LucysJourney
Surgery and hospital stay
Jan 17, 2013
Monday 1/14/13 got to the hospital on time and things went really smoothly. I was called back to pre-op to get prepped for surgery. Buster had to wait in the waiting room until I was prepped then he could come back to see me.
I was in bay#2 so I had to wait my turn. They took me back at 5:10 and my surgery was at 7:15. The prep nurse didn't get to me until 6:40. All this time I didn't get to see Buster...I kept waiting...waiting. When she finally got to me she asked me if Buster was squeamish about needles because if she didn't call him back right then, he would not get to see me before surgery. He was back to see me 5 minutes later. So all the questions were asked and it was time to put in my IV....he had to look away...ooppss sorry Baby....(he's squeamish). She stuck me in my right hand (it hurt) and a few minutes later I was kissing Buster and telling him I love him...see you in a few hours. I was wheeled off by a nurse with a very colorful sleeve tattoo. They took me to the OR which I thought was another stop before the OR. But I was wrong...this room looked like an open office without the cubicles...the OR table was in the middle of the room and I scouched myself over onto it. They strapped me on...I remember tattoo nurse made a joke about the table being one size fits no one...it was a really skinny table...lol...last thing I remember is my arms being stretched out to each side....the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and asking for Buster.
I went back to sleep for awhile and when I woke up I asked for Buster again. Then back asleep and when I woke up I asked for him again...as it turned out...they forgot about him and I was stuck in post-op until 3:30 because there were no beds available. Buster had to wait in the waiting room the whole time because no one told him he could come back. (bastards).
Next time I woke up I was in room 1098 and I was scouching onto my bed in my room. Buster came in a few minutes later...and my recovery was started. I started slurping was from the mouth moisturizing sponges to keep my mouth from sealing itself shut. I sent Buster home around 5:30 because he was sleeping in the chair and I wanted to go to sleep myself. So kiss kiss and off he went home and I went back to sleep.
Around 7:30 I asked to get up to walk the halls, oh my goodness, that felt so good...I did I nice long slow lap and then back to bed and I slept till the next morning. The nurses came and did their things but I barely noticed. I think around 3 am the vampire showed up to take my blood. I remember thinking I hope she doesn't have to poke me to many times...just once was all she needed and I nodded off again.
Day two: I woke around 6 am and called Buster while he was one his way to work. We reconnected and decided he should come by after work to visit with me. I then took a walk, well did my lap around the hall. The transporter ( I love that term) came to get me to take my down to radiology to do my swallow test. I am here to report that stuff was nasty...but I passed my test and they called the transporter to take me back to my room. Mean while I had missed my doctor and the NUT. My NUT left instructions that I could start my sipping and I was allowed two medicine cups of drink an hour. That seemed like heaven to me so I started right away with water, then they brought lunch and it came with tea and lemonade so I switched up between the three, then I went back to sleep... Mom and Dad came to visit around 12 or so and that was a weird visit. Nice but weird. My IV blew out and it put a lot of solution into my hand and it swelled up. Then I had a substitute male nurse who tried to stick me for a new IV...OMG he was SO ROUGH. It took him two tries but he did finally get it in. They my favorite little Filipino nurse Theresa came in to remove the Foley (pee tube) that after noon and it was really nice to get up to pee (a hundred times lol). So peeing, sipping, walking, sipping and sleeping the afternoon away until Buster got there around 3:45 then we started talking about stuff like we always do. Next thing I know my two gal pals showed up. Dianne and Becky. The four of us had a great hour visit and then they left and it was just Buster and me. We went for a walk in the hall and when we got back I was a bit whipped so I told him to go home...he left around 6:00 he stopped to pick up pizza for dinner and fed my little family at home. I love him so much. So I continued to sip, sip, sip, sip, then sleep...
Day three: feeling really good and ready to go home. My morning was really uneventful...my NUT came back to visit with more diet instructions. I sipped, walked, sipped, sipped and then napped till Buster got there around noon. Dr. Long came to visit and checked me over told me how well I have done and that I will get to go home. My nurse Katy came in and removed to IV tower from me so I could be free to walk and pee when I wanted to without assistants. It was 1 o'clock and Buster and I started betting on what time I would actually get out of there...I said 4 and he said 5. Ha...I was packed and out of there by 1:30. The transporter came to pick me up in a big plastic wheel chair that reminded me of what little kids drive around at the stores in...only adult sized.
The transporter took me to the front door and there was Buster waiting for me...such a sweetie...we drove home and I was resting in my recliner by 2:30. I had to sleep cause I took a Loratab liquid that made me feel yucky and I only wanted to sleep it off. So drinking or sipping I mean, sipping, sipping, walking around, going potty, sipping sipping then take my shower and call it a night at about 9PM...man was I tired.
Day four: I am on my own...Buster has gone to work and my son has gone to school. We so I am sipping, walking, sipping, potty break. Now to set myself up with my Vitamin ritual...yuck can do those with just water...that made me feel really gross...will try again later with applesauce or pudding or something....
Gonna stop for now...will add later when something different happens..
