I came home this morning, and am all settled in. Dad and Ian piled me and my teddy into the car and brought me home. It is so nice to be out of the hospital!
Ian went out to get my meds (including a sweet supply of OxyContin - the pharmacist literally told him "be careful with that stuff" because it's so hot on the black market). I'm only taking it when I need it - I promise! No forming drug addictions here.
I can do the stairs just fine. I went up and got settled in for a nap, which felt so good. The Dawsons brought me a fancy Obus Forme pillow, and it's very nice for holding my head in a good position for sleeping.
I still have my 5 surgical drains attached, which means I can't take a shower until they're removed (could be days, could be a week or two... ugggggh). Ian is the best nurse. He helped me have a sponge bath so I don't smell any more and got me changed into fresh clothes. I feel like a million bucks! Now I'm happily sitting in my living room on the couch while Ian makes dinner in the kitchen. Just like a normal evening.
My spirits are high, and I'm feeling really good. I went to hell and back in the last week, but I'm finally through it. I'm just going to keep getting better and better. I can't believe that people do this, and then have chemo or radiation to look forward to after they recover. That would really be difficult. I think a lot about my Mom and her surgeries, and how she got through all that crap. It makes me so sad. I finally know just a little of what she was going through. The best thing is that I don't have to know any more - I just have to recover and look forward to good times and a cancer-free life. I am so lucky.
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Welcome home! Glad things went well. I'll be reading about your recovery with particular interest since It'll be my turn up next.Same reconstruction dude, probably the same procedure (though the looooong surgery and hospital stay has me spooked enough to consider implants).
ReplyDeleteThat Oxycontin stuff makes me unbearably itchy. so they switched me to hydromorphone after my knee op. Hmm, wonder what I could get for my leftovers ;) (*shouts* Which of course I will not do because I am a flawlessly law abiding citizen, O you interwebz police spies out there).
Best wishes for a quick and comfy recovery! :)
home! make sure ansley brings you the dvds i lent her for you. it is called rip tide. you wont be disappointed. well maybe you will if you don't like shitty 80s TV shows about three guys living together on a house boat and solving crimes! They also have an orange robot and an aging pink helicopter to help them out. I watched the entire 3rd season then had to ask Mike to get me more dvds. it rules.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYnATPozpcU
Hey Katja,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're going ahead with your reconstruction. Before the surgery, I was 100% convinced that this was the right thing to do, and now, a week later, I still feel the same way. I'm so glad it's over.
There were some hard moments in the first 4 days after the surgery. If you are going to have the DIEP, I can give you lots of info about exactly what's going on, etc. Dr. Hofer's team is great, but the nurses are the best. They took such good care of me.
At first, they had me on a drip with hydromorphone, and I could push a button to get a "hit". That was good, but it made me a bit stoned. Once my IV came out, they switched me to Oxycontin. I think they would have rather given me Tylenol 2 or Tylenol 3, but codeine makes me sick to my stomach, so I couldn't take that.
Honestly, the pain isn't bad at all. Most of the time I just take normal Tylenol and I'm fine. I only take the Oxycontin when it gets bad, or if I'm trying to sleep and it's difficult.
Keep in touch, and let me know how your plans go!
Okay, Ian and I just watched the YouTube preview of Riptide. THIS IS A MUST. We must watch this. Bring it over for good times, immediately.
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