I live. Much pain, but I lived……
Long story shortened…..the Surgery proceeded as planned. I made the 3 Nurse staff promise that there would be no giggling durng my Surgery.They thought that was kinda funny.
I was awake for the procedure, I was given a Versaid(sp?) and Phentenall(sp?) drip so I would be awake , but not really care what was happening (a rather odd feeling). I asked my Surgeon if there were any rules like, "what's said in the O.R. stays in the O.R.?" He chuckled and said that he's never had anyone mutter any State Secrets, but he has heard a few amazing war stories from WW II vets. He also said that often they begin with "I've never talked to anyone about this before…."
During the procedure I could feel the poking and tugging, it didn't really hurt, but I could fel it just the same. It took about an hour, I have 24 stiches holding a mesh in place to close the gap in my abdominal wall, but my actual incision (about 5 inches long) is just glued together. They said the glue can be washed, but don't pick at it. It will flake off when it's ready.
I spent a rather pain free hour in recovery, they gave me a Darvocet pill there….but by the time I was ready for discharge, the local in my abdomin had warn off and the Darvocet was doing nothing. My wife (She's an RN) asked if I was OK, I said pain was showing up, at about a 6. They gave us a perscription to get filled and sent me home.
Linda got me home to the couch, gave me some ice and ran out to get the pain meds. She gave me another Darvocet and we waited. About 3 hours later, I was well aware that the Darvocet wasn't doing anything, the pain was really up to about a 9. Linda called the Surgeon's office and they called in a script for Tylenol 3 with Codine. She got that, I took 2, fell asleep for the first time since the surgery. I awoke about an hour later with MUCH relief to the pain. I've been on a Tylenol-Advil regimine since and I've doing well.
I can't really sit up without discomfort, my incision is right along the fold of my right leg. But my daughter was kind enough to lend me her Lap-top, so I check on you guys from a reclining position. I move around as much as I can, the only thing I really can't do is lift more than 10 lbs. My follow up visit with the Doctor is next Monday.
Thanks to everyone who responed to my surgery announcment, it meant a lot to me and I appreciate it.
Dave
