2 days postop - long!

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I can't believe how great I'm feeling 2 days postop so decided to

post my experience to date. My surgery was at on Thursday

morning at 7:30am. We got there at 6:30 per instructions (

doesn't open til then!). I have to admit that by then I was a bit

nervous but the staff at is incredible. So caring and

wonderful. I had nurse Van for pre-op and she's a doll. Dr. R came in

and spent time talking to both mom and I to be sure we were alright.

Even though I'd filled in that form at the back of the patient

manual, I had to do it again. Then I got undressed, put on my lovely

white surgery hose and a hospital gown (the first time one ever

fit!!). After they hooked up my IV, I WALKED to the operating room.

What a trip. When I entered the room it felt like an episode from a

science fiction movie. Everyone was there in masks including Dr. R.

He asked me to get up on the table and lay my head down. The

anethesiologist (a very nice lady) told me they were giving me

something to put me to sleep and that's the last thing I remember

until being in my room. Mom says I was in recovery about an hour and

she saw me there but I have no recollection. I was in and out all

afternoon with some pain, but not alot. In fact, the nurse said I

only used half the demerol (which I controlled with a pump). Twice

they had to remind me to use it! My main problem was dry heaves. I

honestly was not hugely nauseous. The heaving crept up quickly on me.

It didn't last too long although they had to try a number of things

before it settled down. The nurses Pam and Dana (I think..sorry) were

so sweet. I got very lucky as I was the only patient there at night

so it was like having two private nurses. The main problem I had was

that one of my ports wouldn't stop bleeding for a while and they had

to keep changing the dressing. It didn't bother me at all...no pain

or anything. Gloria came by around 6 and assured me I'd be feeling

lots better by 8-8:30 and she was right on. Each time I fell asleep I

would wake up a bit better. By around 8:30 I felt much more like

myself. Still needed help to go the bathroom, move over in bed, etc.

but only because it felt like I had a major muscle pull when I did

those things. It didn't really hurt much if I lay still. Dr. R came

in the next morning at 6am, checked me out and we went home. The

scariest, hardest part of the whole thing was my mom doing the

driving on the way to the hotel!!Friday I stayed in the hotel dozing

and reading. This morning (Sat) I had a shower which was wonderful.

Then we went over to Raleigh's Cameron Village, an outdoor mall and

walked for about 2 hours...no problem. My main " food " has been apple

and grape juice, plain lo-fat yogurt and saltines. Today I had tomato

soup at lunch and could only manage about 4 tbs. After that I felt

like I had eaten a ten course meal. Tonight I'm doing chicken broth.

Anyway, I fell wonderful. Can't wait to see everyone Sun night.

Please email if you have questions.

MGB 10/12/00

On the other side!!!!