This is the official post-operative post. Yes, I am sans gallbladder. I got to go to the nice surgical center, where the uniforms clash, but the staff is lovely. And once again, my doctor was incredibly late. Something about emergency surgery, blah blah blah.
I had arrived with a headache, which got progressively worse while waiting. Finally, the anesthesiologist saw me crying in my glass-enclosed room, and shot me up with some pain reliever, which got rid of the headache, but made me nauseous. Which is how I stayed for the rest of the day.
The operation went well. Before I went under, I told them all to take good care of me, because many people rely on me. The nurses all said "Awww..." and the surgeon said, "Don't worry," which is what one wants to hear. And then they knocked me out.
Apparently I was white, with a slight green tinge, for quite a few hours after surgery. It was disconcerting to hear the nurses discuss my pallor with such a degree of alarm. But my "color" has returned. I have two more incisions than I thought I would. I definitely didn't ask enough questions, or perhaps, the surgeon didn't explain in great enough detail, so I look a bit like one of the boys' haphazardly patched stuffed animals.
Erin flew in late Sunday night, and Janet drove in yesterday, to minister to me and manage all the moving parts of the household. They are good women.
In other news, the bathroom renovations are progressing nicely, and it looks like we'll have new, functioning toilets for One's graduation party on Saturday!
Now, I'm off to take some Advil (we called for clearance), because that Percocet makes me nauseous. Then, I'll drink some more water, to try and de-puff my face while I sleep.
This concludes our gallbladder journey. Feel free to move about the cabin.
Glad you have strong chick backup! Nothing wrong with a houseful of men except, as my aunt says, they would step over you if bleeding to death and and demand to know where dinner was.
ReplyDeleteCan you have phenargen? It saved my life when they gave me pain med after the kidney stone and I started hurling. My mom can't take pain meds and she had to survive on ONE ADVIL after her gallbladder removal. I cannot say I recommend that although a heating pad is, at this juncture, the next thing to Jesus.
Rest! A lot! May I recommend some chick flick dvd relaxation?
Amendment:
ReplyDeletePut the heating pad ON YOUR BACK not over incisions obviously!
Megan: I had this surgery. At least it's better than the full incisions they did in the old days! I was in the hospital for 3-4 days (the morphine kind of killed my memory), and it was so fun. Glad you are home and good. Did they tell you to hold a pillow to your abdomen and cough? I had to, due to them wanting to get the anesthesia out of my lungs. Not fun.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have the 4 or 5 little incisions. Don't worry: they heal well and just leave those little tiny scars. use Vitamin E on them and that will reduce the scarring. After they are healed, of course.
Glad you have female caregivers and helpers. Gotta keep all those penii in line! Take care!
Ugh. I hope they're taking good care of you (and by "they" I mean your family). Funny how they never tell you about the three incisions thing (bellybutton, top, and side, right?). Blasted doctors.
ReplyDeleteMay your rest be plentiful and your stress be low.
Thank you for all your advice and good wishes! Erin and Janet have the boys firmly under control, which means I will have to kidnap them, and make them stay forever! (Evil laugh) And soon, the Captain will return, to lovingly attend to me, as he did all day yesterday. I thought that was implied, based on all the other posts I've written about his fabulosity, but just in case you were wondering...
ReplyDeleteI had my gallbladder removed in September, and you can barely see my incisions. I have four little-bitty guys.
ReplyDeleteOkay, whew! Thanks for the update, and for letting me know that I don't need to drive the Wee Walnut cross-country, because, ya know, gas is expensive right now (not to mention it would have taken me about two years to get there).
ReplyDeleteHeal and rest, rest and heal. Really glad you are home again. And gallbladder-less.
Julie
So glad it all went well. Of course they are all rallying round to tend to your needs - they recognize your true fabulosity!
ReplyDeleteObviously went to the wrong place to have my surgery - over here I was offered a goodly supply of paracetamol for any pain (?tylenol in the US).
Hope the party goes really well now that this is out of the way.