My Surgery

Yesterday (Thursday) I had surgery to have my gallbladder removed, as it was full of stones and making me rather miserable at times. The surgery started just a few minutes later than expected (10 minutes, maybe... just after Noon instead of 11:55 a.m.) and I'm told was actually done quite quickly (less time than expected). Laproscopic Cholesystectomy is the "official" name for the surgery performed, if you want to know :)

What I remember is going into the operating room, and the mask being put on my face as I was being told they'd start with just oxygen. The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and asking for ice chips. The next thing I remember is rolling into the room in which my parents were awaiting my arrival from recovery.... From there it's just random moments of awakening, chatting a little, ice chips occasionally, and not much else until about 5, when I actually woke up and started moving. I know I ate a package of graham crackers sometime before that and drank some water with them since I had NO saliva production, but I have no idea when that was (around 4, maybe).

Getting up and moving wasn't too bad, no dizziness and not much pain or anesthesia fog at all. I was bright enough to take a pain med before attempting the car ride home, roads are bumpy and I didn't see any point in toughing it out when I didn't have to! Thanks to Mom & Aunt Mary's reminders, I wore scrub pants instead of the jeans I'd originally had on. Much better for the little incision on my belly button!

The ride home was fine, a little uncomfortable over all the bumpy roads that are Michigan roads. Mom & Dad asked if I needed anything and that was a definite yes, I was hungry! McDonald's for a burger and diet coke fixed that and got rid of the leftover chemical taste in my mouth from the anesthesia :) We then stopped at mom & dad's for a bit (mom had graham crackers and I didn't have any at home, she gave me hers), then they brought me home.

Last night I camped out in the recliner with my ice water, and ice pack, my phone (Words with Friends with mom) and my knitting (I have a baby sweater to finish, in case my cousin has a boy). When I went to bed I was comfortable enough to sleep on my stomach, which is good because I can't remember the last time I slept in a different position!

Today I eventually got up around 8, though I woke several times before that. I felt great, so I went to Harding's and picked up donuts and orange juice for my coworkers and headed in to town. I visited at work for a while, checked in with a couple patients, and then headed out for a couple errands before heading back towards home. Once back in Wayland, I decided to go to Daily Brews (my favorite coffee shop, White Milky Way is my fave!) for coffee and knitting time. While I was there mom called to see if I was hungry, so they joined me there for lunch. Since then I have been home watching movies and relaxing, recovering from a busy morning! I'm feeling good, but I probably did a little too much this morning in the way of sitting instead of being stretched out...