Member Blogs
Recovery from hardware removal
Category: Member Blogs
November 24, 2014
I wake up from anesthesia, I just got my Filshie clips removed, I'm not in pain, I can smile. I don't need pain meds, I leave the hospital nearly pain free. I just had major surgery, yet I'm okay. I knew what the problem was, I just needed to voice my concern. Tell everyone I know, let it be known.

November 25, 2014
The gas pain was nearly unbearable, at least I had the heating pad, still haven't taken any pain meds, though maybe I should. Was up almost all night going to the bathroom or trying to, I think the swelling is getting to me. I feel like a big balloon, I'm filled with co2 gas not helium, the pain goes up through my shoulders and my neck. I have 3 incisions, one under my belly button, one on my lower right abdomen, and a bikini cut. I cannot see them like my last surgery, I cannot take baths either. They must be bigger than my last surgery. I feel no ache, slight fatigue, no nausea in the morning. Feeling like my old self already!

November 26, 2014
The gas pain is much more tolerable today, only had to use the heating pad a few times. Last night I Was able to sleep very well too, moved around much more freely. Nice and hungry but I ate too much and felt like I was going to explode. Ended up taking pain meds around the clock and was able to be up walking for a few hours, even made a cherry pie, a loaf of bread, and super. Can't sleep for some reason. Bloating had gone down, hoping for a great day tomorrow.

November 27, 2014
no gas pains today only when I lay down. I had a long day today of standing and walking barely sitting down for even a minute. Since today was Thanksgiving I had a lot to do, however my incisions we're sore. the only time I ever sat down was to play crossing and even that didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. Before I knew it I was up walking around again because Dad needed help or mom needed help with the food. After a while, I started to feel dizzy because of lack of food. The good thing was even though I ate food, a lot of food I did not feel bloated. I drink some tea once I got home and had another pain medicine slowly drifted off to sleep and ended up sleeping 12 hours.

November 28, 2014
feeling really tired today shoulders are hurting too most likely due to the last of the gas pain, bloating has subsided. Had some weird stomach pain, turned out to be a signal to go potty so I had my first bowel movement since surgery and it wasn't terrible just hoping it didn't move my bowel out of place, a few hours later had my second bowel movement. Began having shoulder pain, couldn't find the time to sit down and rest, went in to go to the bathroom to find my undies were full of blood, HAD to find time to rest after that. Hours later had another bowel movement, but this time it was very painful, cramps and incision pain. Ate just fine today, didn't need any medicine for pain.

November 29, 2014
today I was extremely tired ended up sleeping for about 14 hours and was still tired. my incisions are still very sore, occasionally they feel like something is dripping, everytime I look though its fine. The tape stuff they used is starting to peel off. I took a shower earlier today and the water hitting my incisions was hurting. i also haven't taken any medicine for over 24 hours now, so i can finally start driving again. getting in the car is kind of difficult since I have a high car, but it was fairly simple to drive I'm just slow. As soon as we got home from Aaron's parents housewe were already rushing off to go buy some movies. Got home just in time for the kids to go to bed and we can watch a movie.

November 30, 2014
still really tired today, thinking it has something to do with staying up late. Having very weird dreams, they don't keep me up but they keep me wanting to know what happens next, like a good book. Finally got myself out of bed at noon, Ruby had already gotten picked up by grandma so its only Scarlett Aaron and myself. my incisions still hurt, they still feel like something is dripping. most of my other symptoms have already disappeared: the fatigue is back with a vengeance, low sex drive is going away slowly, dry vagina is gone, that weird pain I felt going down my legs if I stood too long is gone, the hair loss seems to have either gone away or slow down because I don't really notice much anymore, headaches have gone, that pain over my left ovary is gone,I already forgot that I used to have night sweats and cold sweats and hot flashes.I have not had my first period yet since the surgery I believe I am on cycle day 18. Still charting my cycles although my thermometer has been gone for a month now at least so I'm just charting the cervical mucus. my cycles seem to be about the same so far. Still haven't gotten to the doctor for the 2 week post operation appointment still have to schedule but I'm just lazy.

December 1, 2014
today started off lazy, the fatigue makes me really tired. So far it is the only symptom that is not going away. My patience is still gone, caught my 1 year old eating a Christmas bulb a few minutes after I told my 4 year old to keep an eye on her, exploded at the 4 year old for not watching her. It's only been a week since surgery and I feel so much better!
Filshie Clip removal
Category: Member Blogs
November 24, 2014
11:30 am surgical waiting room

Check in time for my procedure, I have my husband with me for support. I answer questions about myself to the receptionist; what's your full name, date of birth, who is with you today... Etc. She puts a hospital band on my wrist and we take our seats. Aaron, my husband, gets hot chocolate, a cookie, and an apple. It's torture to someone who couldn't eat past midnight. He tells me to hold his hot chocolate to warm my cold hands. A few minutes later, a nurse calls me back for my vitals. I step on a scale 106#, I sit on a chair and have my blood pressure taken 107/58, and my temperature 98.4. She asks me who is performing the surgery, she looks over my blood work from Friday, asks me about medicines I've taken, when I last ate and drank anything.

12:00 pm Admitting/Recovery room

She leads us into a big room filled with hospital beds and curtains. Explains that this is where I get admitted, they will start an iv, go over medications again, the surgeon will come in and speak to us, the anesthesia team will come speak to us, nurses will ask lots of questions and everyone will answer any questions I or my husband have. A nurse introduced herself and another nurse and they explained what they will be doing. They had me change into a hospital gown and then they started an iv and left for a while. Aaron and I brought my tablet for the long wait, the 3ds and a game for Aaron, my camera, a note pad and pen in case Aaron really wanted to remember something, and my medical record in case the doctor needed to know anything. I spoke with the surgeon and I signed consent forms, I asked him to explain exactly what he was going to do, he explained that they would make 3 lower abdominal incisions, fill my abdomen with co2 gas, he would remove any adhesions, and remove the Filshie clips. I spoke with the nurses again and they told me I have to take a urine pregnancy test before the surgery. All I could think of was if I had any pee at all. I managed to have enough for the test and obviously it was negative.

1:00 pm Admitting/Recovery room

It's supposed to be time for my surgery, yet I still haven't talked to anesthesia. Finally the nurses come by and explain to my husband that he must go back to the surgery waiting room and the doctor will come and speak with him after the surgery. She went through the check list and ends up having to hunt down the anesthesia team. Anesthesia comes in and explains that I'll have general anesthesia and they start it through the iv. She leaves and the nurses come back in. They have me give my ring to my husband such we say our goodbyes.

2:00 pm operating room

It's freezing cold, very clean, everyone is wearing white scrubs and face masks. They have me slide to another bed, the operating bed. They start a medicine through the iv to relax me and they have my breathe through an oxygen mask, I take deep breaths while they count. I'm asleep and ready for surgery...

4:30 pm anesthesia recovery unit

I have a blood pressure cuff on both legs and my left arm. I'm very sleepy but aware when a nurse comes near. They monitor my vitals until I'm awake most of the time, sometime after 5:00 pm This nurse eventually wheels me down to the recovery room so I can see my husband.


6:00 pm admitting/recovery room

She helps me into a reclined chair and offers me water to drink, which I throw up immediately. She brings me crackers and 7up which I cannot hold down. I look at my abdomen and see bandages on my belly button, my lower right side, and a bikini cut. I'm in good spirits once I sleep. The pain over my left ovary is gone. I never ask for pain medicine, I don't feel I need it. Aaron tells me he has the pictures from surgery, I take a look but cannot remember much. The nurse tells me that if I can pee I can go home. I ask her if I had a catheter (last surgery I wasn't able to pee because I had a catheter) she never answers me. She tells me she will give me more water and 7up, I'm able to keep down some fluids. I ask to try to go to the bathroom, she comes back with another nurse to help me. I throw up more on my way, it hurts my abdomen each time. I get to the bathroom and one nurse is getting warm wet washcloths, the other helps me onto the toilet. I'm able to pee! She broadcasts it to everyone and the nurse with the washcloths tells me that I'll bleed for a little while. I go back to the recovery room and we start the process to get me discharged.

7:00 pm leaving the hospital. Aaron gets the car and helps me in and we go home.

(Day by day recovery to be added soon)




RSS
Categories
Search