I did it!!

I finally made it, I am on the couch and banded and drugged, so please forgive any misspellings. I had my surgery this morning and just checking in and reporting back

My surgery was scheduled for 8am. My mom is staying with me, so we got up at 4:30, did the getting ready and drove the (about 30 min) drive to be there for 6:30. I had a few last minute papers to sign and then I sat and waited. Can I even tell you how my nerves were going 100mph?? I was so nervous and scared. In fact I pretty much didn't sleep last night cause I was so nervous and excited. First piece of advice, GET SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. So anyway, sitting in the waiting room for about 30 min. They call me back about 7:15, had to do a urine test and then they brought me to my bed and got my IV going. My surgeon (who I just love) came by to say hi and ask for final questions and stuff. I met the anthesiologist and he went over everything with me. Then my mom got to come back and sit with me for a few minutes.

About 15-20 min later, they were ready for me. As we were going back, the dr gave me some happy drugs to calm me down. Then we went into the OR. I had never been in an operating room before and it looked very different from the ones on Grey's Anatomy! They had me change beds to the one on the table type thing. Then they had me start breathing in oxygen. The nurse kindof strapped me down a little bit and stretched out my arms and strapped those down and that's pretty much the last thing I remember.

Next thing I know I'm in recovery and they are making me wake up. I was exhausted. I couldn't wake up. I think its cause I was so tired from no sleep last night on top of the drugs. I have no idea what time it was but I'm going to assume that was bout 9:30 that they started waking me up. They asked how I was feeling, sat me up and gave me some drugs for nausia. Time gets fuzzy cause I was in and out, but then I had to get up, walk to the bathroom and make sure I could use the restroom. Then I went by and did an x-ray/barium swallow. That was pretty interesting to watch. Then they sat me in a chair instead of the bed. The nurse went over a couple of things then my mom came back. The nurse went over the important stuff with my mom, showed her my incisions (5 of them) and then helped me get dressed. I brought a very loose fitting sundress which helped. Then as soon as I was dressed I was free to go. I believe that was around 11:15. Fast fast fast. Sitting there I felt rushed, but now I'm glad I got home early. The ride home wasn't bad. Had a pillow and that cushioned all the bumps.

Not a whole bunch of pain from the incisions. Just sore, like I did sit-ups. I live in a town home type place and so from my garage I have to walk up a flight of stairs to the living room and then another to the bedroom and bath. Did both no problem, slower than normal but not bad, no add'l pain. The pain I am feeling is gas pain. Don't brush it off, it hurts, but I feel like as soon as it passes I will feel 100% better, again only pain I'm feeling as of yet is the gas. When I got to my bedroom I was dizzy and nausious. I was still heavily doped up on anthestisia. I feel asleep for a couple of hours. Layed on my back and that was ok, then was able to lay on my side that didn't have my port and that was ok too.

When I woke up I felt a lot better, the anthesia finally was wearing off. I was then able to get up, walk around a bit, use the restroom, and go downstairs. I walked and paced a lot and was able to get a tiny bit of the gas out. I sat on the sofa no problem and was feeling better. I ate a few slurps of chicken broth and drank some water. Gas was hurting so I took some liquid vicadin that they gave me. Once that kicked in I started to feel week and dizzy and nausious. If that keeps up with that med, I might switch to liquid tylenol. We'll see how it goes. Taking the gas-ex strips hoping they are working, get that gas out and the pain will go away, that's what I keep telling myself.

So now I'm up, checking email and watching tv. I feel lucid, though just a tiny bit dopy.

~Rachel~