The WHOLE story...

Or at least the parts I remember....  So boys and girls let's fire up the way back machine and document the week that has gone by and the joys have having your inners re-arranged...

So Friday morning - we're up, and moving we have to drive to Northern VA but it's Friday it's June shouldn't be too bad, we leave a bit early - because it is Washington DC suburbia traffic and well anything can happen...  We got there early - after one wrong turn into the hospital.   Yes Bubba was driving and yes - he was cranky.   Cranky because I told him to get the F out of the left lane because I didn't know for sure if exits had changed, been rearranged or moved due to all the road construction going on in Northern VA - then he was more cranky with the wrong turn into the hospital.   This place is HUGE - and surprise under construction so went into the Blue entrance instead of the Grey Entrance - you would think that would have been instinctual...alas I was off my game Friday morning.

Yes, medial panic and dark and twisty brain were still in control - and it didn't get better.

We arrive, check in, settle in, with our beeper - yep a beeper so when the paper pushers are ready for you they page you.   So sit, page, paperwork, bracelet with name, and birth date to verify who you are - which later is a lot of fun when you're busy watching the pretty colors dance across the hand holding your arm... at least you think it's your arm... but we'll get to that later.   Now we are still stone cold sober and oh -so - ready for the good drugs so that medical panic brain is lulled into a drug induced haze - and she stays there...

So checked in, sitting, called, back into the 'prep area and medical panic brain is now in full mode, hair on fire, running screaming, logical practical brain is running behind her with a bucket of water or vodka I didn' have time to check - tell her that the drugs were coming.   little did she know.

Little room facing the wall and the medical equipment, undressed, on the small bed with wheels and IV in, and I beginning to feel like patient No. 34591234-J.   So there we are - just me and Bubba only one person can come back in prep area -- groovy.   We look at each other - we chat - we watch the time go by.... my procedure was scheduled for 10:30 AM.  I hear other people getting ready, being wheeled out and new people come in - it's 10:10AM and I ask Bubba to go find a medical type person to find out what is going on!   The patient before me is still in OR - so I get to wait.   Gee Nurse Pumpkin did you think I might like to know this bit of information instead of sitting there in my thin cloth cover and the covers that lost that nice warm feeling a long time ago...

Bubba went out to get his computer - as I had him call Mom to tell her what was going on, she needed a ladies room and by now probably went to find coffee and breakfast - who would blame her?  Bubba had to wait longer.   Finally as we were approaching 12:30 things were getting rolling - nurses, the people who put you out - yeah ana--- spelling not my thing - medical spelling even worse - you know who it is - move on!   Now remember original start time 10:30 AM getting rolling at 1 ish - and as I found out later the doctor decided to go out for a drink or a smoke or something - as it was another hour after they wheeled me out.   Frankly - I don't remember much after the put you out guy - most was shear panic and the rest was good drugs.

The next thing I remember is hearing voices - all kinds of voices - they weren't talking to me to I went to sleep, again and again.   Finally when Mom and Bubba arrive I am still WAY out of it - they tell me it 9PM!!!!   Apparently my surgery as well was lengthy as I was the student project of the day - oh yeah.   That is why the drugs were so good  - so I didn't see the ten 15 year old doctors standing around my naked fat fanny while looking at screens and probes and god knows what... ick.     Of course in my altered state I say 9PM and ask Bubba if he had tended to the dogs - he called the neighbor.   Thanks goodness.   Nana probably reminded him.

Just then the world began to spin as finally the hospital found me a room for the night - like it was some big surprise that I was staying (it wasn't) apparently all of Northern Va was checked in Friday night... go figure.   This room had to be at the other end of the world from where I was - because there was a lot of spinning, talking, shifting bouncing and general not making any  part of me happy going on.   Final insult was slamming my bed against the door jam.   Thanks boys. 

OK, in a room, which finally stopped spinning, drugs are a good thing, nurse asking you questions you have no chance of answering - like your name or birth date - seriously - read the bar code lady and leave me alone.   HA!  Fat chance of that happening.   What I remember post the dizzying journey to my room was an endless parade of people, noises, and any time I drifted off to sleep - something else was in my room telling me that wasn't going to happen.   My roommate's family arrived and frankly that was the most rest I got since being knocked out.  And  there were a lot of them - I didn't care they chased away nurses and other nuisances and I slept.   And wondered where my family was and had my mother killed my husband after only one night - I doubted it - but hey.

Saturday afternoon arrived with family, more nurses, doctors, questions, and more drugs.   Apparently I was a good patient in the fact that I peed.  Yeah me.   My bladder is not shy it will go anywhere and when it needs to go it will go.   Finally at 8 PM I am released from the hospital.  Between you and me they should have just kept me for all the BS that occurred.   We get to the car, no muss no fuss, get 9/10's home and I dared question Bubba's choice of where to go to the pharmacy get my drugs - he heads to the drive through 2.5 hour wait for meds.   They don't have my liquid pain meds - remember no food no pills liquids.   This is the good stuff - they don't keep this stuff handy - it's pushing 9 PM Bubba is being Bubba and asking 6000 useless questions - to me and all I want is bed - which after getting in my bed wasn't such a great idea - I wanted in his chair - and would remain there for another 3 days.   Horizontal wasn't an option.

I also came home with a drain.   To say this thing was nasty is an understatement I again I praise the heavens above for my mother who can handle all that oogie medical type stuff with a "oh get over it" attitude that kept my liquid dinners in place.   She had to drain this bulbous thing sticking out of me twice a day for 3.5 days.   Nasty.    I have also learned that was the source of 9/10's of my issues that whole darn weekend.   Idiot doctor.

So Saturday night, and Sunday were a blur of pain, little sleep, boring TV and go knows - I am sure I talked to a few folks but not 100% sure. 

Monday was a breakthrough day, still feeling crappy but slightly less so, showered felt better after that, Nana made me soup - and handed and fetched and generally did what needed to be done.   While I sat around unhappy, not feeling great and grumpy.   Not terribly exciting.  Our first big trek was go the doctors on Wednesday!    We left early got stuck in construction traffic on the beltway I drove (directed - Nana drove)  Nana past my office building - we arrived early got things done and were outta there about the time my appointment was scheduled for!! 

Now in the doctor's office it was noted 5 days past surgery I was down 5 pounds.   Yeah me.   So that added a little sparkle.  Then I asked the doctor to take out this drain.   She said she would, so tug on the stitch that held things in place, then she yanked and I do mean YANKED this mile long tube out of my body literally from my left side to my right side and when she was done yanking she pulled the last 100 yards out I swear with her foot on the side of the table and me hanging on for dear life.   YEESHA!

But then - oh - well a bit later after the waves of nausea had passed and the stars and birds stopped dancing about my head.  I felt - better!   That odd ache on my left side was gone, that horrible bulb thing with gunk of un-thunk-about ick was gone, the ache from that hole was a flaming pit - but easing back... huh.   And by the time I left the doctor's office, and we were headed home - I was indeed feeling better - I really wanted to hurt that doctor for leaving that thing in me... barf and ick.

Another milestone Wednesday we went out to lunch - I know what you're thinking.   We went out for Chinese I had soup.  I had egg drop soup and it was WONDERFUL.   Who know a person could get so excited over egg drop soup?  it was almost real food!  My god!   I ate half of the bowl.  Yep - half.  Took the other half home, enjoyed it for dinner.   It was small victories this past week that kept me going.   Thursday Nana and I went shopping, Trader Joes', Home Depot so she has a key to the house and the grocery store for more sugar free stuff to attempt (poorly) the taste of my meds that must be  crushed and eaten daily.     Then home.  Tired.

Friday Nana made sure things were tended, cleaned and remade, then headed home.   She called to say she arrived home - I am sure Pap was very glad to see her, and immediately asked what was for dinner.   :-) 

I enjoyed a quiet Friday, until Bubba the grumpy came home, beat the storm while mowing the lawn.  I made the unpardonable sin of letting Shelby in and not letting him know - ask - don't shout and you get an answer.  dumbass... (and yes things are back to normal aren't they?)

He hotted up leftovers for dinner - well after I had "enjoyed"  my soup.  and the savage beast was soothed...

This morning has also been quiet, but I can tell Bubba is chomping at bit to leave me a list of stuff to do.... bwsaaa ha ha ha.   No chance bucko - Aunt Ing can't lift anything for a month and I'm milking next week for all she's worth.  DO something for a change Bubba and get used to it. 

He is away getting a power washer from a friend of a friend kinda deal.  It makes him happy I am not going to question it - only problem is he took my car to haul it home... I'll kiss it's bumper when they get back.  

And they are back and making my life heck... oh goodie.   Check in Monday for - "its a good thing he went to work".

Later