Recovery

This week has been at times painful, at times boring, and at times annoying. The first night in the hospital was a mix of short bouts of sleep, then bouts of pain. I asked for morphine twice and then decided that twice was enough for me. The second time I think that the morphine resulted in a 30 minute long hot flash which originally convinced me that I had an infection in one of the incision sites (temperature turned out fine).

CP brought cut up pineapple that I tried to eat throughout the night. The nurse brought water and ginger ale- the latter to help move the CO2 gas out of my stomach.* At 2:30am the nurse had me sit up in bed which felt like my insides were ripping apart. Eventually I stood up with shaking legs and walked around the nurse's station (walking helps with soreness the next day).

After getting discharged with a prescription of Percocet and Motrin, CP took me home to no power (thankfully he hooked heat up to the generator Thursday night). I feel asleep on the couch while he picked up my mom at the airport.

My mom was here until Monday morning and was a big help. She helped CP move fallen limbs from Winter Storm Alfred, wash dishes and take care of me. I know that she would have done more cleaning-wise if we only had power! After EIGHT DAYS of no power, it finally came on Sunday night- and thank goodness. Reading put me right to sleep, now at least I can fall asleep to the tv.

I feel better than I thought I would. Walking isn't too difficult, it's just sitting up. I have someone help me when they are around because otherwise it is seriously painful. Having to pee in the middle of the night is the worst because I would feel bad asking CP to wake up to help me get out of bed. Also, weird movements trigger pain.

Even more painful than sitting up is the constipation. Percocet and Motrin both constipate people which the doctors warned me about. They didn't warn me that a stool softener once a day and five laxatives in addition to fiber-friendly foods would result in the most painful bowel movement I have ever had on Monday. Thank goodness that is over with....

Today I have some bruising and soreness around all of the incisions which is normal. My belly is still inflamed, but hopefully that goes down soon. Cross your fingers my post-op appointment goes well today!


*During the procedure the doctors pump CO2 gas into the stomach to blow it up. After the procedure they remove as much as possible, but inevitably leave some. The gas is eventually absorbed by your body, but often patients have shoulder pain for a day or two after surgery like I did.