Why, hello! I'm here in day three of The Confinement. Day one, the first day after the surgery, was fantastic. I read two books, I emailed, I twittered, I talked pleasantly with people. This recovery is going to be a breeze, thought I! Then day two came and, holy frak. Day two was awful. Total nausea and the closest thing to a migraine I've ever experienced. (Maybe it was a migraine? How do you know?)
A story for you:
I was sent home from the hospital with a catheter. (I can't quite believe I just told you that.) This was my #2 fear, my #1 fear being that thing from Dateline where the patient is totally awake and aware during surgery but can't tell anyone because of the paralyzing drug they give you as part of general anesthesia. So if I had to choose, I'm grateful it was my #2 fear that came to pass and not my #1. Although a catheter is pretty much as awful as you would expect it to be.
I was supposed to go in to a local clinic yesterday to have it removed. And even though that ended up being in the middle of nasty day two, neither hell nor high water was going to keep me from making that appointment. My mom dropped me off at a side entrance to the clinic and, looking back now, I'm pretty sure I was supposed to wait for her to park and come back to help me. But all I could think at the time was Must. See. Doctor. so I took off on my own down the hallways.
I must have looked like death warmed over, lurching along, bracing myself against the wall with one hand, the other hand holding my pee-pee bag in a kicky little tote. (Always accessorize!) I could see the seats of the OB/GYN waiting area just around the corner. In my drug-addled mind I thought that if I could just make it there everything would be okay. So I hurl myself forward like Frankenstein's monster, collapse into the closest chair with my pee bag in hand, and immediately empty out the contents of my stomach in full view of everyone else in the waiting area. With all ladylike delicacy, of course.
In the middle of my heaving, I hear one of the woman lean toward her companion and ask nervously, "Is that what morning sickness looks like?"
That's all I've got right now, folks. Your entertainment recommendations have been excellent. I think you've convinced me to finally read a Jodi Picoult book. Let's talk about that next time, yes?
13 comments:
Glad you are home... wishing you well during your recovery process. And I wanted to share that my momma was one of those people - she didn't feel any pain, but she was awake the entire time during her hysterectomy. The doctors didn't believe her - after the fact - until she began recounting their entire conversation. Heh. Thankfully she didn't feel anything. Praying for fast healing...
My Mom was awake during surgery once as well - but she could feel things. So of course I'm terribly paranoid that it runs in the family....
In other news, I just read My Sisters Keeper...I suppose I didn't love it as much as most people. Without ruining anything for anyone - I loved the first 400 pages, but the last few?
Ugh - I'm not a fan of this ending.
Ooh - Jodi Piccoult! I've read every one of her books. Love them. Beware though - lots of sad kid stories!
Oh I'm so sorry, Heather!! Are you on the way up now? Getting better?
I haven't read any Jodi Picoult but I hear they are the kind of books you inhale, which sounds just about perfect for surgery recovery. FEEL BETTER!!!
Hope you're feeling better.
Did you know your top 10 made the print version of Adoptive Families?
Oye! I hope all the days after two are improvements!!
Hey, here's another book recommendation: Run, by Ann Patchett (author of Bel Canto). It kinda-sorta has a transracial adoption theme.
Feel better.
I really hope you are feeling better.
I understand the strong-willed-ness of wanting to retain some dignity in yucky situations.
Sometimes your dignity is all you have!!
recently read 'my sisters keeper' as well, and wow, that ending.
REALLY did not see it coming.
I am anxious to see the movie.
I really wonder how they played it all out on the silver screen.
I liked the book, most of it is really really interesting.
but the end... oh the end...
@Rachel - I did know that it was going to be printed, but I didn't know the issue was out yet. Thanks for the heads up!
@Kristin - "Run" is one of the books on my list! I've been on a Patchett kick this year for some reason.
@cindy.psbm - I don't know how the book ends, but I did hear that they changed it in the movie.
@a Tonggu Momma @Thanksgivingmom - See, this is why I didn't mention it before. How awful for your moms! If I knew that I had just one degree of separation from people who had actually experienced it, I think I would have been scared even more than I already was.
So sorry to hear you've had to have surgery. With my recent c-section, the catheter was the thing I was the most upset about...and it didn't end up being as bad as I imagined. I had to keep myself from breaking out laughing and waking up the house when I heard about you carrying your pee bag in purse! Now I KNOW I have to meet you in real life!
I hope you recover quickly! I recommend reading Book of The Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr. or The Princess and Curdie or The Princess and the Goblin by George McDonald.
Oh my... that was a trip to the doctor for the books for sure! Goodness. I do hope you're feeling better and recover quickly and most of all, take care of you. I won't talk about all my fears about my potential surgery that might happen sometime in the next year or so depending on all the waiting lists here, but the two you named, at the top. (((hugs))) and happy reading.
And I'm glad your mom is there.
wow. hope you feel better.
I was happy to see your Top 10 list in Adoptive Families magazine too! It just makes it seem like it's such a small world after all!
Wishing you a quick and uneventful recovery!
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