I'm not ready to face the world yet, but I thought I'd at least write something about my surgery.
Today marks 1 week! I thank God that it is that far behind me now. It was way worse than anything I imagined. When I woke up in the recovery room, I was literally just lying there groaning in pain. It was difficult, if not impossible to understand what I was going through. Here are a few highlights.
[Don't read the following if you suffer with a TMI disorder!]
The anesthesia made me sick to my stomach, so I spent the first few hours nauseous or throwing up. They were trying to feed me crackers [peanut butter crackers! What were they thinking?] and juice, and water, and ginger ale, and coffee...but eventually it all came back up. Since I couldn't keep liquids down, I was terribly dehydrated. Oh, not to mention they pumped my stomach, so I was literally EMPTY. And that thing they put down your throat? It totally scratched the roof of my mouth and my entire throat. It made for painful upchucks and swallowing. But then again, swallowing was difficult to begin with because the anti-nausea meds made my mouth stick together. Oh, you think I'm kidding? Nope. I had to literally pull my mouth open with my fingers because it glued shut several times. Add to that, sitting on the toilet trying to pee because they have warned you that you can't go home until you do, but you can't go because there is nothing in your bladder, even though they've been pumping bags of liquids into your IV all day. Eventually the staff had all gone home except 2 nurses and 1 doctor (who is getting thoroughly annoyed with you because he wants to go home), and they are doing everything they can to fill up your bladder so it will start working. So, instead of going home at noon, I'm still sitting on the toilet sobbing my eyes out in pain till almost 5 pm because I was too dehydrated from throwing up to go. They finally gave me some options. Either they insert a catheter and send me home. Or they teach me how to do it to myself in case I need to when I get home. Or they mentioned just sticking me in the hospital; which is where I really should have been all along except that insurance companies suck and they don't give hysterectomy patients any time in the hospital anymore, not even complicated hysterectomies like mine. So I opted for the 2nd choice, and I hope that I will never have to do that to myself again.
The nausea and throwing up continued for a few days. I couldn't eat but I needed to. Same with drinking. It was a lousy start to my recovery. I spent most of those first days sick, in pain, or drugged up enough to sleep. I didn't want to see anyone for several days. I was miserable.
Here I am a week later. I am able to eat more normal meals. And now that my bladder is learning to work again (after being stuck in a place where it didn't belong for a very long time), I can honestly say I'm on the mend. Other parts that have been sutured up are also working again as well. phew...
Several lovely ladies brought us dinners this week. They have prepared wonderful meals and delivered them to our house - hot and ready to eat! We have seen God's love in action. I am not used to being on the receiving end of such goodness, and it feels wonderful. It makes you feel loved. I have been reminded that God is with me even during those times when I'm just terrified and I'm in pain.
So, this first week I haven't had the energy to do anything!! The most I did was get some colored pencils out yesterday and made a doodle while listening to my CD. Kyle and Hilary stopped over and we played a game on the bed. That was fun but wore me out.
Darryl has been an amazing servant, and with a loving attitude. He has taken such good care of me. Ryan as well. I'm so blessed!
Week #2 of bed rest coming up... followed by 4 weeks of minimal activity.
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| a reminder |
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| my doodle |
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| the start of my doodle |
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| listening to my CD on youtube while I color |
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| kyle and hil |
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| visiting my room |
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| I had a huge ice pack under that sweater |
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| a lovely meal |
