One Day and a Wake Up

Blog Day 3- the day after surgery

Tuesday, 29 Dec, 2015

Well, the best I can describe Tuesday is the day of “One day and a wake up” but I didn’t know that at the time. I was obviously attached to so many IV’s, cables, patches, cuffs, tubes, and alarms that I really had no idea which way was up on Tuesday.

I can imagine what I went through, sort of. As I mentioned, I had been in the medical device field for quite some time. I’ve witnessed surgeries. I know how lifeless the body becomes and a person is draped, catheter inserted, sheet up, and gas prescribed. Nurses, scrub techs, Doctors, and often implant device sales people all set to do their jobs. It’s very routine, as it should be. Sometimes the surgeon has to have the right music at the right volume and that helps him or her to get it right- to be in the zone… I will have to ask my Doc what he listened to.

I know the smell of the flesh as its cauterized, the sound of a drill or saw being used to open someone up for a new joint or to fix broken bones. The sterile white lights and day to day humor used to get through these often long and complex cases. I know the different instrument trays that have been brought up and are kept in the sterile field so that everything is perfect that enters the human body and all is done to reduce possible infections. I can imagine the relief at the end of the surgery knowing that Dr. B did his best and it was time to close up with my tumor removed, screws in my head, and all my lovely staples.

These were just some of the thoughts swirling through my head on Tuesday…

I hadn’t eaten and wouldn’t actually eat until Wednesday I think. I was pretty much just there on Tuesday while my family visited so sweetly and my darling daughter climbed into the hospital bed with me and fed me ice chips.

My loving husband, parents, and extended parents were amazingly strong and you become so very thankful for making good decisions on who you have decided to surround yourself with in life. Character, integrity, compassion, selflessness, and love are such amazing assets in a person and should never be taken for granted…

Tonight I saw a very scary selfie that my BFF took with my daughter and I’m in the background. Holy Hell if that picture doesn’t scare the shit out of a person. I look like walker…the zombie dead kind and not the happy hiker kind… It was like one of those old west scary pictures. I will consider posting on the blog, but I need a minute on that one!

So, back to the one day and a wake up… Little did I know, but Wednesday morning I would be told that as long as I could get out of bed, eat something, have a bowel movement, and all I could go home…WTH?!? Seriously? I just had brain surgery and within 2 days they were willing to discharge me. Alrighty, then! So, in my typical fashion I completed the assigned checklist of required activities so that I could go home to recover in my own bed and personal sanctuary.

Eating was easy. In fact, food has never tasted better. That’s another blog though.

Getting out of bed- assisted. I did that. I even set off the Granny Pad Alarm (RIP Granny- we love and miss you) in my bed because there was no one around and I wanted to get up and escort myself to the potty….

Bowel movement….Not so fun or easy. Again, nurses are beyond under appreciated. Another blog! After you have a kid or after multiple military deployments, your sense of modesty tends to be much more laxed… When you are told that you will have to poop to go home, you turn to your side and let your sweet nurse do whatever she needs to do to make that happen. Enough said…

While my husband worked through the discharge paperwork, pharmacy issues, etc I mentally prepared myself that I was able to go HOME!!! Have I mentioned just how amazing and selfless my husband has been through all of this? He is my rock.

Next blog- either Homecoming or Coming Home to a Golden Retriever….

#Boskovitz #tumor #nurse #home #ethics #intergrity