Since my surgery was origianly scheduled for Friday and was postponed until Monday, I was able to spend a great weekend with my family. The weather was beautful. On Friday we had an awesome cookout with friends and family, on Saturday we took the kids to the park for playtime and a picinic lunch and on Sunday we went out for my "last supper" at Caraba's and the food was great. I kissed my kids that night and went to bed and cried a little and then actually did get some sleep that night.
Monday- woke up at 5am, got dressed, then took off for the hospital. Chris had to stop at Dunkin' Donuts for coffee first and then we went to the hospital to check in. We went to the admitting desk and got signed in. Then it actually hit me that there would be no more SNAFU'S and that this was really happening. We waited in the surgical waiting room for an hour and then we were called back. I got in a gown and got my vitals and IV placed. They tried to place an epidural for pain management for after the surgery but after two tries and me nearly passing out with a low B/P they gave up. Not a great start. I then kissed my husband and was wheeled to the OR. In the OR the doctors were waiting and teased me that I did not have on a surgical cap yet. That is my last memory as I don't actually remember them ever giving me one. I "awoke" from the anesthisia moaning and groaning due to the intense pain. I remember feeling very glad that I was not on a ventilator and I didn't have a nasal gastric tube either. I spent alot of extra time there with the nurses trying hard to get my pain under control, I remember a very nice nurse making lots of eye contact with me, when I would open my eyes, and promising me she was working as hard a possible to get my pain in control. I was finally able to be transfered to Critical Care at about 5pm and was then able to see my husband. Poor thing had waited a the hospital all day, eleven hours, to see me and I basically told him, I am alive, you can go now. I was so miserable. He did tell me that they had gotten the whole tumor out and that made me happy. I spent the first night in CCU with a great nurse, feeling not too bad with all the drugs on board. She washed me and powdered me and made me feel good. She had taken care of a patient of mine a few days prior and we talked about what a nice lady she was. (she has since died) Pain mgt. included routine Toradol, and Fentanyl and a Dilaudid pump.
Tuesday- continues with pain management and seeing the doctor who told me that he got the whole tumor and that it was almost twice as big as they thought. He told me that I would not get to eat or drink until I had a barium study on Thursday and that my catheter would have to come out the next morning. I used my Dilaudid pump freely and frequntly and asked often for the Fentanyl. When I would sleep I could hear the machines beep that told the nurses that my oxygen levels were going down. I was still on cardiac monitors and oxygen at 4 liters. I had a chest tube draining bloody fluid. I was never able to get comfortable. Got kind of grossed out by the sensation of having the chest tube in as I could feel it with every breath. The sternal pain was quite severe and the way the doctor described the reason for pain also grossed me out. I spent my first time out of bed in a chair and my mom and sister came to see me, fell asleep in the chair and cried my ass off when it was time to get out of the chair back to the bed. Awfull!!! They gave me Ativan and told me that they think my anxiety is contributing to my pain control probelms. Had a few visitors but could not stay awake to spend any time with them.
Wednesday- they took out my catheter and I had to get out of bed a few times to use the bedside commode. Chris came but only really got to see me sleep. I got transfered very late that night to the med-surg floor. They changed around my pain management and I came off the Dilaudid pump. Then I was getting IV Dilaudid every two hours as needed, IV fentanyl as needed and they gave me a Duragesic patch. I only needed to use the oxygen when I was asleep and came off the cardiac monitors.
Thursday- was my first whole day on Med-surg, no more oxygen or monitors, no catheter and got out of bed everyday. Had my Barium swallow and the doc came in and said I passed and could have liquids that day and start a regular diet on Friday morning. Spent the rest of the day sipping diluted cranberry juice. Wonderfull!!!!!! I was getting out of bed to use the toilet and carrying my friend the chest tube collector with me for every trip, all by myself. Was told by the MD that I needed to back off the dilaudid and he switched me to percocet since I was now able to swallow. From then on I used the diladid sparinginly and took the percocet two tablets every four hours faithfully, I was quite scared of letting my pain get out of control. Noticing on this day how much I stink, despite daily sponge baths. Noted blood in the toilet and figured out that my period had started. Great.....
Friday- was the day I got to eat for the first time in like 5 days, but I promtply threw it up about 30 seconds after Chris came in the room. I had still not pooped up to this point nor had I passed the barium that I had drank the day before. Took just a very light lunch. I spent about 15 minutes visiting with the kids in the lobby since they are not allowed beyond that point. Brandon smiled but it looked a little forced. Colin was distracted by my chest tube friend. I had a small dinner but threw that up too. Continued to take my percocet every four hours for fear of severe pain. The doctor came in and changed my dressing and said that once the drainage slowed down some I could have the tube out and go home.
Saturday- I threw up breakfast again about an hour before Chris came to see me. The on call doctor ordered me an enema, some lactulose, and an abdomial x-ray which did show the the barium still had not passed. The lactulose and enema had very little effects but I was not uncomfortable. The dresssing got changed again. Still too much drainage to go home.
Sunday- feeling soooooo much better, more awake than ever sleeping less during the day. Had great times with my visitors. Still no poop but able to keep food down. Still too much drainage to go home. Pain failry well controlled.
Monday- Chis went back to work so Nana is in charge. She was going to come after lunch to help me wash my hair. My aide helped me get a great hair washing and sponge bath. At noon my nurse came in and said that my doctor was pulling my chest tube and sending me home that day. Talk about a shock!!! Thank god I did not get too much time to think about it. 5 mintues later the tube was out. It was more gross than painfull. But it is done very quickly. After my mom got there we called Chris who wanted to come and get me. Visited with my mom for a little while longer then she went home to get he kids. Chris came witht a bag with clothes and I got changed into clothes for the first time in 8 days (he did forget shoes though) My x-ray was very delayed but read very quickly once it was done and we were out of there by 7pm. Spent the night on the couch miserable. Could not get comfortable. Could not sleep well. Still had not pooped.
Tuesday- Chris gets the kids to school and I am up early. I try to get a few things done. Make some doctors appointemts, set up for short term disablility make a grocery list. By the time we were ready to get the groceries and the kids I was passed out. Slept for three hours. My intentions were good but my energy was still very low. Continued to take Percocet every four hours along with advil every eight hours. Still have not pooped.
Wednesday- Chris gets the kids off to school. I get in bed to see if I could get a little more sleep and actually found a comfortable position and slept wonderfully for three more hours. Taking a little less percocet. I go with my mom for a trip to walmart and to take Brandon to Karate. No nap today and energy is improving. Moving aournd is easirer but certain movements are still painfull.
Thursday was able to sleep in the bed last night and slept v ery well. Most energy I have had in ages, able to get lots done. Very little percocet needed. I POOPED!!!! I am actually craving a margarita today but am not quite ready to give up the percocet but I am seeing that I maybe able to let my mom leave after Brandon's appoinemtne on Monday. Will see if I feel good enough by then to try to driuve there myself with her with us in case I need her. Looking forwrd to a beautiful easter weekendEwith the family.
*****please forgive all the spelling errors my I hav enot been able to edit my post****
No comments:
Post a Comment