Post surgery visit

So today I went for my post surgery visit.
About 30 minutes of standing in the waiting room and 5 minutes with the doctor.
Those 5 minutes were long enough for him to pull off my bandages, press on all my sore spots and let me know not to do any strenuous activity for a couple more weeks.
The scars look ok.  One is almost gone, the other looks a little wrinkled, but we'll see how it heals.
I was out and about for a few hours today. 
More and more flexibility and things I can do.
Certain movements and positions are still uncomfortable, and I get twinges of pain that remind me to take it easy.
I'm planning a bigger outing on Saturday and trying to get some gardening stuff done, with help from Justin hopefully.
After my outing I guess I'll have to find other things to write about.
This blog will continue to be about me and my family.  You can follow me on WordPress for my rants and raves about stupidity in all its many guises.

http://stevewhite71.wordpress.com

The next few days

The following days have been a lot of the same.  Getting a little more flexible and able to do things a little easier now.  I drove yesterday to pick Chloe up from school.  It was harder than I thought it was going to be.  Rode with Anita today to pick up Lolly from the Adoption Center.  Tomorrow is my follow up doctor's appointment so that will be my next post.  After that, we are planning to go to the Canyon Center on Saturday for an event and then to Lowe's for some garden supplies, so I'm sure another post will follow.
All in all, the recovery has been pretty easy, and the pain has been minimal.  Forcing myself not to push too far has been the hardest thing. 
I'll scan my operation photo and include it in the next post.

A little freedom, finally

As I get further away from the surgery, I continue to be amazed at how hard it it's to do some everyday things and how excited I am too be able to do then again.
Last night, I realized I could start to sleep on my side again.  It wasn't easy finding just the right spot to do it, but once I found it, I was able to get some much needed rest.
Day 3 brought another shower, and some time sitting up in a chair and working on some much needed computer projects.  I've still got 11 more days off recuperating left, so I want to pace myself.
Stayed with the family in the living room until bed time, and it was nice to be with the ones I love.  Always being wary of a cat jumping in my lap though.
Getting up from the chair takes a little longer and I have to ease into straightening up, but each day is a little easier.

48 hours after surgery

So another sleepless night of laying on my back.
Plenty of time for working on my connectivity though. 
Up early, and struggling to get out of bed. Now for a shower, finally.
Shower felt really nice, but you don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles in every little thing you do.  Rinsing shampoo from my hair took some yoga skills.
After my shower, I took the large bandage off my stomach that was covering my belly button.  It felt nice to have it gone as the hair was already starting to grow back, and the bandage was pulling a lot as I moved.
Had the house to myself for a little while so I just spent time wandering room to room.  It felt good to be up and moving.
I found I was able to get down on my knees and back up, that mobility was a pleasure to find.
Headed out to check the mail and out some scraps in the compost bin.  On my way back, Mom and Dickey pulled up.  Great to have some visitors.  Got to watch Mom shoot her pistol and show them all the new additions to the yard.
After they left, I spent a little time sitting in my chair with the family but my strength was fading so I headed back to my exile.

Next blog post: Some freedom finally

24 hours later

I'm not a person who can sleep on my back so after a short night, I was awake early and back to playing on my tablet. 
I was very sore that day and getting up for any reason required planning and extra effort.
I limited myself to two pain pills a day augmented with benadryl to increase the effect.
After lunch, I got myself dressed and headed out to walk around the yard and enjoy the 70 degree March day.
I spent about 45 minutes outside and made it back to the house on the last bit of energy I had.
I made another sojourn later that afternoon and that about did it for my strength.
It was time to go back to Netflix and PBS documentaries and get some rest.
I was going to bed it because I was having visitors the next day.

Next blog post: 48 hours later

Surgery Day

8:00 am and we left to take Chloe to school and me to the hospital.  We were about an hour early if my appointment time.  I put on my lovely hospital robe and socks and climbed into bed to wait.
We turned the tv on and immediately heard the beginning of 'The End' by the Doors.  Ominous music but luckily it was the beginning of Apocalypse Now, one of my favorite movies.
After one failed attempt, they got my IV started and I was just waiting my turn.
Finally, about 11am they took me back to the operating room.  After about 20 minutes of prep in the OR, they gave me the anaesthesia, and I was out.
I woke up in recovery in what seemed like 5 minutes, but was more like 2 hours.
They wheeled me back to my room and I was soon released to get dressed and come home.
One of my bandages was leaking a little so they put an extra patch over it.  We got our discharge instructions and they wheeled me out to the car.
I felt pretty good on the ride home, but the combination of motion sickness and surgery got the best of me.
I broke out in a cold sweat and my vision started tunnelling until I couldn't see anything.  By the time we got home, that had passed and I felt good enough to walk up the stairs and through the house to the bedroom.
I reluctantly took a pain pill and settled in for the day. Appetite was fine so I ate and drank whatever I wanted.
Getting up to go to the bathroom was a challenge.  Try getting up from flat on your back without using your stomach muscles.
My tablet and kindle kept me company as I was sequestered away from the cats who have a tendency to climb, lay, and biscuit in the area I just had worked on.
Next blog post: 24 hours later

Hernia Diary - Before the surgery

After I noticed what I believed to be a hernia, I really became aware of how uncomfortable it was making me.  In the days leading up to my initial doctor's examination, I started favoring the area and was acutely aware of any sensations I was feeling. 
After meeting with my primary care doctor, and having him refer me to a surgeon I went into a slow down mode. 
I quit doing anything strenuous at work, and at home.  I took the next 3 days off work in anticipation of what the surgeon would say.
On the day of my surgical consult, I was definitely feeling the discomfort of a hernia.  Within 10 minutes, I was diagnosed, confirmed my desire to have it corrected, and scheduled with a surgery date.
Then I took another 3 days off.  By now, I was hurting.  Whether I was hurting more now, or I was just aware of my condition I don't know, but I was in no condition for my job.
Next post, Surgery Day.