I’m Back! After 11 total days in Boston, 9 days in post-op and 4 days recovery at home before I felt able to sit at my computer for any length of time, I’m back. Now just ask me if I’m glad to be home. Go ahead…ask me.
There is. of course, quite a lot to write about as far as my adventures in post operative care are concerned but as this would make for one very long post I believe that I’ll divide things up a bit. With the way I’m currently feeling I really don’t believe I could tolerate sitting in this desk chair for the next 18 hours it would probably take to type it all out.
Grandad contacted me shortly after I arrived home and asked if they (the surgeons) had perhaps left anything metal within me that I might have noticed. He was worried about future border crossings in sensitive countries and airport security and the like. It would definitely be a problem to our “business” if they had. I let him know that there was no need to worry in that I seem to have come back 20 pounds lighter than when I left. I mean to talk to my surgeon about that come the beginning of June. How on earth could they actually find 20 pounds of anything to remove from a 147 lb, 5’10” man? I want it back!
In the meantime this surgery that I had has left me with the most peculiar sensation in my center regions. It feels like everything below mid-chest to just above the top of my legs now belongs to someone else. Especially when I’m eating or drinking something. Everything that goes down my gullet appears to be taking a detour of sorts to my stomach. And a shorter one at that. There’s also a lump in my throat where my surgeon had to use brute force to in order to shove an NG tube through my nose, down my throat and into my stomach. I asked her not to describe what “brute force” meant since I figured I had enough to deal with without having that mental image on my mind. Just glad I wasn’t around for the experience.
She also tells me that my mid-regions should return from wherever they went in a couple more weeks and I should begin feeling more like I own my entire body rather than just parts of it. The lump in my throat should heal up by then too so things should go down a bit more smoothly. It’s nice to have something to look forward to isn’t it?
Oh hell, my newly rearranged body is calling for a change in position (get moving or else!) so I’ll leave you here with some basic statistics:
- # of days in Boston: 11
- # of days post-op: 9
- # of IV’s (total) stuck into my arms: 7
- # of days without food: 7
- # of incisions: 5 (small ones)
- # of holes in my fingers (sugar checks): Lost count after 27
- # of belly sticks (insulin and heparin): Way too many.
- # of hours stuck in a Honda Pilot being assaulted by satellite radio mostly consisting of a Yankees game at massively high volume (ride home): 5
- # of times I thank the “powers that be” for allowing me to survive the above trip with my sanity intact: I’m still thanking ‘em—let you know.
Okay, that’s it for now as I must find some lunch (small meals, several times daily—I feel like a Hobbit) and then attempt a walk.
Damn! It’s good to home!
‘Tis great to have you back and spouting your usual guff. I had to read this out to Herself [too damned lazy to read it for herself] and she is now complaining of feeling ill and never wanting to go near a hospital again.
Incidentally, I think I may be part of your stomach detour. I was wondering why every now and then I felt like I had eaten. Before you eat, could you please forward me a menu?
As you might have guessed from the post, I’m very glad to be back myself. Tell Herself that I’m awful sorry to have put her off her lunch but these things must be told I’m afraid. A bit of self therapy you might say.
You’re part the detour? I thought there was something familiar (cantankerous) about the way I was feeling. Had the strangest inclination to be out on the waterfront with my old bore sighted .22 rifle looking for tourists (small caliber but effective in the right hands). By the way, a bit of seafood salad coming your way.
I like a drop of seafood salad. It was delicious. Thanks.
‘Morning. I don’t know what your surgery was for, but I’m glad you’re back home safe and sound (typical parenting words, I know).
My husband is due for some mighty serious surgery next week (double femoral bypass), so reading what you went through, and survived, is uplifting.
Wishing continued healing to you.
Hello Carol J,
Thanks for the welcome home. I’ll be sending many good thoughts you’re way so that you’re husband also makes it home safe and sound. We humans are tougher than we look.
So – you are glad to be home then? … I think so…. mine went quite well too although I still can’t use my arm properly – still try to drink with that hand and then feel foolish when it won’t go as far as my mouth!!!
Its all good fun … I think…
Hope you are feeling much better soon!
Hi Kate – Glad you got through you’re surgery in good shape. I’m sure your arm will start behaving properly before too long. Just keep threatening it until it gives in.
As far as I’m concerned, certain ‘systems’ of mine, as we shall we call them, are back to acting halfway normal and all will be well as long as I keep waking up in time to make it to the bathroom during the wee hours of the morning if you know what I mean.
I’m so glad to hear you’re okay, if not still a bit leaky… I hope every day gets a little bit better, baby steps.
I remember having to shove those NJ tubes down laughingboy’s gullet… I wanted to do it to myself just to see what it felt like but the nurses wouldn’t let me! I tried it at home but gave up after an epic attack of the sneezes. Not nice. Not nice at all.
Hi K8 – I don’t envy you having the job of “installing” NG/NJ tubes down poor Laughingboys throat. And that’s nothing when compared to what I feel for Laughingboy. I tell you what though. If you ever have the inkling again of trying on one of those tubes ‘just for the experience’?…make sure you bring TAT along to (gently but firmly) slap you upside the head and bring you back to your senses. I’ve been there, I’ve done that and more than once. It’s not an experience one goes looking for and if you ever have to apply one of those tubes again you really don’t want any firsthand memories hanging about.
Just a bit of friendly advice from a ‘Veteran of Hospitals’.
And it’s really good to be back (thanks!), even if still I am a bit leaky. They say I’ll get over that soon enough. Boy, will my wife be glad about that.
20 POUNDS??? Whoa. I guess all that red meat does stick with us???
Glad you are home safe and sound and back on the innerwebs.
Sixty – Sorry for the late reply. Recovery can take it’s toll sometimes. It must have been the 7 days with no food that did it, yes? Living on nothing but IV’s for a week doesn’t exactly put meat on the bones now does it?
Welcome back Sir – glad you are in well and in good spirits!
Quickroute – Thanks for the welcome. Makes the homecoming that much better.
I did have to hire some good spirits at first since mine were still recovering from the hospital stay. Now it’s just my natural born good spirits at work again. Good thing too since the fee per day to hire out good spirits is fairly costly.
I’ve been here several times to learn of your progress & truthfully didn’t know how to put into words my thoughts(still don’t)I’m so glad your on the mend and back home(missed your writings)it’s always much better to be miserable at home rather than a hospital & has to be better on the wife,if your a good boy, which I’m sure you are.This is Memorial Day,please know that you are remembered and appreciated.Don’t worry too much about the leaks,you won’t rust,take the word of one w/great experience.I know this is a bit disjointed but like I said I didn’t know how to write it,my thought processes are somewhat diminished at times, but I couldn’t let it go any longer without giving you well wishes and continued prayers.Prayers also for Kate and Carol J’s hubby.
Hi Sandie – Thanks for the well wishes and don’t worry about the comment being disjointed. I know where you’re coming from. And yes, I’ve been a good boy, Laurie will vouch for that.. Sorry about the late reply though, I haven’t been around the blog lately, been busy recovering and all that. Besides, it was taking me the longest time just to get through the Google news (had to take it in 3 sessions rather than my usual 1) for several days after I got home let alone take care of my poor site here. Better now.
Sending good thoughts your way.