I Survived!

I'm a little dizzy so if I have some typos and grammar problems, we can blame it on that!

I cried when I read all of your lovely comments. I felt your prayers and well wishes in my behalf. The Lord has blessed me with wonderful friends and a fantastic family! I certainly am loved. With wonderful friends like you, who could fail?

Let see if I can remember everything yesterday! We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. and they began the lab work. Lot of blood drawn. The little gal couldn't find a good vein and was having a hard time getting it to stick and I got a little dizzy so had to lay down. Finally she found a good vein in my wrist. Geez Louise ... that hurt! It felt like she was shoving a rusty nail in my wrist. I met with my assistant surgeon and reminded him that he took out my gall bladder 30 years ago and we had a good laugh. The anethesiologist whisked me into the operating room singing Cat Stevens to me. The next thing he said was night night and the next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room. That's the wierdest feeling trying to come out of that great, deep sleep! I was surprised that I didn't hurt. I guess I was sedated really well.

Then they whisked me to my spacious room. They call it a suite. It's nice. Wooden floors, big chairs, big couches, and big gowns. They gave me an intravenious pump ... a Hybrid Morphine. I kept telling them I was allergic to morphine and codeine but they said this was different and it should be fine. I had a pretty rough day yesterday. A lot of pain and mega dizziness. I would get the dry heaves when I would try to lift my head from side to side. They gave me something for that and it helped, but everytime I would press the pump for more pain medication I would get sick again. Finally at 3:00 this morning I stopped all pain meds and just toughed it out. I spoke with my surgeon at 4:00 this morning.. He was making rounds at that time of the morning. Amazing! He was surprised that the medication was making me sick. He ordered some liquid Lortab which takes the edge off the pain but still makes me dizzy. I'm sure I'll be feeling much better tomorrow.

I'm going home around 6:00 p.m. I can't wait. Last night was comical. Between the CNA and the Nurse they were coming into my room every hour. The nurse was very nice and very caring. The CNA needs a little bit of growing up. I told her that I was really dizzy and weak and needed some help to the bathroom. She proceeded to pick up myIV tubes and walk into the bathroom without helping me.. I told her that she better catch me if I faint. she told me that she doesn't catch anyone or even try breaking their fall. Then she proceeded to leave me and go sit down on my couch because she said she had eaten too much and she was full! Oh, it gets better. Another time I unhooked all of my cords because she wouldn't come to help me to the bathroom, took myself and was sitting on the john. She said that she would come back to help me and hook me up. I finally got tired of waiting so took myself back to bed and left everything unhooked. She returned in an hour!

I got to have my first real food since Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Chicken broth and sugar free jello. One ounce of each. I don't think anything has ever tasted so good!

Well, it's time for some more pain meds and I need to lay my bed back. I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow.

Love to you all!

21 comments:

Jaron Winder said...

Oh my goodness, are you that out of it that this is all you were able to write today???? Hope you are well sweet Linda!

Laurel, Brian, Addison & Liam said...

OH yea mama, you were able to blog! Sorry the computer wasn't working for me to do it for you.

I'd like to go over there and slap your CNA-you should make sure her superiors know, especially when she said she had to sit down on the couch because she'd eaten too much and was full. That brat-doesn't she know you're a big gal who just had her stomache reduced to the size of a PEA?!!!!?!

Addie was so concerned that you weren't coming home with Bomps last night; she kept asking, "Where's granny? She go home mom." It was really sweet.

I'm glad you're feeling better. You are the most positive person and that is why I KNOW you will get through this and do amazing!! LOVE YOU!

Natalie said...

Hey, remember Darlene, the crazy nurse who helped deliver Abby last year? Oh, what a comical farse that was. Sounds like your CNA and Darlene are related? You sounded great on the phone today after your lortab. Sounds like it's working great. Good to know you don't react well to pain meds. No worries about my mother becoming a junkie.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you're making the best of everything as usual. So glad that you've passed this part of your journey and I'll be watching as you shrink -- and know that you'll keep that big personality to go with the newly svelte Linda!

Mommy Shar said...

Linda- So glad you survived... dumb nurse!! I remember that they couldn't find a vain in me and considered putting one in my neck.. yup my neck. Needless to say after many many pokes I was wheeled away to the operating room for another guy to try his magic. I remember him talking about me in a bikini in Lake Powell. I laughed at the thought and next minute I knew it was over. As for eating I just remember haveing to drink 8 oz of water in a day before I could be released. An once at a time I thought I would never leave. It seemed impossible. Keep us updated. I have been thinking of you all day and kept checking for an update. =) Take Care!

Evelyn said...

Glad your surgery went well. I've worked in health care for almost 30 years, and I still do not understand why people with the attitude of your CNA even get into the field. If you can't be caring and compassionate towards others, don't go into healthcare, not even as an office or food service worker. And the sad thing ... what she said to you, Linda, was probably the truth - she wouldn't even have broken your fall if you had gone down.

Jaron Winder said...

Maybe she wouldn't help catch your fall because she was afraid your gown would come open on the way down???? HA Love ya Linda Lou

Terry Molineux said...

Linda...wow..your CNA is a little bit to be desired and I certainly would report her to her supervisor and let your doctor know...

So glad you made it through the surgery and hope you are up and around real soon!

My prayers and thoughts are with and cannot wait to go on the journey with you..

stampurr said...

glad you are doing well, that CNA is a little BRAT...i'm sure you can't wait to get home...keep up your beautiful smile and keep your hair short....

Anonymous said...

Oh missy this isn't at all what I expected. I am so sorry you are feeling so rotten, I am going to call on our Father to rescue you, and make you feel better. I am saying a prayer in a minute, until then get some rest and don't worry about us. Hugs

Anonymous said...

God Bless you! Your so sweet to share this with all of us.....May you be well soon! Sending warm Hugs....Deb

Simmy Ogg said...

Ooh, don't people like your CNA just burn your butt? I think that you should just give us her name, and the address of the hospital, and we can all send a nice little hand stamped card to the head of the hospital explaining how that brat treated you !!!!

Simmy Ogg said...

P.S. Glad everything turned out well. I'm amazed you are blogging from the hospital !!! Such dedication to your fans !

Connie said...

Li8nda,
I am so glad you are feeling a little better!
Your CNA . . . when I had surgery a few years back, I had an RN who did some similar stuff. They were supposed to measure my urine output so I called when I got up . . . The 'hat' in the toliet got so full, because she never came in, that I dumped it my self. I requested clean panties and she never brought them, so i washed my others out and dried them with my hair dryer! When I was sent home, I wasn't given any pain meds and she wasn;'t going to bring a wheelchair until I requested it! (As a nurse, I know that the hosptial has policies concerning discharging patients!) Then after I got home and had not received a bill for my portion of the bill, they sent me a letter saying I was being sent to collections. I went right into the hospital and paid my copay and told the clerk my story. She suggested that I write the hospital administrator. I did! And a few weeks later I received a letter of apology and my entire copay back in a check.
We pay too much to be treated like that. Your CNA should be written up for sure! The medical professionals should act in a 'professional' manner!
Take care and get better soon . . .
Love ya!

Annette said...

It seems like everyone has war stories about hospitals and nurses. I have my own too. But in true Linda style you made the best of your situation.

Looking forward to hearing more.
Rest and know that each day will bring less pain.
Hugs
Annette

Phyllis said...

Thanks for taking time to share with us. I'm so glad that you are feeling better, surgery went well and get to go home. That always makes such a difference!! Woo hooooo!!!!

Keep up the GREAT work!!

Mickey Roberts said...

Hi Linda! It's so good to "see" you in good spirits in spite of all you're dealing with. Best Wishes! My prayers and thoughts are with you.

DonnaJ9 said...

Hey Linda,

Thank goodness you survived! Who would be here to let me bedevil them the way I do you! I hope you're feeling much better and now you're on your way, you skinny little emaciated waif! We should have talked the hospital into a two-for-one deal!

Love you loads,
Donna

DinaPEA said...

Linda

What an ordeal but now your fun part begins (I'll call it fun because its a step towards a wonderful journey even though I know its not going to be entirely easy)

I've been thinking about you for the last days and I'm glad you are recovering and I look forward to updates and photos!

Carrie Cudney said...

Thanks for the update! I've been worried about you. Hope you're back on your feet soon!

Unknown said...

Oooo goodness girl! I'm so glad that you are up and about! I can't wait to hear how things go. I won't recognize you the next time I see you (yay)!
XOXOXOXO