Ok, I'm home and loving it so far. I remember wondering what all would happen when i was in the hospital. So, I thought I would write down all I remember about being in the hospital

I arrived at the hospital about 9:15. I had my surgery at Doctor's Hospital at White Rocks Lake in Dallas. As soon as I got in, I was registered and went almost immediately back to the first surgery waiting area. The nurses were great. They started my IV with just 2 sticks which I thought was amazing since I was so dehydrated after being on liquids for a week, and then having some diarrhea the day before surgery. While I was in holding, my hubbie got to come back and kill time with me. The anesthesiologist came and talked to me and he told me they were running behind. My surgery was scheduled for 12:30, but he thought I wouldn't be back until about 1-1:30. About 1:30, they came and got me took me to another holding area up by the OR. (Good thing I brought a book). While I was in the second surgery waiting, I didn't have my book or my hubbie, and I waited until 3 before they took my back. During that time, the anesthesiologist came back and the pain management doc came in and talked to me some more about what I would need for pain afterward. FINALLY about 3, they came and rolled me int the or Suite. I remember getting on the bed... then nothing!!

The next thing I knew, I was rolling into my room. My husband had been sent to my room when I went to the second holding area so he was waiting there for me. I don't have too much memory about what happened that night. I do remember seeing the hosiptalist I got there about 6PM and I don't remember much. I got up to the bathroom about 10 and I has bled thru my dressings so they had to be changed. I was not expecting so much blood. I went for a short walk that night late with my husband. Later that night, I went to the bathroom again and had bled thru my dressings again. The nurse replaced my dressings and then we went for another walk about 1AM. Then I crashed. The nurse's aid came and checked my blood pressure and the respiratory medicine folks were in and out. I had to stay on oxygen because my oxygen saturation kept staying low. Then the lab came in about 5am and drew my blood. I slept very well considering I was in the hospital.

The next morning started off with me soaking my dressings again. I got up and went to the bathroom, and when I got thru it looked like Freddie Kruger had been in the bathroom. The poor nurses' aid had just changed my sheets and then I got back in bed and got blood all over my fresh sheets and my gown. The day nurse came in and put a very tight pressure bandage on my abdomen. I was getting up to go to the bathroom, but I just couldn't go. I would pee about 50-75cc at a time. My bladder was feeling like I needed to pee a river, I just couldn't go! The nurse came in and did a bladder scan and found I had almost 800cc in my bladder (1000cc=1liter). Shortly after that the Hopitalist came back in and told me that my blood count had dropped significantly and that they were going to give me some blood, and that I was going to get a catheter. So, I got 2 units of blood. They put a catheter in and boy that felt better. Some people have urinary retention after anesthesia and I am one of those people. Just cant let your pee out. Catheters are really not that big of a deal. While all this was going on, the nurse started me on drinking water. She brought me 5 small medicine cups and filled each one up with water. She said each cup was 1oz of water and that I had to drink all five in 1 hour. I was pretty thirsty so that was wonderful to get to drink something. She also gave me a sheet to track how many oz I drank each hour. I got up and walked with my catheter and my blood going and I made 2 laps down the hall and back. I was walking around with all the other patients that had their surgery on the same day... comparing notes I guess! The respiratory therapy lady came in and worked with me for a long time on my incentive spirometer. (that is the thing to make you breath deeply) I had my gallbladder out at the same time as my surgery because it wasn't functioning well. The area where my gallbladder was removed was so tender it was hard to do this. I was taking my liquid Lortab every four hours and as the day progressed, I started having gas pains and started asking for gasX pretty regularly. I also had a OnQ pump put into my incisions while I was in surgery. My husband called it my "Christmas Ornament" because it is about the same size and shape of an ornament. This delivers local anesthetic to the incisions for up to 72 hours to help with the pain. I don't know how much good it is doing, but I don't want to know what it would be like without it. As far as pain, the pain was pretty bad any time I moved. On the 1-10 scale it would get up to an 8-9 when I was moving, but when I was sitting still it was usually about a 2-3. Not horrible, but not so great either.

Again, I slept pretty well the second night. I had my catheter in so I didn't have to get up and go to the bathroom. The next morning about 5, they came in and drew my blood again checked my vital signs. I was doing very well with the liquids and could pretty much drink as much as I wanted, but I tried to keep it under 10oz an hour. Usually about 8 oz an hour. The hospitalist came in about 10am and we talked about getting a third unit of blood. My blood count had come up, but not very much. So, I got another unit of blood. I was able to pee afterward with out any problem. The list of allowable foods included diluted juice, broth, sugar free Popsicle, De-caffinated tea water and protein drinks. The only thing I didn't like was the popsicle- for some reason that just didn't taste right. Also, I am a coffee addict!! So, I snuck 1/2 a cup of coffee from my husband just to avoid having a caffeine headache. My use of pain medication started to drop off. I took a dose at 1AM this morning, then didn't ask for more until about 9am, and then I only took 1/2 a dose. After I had my last unit of blood, I had to wait for the lab to draw my count before I could leave. Once they drew my blood, I took another 1/2 dose of medication before I walked out the door.

I know several people are worried about what to bring to the hospital. I packed really well, and used practically nothing!! I stayed in the hospital gown the whole time- mainly because I didn't want to bleed on my pj's. I did wear my robe over the backside as I walked the halls. I didn't put on any makeup, but I did brush my hair and my teeth. The hospital provided me with some slipper socks to wear , but after the first day, I just put my flip flops on. Also, I wore the same clothes home that I wore into the hospital.

So, after I left the hospital, we ran by the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions, then hubbie and I drove home. We live in Lubbock which is about a 6 hour drive. I had my last dose of pain meds before we left the hospital and I was really glad. Every bump was a bit uncomfortable! My doctor had delivered leg compression devices to our room in the hospital so I wore those all the way home. We stopped and walked around 3 times on the way home. I slept most of the way home and I did end up taking my second dose of pain meds somewhere along the way.

Today has been good. I haven't taken any lortab, but I did take some Extra Strength Tylenol liquid. I really hate taking narcotics because they make me have weird dreams. I hope that I won't have to take any more, but I will if I need them. I went outside and walked to the end of the block and back with my dogs this morning before it got too hot and when I got back I took my first most wonderful shower!! I've been taking it pretty easy ever since. I have noticed that I am having to go slow on my liquids because when I drink too much I get this really bad pain in my chest. I also have been passing alot of gas.. which is GOOD! I still have my onQ pump in and I am supposed to pull it later today so I hope it doesn't hurt too bad. I also got a prescription for phenergan for nausea, omepresol to keep the acid down, and Lovenox injections that I have to start daily for the next week. I haven't started any of those yet, but I guess that is next on my list.