dianarchy.net

s/p lap chole

First of all, I want to apologize for any notes I left yesterday. I write on two websites, and the people who are associated with the other one (it’s a communal diary site along the lines of OpenDiary or livejournal) have been apologized to, but the people who have individual websites get notes that link them to here, and here is yours.

Marcus and I both thought that the computer would be a good babysitter for someone who just had surgery and is looped out of her mind. Evidently not. I sounded like an idiot (which I was being), and I am pretty sure I started flamewars (which I never do).

I looked back on the last update, which told you folks that I had a consultation with a surgeon. He decided to go ahead and give me the surgery, which was yesterday. The last week I’ve been so fucking nervous that I haven’t really done anything but work and play the Sims, which I plan on going back to doing when I’m finished with this entry. I can do much less harm there. I don’t quite feel better yet, but for the most part, as long as I don’t move, I’m doing all right. I had no idea that laparoscopic surgery would hurt so much.

I want to write in detail about the surgery, because I’ve never had anything like it before. The thing is, though, I don’t remember much, and what I do remember doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I remember the nurse missing the vein on my IV, I remember crocheting a blanket for my friend, I remember the versed going in, and I remember being on the operating table. I remember offering to move over onto it, but I don’t remember if they let me or if they moved me myself. I remember straps going on my arms, and a mask going on my face. I remember a lady telling me that I was going to be breathing oxygen, and I remember wanting to ask if I was supposed to count backwards or something, but falling asleep before I could get the question out. When I woke up, I couldn’t breathe or move, and I was in a different room, all alone. I tried to yell for help, but all I could do was whimper. Someone came by and asked how I was doing. I told her that it hurt so bad, and she got me some fentanyl. Then she said she’d go get Marcus. I didn’t want him to see me like this, but I didn’t tell her that. Then I got a new nurse, Paul. He’s great. He was my nurse for my colonoscopy, too. My surgeon came by and said I could spend the night if I wanted, but I might be completely making that part up, because Paul kept acting like I needed to get going right away. The whole recovery felt like, “You don’t need that nonrebreather! Have some ginger ale! You don’t need the stretcher! Upupup! In the recliner! In the car! Gogogo!”

Anyway, I’m home and I’m doing lots of sleeping and whining. Marcus goes to work tonight, and he’s probably glad to be getting out of the house and away from my incessant neediness. I can’t believe I asked for a bologna and cheese sandwich today for breakfast and he went out to the store to get it for me . I am pretty sure the only ingredient we had was the bread. I’ve been eating a lot, too. After the sandwich was oatmeal and a donut. Then lunch was Ben and Jerry’s. And 2/3 of a small pizza for dinner. Even yesterday I had quite a bit more than I was expecting to eat, but I don’t remember what it was.

Anyway, I have five holes in me, and I took pictures. As soon as I either plug in the xD card reader to the computer (something that’s been unplugged since the A/C was put in, and thus the computer moved upstairs), or find the CD and USB cord that came with the camera, they will be posted. I’m just gross like that.

My throat is not quite so sore (my boss called today to check on me, and she said they must have intubated me; I can’t believe I couldn’t figure that out on my own), and I’m starting to not feel nauseated anymore, and my shortness of breath is kind of going away. I’m a little nervous I haven’t pooed yet, though I haven’t actually read my discharge instructions (I left that to Marcus), so I don’t know if that is something I should be worried about or not.

Anyway, I’m officially allowed to take a shower now, so I am going to get on that! The surgistitch or stichitape or whatever it’s called has to stay on for over a week, but this gauze stuff can come off and it’s kind of itchy. Unfortunately, I’m a big wuss when it comes to taking tape off, so I’ve been waiting for the shower to help!