Post-Surgery

So the last time I wrote I was trying to prepare myself for surgery. Well that day came and went on Thursday. I kept pretty calm until the pre-op nurse called me back. Almost instantly I became a little shaky, but still maintained control. After I was all situated she went and got Chase and he sat back there with me, being my rock as usual. I pretty much when psycho when I realized she was going to put the IV in my hand(I've had it there and all i could remember was how a previous nurse blew my veins over and over and how much pain i was in). As sweet as she was, in order for me to calm down and relax she agreed to put it up my arm.

This is where it got a little interesting. Now, I have NEVER fainted from having blood drawn EVER but this had to be the day I almost passed out. Immediately after she had the IV in my face apparently turned white as a ghost, I told her I felt like I was going to be sick so she had a nurse run to get me a cool washcloth and she tilted the bed back so far that my feet were higher than my head. Upon taking my blood pressure it had gone from 120/79 to 91/50. Apparently my reaction is called a Vagal Response.... Most people with this response faint I apparently just turn in to a limp, sick noodle haha. Anyways she hooked me up to some oxygen and about 10 minutes later I was feeeling muuuch better. The anesthesiologist can in a while later and gave me something to help me relax. I remember he sent Chase to the waiting room, i got wheeled back to the OR and about 15 seconds after i climbed on to the OR bed i was goooooone.

When I woke up in recovery I only remember how much pain I was in. I was crying, asking if I could go home. Chase was right there holding my hand telling me everything was okay. He was great. I couldn't imagine how I would have handled things if he hadn't been there. He's been by my side every second of the day. Every time I drift in and out of sleep from the meds he's right there with me. He's on top of everything. I don't really even have to ask. Its like he knows when to get ice, medicine, water before I do. Its great. I feel so lucky to have him.

I'd like to say everything has gone off without a hitch but that wouldn't be true. The day of surgery most of my pain wasn't from the surgery site itself but rather my throat from being intubated(sp?). I could only manage jello and liquids since my throat was so swollen and irritated. Its still bothers me today. Friday night I told him I didn't want to take the nausea medicine, and this later turned out to be a bad idea on my part. He woke me up at 3 to change the gauze and take my next round of medication. No sooner to I get to the bathroom a wave a nausea hits me and I quickly lay down flat on the floor and try to take slow deep breaths while he runs to get a cool pack. Unfortunately he wasn't fast enough so there I was making friends with the toilet. Something I'd managed to avoid the day of surgery. To top things off later that morning we slept through the alarm for my pain medicine, thus it wore off. As soon as we woke up Chase ran to get my meds. I didn't think I was that bad off until he had me sit up. The only word for my pain is excruciating. Instantly I was crying begging to lay back down.... and that's when a new symptom appeared. I started having trouble breathing, almost as if i was having a muscle cramp in my chest. (this is where I flip out and consider the thought of a blood clot) Chases called the on call doctor and in the whole 45 minutes it took for him to call back my pain eventually subsided. We concluded that it was probably just me panicking that caused some sort of attack.

The rest of the day and into last night went rather smoothly. We made sure we set both alarm clocks so as not to repeat the same events as the night before. I'm still having difficulty eating much of anything. I'm so hungry but after only a few bites I feel exhausted and nauseaus. One thing I do find so very odd is that ever since surgery I get the hiccups every single time i stand up!



So for now I will push the laptop aside and go back to relaxing while Morghan is still asleep. She did really well the first 2 days, but I think she's tired of playing nice! She wants attention too, which is totally understandable. Because of me, she is all off schedule and she's not used to it. Its hard not being able to pick her up and hold her, or sit down on the floor and play babies or blocks. Mostly all I can do is read her books when I'm awake. When all is said and done I'm going to find a way to thank my little munchkin for having to deal with a sick mommy.

One last thing, we found out that Chase's grandmother, Gammie, passed away the other night in her sleep. It been really hard for Chase so if you could just keep him and his family in your prayers.