our story so far...part 2

As somewhat mentioned before, over the next...24 hours...after surgery, Gil had to empty my drain bag and "milk" the tube, which made us both kind of queasy. Because of the drain, I had to sleep in our recliner, so Gil slept on the couch. Not exactly the most comfortable of circumstances.

Now, if I didn't mention it before, I was very taped up and couldn't lift my head to well. So, the next morning, when I went to get the drain taken out, I was walking a bit like Frankenstein's monster. I was trying to hard to straighten my back, but couldn't lift my head...so I looked so stiff. I was really happy to get that drain out and get the tape & bandages off, which left me looking like bride of Frankenstein (or Franken-chick as David called me). I felt I could handle a little more movement. As we left, Gil took me to Target where we got some soups, pasta, and other groceries that I could eat (my sore throat could only handle so much) and I bought a Starbucks coffee (of course!).


After that, things are pretty uneventful. It took a little bit before I was really comfortable in our bed - sleeping on my sides rather than my back. I'm not supposed to lift much and take it easy talking. Talking gets to be like a workout - the muscles get sore and the voice starts to waver. I did a little walking on the treadmill Sunday - about 1.5 miles. I need to get back to working out. Merlyn got into something in the backyard and I had to give him a bath, which, it turns out, he is over my lifting weight limit - 12 lbs.; I'm not supposed to lift over 10 lbs. And last night I went to give Gil a kiss goodnight and lost my balance. Funny how much you use your neck when you are trying to keep from falling forward.

Today, Tuesday, Feb. 12th, I had the staples removed. I feel I have a lot more movement in my neck. Turns out I had a benign tumor called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid, but I don't know who Hashimoto is or how really it differs from a goiter except it's not an iodine deficiency. Should be good for a little research.

I'm still kinda tired, and very sore, like I've been "clotheslined", but I think I might try to go back to work Monday. I definitely want to give it a few days before I go back to work the kinks out of my neck. Voice still gets weak too. So, today is kinda blah. Good day to just sit home and continue my recovery.

Until next time...this ride is over!

Our story so far...

Tuesday, Feb 5th I got a call about 1:15 pm, shortly before school ended for the day. Actually it was the second call, but I missed the first one and hadn't returned the call yet. It was the surgery center with all my pre-op instructions and questions - no food or drink after 12 pm, surgery was to be at 8am but I had to be at the center by 7am, had I ever had this or that, make sure to wear a button down shirt, and so on...

So about 5:45 am Feb. 7th we got up and got dressed; left the house about 6:20am. It was still very dark. When we arrived at the surgery center, I was surprised at the amount of children. Evidently there were about 5 kids, under the age of 10 scheduled for surgery very early. That made me so sad. About 7:30am I got checked in and about 15 minutes later was called to go in the back for prep. Gil was brought in a little later to see me off. Before I was taken, Dr. Steineger stopped in, 2 anesthesiologists, and one other Dr. that I don't remember hearing mentioned when they told me who all would be in the operating room. She made me nervous because she asked me all the questions I had already been asked by the pre-op nurse and some by my Dr. I was taken away about 8:15, I guess.

One of the anesthesiologists that had already introduced herself put something in my IV, and I quickly felt a cold sensation in my hand as they wheeled me away. I asked if that we my anesthesia and if I'd be feeling loopy any minute...that was the last thing I said as they made a left turn down a hall. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in the same place they took me away from.

It wasn't like I just fell asleep and woke up - I KNEW something happened in between. I heard them welcome me back. I smiled at Gil, and periodically acknowledged he was there. He looked a little scared. I didn't feel so good either, but mostly just sleepy. I don't remember too much at that point; I seem to remember the Dr. coming by and saying the operation went smoothly; I remember the Nurse getting me to sit up, breath, asking me if I felt ok...I felt a little rushed to get dressed and moving. Gil seems to think that was to get the anesthesia out of my system; I don't know, I think they needed the space. I felt a little queasy, but with the nurses help, I got dressed and we moved to a sitting area. There I really got kinda sick and dizzy. She waved some kind of wet-nap type pad under my nose. I'm sure it was like smelling salts (which, by the way, you never want to smell when you are ok - because they stink and will make you pass out). After some apple juice and coffee (which I spilled - good going Carol), we got under way.

Oh, somewhere in there, the nurse showed Gil how to clean out my "drain" - a tube that was under the incision , and about 5 foot of tubing on the outside that dumped into a bulb like bag. Yeah- almost every time we cleaned out that thing, I felt sick.

Well, we got home.I was so taped up at the incision that I couldn't lift my head and stand up straight, so my back was really starting to hurt. I got sick when we got home, but kept it in (eww). Once Gil got me settled in, he called him mom to sit with me while he went and got my medication - pain pills and anti-nausea. I slept through most of that.

Once, just before Gil got home, Mom got to talking to me. It's hard having a one way conversation because I really couldn't speak, let alone make much sense. It was then that I realized, Gil had practice, and Lori was supposed to sit with me, but I became real uncomfortable with that idea. I ended up being a bit selfish and asking Gil to stay with me instead of going to practice, which he did. We spent the rest of the day with him playing video games (Call of Duty 4 online with his Xbox 360) and me sleeping. I think I eventually had some tomato soup and crackers - was that dinner? And I know I drank some.

Well, that's enough for now. This looks like I'm writing a book! Who knows, by the time I'm done, it may be darned close!

Until next time...

Upcoming surgery

Well, did the Disney 1/2 Marathon on Jan. 12th and finished in 2:25:02 - a little off the 2 hours I had hoped for, but not bad for a newbie (I think).
Got thru final exams and have trained my new TA's to the best of my ability. I've also lined up my sub, so everything should be ok while I'm gone. As for my time off...

Surgery is Feb. 6th sometime between 7am and 12 noon at the Mease Surgery Center (dunno where that is off hand). I have a Dr.'s note that says I should be able to return to work Feb 25th, but I'm hoping to be ready sooner.
So, knowing that you are going to have your throat cut open and part of your thyroid removed, right near your trachea and vocal chords, how do you NOT worry?

Beyond that, who knows? I'm hoping to sign up for the Harbour Heights run in Pt. Charlotte on March 8th and the Carollwood run on March 12th. I'm pretty sure I should be ok to do that.
More later....much love to all...