Waking up after this surgery was more difficult than the others. There were moments of fogginess, where I wanted to wake up and wanted to see my family, but just couldn't. In one of these moments of fogginess, I remember hearing the concerned voice of my PS, and feel people removing compression from my chest, but then I was out again. When I finally came to, I was back in the cattle call room and Jay and my mom were there. That was all I wanted, to see them and to know it was done.
I was in the cattle call room for awhile, and boy was that interesting - you could hear everything about everyone around you. The guy next to me kept saying he was dying, until the nurse had to tell him that in recovery we don't joke around about that. Finally they told me I would be going to my room (in the cancer tower) and that both Jay and my mom could stay. Yay!
As I was getting wheeled through the underground tunnel to the tower I remember being a lil in and out of it, but still with it to be the only person in the conversation to remember times and room numbers that were discussed in recovery. Go me and that mental alertness! I kept picking on Jay and my mom about that one.
When we got to my room I met my two very kind nurses. One was a cancer survivor herself, and had a double mastectomy a couple of years before. She was so helpful and informative over the night and into the next day.
I remember being so afraid to move. I didn't want to move because I did not want to be in pain. Like only wanted to move my head, type of not want to move. I was also afraid to look at my drains at first. I still vividly remember my Dad's drain in his leg and how much it scared me, and thought it would be that way again. I had held up pretty well, at least in my opinion, throughout this journey, but was afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep it together if I was in pain or saw that drain.
My room was nice. There was a fold out little couch and a chair and a TV with a DVD player. My mom was sad my dad didn't have rooms like this one all the times he had chemo. She took pictures and sent them to him - he was jealous :) By this time it was well past 9 at night. I got to talk to my dad and Kods, which was nice. Jay left to get some food for him and my mom and also got me some things and some DVDs. (He brought me back Despicable Me!!)
I was tired, and really just wanted to sleep. All of my Drs. came by to check on me and make sure I had everything I needed, and then my hourly checks began. Until about 3 in the morning, the nurse came in to check my blood pressure and my temperature. It was quite annoying, but necessary I know.
I chose to begin the oral meds as soon as I got to the room, because I wanted to get used to how I would feel once I left, and not be blindsided by the pain once home. The nurse looked at me a little oddly when I chose the oral meds, but hey, that's how I roll :)
Finally I had to move, I had to go to the bathroom. I wanted to do it on my own, even though I had 3 eager and willing people there ready to support me. I shuffled (vveerryy slowly shuffled) to the bathroom and was shocked at how difficult it was to actually sit down. It hurt. A lot. I could not believe it. Not to mention, the range of motion in my right arm was non existent. It was rather exhausting just to use the restroom, but I was still determined to do everything with as little support as possible. Yes, I am stubborn, but let's all not act like that is a surprise to anyone who knows me.
Once again, I love my husband. He slept in a chair so my mom could have the mini bed, and he pulled it right up next to my bed so he could lay right next to me, without hurting me in anyway. He had to work for a couple of hours the next day, but stayed with me until he had to absolutely leave. So much so, that one of nurses (who knew when he had to be at work) came in to double check that he was up and asked when he was leaving.
He left early the next morning, and I slept a little longer, and then began one of the more frustrating days of my life..
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