howdy!
i'm alive and sorta kicking!
just a few details during my surgery and recovery i wanted to share:
friday (4/16/2010)
- got checked in at like 6am'ish and wrote some massive checks to cover the surgery costs
- slipped into birthday suit and wore medical gown
- was introduced to the anesthesiologist
- wheeled into the operating room
- was conscious during epidural (yes! men can get them too!)
- got knocked out
- ~7 hour surgery... weeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! (had like 8 units of blood transfused into my body - think that's a lot)
- docmo said surgery was 98% successful (in my book, that's an A+.... but, i'm still curious to know what the 2% failure was...)
saturday (4/17)
- woke up extremely groggy in the ICU at around 7am'ish to a tube in my mouth (felt as though i was choking)
- still got epidural in my back (yay! no pain)
- ate part of a hospital cheeseburger for lunch. wasn't that good. started eating somewhat regular after this point
- get wheeled out of ICU into general hospital room
- i'm super cranky!
- thanks visitors!
sunday (4/18)
- go epidural!!
- thanks visitors!
- i have to go pee reallllllllllly bad in the evening time. i eventually tell the nurse i have to go pee reallllllllly bad. when one has a catheter in their business, the pee gets drained automatically. however, after some investigation by the nurse, there was a kink in the bladder tube!!!!! i should sue that bladder bag company!!!! drained almost a liter of pee! yowza!
monday (4/19)
- epidural is taken out! oh no! vicodin here i come!
- vicodin wears off the first time i take it (thought i could take the pain, guess what, NOPE) and leg is on fire (kinda mild fire but ouch nonetheless). pop in a couple more vicodin on a more regular basis
- thanks visitors!
- haven't gone poo since friday morning so i'm bout to burst. nurse says wait til physical therapist comes by cuz they're wary of my low red blood cell count cuz i lost lotta blood. it's after 5pm and PT still hasn't shown up. they then say, ok, sit at the edge of the bed for a few minutes. done. now, sit on a chair for an hour or so. done. i use my walker to the toilet and for the life of me, i can't get the poo to come out. awwwwwww! i get up rather frustrated and after telling the nurse i'm finished with my failed attempt, i get up and use the walker. when i get to the doorway of the toilet closet, i start feeling light headed and next thing i know i'm on the ground. DOH! i sorta regain consciousness while on the ground and the nurses eventually get me back to the bed. first time i've ever fainted. not pleasant at all! was absolutely and completely helpless.
tuesday (4/20)
- thanks visitors!
- PT visits in the morning. i stand up from bed and i still feel very dizzy
- i go poo later on. thanks God!
- get discharged
- get home in the evening
wednesday (4/21)
- 12:15am, get a knock on my door and it's julia! thought i was dreaming. :) she made a surprise visit from NY to spend a few days with me during recovery. thanks julia - awesome girlfriend!
thursday and on
- recovery is slow and surely uncomfortable and slightly painful (definitely harder than the 1st tumor in the left leg)
- been bed-ridden pretty much all day/everyday since surgery
- been able to use a walker to walk to the living room and back to get some minimal exercise (today)
- hopefully will be on crutches in a week or so (and will be for a month or so)
next monday (5/3)
- post-op consultation with docmo. might take out staples
- will get calls this week for consultations with oncologist and radiation doctors to see what type of treatment i need next (if any but most likely)
+++++++
gracias
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thanks everyone so much for your continued support through prayers, visits, food, encouraging emails, phone calls, letters, and finances!
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random thoughts
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+ i'm reminded again of my frailty. my body is so weak. i've now realized that i don't have 2 additional "manly" scars, but, 2 more reminders that i'm very weak.
+ by the grace of God, i'm still alive
+ life isn't always fun and normal :)
+ God is still God - sovereign and in control and good (even tho what i'm going through is seemingly bad)
+ i'm not a super-christian and my faith ISN'T that strong. i'm in need of jesus just as much (if not more) than the next person.
+++++++++++++
prayer requests
+++++++++++++
- pray for my family, julia, friends, and myself to become closer to God during this process (in understanding and intimacy of the true and living God)
think that's it for now.
love ya'll!
dennis |
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