My surgery went well on Monday evening, although apparently it takes me awhile to fully emerge from the anesthesia. They had to keep me there there for 2 hours post-op and I got the shakes pretty bad. Two shots of demerol did the trick!
I felt pretty good until about an hour after I went to bed and those shots had worn off... I spent the rest of the night trying to get on top of the pain. And here's the thing: the doctor really did not give me an accurate picture of what post-op would be like. I was under the impression that I'd be up and around and feeling fine, and that's just not the way it was.
I spent Tuesday and Wednesday completely bed-ridden, doped up, sick to my stomach, yet still in pain. I could barely hobble to the bathroom. Thank goodness for Jill, Jessie, Marc's parents, my neighbor Heidi, and Max & Lucas. I discovered Max could be much more help than I'd previously given him credit for.
He asked me if I needed anything. I said I needed some sort of snack so I could take my meds. After coming in three times to ask me questions, he appeared with a pear (quartered but not cored!), and some buttered cinnamon bread. It was pretty cute. He also put Eva to bed both those nights when Marc had to be gone.
My bedside setup: ice water, cell phone, Marc's old ipod that I inherited when he got a new video one, book, meds, earplugs, ponytail holder. Jessie brought me some magazines, and Jill got me a new scrapbook idea book to pore over. On the second day, when I was a little more lucid, Marc set up the portable DVD player and I watched movies.
It's surprising how difficult it can be to stay in bed all day. It sounds like a pretty sweet deal, but throw in pain, guilt over all the people that were helping me, and stress about all the things I need to be getting done, and it's a not altogether pleasant mix.
Today I felt considerably better. I resolved not to stay in bed all day. I didn't have anyone slated to help with Eva (except for Lucas, who was home with a fever). I limped around and got food for the kids, read to Eva, etc. I made a few phone calls so I could cross something off my ever-growing to-do list for the next 10 days.
The best part -- I was able to take off my bandage and shower! Hallelujah! Nothing like not showering for 3 days to make you feel down and out.
Even with my very limited accomplishments for the day, I think I kind of wore myself out. I'm completely exhausted and ready now to retreat to my bed. I haven't attempted the stairs yet. But at least I'm back in the land of the living.
17 comments:
Oh Michelle. It sounds perfectly miserable. Here's to hoping you're stronger today and recover quickly.
i'm so glad to hear you are making some progress toward the land of "up and about." take care of yourself so that you will be 100% for your trip!
I hope today is even better. I'm sorry that it was harder than you were expecting. It has to be torture to not be able to be getting things ready for your trip. I'm sure it will all fall into place though, doesn't it always?
Hope you have a good weekend and are almost back to yourself by the end.
take care of yourself.
HOpe you are able to rest and heal over the weekend, then tackle all that you have on your growing list with zeal next week! Sending you positive thoughts laced with pain meds!:-)
I can't imagine why your doctor would lead you to believe you'd be up and around so quickly; I mean it's still surgery! Mothers should not have go through things like this, unless the kids can be removed from the home for awhile. We need to come up with a better plan for the next time you have this done.
my mother in law had the same procedure right before Christmas, she said the same thing, it took her a little longer to get back on her feet as well. I hope you get back soon. Maybe give some items to friends to help you out with to get ready for the trip. Having others serve you sometimes helps bring answers to prayers and is exactly what you need, and they might need or want to serve as well.
Take care
I am not usually happy with an optimistic doctor. They *think* it will always go smoother. Do you really think they do or are they trying to break it lightly? Not nice!
I hope today you feel even stronger and that the kids are still being cooperative. That might be hoping for a bit much but you never know!
Take care!!!
I hope things are getting better every day. Max is SO sweet.
Glad your surgery was a success. It's so hard to stay down! I can't do it. When I was on bedrest, it only lasted a few days before she had to induce me because my blood pressure still wasn't dropping. Wonder why? :) Several people in my family have had knee surgery. It's not fun. Feel better soon. But, please steer clear of those stairs. Even when my knees feel good, I can feel the pain going up & down the stairs.
Glad you are feeling better. I hope that you can get everything you need to before Paris.
I'm glad it went well. The photo of your cute toast and pears is so sweet. I hope the weekend proves to be time well spent in healing and getting back to 100%.
Perhaps Drs. think that mothers have live-ins or "mother's helpers" like most eastern Jewish mothers have! Sounds like a good idea to me, but alas, not reality in the real world of young mothers I know! I have been disappointed more than once when anticipating a Dr's advise to be reality! I'm glad Jill, Jessie and Heidi are in the "friends and family" plan! Try not to stress over what isn't going to get don before you leave. I know it's hard, but try! Love you.
I've been thinking about you and am glad that you are starting to get up and about.
Oh dear. I was really thinking you were going to be up and at 'em almost immdiately. Sorry that wasn't the case, but I am glad to hear you are doing a bit better. Hooray that you can shower! Your Max is a hero - what a helper! I know what you mean about lying in bed all day. It sounds like a dream until you are forced to do it, and then you discover it really isn't what it's cracked up to be. Take good care, Michelle. You are a real trooper!
I still can't believe you had to have surgery two weeks before leaving for Paris. So crazy. I hope that you heal quickly and you are able to get all your prep done.
That is so cute that Max put Eva to bed for you and made the toast, etc. Austin surprises me sometimes too. It's so cute to see how proud he is of himself when he is helpful. You really need to tap into that more often!
Being in bed that long would seriously KILL me. I wouldn't need drugs for pain, just for boredom! Glad to see you made it through.
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