Shedding the Cocoon

Oct-14....
Everything went as planned, we stayed at a motel the night before so we were atthe hospital by 6 am and I was in surgery by 7:30. Dr. Straus found Richard to tell him the surgery had gone well and they would be out to get him shortly.4 hours later Dr. Straus saw him and asked why he was still there. It appears that I just didn't want to recover on schedule, I was enjoying my sleep too much. They simply could not keep me awake. I remember seeing him and him saying he was leaving me and would see me "tomorrow".... I feel nothing...I just want to sleep.

Oct15... It feels like someone woke me every hour to check vitals or sugar #'s...Feeling very tired but no pain. The nurse shows me how to hit the morphine pump but I'm pretty comfortable, very dry, I just need water which I'm told I can't have. They do offer me chipped ice (guess it's better to choke on that) not sure what thats about but that sure does feel good in my mouth. I savor the cool and swallow the melt carefully.Later on someone gives me a cup of water with a sponge on a stick...I'm loving it. Each time someone comes in the room to check my vitals or check blood they hit that pump. I guess they don't believe I have no pain. I am swollen and my belly is sore, it hurts to move around or use stomach muscles, but otherwise no pain. I have compression boots on , they said I would to prevent blood clots. They stressed walking and a nurse has already told me someone will be in to remove the catheter and get me out of bed.
I keep having to ask for more water/sponge, they must be very busy. Someone did come in to remove the catheter but I can't get out of bed, can't really lean forward with the oxygen on.
Student nurses are on the floor and I have a little one called Mavis...what a cutie. She took me down for the swallow test, I've gotten an extended oxygen tube so I can sit up comfortably, my breakfast (jello and tea) was put so far away I couldn't reach it, but I really wasn't all that hungry. I keep asking to get up and walk but no one comes to undo my boots or disconnect the pump thing from the wall, the bottom half of my bed deflated, but Karen and Marietta made sure they found enough pillows to put my legs up and make it more comfortable. I must say, I am a bit disappointed in the care here. Seems to be quite a lot of staff so you'd think someone would have the bed fixed, toilets acting up too so the brought me a potty. Probably better off because I can't even imagine having to go and having to wait for someone to release me from my machine as well as the boots. I asked Rich to take me home, I know I'd get better care there. I feel so frustrated. On the bright side I did get to see Chris and Tiffany, Karen, Marietta and Sue..
What a nice surprise, not to mention a comfort having some help.

Oct 16- Got a surprise visit from Jules on her way to work. She sort of splashed her way in, seems the toilet overflowed. I heard one of the poor nurses say she called maintenence 3 times. That must be the guy who is also fixing my bed. Jules can't believe whats happening but she claims I look good. Must be that shower a kind person let me take last night. Dr Eckel came into my room while Jules was there to inform me that I no longer have diabetes. Needless to say there was a joyful noise. he also said I was on the "discharge list"...Thank you God!!!
Sure enough Dr. Straus signed me out and came into to chat. What a wonderful surgeon she is. She said I was doing exceptionally well and she was delighted to hear about the diabetes.
I don't think Rich was all that crazy about the early release call, I think he expected it in the afternoon. Poor guy it ended up being afternoon anyway before the slow wheels of progress finally turned.
It sure was nice to get home and into my own bed.
About 10 at night I didn't feel very well, by 11 pm I was in the bathroom retching. Once it settled down I took a sip of water and prayed it wouldn't happen again. It did, about every hour. Rich keeps asking if it's normal. How do I know? I wouldn't think it's normal but then again I never had my stomach made the size of a walnut before...so whats normal? All I do know is that it hurts when it happens, like a sledgehammer. I will call as soon as people begin to wake up...it finally stopped at 4 am, now I just feel sick.