It's Over!!!!

I can't believe I didn't post anything just before surgery to let you all know exactly when, etc!!!!! I guess my thoughts were just flying from one direction to another. I'm just glad it's all over. Thank you, Lea, and Juri, my sister, for taking up the slack and at least reporting that I'm still alive and kicking!

I panicked when no one called me Tuesday night to tell me what time I was supposed to be there Wednesday morning. They specifically told me that someone would call with the surgery schedule at about 4:30 on Tuesday. By 6:30, no one had called, everything was shut down at the hospital, etc., etc. Finally, sometime after 7:00, Claudia, with a VERY New York accent, called and told me to be there no later than 6:00 am. And you know, of course, I laid in bed waiting for that alarm to go off, as I had to shower with the anti bacterial soap first.

So off we went --- my trusty sister and my brother in law driver took me to door D and in we went. Why is it NOTHING is ever normal for us???? We end up with raised eye brows and supressed giggles all the time. This tiny, little gal with the softest voice ever finally began calling out some names, including mine. Juri hugged me good-by as she was not allowed to come. And off we went down the hall.

Meanwhile, my sister is wondering if that is where they wait for the duration. She went to the window and asked the lady this question. And she got scolded with, "The lady TOLD you she would come back for family later!!!!" Juri said, no she didn't! The lady said, Yes, she did!!!!! Soon, another person asked this same lady the same question, with the same responses!

I was taken to a little room and told to strip and put on a hospital gown. A blood pressure cuff was put on me, and wouldn't you know, my blood pressure was sky high. The nurse kept taking it, but it just stayed up there. My biggest worry for weeks was the bathroom issue, so with every urge, I hopped out of the bed and ran for the bathroom. Of course, being me, I didn't read the sign on the door and walked in on a poor old man. There were no locks on the door!

Soon, my sister arrived and we stared at each other for a while. We were out of things to talk about. Then, it was my turn to go. We said goodby again, and I was wheeled to the pre-op room. This group of nurses, etc., were a VERY happy group. They took my BP again, and it was still high. The nurse said she was going to give me some "La La Land Juice" and did I want to go to Hawaii or the Carribian. I said Hawaii! My Surgeon came in, began writing with a magic marker on my arm, and then had an argument with the nurse who said she couldn't read his initials he had just scribbled on me. So he redid them again. By this time, it all looked like a cultish tatoo. Soon, I was wheeled into the operating room. Another tiny, little old lady said, "Hello, I'm Molly, and I'll be withouth throughout this whole thing!." She began to push on my neck, but in a few seconds, I was gone off to Hawaii, I guess, because that was the last I remembered. . . . until. . . .

The recovery room!!!! Someone was yelling my name. I woke up screaming in pain. Someone behind me asked how bad the pain was on a scale of 1 to 10. I yelled 20!!!!!
In a few seconds, I was out again, then woke up painless in my room.

My sister came in, said all went well, and I think I went back to sleep. Next thing I knew, a tray full of different liquids was in front of me. Broth, sherbet, orange juice, tea, etc., etc. I was thirsty, so managed some of that. A little later, they came with pain pills. I took those, and went back to sleep. When I woke up, I was dizzy and HOT! Off came the blankets. Then cold. On with the blankets!

It was all down hill after that. The pain pills did NOT agree with me, and I was getting sick to my stomach as Thursday came on. Trouble is, I had already seen my surgeon and told him I was fine and wanted to go home, and he signed the discharge papers. And this crazy nurse kept wanting me to eat. Have you ever been sick as a dog and someone stick rubber chicken and spinach souffle under your nose????? NOT a good thing! And I'm not a good thrower upper! Lots of noise, moaning, groaning, etc. You would think an elephant was dying in the room!

Finally, I had had enough, struggled to get my clothing on, and a very irritated nurse got a guy with a wheel chair to wheel me out. What a picture! There I was with my puke bucket as he wheeled me down to the car. But I just wanted home, my own bed, and let me die in peace without the smell of chicken and spinach in my nose!

I did much better at home!

The only thing that was a little of a disappointment was the findings of the surgeon. Under my arm, he found a mass that he said was "most assuredly" cancerous, but it had entangled itself around the nerve to the shoulder and he had to cut the nerve to get it out. So I guess I will have trouble with the shoulder the rest of my life. I am thankful he found it and got it out, though.

So I have been home since Thursday afternoon. First few days were difficult, as I felt dizzy, sore, and struggled with things like. . . how to get up and down off the toilet, how to get in and out of bed, how to reach for stuff when you are strapped up in an ace bandage, etc.

Today is the best so far. In fact, it's noon, and I haven't had a pain pill since about 4:00 am. I've done some laundry, washed myself up, emptied drains, walked outside with Buster, and tried to do some normal stuff. I'm just glad each day seems to be a little better than the one before.

The surgeon wanted to see me in a week after the surgery, but today was the only day he was seeing patients in the office, so I'm going to somehow try to get there. I'd rather be checked out early and know everything looks ok than wait and have something go wrong. My trusty sister is going with me again! Ya just gotta love her, don't ya???!!!!!

Thanks to all of you for all your prayers! I think I was thinking of all of you just before I conked out for surgery. I had such a thankful heart for all of you! Who would have known a year ago when I started blogging that all of this was in store for me. . . . and that all of YOU would be there to support and pray for me???? God is so Good!!!!!