about an hour.  M also rested with me much of the time.

Day 4 - Thursday 12/25/08.  Xmas day, although I don't celebrate it.  Much better today - only mild to moderate discomfort, but gas is definitely moving.  First day I felt well enough to go on the computer and check emails (at noon).  Now nearly 5:30pm and updating my blog.  Also returned a few phone calls as I haven't had the energy to  hold a conversation.  Also graduated to 2 oz. clear liquids over an hour.  Had an ice pop and 2 kinds of ice tea in addition to water.  Saturday I will be up to 4 oz (1/2 cup) and be able to add non clear liquids such as milk, protein powder, cream soups, pudding, cream of rice or wheat cereal, apple sauce.  I guess for Shabbat dinner I will have 2 oz broth to eat over an hour!!!

Summary - I feel like I've been through a wringer and after I walk I feel like I've run a marathon.  I'm very tired and achy.  But considering what's been done to my insides, it's to be expected.  So far, no complications and I definitely see improvements every day.  I'm hoping to be feeling completely normal by the end of the weekend.  As my metaphor goes, there was a lot of turbulance upon takeoff, but I have to hold tight.  It will smooth out shortly.

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