Hi Everyone! If there is anyone left stopping by here, I should say. Today has been 3weeks since my surgery. I have one more week of sling wearing and then I begin the process of trying to teach my arm how to move again. It's so weird to feel how limited it has become. All in all the surgery went well. I was supposed to be the first surgery of the day, but late the night before the hospital called and told me not to come until 10 am because I had been moved to number 4 and would not start until 11:45 am. Not so bad. I could handle not food or drink until then. Of course, that didn't work out so easily. I didn't actually get into the OR until about 2:30pm. I was starved and cranky! They made me walk into the operating room and climb up on the table. That pretty much threw me into a crazy nervous state. Then I was told I would need general anesthesia after all and that made it even worse. The doctors later told The Boy and my Mom that it took them enough anesthesia to knock out four grown men. Apparently, my adrenaline was pumping and was counter acting all the drugs lol. I don't remember any of it THANK GOD!
I woke up in the recovery room and, due to the nerve blocker they used to numb the entire right side of my torso, I thought I couldn't breath and almost had an axiety attack. Turns out, my throat was numb (and so damn dry from not drinking since the night before) and I couldn't feel myself breathing. As I lay there in a fog, I was talking to and making fun of random people in the recovery room. My mom and TB were trying to get me to be quiet, but I was havign none of it. Of course, I only know that because they told me. The only thing I really remember was looking around at the other people in the room, all eating and drinking and wondering why they seemed so awake! Then I found out I had an insane amount of anesthesia and it all made sense.
The nerve block turned out to be my best friend when in the car on the ride home. The FDR drive is a haven for pot holes and I, fortunately, could not feel a single one! Another thing that got me through the first few days was the ice machine they gave me. A vest fits on my shoulder and the right side of my torso...kind of like football shoulder pads, but only the right side. Then you plug the vest into this machine filled with ice and water and it inflates the vest with super cold air which compresses the shoulder and helps with both pain and swelling. Seriously, what an amazing thing. Last, but not least, the pain meds. I have to say that I enjoyed every second spent with my percocets.
And now, here I am, back at work. It sucks. They had to install a keyboard tray that drops super low so that I can also type with the hand in the sling. I wish I stayed out longer, but I have a week vacation booked and paid for in July and I was too afraid they'd try to take it away. Of course, I'd have quit before I cancelled a vacation, but seeing as the economy is still not doing too hot that's probably not the best scenario to put myself in. So, I'm trudging along doing everything at a snails pace. I'm shocked to find out that working with one hand is more tiring then working with two. Too bad I have to sleep sitting up which is hardly the most restful. Okay this post is far longer then I thought and my arm is achinggg.
Friday, May 15, 2009
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3 comments:
I'm glad I stopped in. It's great to hear your surgery went well, and hope the healing period is speedy!
I am glad to hear you are doing okay!
Hey there... good to see you're recovering nicely!
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