Post-op Update

Here are the details I promised.


Friday
It had been a very long day for me.  I was awake at 5:00 a.m. and got to the hospital by 6:45 a.m.  I was hungry and tired.  More noticeable during all the wait time.  However, I can't complain too much about the wait because in actuality things moved along really well.


First was the Sentinel Lymph Node procedure.  Of all the procedures, that was the least painful.  They numbed the area just under my nipple and then injected the dye.  (I told you I was going to give details.)  I was sent back out to the waiting room for an hour to give the dye time to travel to the nodes and then went in for imaging to see if the dye showed up.  Almost but not fully, so sent back to wait for half an hour.  After that time they could mark one for dissection during surgery.  It ended up only taking two hours instead of three...good sign.


I was sent into surgery prep just 15 minutes after the Sentinel.  Had to get all hooked up with IV and monitors and wait my turn.  During the wait, I had to explain to four different doctors what my surgery consisted of for that day.  Slightly annoying, however, I appreciated their thoroughness and accuracy before putting me under.  My husband, dad, oldest sister and a friend kept me company and laughing during the wait.  I wasn't nervous at all.  I have been through surgery before so the uncertainty wasn't present for me this time.  I think it was the prayers also!


When I finally woke up, I got to see John and see the relief on his face.  I hate that he has to go through this.  My neck was in a lot of pain and I was hungry.  Crackers never tasted so good!!  That night at home, I wasn't feeling too bad.  I was groggy and my upper abs and the top of my legs where they connect to the hips were very sore.  I'm not sure why that was.  I ate well (very good tacos Brad & Patty)...didn't sleep well.  I felt bad for John that he was up every two hours either to give me a drink of water, pain pills or help me up to go to the bathroom.  I love him so very much for being by my side through this and for what is to come.


My sister was very kind to take the boys home with her Friday night so that I could rest.  It was very helpful and needed!


Saturday
I slept off and on throughout the day so it was a blur.  When the Vicodin kicked in, I would become relaxed and sleepy.  It didn't help much with the pain so I was taking Ibuprofen as well.  I finally got out of bed at 10 a.m. to eat breakfast.  John made me some waffles.  I was very hungry, but the first bite I took, I felt very woozy.  I ran into the bathroom thinking I was going to throw up but it ended up just being nausea and sweating.  I did not like that feeling at all.  Thank goodness my nurse had prescribed me nausea medicine for when chemo started.  Those help right away.  Not a good sign of things to come...it was an awful feeling!


I still had a lot of pain in between my neck and shoulder.  I believe it is from the port-a-cath wires.  I could only sleep on my back or my left side, so that has been kinda miserable.  My boys stayed with my parents Saturday night, so once again that was very helpful.


That is about all that I remember of Saturday, since I slept through most of it.


Sunday
I was home by myself until 3:00.  It was peaceful.  Still slept off and on but each day I was feeling less pain.  Still do not understand why my abs and hips hurt.  It made it more difficult to get out of bed because of my abs.  Crazy!


I ate a late breakfast but did not eat lunch...to lazy to do it.  A couple from church brought us KFC for dinner.  It was so sweet of them to do that!  The boys loved it and I ate my share as well since I did skip a meal!  :)


I slept pretty well during the night and am up and about trying to get a few things done...like my posts!!!!


More to come....