Tag: Medicine

Yipieeeee for the most part

Today I had a followup appointment with the plastic surgeon and for the most part it was a great appointment.  Got 3 of 4 drains out and all of the sutures.  I am much more comfortable but annoyed at the same time.  My surgeon is going on vacation so the other drain has to wait a full week before it can come out due to scheduling. My husband has already taken two weeks off from work, I can’t drive so it is tough when they give you a choice of 2 appointments only. I guess these are the little things that I am not supposed to allow to affect me.

I am doing great physically…doctor says I am healing beautifully.  I am more comfortable since the doctors appointment.  Yet, my emotions are all over the place which is not at all like me!  I talked to the doc today about it…I think it is 2 parts anxiety over what I can not do and the burden I am to everyone (at least in my own mind) and  2 parts lack of sleep.  Anyone who has ever been in a hospital knows you do NOT sleep at all while there.  But I am home now and expected that by now I would be sleeping..yet I am not.  The doctor gave me a little something today so I have high hopes for a restful evening tonight!

1 Week!

One week ago at this point I guess I was in the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit)   I ended up there all night because there was not a bed available in Trama ICU where the surgeon wanted me.  By staying in the PACU I was the only patient and had a nurse dedicated to me for the night.  Linda was her name and she was wonderful!

SO today I had my first visit with the home health care visiting nurse.  She is actually set to visit with me daily until the drains are removed.  The visit went well..blood pressure has been perfect!  110/70.  I also received a call from the hospital to check on me.  After sitting with the nurse at my kitchen table, I think it is starting to hit me the scale of my surgery.  It was big!

I am getting a little better at getting in and out of bed.  Wish I could raise the head of my bead at home like I could in the hospital.  Here is the pic of my family/bed room.  Thank you to my wonderful hubby for setting me up in the family room!  Frank had to run out for a few work appointments today but a wonderful friend stopped in to make us lunch.  How strange it is for me to sit in my own kitchen while someone else makes hot dogs for my kids.  I am struggling!  I want to run the vacuum, I want to lift the milk!  Instead I watched my super 7-year-old put a load of wash in the washer and a neighbor swiffer my kitchen floor.

Each day gets better and it has only been a week..one really long unbelievable week.

A fuzzy brained recap

SO I am going home tomorrow!  I am heavily drugged but for the most part feel good.  Yesterday was a BAD day.  They took my pain pump away, I had an awful nurse who basically told me to suck it up, and my legs really need a shave!

I guess there is a hierarchy for that list but depending on your mood they are all very annoying.  But today is a new day.  My nurse last night seem to have a clue and my pain was managed well.  One of the plastics residents was in the AM and assured me I would be going home with plenty of meds and pain would not be a problem.  I have had great care here I would recommend my entire team (minus 1-2 nurses along the way) to anyone.  As for the legs…well they are really something.  A few more days maybe I could braid them.  Today Frank brought me some deodorant….ahhhhh!!!!!

I finally got to take a good look at myself.  I am going to have a cute new belly button.  I had not really thought about it but the “tummy tuck” pulled so much they had to make me a new button.  My abdominal incision is beautiful.  Huge..from one side all the way across to the other but it is straight and beautifully done.  The boobs…well they are a real mess right now.  They have these strange sensors on them, massive swelling and big time bruising.  My surgeon said they he knows there is too much extra skin but he left it because he believe he may be able to make my new nipple with it.  If not them when I go for the nips he will remove it.

So that’s whats going on for now.  I want to send a special thank you to some folks……first my husband.  Frank has been excellent with me and the girls.  Next to Aunt Mary who stayed with the girls Sunday night and a few days early in the week.  Aunt Linda and Uncle Ken also jumped in to entertain on the 4th of July where Madison actually sat for fireworks for the first time.  Last but not least are Uncle Chuck and Aunt Michele who are entertaining the girls for a two night sleep over….good luck lol!