A big thank you and love to everyone who wished me well both publicly and privately on surgery. The power of positive thinking works – I had probably the smoothest recovery times imaginable. The day of surgery wasn’t pleasant, but I needed just one round of painkillers and anti-naseau meds. By that evening, I was feeling better.
I had exceptional care – probably the best hospital in the region, in my opinion. While others flock to “the one” they think is most prestigious (and has snooty, expensive doctors), I had a private room and compassionate, patient, genuine care. I do have to wonder about the mindset of some of the staff, however. Using the 1-to-10 pain rating with 10 being awful, I told the nurse on duty I was at a 2, which meant in my mind I felt sore, but nowhere near the train wreck I’d felt like immediately after surgery. Her words, “Are you sure you don’t want something? Don’t suffer needlessly.” At that point I was sitting up engaged in conversation, munching on crackers. I didn’t even appear to be suffering. Maybe she thought I was being brave, or maybe I looked more hellish than I felt. I don’t know.
I was home Saturday, feeling like doing something, but still off kilter a bit. Yesterday, much better, still wobbly. Today is another wobbly day, so I’m taking it easy until tomorrow. I’m thrilled the pain level is far below what I expected. Didn’t bother to fill the prescription for pain meds. Why? It’s a pain I’d liken to a bruised shin. The damned IV insertion point hurt more. And frankly, that part of my experience was the worst. The overly caffeinated nurse (and yes, part of that observation was envy – I hadn’t had my tea) read on my chart about my aversion to needles. Instead of diverting my attention or taking my word for it that I was determined to talk myself out of the silly anxiety, she instead kept saying “Go to your place. The beach! Now this is just one of those flies about to bite you….” Just shut up, concentrate on your job, and let me deal with passing out. And let me say that it hurt all into that night and the next day. I’ve had IVs before – they don’t hurt like that. Today I’m still feeling pain from it down on my wrist bone.
Apart from that little incident, everything else was smooth sailing. I have total faith in the doctor, who won me over when he’d performed beautiful work on my hubby’s surgery a year ago. He didn’t let me down, either. No raspy voice beyond a little swelling, and he checked in twice and has provided detailed expectations and instructions both before and after the surgery.
And apparently I say stupid stuff as I’m going under. I remember the anesthesiologist coming in and saying, “I’m giving you something to help you relax.” I remember smiling at my husband, and then waking up in recovery. But they tell me I was quite chatty, making “woooo!” sounds and saying “This must be what it’s like to be on drugs.” And I’m told I said “I have a thing for morphine.” Thank God I haven’t led much of a checkered past. Lord knows what I’d have revealed.
Today it’s books and a chair on the front porch. The weather is divine here and I don’t get much license to take it easy. Tomorrow, hopefully, back to work. I will say one client note was about as caring as a shopping list – I didn’t expect sympathy, but not to acknowledge at all the fact that I’d be out for five days or why seems cold. Worse, the note back was pointing out that I’d forgotten something. Right. May have to lose that one’s number.
So what’s new? How was your weekend? What’s shaping up in your week ahead?
20 responses to “Upright”
Well wishes from Brazil! I hope you're back to your "100%" shortly. Enjoy that sun, too.
Obrigada, Mei! I appreciate the thoughts. 🙂
I"m so glad you're feeling better!
Week ahead — insane. I have so much to get done between now and Thursday that I don't know whether I'm coming or going. Plus teach. Plus do some scriptwork for a gig, plus worry about the landlord's next insanity.
Lori-Welcome back! So glad things went smoothly. Do take it easy & don't rush things.
Mine was a sports weekend-went to a local sports bar to catch the SD Chargers game as it wasn't on in our humble abode.
Left my glasses there so now I have to go retrieve them this morning. Maybe if I was less vain & kept them on my face, I wouldn't have this problem.
Take it easy, Lori, and blech to the unfeeling client.
Great news, Lori!
Your "wooo" sounds and your comments made me laugh out loud! Ahh, when we have no defenses, please forgive us!
Not much out of the ordinary on my end. Writing a few articles this week and doing a marketing project. Should be a relatively "normal" week.
Keep the good news coming, and yeah, dump the callous client. Who needs that nonsense?
Great, just the place I want to be while someone is shoving a hypo into my arm … a fly-infested beach!
The last surgery I had (I've had many, pouty-lower-lip-emoticon), they gave some kind of memory-erasing sedative, I remember counting backwards and then I was home! Wooo!
Much good healing.
Hi! I'm not sure how I found your blog but I'm glad to be here; maybe because I am a writer. I'm not sure.
I hope you are recovering well and look forward to coming back to visit you more.
So glad the surgery went smoothly and that you have a day to laze about on the porch in nice weather!
I'm told I've said some weird things while going under too. Just another reason to keep your life clean 🙂
hugs to you!
wobble away my dear… it's just great to have you back. And such a smooth surgery etc. hugs etc. Do take care of yourself.!
Glad to see you're back and things appear to be going well. I hope it stays that way.
A lot of things happened this weekend. Too numerous to mention, but most had to do with my son who went through some problems over the last couple of days. I get to spend some time getting him back and forth to the Doc and getting some tests done this week. Allergies, asthma, reflux and GF/CF diet were pretty much all I talked about, over the weekend, with various people. I'm just zapped and my brain doesn't want to take on anymore information.
My weekend was in a similar theme to yours: medical! I am participating in a study on a new type of insulin, but they had to put me on a very old insulin for a week. I am miserable and dealing with ridiculous swings in my blood sugar. Damn, no wonder being type 1 diabetic used to be thought of as so bad! I didn't realize how lucky I was that there were better insulins by the time I was diagnosed.
Anyway, I'll be back on the trial insulin come next Monday — or this Friday, if I can make it happen. After the way I felt all weekend, I think I would move heaven and earth to get off this stuff!
Glad to have you back, Lori.
I'm told I've done odd things when heavily medicated. When I had neck surgery as a toddler, apparently I was sitting "bolt upright" as they wheeled me to the recovery room.
When a friend woke up after having her wisdom teeth out she was singing one of the songs that had played while she was under.
Are you sitting down, Lori? I didn't work at all Saturday, and only did a tiny bit of work on Sunday. My sister and I spent Saturday at a flea market. I wanted to find an old glass lampshade for a floor lamp – they're easy to find at flea markets and antique malls, but can be $20 and up. I wanted something decent, but cheap, since my dog tends to knock the lamp over at least once a year. Got a great painted shade (tropical sunset motif) in colors that are perfect for the room….for $3. Seriously, I thought they'd left a zero off the price tag since it would have easily fetched $30 at another booth.
Take it easy, Lori – glad to hear you are recovering well! 🙂
Lori, Welcome back from the scourages of Morphine-ville. You sound like you're on top of it all and haven't missed a lick.
Chuck
Welcome back, Lori — & in the midst of all you're dealing with, thanks so much for taking the time to let us all know how things are going with you. Hope your recovery continues as smoothly as it sounds like it's been progressing thus far!
Lori,
So glad your surgery went well and hope you are fully recovered and back to full strength soon. But take a little extra time for yourself even if you're feeling better!
I hope your recovery is easy. RE pain meds, my Dad (a doc) and my Mother (an RN) both advised taking the meds. At the moment, you might feel fine, but you may have pain later. Dad always advised that there was no need to be in pain and be a trouper.
Vickie, I'm glad you're here, too. 🙂
Devon, I'm glad one of us is busy! Go get 'em, sister.
Cathy, thanks for the Twitter note – haven't quite caught up with my correspondence yet.
Can I have a normal week too, Gabriella? Or maybe just look over your shoulder in envy? 🙂
My thoughts exactly, Joseph! What was she thinking? Besides, I was looking forward to passing out to get away from her constant chatter.
Oh Ashley, wouldn't it be fun, even just a little fun, to have enough of a past to give them something to talk about? 🙂
Thanks for the notes and the love, Anne. 🙂
Oh Wendy, I hope he's doing better soon! You need a break, hon.
Katharine, that sounds awful! Praying those trial meds work well for you.
Great find, Paula! See what happens when you walk away from the desk? LOL
Hi Kim! Thanks for the thoughts, toots.
Chuck, I'm on top of something, thogh there are days I'm not sure whether it's something good or some other steaming pile…
Thus far, Hugh, it's been good. Even caught a Phillies game last night. The weather was gorgeous and the seats were six rows from the first base line. 🙂
Hi Lillie! Thanks for the love, darlin'. It's been a while! Good seeing you here.
Carole, that's good advice. But honestly, I felt (and still feel) relatively painless. I'm the biggest baby on the planet – if it hurts, I want it to stop. I'd never be accused of putting up with pain to be a trooper! LOL More like "Is she addicted to something because she's medicating for a hangnail…."
Argh – I suck. I meant to come by & wish you well, but I've had so many damn doctor appointments between myself & my son I seem to have forgotten where I left my brain. Glad you're doing better, Lori. You've been in my thoughts.
hello and merry xmas to every one – hope yous had a great time – doing the rounds and back from parents 12lbs heavier a`hhh , all the best for the comming year –
bueleys