I'm out

I got out of hospital yesterday.  I'm actually having a rougher day today with a bit more pain.  My back is bothering me quite a bit.  I need to got walk around more I think.  D will be leaving tomorrow morning to go back home, and my mom will be staying with me through Monday when we fly back early evening after my appointment with Dr. H.  This is going be a relatively long post going over the surgery and recovery.  I'd like to thank LIM for posting on Monday and to thank all of you for your prayers.

Here's an overview of the last few days:
Sunday- I did the bowel prep and showered.  The bowel prep wasn't too horrible.  I tried to go to be before 10 but didn't sleep very well.

Monday- Surgery day.  I woke up about 4am.  I wasn't planning on getting up until 5, but I couldn't fall back asleep.  I got on the computer until it was time to leave for the hospital about 5:25.  We got to the hospital about 5:45, and they got me back to start doing the prep with the cleaning cloths about 6.

  The cleaning cloths were really difficult to open, but I finally got them open and did the whole body wipe down.  I had the same pre-op nurse as I had in December for my laparoscopy.  She got my IV started.  The priest at Creighton came in after D and my mom came back, and I got anoiting of the sick.  Dr. H came by and talked to me briefly.  I don't really remember after they got my sedation meds started. 

The surgery lasted about 3 hours and Dr. H removed 8 spots of endo as well as the cyst on my tube (I can't remember which tube right now though).

I woke up in the recovery room and was there about 30 or 45 minutes that I remember before they moved me up to my room.  I wasn't feeling too bad pain-wise when they had me on the morphine.  D ended up going to buy some ear plugs (the hospital didn't have any) so I'd be able to sleep.  I highly recommend earplugs if you are going to be in the hospital overnight.  The nurse cleaned my teeth with some swab things that made my mouth feel much better and less fuzzy.  I finally got some ice chips about 6 pm and it was so wonderful.  I didn't sleep very well that night, and it wasn't just because of the people come in and checking on me.

Tuesday-  I woke up pretty much at about 3am, just before the nurse came to check on me.  A lab person came to draw some blood about 4:30, and then Dr. H's med student came in about 6 to talk to me.  He was very nice and seemed pretty knowledgeable.  Dr. H's fellow came in a little later and told me that they would start me on the clear liquids, and I got the clear liquid breakfast.  I didn't see Dr. H that day, but my mom and D said that they saw him on the floor.

I still was doing pretty well with the pain and they switched me to oral pain meds in the late morning and I started back on my T3 and hydrocort.  I was able to take a shower midday and started doing the walking.  The nurses were impressed on how well I did with the walking. 

After dinner (meaning Jello, juice, broth and tea), I started not feeling well.  I hadn't had any issues with nausea up to this point.  The nurse gave me nausea medication, but I don't remember which one.  I was feeling uncomfortable sitting in bed so I had D go walk with me, but we barely made it 20 feet before I realized that I needed to vomit.  Thankfully I made it to the bathroom in my room.  I got back in bed, but started feeling off and restless in the bed so we got up to walk again, and I talked to the nurse and ended up vomiting again.  She gave me more nausea medication, this time Zofran, and I didn't have any more nausea issues.  I think that at least part of it was my system not being used to that much sugar. 

I actually slept pretty well from about 10pm to 6am, but there was a miscommunication between D and my mom and he ended up locked out of the hotel room and sleeping in the car.

Wednesday- The med student came and checked on me again, and then Dr. H came and check on me.  He said he was very happy with how the surgery went, and that as soon as I was able to pass gas that I'd be able to get started eating real food.  Thankfully after my breakfast, where I just at the broth and the tea, I finally did pass gas and then Dr. H's fellow came in and said that I could have real food for lunch.

After lunch, they said that they had the discharge orders for me.  We just had to wait for D, who had been resting and then went to work out after the locked out drama of the night before.  We got back to the hotel about 4 and I ate my first meal of non-hospital food.

D dropped off my prescriptions, but he had to come back and get the new RX card from me since he only had the old card, so it took about twice as long as necessary.

Thursday (today)-  I've been having a few issues with slight pain in my ears and some back pain.  I actually feeling a bit more tired that I was yesterday.  I'm very thankful that D was here to help me shower.  The pain from my actual incision isn't as annoying as the other issues.

I probably will post again when I get back home on Tuesday with information about what Dr. H says at my appointment.  I've been reading blogs, but I don't really feel up to commenting right now.  I am keeping all of you in my prayers.