After 1.5 days in CCU, I was transferred up to what they referred to as "5 Parker". Fifth floor in the round wing. I was still sore, but was thankful for my "binder"... it's like a big girdle for the mid-section. I had to increase my walking. I remember what a production it was to GET up and get moving. I used a wheelchair to walk behind.
Here's in my "regular" med/surg room:
Pictures of my war wounds:
I had 8 incisions--2 of them for my umbilical hernia, which was a bonus "fix" as I thought I would have to have a 2nd surgery to get it fixed.
Recovery in Med Surg was a lot of sleeping (I was given morphine every four hours and that really knocked me out), walking, and trying to sip blue Gatorade. They want you to drink the gatorade so if the blue appears in the drains, they know they have a leak. Leaks inside are not a good thing and could be fatal if they didn't catch it. Luckily my surgeon is fabuloso and I didn't have a leak. I had NO desire to eat. It wasn't even on my brain.
During the process of changing one's stomach, they cut away the part of the stomach that controls hunger as well as fat absorption. I still don't have much of an appetite 3 weeks post-op.
Surgery was on a Wednesday. On Friday, I got my first dinner tray. One TINY little cup of strained cream-of-something soup. I dipped a spoon in there and what was on the spoon was my first bite of food. I think I had 2 dipped spoons of soup. Later, I got another soup and a small container of cottage cheese. I had 2 tiny bites of that. Food is my lowest priority now. VERY strange.
I also was able to have a bowel movement on Friday. Everyone at the hospital was so thrilled, even my bombdiggety surgeon. I knew that would mean I would be released the next day.
I couldn't have asked for better care at Kenosha Hospital. It was worth every bit of the time spent away from home to know that I was in such good hands.
Saturday came and both my GP and surgeon visited me and signed off on my discharge. I got to get dressed. Kathy and I took a walk to the solarium and walked around a little bit waiting for the nurses to discharge me.
Here I am with my drains and central line still attached... they had to remove these before I left...
When the time came for them to remove my central line, it was creepy... I mean, they withdrew a line that was about 12 inches long out of my jugular vein.
The drains were even more strange because they were on my right side and it felt like they were withdrawing a 22 inch snake out from just under my skin... very strange sensation. (The catheter came out the day before and it, too, was very strange).
Finally at 4:47 pm I was able to go home. I got my discharge instructions and was escorted by wheelchair and a tech to Kathy's car. We drove straight back to her place (probably a mile at the most), where I got comfortable.
It was so good to be out of the hospital... let the next phase of the journey begin!
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