Well, Sunday morning around 2:30 AM Mom made it to our house. I then woke up on Sunday morning and went to Church and worshipped for 3 services. I loved every minute of it. I always feel that when I sit through more than one I get much more out of it. Let's face it, sometimes my mind does wonder to the load of laundry waiting on the bed to fold when I get home...I'm only human.
Monday morning came early. Mom and I both awoke at 4AM. I had taken that wonderful shower with my special wash from the RN on Friday. It smelled like rubbing alcohol. I thought I would be smartalec and Nair my legs Sunday because I absolutely didn't want to be hairy! ...Stupid. It burned a little after I used the wash from the hospital. Maybe that was why they tell you not to shave. Oh what a goof!
So from what I remember. We were escorted again from pre-admissions to outpatient surgery prep. I was able to have a last chance at the bathroom before stepping behind the curtain to lose my clothes to a wonderfully beautiful and drafty purple Bair-Paw gown. I would like to add that these gowns were super awesome. ...Had velcro in places that the nurses could access if need be and had a place to connect a house that would allow warm or cold air to blow into it. Anyways, after the gown I laid down, Mom covered me up and things began. A nurse took a warm wipe and cleaned my belly and chest area again. I had an IV started. Blood pressure checked. Listened to my heart. (Shhh...I know I'm using fragments...this is MY BLOG.) Another nurse asked me clarifying questions. Before my hubby even made it I was getting taken away to another area. Said my goodbye to Mom...I think if it would have been longer she would have really started to cry. Had an elevator ride. Then got put into another room...it was EXTREMELY cold in there. I wanna' say it was the sterile holding room before the actual surgery. There were other patients that were being asked questions and talking to their Dr about the surgery they were having...Anesthesiologist talking about the medicine that would be administered and the effects...and nurses explaining time frames and such and again clarifying more information. I knew my turn was coming. It was there. I went through the same. Hearing that it would be about 2-3 hours for surgery time. Recovery would be an hour. Then from recovery I'd be taken to a room. Everyone was so sweet and friendly. I was told I would have a catheter but the nice staff was waiting for me to be under before putting it in. It was the best service I could have asked for. I remember that the anesthesiologist assistant told me that I was to be taken back at 7:10 but that there was a lot of prep tools that had to be unwrapped so he was going to wait closer to 7:15. He then came back and told me that he could go ahead and give me a muscle relaxer...and told me that it was all that it was. A relaxer. I remember asking him about how long it would be until I felt it and he told me about 45 seconds. I thought...ah-ha I'm going to be a smartalec and see if it's gonna' kick my butt in that time frame...I never got to 45. The next thing I remember is waking up in my room with Larry on the phone and Mom making over me. Mom was taking all kinds of pictures. Surgery was over. The next little bit was a blur. I remember that I got switched to a bariatric room...(much bigger bathroom and nicer room). I had a morphine pump that I could press the button on every 5 minutes. I could have ice chips and I kept asking for ice chips until I could actually have food the following day. I had to use my breathing device.
Monday morning came early. Mom and I both awoke at 4AM. I had taken that wonderful shower with my special wash from the RN on Friday. It smelled like rubbing alcohol. I thought I would be smartalec and Nair my legs Sunday because I absolutely didn't want to be hairy! ...Stupid. It burned a little after I used the wash from the hospital. Maybe that was why they tell you not to shave. Oh what a goof!
So from what I remember. We were escorted again from pre-admissions to outpatient surgery prep. I was able to have a last chance at the bathroom before stepping behind the curtain to lose my clothes to a wonderfully beautiful and drafty purple Bair-Paw gown. I would like to add that these gowns were super awesome. ...Had velcro in places that the nurses could access if need be and had a place to connect a house that would allow warm or cold air to blow into it. Anyways, after the gown I laid down, Mom covered me up and things began. A nurse took a warm wipe and cleaned my belly and chest area again. I had an IV started. Blood pressure checked. Listened to my heart. (Shhh...I know I'm using fragments...this is MY BLOG.) Another nurse asked me clarifying questions. Before my hubby even made it I was getting taken away to another area. Said my goodbye to Mom...I think if it would have been longer she would have really started to cry. Had an elevator ride. Then got put into another room...it was EXTREMELY cold in there. I wanna' say it was the sterile holding room before the actual surgery. There were other patients that were being asked questions and talking to their Dr about the surgery they were having...Anesthesiologist talking about the medicine that would be administered and the effects...and nurses explaining time frames and such and again clarifying more information. I knew my turn was coming. It was there. I went through the same. Hearing that it would be about 2-3 hours for surgery time. Recovery would be an hour. Then from recovery I'd be taken to a room. Everyone was so sweet and friendly. I was told I would have a catheter but the nice staff was waiting for me to be under before putting it in. It was the best service I could have asked for. I remember that the anesthesiologist assistant told me that I was to be taken back at 7:10 but that there was a lot of prep tools that had to be unwrapped so he was going to wait closer to 7:15. He then came back and told me that he could go ahead and give me a muscle relaxer...and told me that it was all that it was. A relaxer. I remember asking him about how long it would be until I felt it and he told me about 45 seconds. I thought...ah-ha I'm going to be a smartalec and see if it's gonna' kick my butt in that time frame...I never got to 45. The next thing I remember is waking up in my room with Larry on the phone and Mom making over me. Mom was taking all kinds of pictures. Surgery was over. The next little bit was a blur. I remember that I got switched to a bariatric room...(much bigger bathroom and nicer room). I had a morphine pump that I could press the button on every 5 minutes. I could have ice chips and I kept asking for ice chips until I could actually have food the following day. I had to use my breathing device.
My First Meal After Surgery
Jello, Apple Juice, Peach Juice, Coffee, Chicken Broth
Back in The Room After Surgery
Hospital Booties
The Hose That Attaches To Gown
Morphine Pump
Leg Wrap To Prevent Blood Clotting
IV
