rosemuze

I just had my surgery on Monday, November 30th. I got to the hospital at 9:00 am. By about 9:30 I was called back into pre-op. I was asked to change and do a belly scrub. I was given a shot of Heparin, which does burn, and was hooked up to the machine and massaging leg things. My IV was started and then my husband came back. He brought my iPhone with me so that I could play some games while I waited. I met 4 different nurses, including the 3 that would be in the OR with me. The anesthesiologist showed up, asked if I was ready, as did my surgeon. The final two nurses came to wheel me in. Hug and kiss from the husband, and a quick stop for anesthesia injectible, and I was on my in. I remember saying hi to the nurses in the OR and that's it. I have a feeling they lifted me onto the table. My surgery started at around 11:45 I had the sweetest nurses in recovery. I was very in and out during that time. I do remember they were all talking about going out after work was over - they were very cheery. At some point radiology came in and took my x-rays. By 2:30 I was in my room. Then began the parade of thousands. I think I met about 40 different nurses. I asked right away to go to the bathroom, but it wasn't until about 3 that I got to go. After that, my dad, husband and I walked. I was told to walk as much as possible. By about 5, I was given ice chips. I dozed on and off. I was given one dose of morpheine, which didn't help much and then was started on vicodin. Going to the bathroom took forever. I would sit for about 5 minutes and go, then would get up to wash my hands. By the time I was done washing, I would sit back down and go for another 5 minutes. Then I'd walk up and down the hall and would sit down and go for another 5 minutes. After that I'd get back in bed and would read for a while and then doze. I met a bunch of different doctors. I managed to walk by myself up and down the hallway 5 times. My nurse came in at around 11:30 the next day and asked me if I wanted to take another pain pill. I was told that I would be leaving by noon, so I said I was fine. However, I wasn't released until 2:30. By the time I got home, and my husband picked up my pain pills, I was hurting. Mostly I had gas pains, bad gas pains. When the gas started to pass, things got much better. It's now Friday, 4 days after my surgery. I'm still on the liquid diet, and I get a little hungry at times. I'm able to walk for about 30 minutes each day. Tomorrow I take off the incision tapes. Not looking forward to that. I plan on returning to work on the 14th. By then, I'll be on soft foods, which should feel more normal.