Saturday 14 September 2019

Home sweet home

The hour of the operation was upon me and lo and behold: I didn't notice a thing! They put this little thing on my mouth and nose and told me to just breathe. Not even 'count down' or anything. The next thing I knew I was waking up again. I remember I asked the time at least twice, but could have been three times. That way I knew how long I had been in surgery for and what type of surgery it had ended up being.

I was due to spend about an hour in post-op, but I think it was closer to two before I was finally wheeled to my room. I was okay, the pain was there but bearable and I got my ice-cream as well. Once in the room I asked for my glasses and then the 'great search for the glasses' started. They had been taken off in the operating room, but after that?

In the end I stuck my sunglasses on, phoned my parents to bring the spare pair (they couldn't, they were already in the hospital) and waited. And then another nurse realised she had brought a pair of glasses over with another patient and they might be mine. Fortunately they were and I was reunited with them. I should have left them with Brom!

I was feeling okay, but when the nurse started to do her intake with me, I wanted to sit up straighter. Immediately the nausea hit me and the nurse got me a sick bag and a cold wash cloth. I didn't need the former (pfew) and was glad with the latter. And after only a few minutes the nausea had subsided. 

My parents arrived then and they saw an improvement in the 90 minutes they were there. I really perked up and was even able to eat something before they left again. I was still in my operation gear though and with a bag attached to my arm to give me fluids. I needed the toilet though, so the nurse helped me to get dressed (pj's) and to the toilet. By then I was doing fine and allowed to return under my own steam. 

After a rotten night (warm, pain, not being able to sleep on my stomach, not a nice bed), I saw a doctor. The gall bladder had been stuck a bit, but not enough to warrant cutting and slicing, so peephole it was and that meant a more minor operation than the other one would have been. Another pfew! I was then discharged.

The doctor recommended a recovery period of two weeks and see how I was doing after that to see whether I could return to work. I would like to return as soon as possible, but I remember from my other (bigger) operation, that I basically went back too soon and could have done with a week or two of part time work before going back full time. We'll see what happens. For now I am definitely not capable of driving a car, let alone a bus!

So, I am back home and on the road to recovery. 

15 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Hoorah!!! yes, take it slowly; literally one step at a time. And the minute you think 'I am ready', think again! Spectacles are notorious for getting mislaid in hospitals; always worth tagging them in some way (like winding red thread around one leg). Hopefully that last piece of info will now be redundant! YAM xx

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    1. They had put it in one of those kidney dishes with a label inside with my name on it. They just forgot to put it with me again when I was wheeled out of recovery! Fortunately it was found however, it would have been extremely annoying with just my sunglasses...

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  2. I had the same experience of no countdown.

    When I awoke, I couldn't manage to get the batteries back in my hearing aids for a little while, even though I had shown Sue how to do it the night before.

    Yes, take care. Do't rush.

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  3. Glad everything went well for you! Being g in a hospital is never any fun, especially when they wake you up every couple hours for vital signs. I'm sure you'll be back to normal soon.

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    1. For some reason they thought it a good idea to wake us up at 6am to get the vitals done! I was finally sort of asleep after a long night of not much sleep...

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  4. Great! Glad it is going positively for you. BTW, loving your photos.

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    1. Me too. Apart from a slight headache due to the very sore neck (no clue how I got that), the pain seems to be less already. Nowhere near healed yet though!

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  5. We are so glad to hear everything went well and you are home recovering now. All paws are staying crossed that you heal quickly but don't overdo it too fast.

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  6. I'm happy to hear that it went well. Take the time needed and rest up before going back to work.

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  7. That's Nice ! Now reste well and take care I am sure you will recover soon with the help of Boom and Miss Oswin !!

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  8. Wishing you speedy recovery.
    Coffee is on

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  9. Oh Mara I'm so glad to hear your pesky gall bladder has been removed and you are on this side of recovery. REMEMBER you only get one chance to heal right soo BEHAVE!!!!
    Healing hugs
    Cecilia

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  10. As you say, no going back too soon this time. Look after yourself.

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    1. I am and so are my parents, stopping me in my tracks if I want to overdo it.

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!