How I’ve been feeling.
Hello everyone!
My surgery went well, though a few unexpected things happened, prolonging my recovery time.
Here is how it was suppose to go:
(note, if reading about medical procedures makes you ill, skip past this (because it will make you feel ill, trust me) and just enjoy the photos at the end of this post. ;))
I went in for a diagnostic laparoscopy. They were going to make about three small incisions in my lower abdomen and go in with a small camera to see what’s causing my periods to be so incredibly painful. My doctor and I suspected it was endometriosis. He would take care of that and then send me on my way. I would get to go home the same day of surgery and recovery time would be about a week, maybe less, and I would just be sore.
Here is how the surgery actually went:
They made three small incisions in my lower abdomen and went in with a camera. It was, in fact, endometriosis. However, it was worse than we had expected. He took care of it, but he also had to scrape out my uterus (I warned you). He also noticed that my appendix did not look well. It was swollen and was very likely going to burst, so he removed it.
I also developed a rash during surgery, so they pumped me full of Benadryl.
I was sent to the recovery room (or so I’m told, I don’t remember a thing, haha) and then back to my room where my Mom was waiting.
Coming to was scary, because the last thing I remembered was feeling relaxed and at ease and in absolutely no pain at all, but now I was waking up to a whole lot of pain. I also felt as though I couldn’t breathe. I was so groggy and out of it that I couldn’t really remember how, and I wasn’t sure if there was anyone in the room to help me. I remember saying, “I can’t breathe.” “It hurts.” and “I want Lassie.”
The only thing I remember hearing is, “They had to remove her appendix.”
Which only confused my drugged mind even further.
I did NOT go in to have my appendix removed, what is going on?!
I also heard my Mom say, “You have to wake up, then I can take you home to see Lassie.”
I took her very literally and thought they were going to send me home the second my eyes opened, so I stopped trying to open them, because there was no way I was going to get up and go home, no way, no how.
Eventually I woke up (or as much as you can wake up when you’re doped up on pain killers and Benadryl) and everything was explained to me (for probably the hundredth time).
The plan was still to send me home that day.
I got up, with the help of a nurse and was walked into the bathroom. The nurse was just going to leave me there to do my thing, but I called my Mom in, because I was drugged and scared. She helped me sit, stand, and walk over to the sink. I remember reaching out for the faucet and then suddenly I felt like I was sinking. I heard my Mom saying my name, but I couldn’t respond, then nothing. The next thing I remember was being on the floor, in my Mom’s arms, and I could hear her trying to figure out what to do. I told her to pull the string by the toilet. She laid me down on the floor and went to pull the string. I vaguely remember my Mom sitting me back up and I don’t really remember my nurse (not the nurse who left me to use the restroom by myself) coming in, he just kind of appeared by my side. He pulled out a small flash light (I was so out of it, I was sure it was an EpiPen at first, and he must of been able to tell that I was freaked out by his flash light, because he said, “It’s just a flash light.”) and shone it in my eyes, then he had me follow it with my eyes. Now I’ve followed things with my eyes before and it’s easy peasy, but this time it felt like it took a bit of effort to focus on it and follow it.
I don’t remember being picked up and I don’t remember how I got back to my bed, but I was in bed and the nurse who left me was putting that obnoxious oxygen tube in my nose and told me my lips were a little blue (apparently I had stopped breathing, though I don’t remember not breathing). My nurse, Jared, told me he was going to test my blood sugar. Both nurses left the room; Jared went to get what he needed to test my blood sugar, and the girl left to go do whatever her job entails.
That oxygen tube became very annoying very quickly. It was too much. I felt like I couldn’t breathe properly because I was getting too much air. I asked my Mom if I could take it out, she said no and again explained why it was there. I cried. Of all the things I could’ve cried about that day, I cried about the obnoxious tube blowing air up my nose.
Jared came back in and I told him I didn’t like it, so he took it out. I like to think that my pathetic state made him feel sorry for me, so he gave me what I wanted. But my Mom later informed me that he only gave me what I wanted because my lips were almost back to their usual color and I was breathing well.
Whatever.
My blood sugar was tested and all looked well, so that wasn’t why I had fainted.
I think it was a number of things all put together.
1: I hadn’t had anything to eat since 11:30 am Monday morning (per doctor’s instructions). It was now Tuesday afternoon. I do remember eating applesauce and crackers, but I can’t remember if this was before or after I fainted. Either way, my stomach was running on empty.
2: I was full of drugs. I may be an adult, but I have a child-sized body.
3: I was very, very, very tired. Completely exhausted. Like falling-asleep-while-being-pricked-in-the-finger-with-a-needle tired.
4: It was too much too soon. I was not ready to get out of bed.
After that incident, it wasn’t really clear if I was going to go home that day.
The original plan was to get me out of there by 2 pm, that definitely did not happen.
They kept a close eye on me and finally allowed me to just sleep.
I ate crackers and ice chips and chugged cups of water, but mostly I slept.
The next time I got out of bed, I had a nurse (Jared and a girl who looked and sounded remarkably like Victoria Justice) on either side of me, and they helped me walk down the halls. It was slow going and I didn’t make it very far on my jelly-legs, but at least I didn’t faint.
They consulted with my doctor and it was decided that I could go home.
I got to ride in a wheelchair out to the car. I think that was the highlight of my day.
That and coming home.
My original recovery time: approximately 1 week.
New recovery time: approximately 2 weeks.
Even though my doctor told me, several times, that things may not go according to plan and there might be additional problems that may extend my recovery time, it’s still frustrating. I should be slowly getting back into the swing of things right now, but instead I’m just barely able to sit up for more than a minute or two at a time. I should be weaning myself off of my pain killers, not counting down the minutes until I can have another one because I’m in so much pain.
Every time I get frustrated I remind myself how truly grateful I am than my appendix was removed before it could burst. I’m truly grateful that I won’t have to experience that.
I am also so grateful for my wonderful family. Not only are they taking great care of me, but they are taking great care of Lassie and Petal, too. Thank you, guys.
Especially you, Mom. Thank you for helping me with everything.
♥
A get well gift from Grandma.
My furry nurses.
I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!
P.S. What do you guys think of the blog’s new look? I had it all ready to go before my surgery and was planning to get it up on November 1st. I almost didn’t achieve my goal, but I was determined, and stubborn. 😉 So hopefully it looks alright.
Jeez, Marquie! What a week for you. I’m sorry that you’re having to deal with so many complications, but so glad that they caught your appendix in time and you are back home recovering with the Collies. Hopefully the endometriosis surgery will get you some relief for what it was intended to help with. I hope that you feel better soon. You and your jelly legs will be in our thoughts and prayers over here.
Oh man, I’m SO grateful they were able to take care of the appendix before it burst. I think about that everyday.
Thank you for your well wishes and prayers, Brianne! I’ve been feeling a lot better.
Oh wow – I’m so sorry you had such a rough time. We are glad you are doing better.
Sam
Thank you, Sam. <3
That sounds awful! Glad you’re home, and that your mom was able to be with you. Hope you feel better soon!
I’m so grateful my Mom was with me. Especially when I fainted. Fainting was scary enough with her there, I could not imagine fainting without someone there to catch me and help me.
Thank you very much for the well wishes!
Wow, I’d really miss mommy if she had to go for a surgery! I hope you’re better soon…
Love the new theme on your blog, where do you get all these brilliant themes?!!
Cotton
Thank you, Cotton! <3
As for the theme, I made it to match the background. I got the background from a website called Totally Severe. There are tons of really amazing backgrounds there.
Oh my goodness! Not cool. You just can’t do things the easy way, can you? lol
I’m sorry you had all these complications but you really are lucky they found the appendix issue when they did. A burst appendix is life-threatening. So, while I know you’re feeling crappy and had a lot of confusion and some scary moments, it really could have been a lot worse. (And yes, I know that sounds trite and you don’t want to hear it right now. 😉
I am glad you’re safe. I’m glad you had a good nurse who helped make you feel better in the hospital. And I’m very glad you have your family (2-footed and 4) taking care of you at home. I hope you’re back on your feet soon.
Love the new look. It’s bright and spunky which, I think, suits you. 😉
Hahaha, no, I really can’t. I must make simple things complicated, it makes life more interesting. ;P
I am so incredibly lucky and blessed that they found the appendix issue when they did, I could not agree with you more on that. I’m very grateful for that, even if it extended my recovery time and added some temporary dietary restrictions that frustrate me so.
In a way, I simplified things a bit; I turned two surgeries into one! Haha. I’m grateful for that, too.
Thank you so much, Leslie, both for your well wishes and your compliments on the blog.
You have had one heck of a rough time! I’m so sorry your surgery and recovery has not gone as planned. Thank goodness they got your appendix out though because it can be so bad if they burst. I sure hope your pain get less and less each day and you can be back to normal soon. Some people can have a longer recovery time to anesthetic too. One of the best things for it is small walks, even if it’s just around the yard. This helps get it out of your system. Thank goodness for Momma’s! I’m sure yours is taking the very best care of you along with Petal and Lassie.
I do love the new cheery bright look of your blog!
Thank you, Bassetmomma! I am feeling a lot better, not 100% yet, but I’m slowly getting there.
For the first 5 days of my recovery, I was only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom and take a brief shower, and that was really all my body would allow anyway. Now, however, I’m able to walk around the house a few times a day and yesterday I went outside for the first time in a week, that was wonderful. Walking around has definitely helped a lot, especially with raising my spirits.
I am so grateful the appendix was taken care of and I can’t wait for my follow up appointment with my doctor so I can thank him for that.
Thank you Bassetmomma, for your well wishes and your blog compliment! <3