Day 14 after surgery

I am sorry I left you all hanging for so long. On Friday they just hit us with they were sending me home, no time to think about anything else. Dennis thought it was too soon and I wasn't feeling strong enough.

I brought my biggest most comfortable clothes and because of the fluid retention, none of it fit. I felt like I was stuffed into my clothes and they were barely hanging on. I couldn't fit my shoes or slippers so had to leave the hospital with hospital socks on. The ride home was a little painful with the bumps but we made it.

Once home I had to walk through the wet freezing snow to get into the house it was horrible but once in everyone helped dry off my feet peel the clothes from my body and get me into my nightgown before helping me into my brand new bed for the first time. (Someone in our life made it possible for me to have this bed and it has been a godsend, to say the least).

The first few days were rough, there were more messes than actually making it to the bathroom. Our floors have never been cleaner. What made it so hard is that none of the equipment that is supposed to be here is here yet. My husband is taking really good care of me and the girls are helping also. Nesie and my son have made sure we have everything we need and check up on me often.

This week our days have been filled with medical personal OT, PT, nurse visits, home health aid, and dietician. I am literally wiped out, I am still getting as much rest as I can. My appetite is getting better but most times I just eat what I can. Most of my pain is on the side they didn't operate on, I guess I pulled a ligament or muscle when they were getting me in bed at the hospital.

I have pain in my abdomen as well but it isn't as bad as they said it would be. I am just mainly tired all of the time. I have my follow-up visit with the Surgeon early next week so will update again then. Thank you all for the prayers, thoughts, comments, messages, and phone calls. They all mean so much. Hugs and keep those prayers coming.

Day 9 after surgery

 They sent me home last night. A bit rough. Will explain more later. Much more comfortable this morning. Thank you all for the support and prayers.

Happy Thanksgiving! Day 7 after Surgery

 

They took my NG tube out to try me on a liquid diet. So far so good. I am thankful for my life. Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends and family.

Day 5 after Surgery

 This was me yesterday, it was rough. Two new Ivs running with tons of goodies going in. Fluids, another iron infusion, potassium, Tylenol, and the rest of my medications are crushed, then mixed with liquid and pushed through the NG tube. I am not eating anything and I’m not hungry at all. I am feeling a little better today.

They helped me wash up, a little hard with tubes and wires everywhere. Just to go to the bathroom is quite the ordeal. My output from NG tube is lower but not low enough to test to see if it can come out yet. They said at least 1-2 more days.

I am passing gas out my rear now so that is a good sign tho gs are progressing. The NG tube is uncomfortable but better than the severe pain I was in. I only have a little pain when moving or transferring. It’s mainly because my stomach and intestines aren’t working together as they should. I am in better spirits today. The staff is awesome here.

When I get to go home I will have visiting nurses and all the equipment I need should be dropped off and ready for me. They said I will find out the staging of my cancer by 2 weeks from the day of my surgery taking into account the holiday. Thank you to everyone for the encouragement and prayers. Keep them coming.

Day 5 after surgery

 

Things went downhill really fast yesterday. I started to get really tired, out of breath, stomach discomfort, super hot, and vomiting. They did an iron infusion and I tried to rest but couldn’t. They did an exray then put in an NG tube which is uncomfortable but relieved the pain, nausea, and hotness. I vomited up over 1000 of whatever they measured by and another 650 from the machine. My belly could have burst. I am so thankful please keep the prayers coming. They are thinking of 2-3 days with this.

Side note which was written after this happened. Things changed really quickly from lip gloss to feeling I wasn't getting enough air. It was hard to breathe, I was really tired, and discomfort everywhere. I was super hot and vomiting. The Nurse finally gave me Zofran but soon after I vomited again. She asked if they had flushed it and I said no I vomited in one of the bags. She asked where it was. I said in the bathroom. She looked at it, and took my oxygen level as I was having a hard time breathing which showed 82 she got on the phone right away and called for a Dr. Stat.

I was sent to get an X-ray which was very uncomfortable I just wanted my husband with me and thought I was going to die. Once back they tried inserting an NG tube up my nose and it wouldn't go apparently I have a deviated septum so they tried the other side and it went down. I told them I had a bad gag reflex and they said everyone says that. Well, two nurses were at the top of the bed with me, and two nurses at the foot of my bed.

One nurse had the hose, one had a cup with a straw, and not sure what the other two were doing other than trying to encourage me that things would be fine and trying to give me instructions. It was all a blur of trying to drink water while they were putting the hose down my nose and then the nonstop projectile vomiting that sprayed all over myself and the nurses at the foot of the bed.

They were able to get the tube in and immediately my pain was gone, the machine started sucking out my stomach. They said they had never had that much come out of a person before and they had no idea how much had been soaked up by the bedding. The bedding was soaked, and the nurses were soaked but their job wasn't done. My bed clothing was also soaked so they had to cut my gown off and make sure my incision did not get soiled. Cleaned up the bed, helped me get new bed clothes on, and settled before they could go and clean themselves up. I just kept apologizing.

I told them to call my husband I wanted him there with me.