Okie dokie gals...I'm now an official member! When do I get my membership card and t-shirt??
Sasha, I know you're weirded out today, but look, it really wasn't that bad. I know that I was in recovery for a long time...about 6 hrs...to get a handle on the pain. I was in and out during that, and I remember that I was hurting really bad some, but there was someone there (dunno if I ever even opened my eyes and looked at her!) who kept monitoring my pain level, telling me what they were trying next, etc. I remember that nite and the next day as being painful, but I was already turning myself and sitting up on the side of the bed (yelling at the time if memory serves!). The only thing that rather surprised me was not the actual intensity of the pain, but I guess the...size of it. I doubt it was any more painful per square inch than any other surgery I've ever had, but the sheer area involved makes it seem magnified. Every cubic inch of my abdomen hurt just like it each one had been the only one cut and pulled on. Because there was so much volume involved, it was just a bit overwhelming at first.
Also, I had the open procedure. I have 19 little staples, beginning at the top of my pubic bone and stopping about an inch above my belly button. The rectal tube and urinary catheter were d/c'd Friday (neither one of them bothered me at all...couldn't even feel them and I think they helped a lot) then my NG tube was d/c'd yesterday. This morning, I started a soft diet (which it looks like includes everything!), they d/c'd my morphine PCA pump and put me on Norco 10 mg x 2 q 4 hrs with the option to receive an IM shot of morphine prn if needed. I've had one of the shots right after lunch....I got a little cocky thinking I could walk to the other side of the hospital and then eat what I wanted. Didn't go too well..
All in all, this has been fine. I'm very pleased with the way things are going. I've already had about 8 bm's today, and my butt's already starting to burn, but hey...at least I'm going! It's a miracle!! Doc said this morning that if things continue to progress, I may be able to d/c tomorrow evening. Since I live so far away from the doc and hospital (bout 2.5 hrs) he'll likely be a bit more conservative on making sure everything looks good before cutting me loose.
Todd has been telling me of all your wonderful and supportive words. Honestly, this experience would have been much more scary and I'm sure painful if I hadn't known so much about what it would be like. Knowledge is power. And all the prayers and positive thoughts I've been receiving certainly don't hurt either!
I'll check back with you guys later. I'm about pooped (no pun intended!) just from writing this! Oh...and by the way...I've worn a different pair of cutesy pj's or lounge wear every day since last Wednesday. So who says you have to sacrifice fashion for function!!
I love you guys, and I hope we all have a very happy new year!