Day 1 - Post-Op

So here I am actually on Day 10, post-op. The details of last week are already getting fuzzy. I decided I better hurry up and document some of it!

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September 16, 2015 - Day 1, post-op

Early that morning the nurses had gotten me up onto a scale. They decided I should be able to walk shortly after that. I think I took my first steps at 8:00 a.m. 

To be honest, the daytime nursing staff was less than stellar. I had to wait when I pushed the call button for several minutes. Then, I had to wait an hour or more to get my IV bag changed, walk, or go to the bathroom.

Day 1 was crummy. Mid to late afternoon the respiratory therapist came in. He insisted that the nurse let me sleep with my cpap on. She didn't like it. (Apparently breathing isn't as important to me as I thought.) I was finally able to get good sleep after that. (Once the anesthesia wore off I wasn't sleeping well.)

The nutritionist came in and said I could start on a protein drink if I wanted. I told her I would try. I was able to sip on it off and on. It got icky before long though. Truthfully I didn't have much of an appetite anyway. Water and ice chips made me happy.

I didn't have too much pain then. That's a good thing because even though I was hooked up with my own pain medicine dispenser, they either told stoner me or didn't tell me at all. So until mid-day on day 1 I didn't know I could dispense my own pain meds. Fun huh?

After the sub-par attention during the day, I asked Mark to plan to stay the night with me. Any time the aide or nurse came into the room they would hurry through their task and almost run out. Not how are you? Not are you in pain? Just sprinting away.

As it turned out, I would have been okay without him. The night shift of nurses came on and these were exceptional. Melissa was the RN and Tirey was the CNA. They were so attentive. They checked on me often. Before leaving the room the asked, "Do you need this? Do you need that? What else can I do for you?"

I realize the day shift must be a lot busier than the night shift. But the effort and care and concern the two night shift people put into their job made all the difference. Night and day difference. Ha.

I realize nurses have a difficult job. I couldn't do it. But if some can be phenomenal and some, well, not so much, I think it is okay to point out the difference. I'm not criticizing nurses in general. Just two that I did not feel safe or cared for with.

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I'm shrinking by the way. Mark called me the Incredible Shrinking Woman last night. I secretly liked that. :) 

May my lifesong sing to You, Father. All the praise, all the glory, all I do I give to You.

"He must increase, I must decrease." - John 3:30

Be blessed and be blessings y'all!