This is a list of what I brought to the hospital with me and things I forgot that would have been handy:
- walker ( You use both this and crutches in therapy before you leave)
- crutches
- grabber ( Makes it easier to reach things)
- 3 extra regular size pillows and 3 medium to small pillows
- I took my favorite blanket as well.
- 1 pair of sweatpants ( I really didn't wear them but when I came into the hospital and when I left, I was too hot and swollen for it to be comfortable.
- 3 pairs of loose sleep shorts ( I found that I started to wear these after my catheter came out and was more comfortable being covered)
- 4 loose T-shirts ( I wore the gown the first few days then I wanted my own clothes)
- 2 pairs of underwear ( you really cant wear them, I had them just in case)
- 2 sports bras ( I wore these after my IV pump was out because it felt better to me.)
- a few pairs of sock ( non slip is best )
- Hair ties, head bands, comb/pic/brush
- Dry shampoo ( personally I didn't use it because I don't have thin or fine hair but it could be handy)
- Leave in conditioner ( I used these on my dry hair because it became a little knotted from laying around)
- Lotion ( I used a lot this, I consider this a must)
- Chap-stick ( Everything is so dry, your lips will need this)
- Face lotion/ wash ( I washed my face out of a water basin and used lotion to keep me feeling refreshed and clean)
- Baby wipes ( These are nice because when you cant get a shower, you can at least wipe off with them.)
- Hand sanitizer ( Personally im a germ freak and used this alot)
- I took my favorite juice, and a few snakes.
Monday, December 14, 2009
The day before my surgery has come and im scared and excited still. It has hit me though that the things i normally do involuntary will become a chore. I really feel blessed that I have found out that I had this condition and it can even be fixed. I feel a strong sense of relief today though, since I had to take my finals early, and move out I was finally finished with all of that, but now I have to deal with this. Well my mother, father, grandma, aunt, and one of my cousins, along with my boyfriend all headed to Indy for the early morning ahead. We stayed at the hotel attached to the Methodist hospital which was pretty nice and very convenient. I didn't sleep a lick all night and just couldn't stop thinking about what i had gotten myself into. But the day was here so here I go.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 the surgery day.
I waked back to prep with a nurse and another lady who was having surgery. She then took me into a curtain room with a bed, vital sign equipment, and a TV. As I waited there for the nurse I was very anxious. She walked in and told me to change into the gown and take everything off and out, contacts all jewelry and everything, even sports bras. She also gave me footie's to place on my feet. After that she needed a urine test to test for pregnancy. Of course since I just went I couldn't go that much. She then took all of my vitals and height and weight. She then said she wouldn't see me again and that the doctor and anesthesiologist would come talk with me and she would send my family back to see me as well. She said she wouldn't see me again unless I was pregnant. Well after she left like 3 min later she came back in. I was like WHAT and she laughed and said no I forgot my clip board. I thought that was funny. But then my family comes back and gives me a hug and kiss and their blessings until Dr. Scheid and my anesthesiologist came in they explained the procedure again and answered last minute questions. Scheid explained where the cut would be made and where the numb spot would be afterwards. After he left he said it would be just a few minutes and they would come get me to go back. When the nurse arrived my stomach dropped and I was like ugh... ha so then my parents and Kiel kissed me and left as my dad and mom both had tears in their eyes they stayed semi strong. I didn't cry until they left and we headed back towards the door on the bed. The nurse had to stop and sign in to enter the doors of the operation areas and I remember looking up and the clock said 11:20 am . So then after I got back there I had to transfer over to the operating table which was cold and I was hot and I was still crying. I was scared and the nurse was telling me not to cry because if people are crying when they are put to sleep they are crying when they wake up as well. So I tried to stop. Not long after I was back there they started the IV and the anesthesiologist was talking with me about my job and what I was going to school for and I remember asking him to please tell me before I go to sleep. Well needless to say he didn't and I was out after that.
It was then I woke up in recovery. I don't remember much about that area. I just remember hearing people hollering my name and I was cold. I was told I was in recovery for around 2 hours after surgery and I was back up to my room around 5:30 pm. My aunt, grandma, and cousins left after that to head back home for school but Kiel, my mom , and dad stayed in Indy.
That evening/night in the hospital was one of the worst. I cant describe the pain. I didn't do anything but lay there. I had a IV, catheter, and a leg machine that squeezed my left leg over and over again to increase blood flow and prevent blood clots. I was on Norco 10mg, Vistriol, Morphine pump that can pump every 10 min by push of a button, and a vitamin, stool softener, and a Calcium supplement, and a blood thinner shot. They where all given at different times of the day and some mult times. As the night went on things seemed to be okay. I didn't have much of an appetite but i was very thirsty. I was given a breathing tool by the respiratory therapist to use to prevent problems with my lungs from laying in bed. I am ordered to use this item every hour 10 times.
It was around 9:15 when my morphine pump ran out. So I called the nurse and he came in to change it, but little did I know there would be complications and it would take nearly 45 min. without it. I began to hurt really bad and actually began to cry because it was hurting. After it started to run again i was fine and I eventually fell asleep for a few hours until the nurse came in and woke me for meds and vital signs. Kiel stayed the night that night and I know he didn't sleep well either. The pain was okay since I had all of thous meds, but it was still there. The night went by slow but it was okay, most of the nurses tried to be as quite as possible. I found that ice really helped, so i slept with it on. At 3:30 am I awoke to a leaking bag and water everywhere :( . So they had to help change things out to a clean dry bed. I also was running a fever of 102.4 for most of the night. It was a little bit of a struggle to deal with it all because I was feeling bad as well.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 Day 1 after surgery
Today, everything started okay. I didn't really want to eat anything, because I honestly keep falling asleep at every meal. Kiel had to leave around 12 to get home to take finals the following day. So my parents where with me all day. Therapy came in today and I sat on the edge of the bed and stood up to my walker. I was in alot of pain but it wasn't unbearable. The decreases the time on my PAO pump from 10 to 15. Other than that, I laid in bed all day and slept off and on with an ice pack on my hip. I felt like I had the flu though, my body ached and I just felt bad, But Denise did come in which is Dr. Scheids nurse to check on me. All was well but was told that the following day I would be coming off of the PCA pump and that she wanted to give me back a unit of blood because i was low and hadn't felt well. When I was receiving the unit of blood which took around 2 hours, I couldn't use my PCA pump which made the pain a little hard to deal with. Ashley came to visit me as well. She also had this surgery so she understood what I was going through. I was very glad she came and we talked about everything from the surgery and how I was doing to the guys in our lives to get my mind off of things. She a great friend I have made from this. She also brought me her crutches because mine hadn't arrived before my surgery.That night I spiked another fever of 102. The nurse reacted quickly and put ice bags under my arms and around my body to bring my temp back down. It started to drop and I felt a little better.
Today didn't start off so well. I felt very nauseous, which most likely came from all of the strong meds and nothing to eat. So when breakfast came I didn't really want anything, but I tried to eat a little bit. Not long afterwards I vomited it all up including all of my meds. I felt really bad all day and the nurses thought it was because I could be constipated. Gross I know. So they gave me some more medicine to help my bowels move. Today they also took out my catheter, and took me off of my PCA pump. Therapy came by and I walked to the door of my room and back which seemed like a mile. I was very happy but in pain from just doing that. Since my catheter was taken out I was able to use the toilet and the bedside toilet. I walked to the bathroom a little bit and just used the bedside during the evening and night. The pain was okay a little worse since I didn't have the pump but I was given the okay for IV injections every 2 hrs to help. The night was okay, didn't get much rest.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Today was better. I was able to eat better and not feel as bed. I felt a lot of pressure though because I wanted to go home. Therapy came by and helped me again walk and move around that evening. The pain was there more today than the previous day. I think it was because I moved around so much prior to today. I also started doing leg exercises in bed that consisted of flexing and pointing my toes, raising my calves of the ground, and last squeezing my butt. I was still getting up to use the restroom. But before therapy that day I was taken down to the ultrasound area to receive ultra sounds on my legs to check for blood clots. That seemed to take forever because the sonographer had to check every area of both legs. My mother and I also got into a argument, I know my parents are under a lot of stress. One good thing that happened was Ashley came to visit again which helped put a smile on my face. She seemed to know all of the right things to say. Another good thing happened, Kiel came back up today and got their around 3. That evening I couldn't sleep so Kiel got me into my wheelchair and we wheeled downstairs to the cafe around 11:30pm to get some cereal and snakes. Basically I needed a break from the room. Overall it was a good day.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 The final hospital day
Today was the big day. I was getting to go home. That morning I woke up and was greeted by Denise again with the news. I had to get my things together and see therapy, and get my orders ready before I could leave. So Kiel and I ate breakfast and we started to get my things together. Then I was given the last therapy session. I was taught how to climb steps with crutches and a walker. I also was given some more exercises to complete. My parents then came over and continued to help. I got dressed and washed up for the ride home. Since I had a 4 hour car ride home they decided they were going to give me a shot of morphine to get me home. It worked and I was basically knocked out the ride home. I remember everything but I wasn't understanding things right. On the way home though something came up and it wasn't the greatest experience. I had to go to the restroom. So we stopped at McDonald's and was helped out of the car, used my walker to get in and go. Believe it or not it took 1 hour to get out, go to the restroom, then get back into the car. It was hard.
We finally reached home. I was in alot of pain because I think the morphine started to wear off. When I got home my parents tried to get me comfortable on the couch, but didn't go well. I hated it. I just felt that I wasn't stable and was leaning. My family all came to see me, then my aunt who is a nurse said she would help me take a shower. I really wanted one but my mother said that Denise said i couldn't till i saw Dr. Scheid the following Tues., But the doctor that came in this morning told me that I could take one as long as I covered the incision and didn't actually wash it. So I took one, which let me tell you felt awesome. It wasn't that bad either since I had a sliding shower chair ( one that is long on one side that hangs out of the bath tub) and I just propped my leg up on the side of the tub and the shower was on its way. Afterwards I sat in my chair and got dressed and put product into my hair ( with help). Then after that I just got into bed. My little cousin Karlee stayed the night to help my mother that night if I had to get up. Kiel and my parents helped get me situated in bed with all of my pillows. My bed felt great but it was hard to get in and arranged properly. It takes awhile to get the pillows in place so I now know to allow plenty of time for that task. I had set my alarm to go off when it was time to take meds and had everything ready so it was fast while I was sleeping.
After I finally got comfortable and fell asleep I woke up around 3:30 am and had to use the restroom. I had a bedside but wasn't ready to get up and down alone yet to use it so my mother told me to call her. Karlee and her were sleeping on the couches and would get up to help me. Well I called and called no answer, I yelled, and I through things at the door. They finally heard me. I didn't know what to do. I was upset but I know my mother was just so tired she did hear me. Since that night my mother hasn't sleep sound.
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