surgery

Well, that's a doped-up smile if I ever saw one! Paul thought we should take that picture for posterity after my surgery on Tues.

As I type this I am sitting on the couch, heating pad on my lap, trying to decide if it's worth it to get up and get another pain pill. Actually, I was doing pretty well this morning until about a half hour or so ago.

This surgery ended up being a bigger deal than I really had anticipated. I remember them putting a mask over my face and I commented that it smelled like paint. That's the last thing I remember until I woke up in recovery - in massive pain and needing to really use the bathroom, thanks to all the IV fluids they had pumped into me. I just thought this would be no big deal. The surgery was scheduled for 10:30 so I told Paul that as soon as I was out there - probably lunchtimish - we'd go get something to eat because I was starving and then we'd get home so he could work on the house. Hah!

I didn't get back to my room until 1:30. And I was in agony. It took them forever to get my pain to a reasonable level. We didn't leave the hospital until almost 5pm! Dr. Morgan talked with Paul, although I haven't seen her yet. Apparently, the machine they were going to use for the ablation broke down part-way through the procedure, so they had to switch methods. And then I ended up needing a couple of stitches. Paul wasn't sure why that was, but I'm guessing that it had to do with the opening of my cervix, since Dr. Morgan had mentioned that it is "little" and "tight."

But, anyway, the whole thing went well. I got to talk to with the anesthesiologists beforehand and explained to them my concern about anesthesiology and my stroke history. They were very reassuring and took extra steps to prevent the formation of blood clots. I was thankful!

So, anyway, we sat in the room and watched cable tv (I got to catch part of "What Not to Wear" - LOVE that show!) while I ate crackers (that were bad for me - I had Paul read the ingredient list) and drank Sierra Mist, waiting for the pain to subside.

Then, we went and picked up my prescriptions. While we waited we went to the mall. I wanted to check out suit prices for Will at Target and Sears. I had to hang on to Paul's elbow the whole time. I told him that people seeing us probably thought we were just so close; little did they know that if I let go, I'd fall down!

I haven't been doing too badly since, although my energy levels have really been down. I haven't done much, work-wise, except fold some laundry. I did have David haul up my summer clothes yesterday and I went through them, figuring up my jewelry needs for them (Do I live a life of leisure, or what?!) That was work! I couldn't believe how worn out I was afterwards.

What has been the biggest blessing has been the care and concern directed my way in the days since. I've had so many phone calls, Facebook and email messages. Our church has been bringing us meals all week long, which has flabbergasted me. I didn't have a baby, nor was I hospitalized overnight. But yet, they're still willing to trek all the way out here, hot meals in hand. And I'm appreciative, because I didn't realize how worn out I'd be. I planned meals for this week, but I don't really think I could have made them, seeing how I feel now.

Dr. Morgan says I should know in the next 6-8 months or so if the surgery worked. Seeing now how much this small surgery has taken out of me, I am even more reluctant now to have the major, cutting, surgery that a hysterectomy would entail. So I hoped it worked!

Well, I won't bore you with any more details. Hearing about somebody else's surgery is generally not the most fun way to spend one's time! I think I am going to give in and go take some Percoset now, though...