I am woman, hear me snore!

Usortert-a 46-01
Originally uploaded by nampak.

We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning. After a brief paper trail was constructed we were led around many halls, up an elevator, down a few corridors, around the block and down another hallway and found our place in what I can best describe as a "staging" area for pre op. I was assigned room 6 and received my 'jammies' for the day. I changed and soon a nurse came in to set up my I.V. and make sure everything was correct on the paper work.

After about 40 minutes or so I was led back down several halls and about half way around that block again and found the surgery department, gave Thor a quick kiss and was wheeled into the final waiting room for the O.R. I was placed in a small stall directly across from the nurses station and just as I was positioned into place a very large man dressed in army fatigue scrubs announced, "O.K. Just bring her to me and I'll beat her to death with a stick!" Now I know this comment wasn't made directly towards me, but I couldn't let it just go by unnoticed, so I said, "Hey, wait a minute, isn't that the surgeon's job?" He looked up, surprised that he'd been caught and just replied, "We've got a live one!" He came over to me, introduced himself as "Milt" and again checked all the paper work.

Eventually I was put to sleep and when I woke up I, well, I don't remember too much of anything until late that night.

Thor says I was in surgery a little longer than scheduled. Everything went well, although the doctor opted for plan "B". She told Thor that I 'ralphed' in recovery right after surgery, I don't remember that. I was also in recovery about two hours longer than the doc expected. I just don't react the way I am supposed to to those things.

Up in the room I had several visitors, in laws, my sis, and a couple of the offspring... I don't remember anyone being there. I don't remember anything but being COLD. About 10:30 p.m. a nurse offered me one more shot of morphine which I took due to her urging, but I think I was arguing about it. Earlier Thor said the nurse was wanting to give a hit and he suggested that I just lay low for a while... my breathing was at about 14 and very shallow and frankly, I wasn't complaining, so adding more narcotics to the situation didn't seem prudent. He tried to tell the nurses that I react weird to drugs, so go easy.

Sunday morning I woke up about 5:00 to get up and walk the halls. I went for a few strolls around the wing and felt really weak, but not too much of anything else. Eventually every tube was removed and I was able to take a bird bath and go home. I got home about 12:30 and pretty much just went to bed for a couple of hours. I felt really good considering, but when I got up from the nap I had INCREDIBLE pain in my shoulders. Like I had dislocated them or something. Everyone is suggesting that it may have been pent up stress, but seriously, this was like my arm was out of the socket. A took a motrin and went back to sleep. I woke up just in time to get out to the living room for a visit from #1 and his wife and #3 getting home from church. We had a pretty good visit and I was happy to see them all there. A phone call from the other kids and I was a happy gal. I fell asleep in the chair and woke up the next morning feeling pretty good, except this time the pain had gone from my shoulders to my hips. WEIRD.

It kind of freaks me out a bit, because I was expecting a lot of abdominal pain... a lot from what everyone had told me. Heck, even the doc wanted to make sure I could handle swallowing the Vicadin before I could go home. I haven't taken one of those; I really really hate vicadin. GAG. I talked the nurse into giving me oral motrin instead and waiting to see if I ralphed that up....nope, o.k. So I am sticking with the motrin. Any who, the weird thing is the pain everywhere except my abdomen. Maybe that will come tomorrow.

So here I am on Tuesday, feeling pretty good. Major weakness and easily tired, but everything is oakey dokey, so far today, no meds at all. I think I am still a bit woozey from it all, I am beginning to remember things I think I forgot, but mostly I'm o.k. I wake myself up very thirsty and snoring (oh my). Thor has stayed home since Saturday and spoiled me like the Queen of Sheba; and I have had lots of visitors, well wishes, phone calls, and goodies. I am developing into a lazy girl who watches day time t.v. yikes, this could get ugly. So there you go. Surgery update. That is all.

Thanks to nampak for the cool photo.