On Friday, June 15th I went into Lake Forest Hospital at 6 AM. I was met by a stressed nurse and then terrified by a ranting Anesthesiologist who was pissed at me for having horrible veins..... Oh the tears flowed!!! I must say though the tears stopped everyone from being in a negative way and even brought on an apology from the mean doctor.... I really thought about running out of there! Each time a vein was massacred my anxiety rose to the roof! A PIC line was decidedly the best way to go so they called for the nurse in charge of putting these in and she was up in a matter of minutes. This was another experience that I had never had and hope I never need it again! I was spread out like I was on the cross...I watched as she ultrasounded my veins and arteries to find the best placement. I do not have very many options so she took the best one she could. There were three nurses working on me and I was finally calming down. It went in successfully and they must have given me some beautiful cocktail to send me into a happy place. The only regret I have is that I really did not say good bye to Keith before I went to surgery because he was kicked out for the PIC line. ...But God saw to it that I came out of this one OK and I would see Keith in my ICU room.
The ICU... a place I had never been and one I barely remember! I do have two angels I met there, Nurse Sarah and CNA Heather. The room did not have air conditioning that was working and no one would bring up a fan....I did feel at one time that I was going to start to boil. I did not open my eyes much while in ICU because the morphine kept me pretty much asleep or dizzy. The girls are such pros at the hospital and nursing homes that they visited me in all my different hospital rooms and were for the most part just fine.... Katelynn knew I wanted to hear all about what was going on with them, Lindsey wanted to be near me and hug away my pain, and Sarah stayed a little way away and looked at everything asking the occasional question of what this is doing to mommy?
Once I was in the regular hospital room, things began to move quicker. I was no longer any lying around... Nurse Laurie was my drill sargent (but the kindest one I know!) and CNA Diane was a true angel for so many reasons! I was also blessed to have Kellie who was being trained by Diane so I enjoyed both of them each day shift. by my first full day in my room I was taken out the catheter and began to get out of bed. It was a rough day on Monday when I wanted to give up and throw in the towel. It is so much work to come back from this reconstructive surgery!!!
By Wednesday I was given the best gift---- a SHOWER!!! Then I was able to have another on Thursday before I was discharged! Water is truly my heaven on Earth! I was ready to go home!! Dr. Lu agreed on Thursday to let me go home and I cannot tell you how happy I was to hear those words!! I was in the hospital for nearly 7 days... cannot wait to get that bill!
Home was awesome but scary as well! Things would hurt or I would not be able to move well and get nervous it was too early to get home. But now it has been 5 days and I am walking slowly but more confidently and I am even able to shower without any help although I do not turn down help since it will lessen the energy I lose. I eat one meal a day that the kitchen table and will be up to at least two. I sat at a small table today and went through all the bills and mail that piled up.
Each day gets better! Each night gets easier! I am looking forward to losing all my drains and finding a way to make my abdominal muscles to work together better! Thank you for everyones support and prayers!
No comments:
Post a Comment