post-op day 2

ok, sorry for the delay everyone.  yes, i am ok.  a little “mixup” with seattle’s finest cable and internet service provider caused me to lose my internet connection when at home, so i can only update the blog when around a connection, such as right now.

ok, and now back to the fun.

after getting chest tube #3 installed, i was in a bit of pain.  my mom stayed with me the second night.  on the third day, being wednesday, my dad was scheduled to fly back to san diego to meet up with his wife linda, and for them to figure out what the next steps were.  they were just about to cross the border to go on their normal winter trip to baja for a surfing, painting and kiteboarding extravaganza when they got word i was having some difficulties with my health.  much appreciation to both linda and my dad for being patient and sticking it out for nearly a month while my health was sorted out.  i was fine after surgery, but it was difficult to see my dad leave after him being by my side for nearly three weeks straight.  he certainly helped keep my head upright and offer some wise advice.  i told them to head on with their trip.  get in some sun and warmth this winter.  have an adventure and think of me while catching some waves.

wednesday was somewhat of a blur to be honest.  i think brian and marijana stopped by, but i was in such pain i really wasn’t up for seeing anyone.  the nurses were great and very understanding of my predicament.  they were very careful to listen to my requests and i was thankful for their promptness.

two physical therapists came in to get me up and out of bed for the first time since i had walked into pre-op.  i was to use some big mechanical walker to get up and start moving around.  first they had to sort out the spiderweb of tubes.  let’s see if i can remember this right.  i had O2, IV, chest tube 1, 2, 3 and a catheter.  i also had a package that was sending telemetry to the main office.  it was connected up via five wires to patches on my chest, monitoring my heart rate, as well as making sure i wasn’t dying or something like that.  a lot of wires and tubes.

after getting the spiderweb untangled, i had three boxes for drainage and one sac for my catheter hanging off this big walker machine.  i had a physical therapist on either side of me, and my mom behind pushing the IV and pca dolly.  it was kinda comical.  i’m sure it was quite the site.  they said if i could make it to the door and back, that’s a pretty good start.  i wasn’t ready for that.  i went to the door and just kept walking.  mind you, i had no use of my arms, so it was quite awkward to have four people moving in sync, as every step was making the tubes move around, or things getting tight and then slack.

i went straight for the double doors which i would say were 20 feet from my room.  they were shocked. but hey, i want to recover as fast as possible.  i can’t stand being down for long.  it’s already been a month since i was able to do anything other than sit and sleep.

later on that evening, one of the nurses came in and after i had eaten dinner asked if i wanted to go on another walk.  i was a little trepid.  the first walking trip was hard.  and a lot of people, and it wasn’t very comfortable.  she told me i’d be fine and to get ready.

ok.  i got as ready as i could.  she brought in the big walker unit, hooked up all the bags to it and off we went with my mom courteously pushing my IV bags down the hall behind me.  did a big loop.  the nurse was smart to keep watch of my eyes and when she noticed i would start to daze, she would stop me and have me recover and catch my breath.  it was really smart of her.  otherwise i would have never made it through the entire loop.

after that i was pretty gassed.  what a christmas eve.  i think i got to eat some jello for dessert.