The busy Summer, so far
We've had some busy weeks lately. Back in June, I was told I needed a hysterectomy. The sooner the better was my response, and so it was scheduled for July. In the meantime, I had things to do, things to settle, and prepare.
Dad was good about it all, at first, but thought we would need a nurse at home, like Mom did, back in 1974. Mom had the big cut, in hospital for a week, "with drains and stuff. I couldn't even see her", Dad said. Then she came home and he hired a nurse! Some of you may know how cheap Dad is, and be like, "a NURSE"? But he couldn't bear (still can't) the sight of stitches, or bandages, or blood and didn't even want to be around Mom so he worked lots of shifts at the phone company and at Pop's (the local gin joint) to pay for the nurse (Mrs. O'Leary, who just lost her son in a work accident).
Of course, I tried to explain that a robot was doing my surgery - called DaVinci, and I would go in on a Friday, go home the next day. "But what about stairs? And food? and..." I had to cut him off - "It's going to be fine, Dad. I can do stairs right off as long as I go slow. Food won't be an issue. Dirk is going to take care of it all." "Are you SURE?" "Yes, Dad. And what would you do if you could?" "Uh uh uh uh well, if you need anything you call?" "Ok."
So on July 10th, we schlep to the Hospital. Way too early, in my opinion. Little trouble with the old wedding rings - had to be cut off because of the way this surgery is done (on an angle - could have lost my finger). Became a teaching experience for all in pre-op, so that was fun. Anesthesiologist is king, so he made his assistant do it. Poor assistant - the king was not really nice about it at all, but everyone else made up for his assholeness.
It was all good, but they don't tell you that your eyes get all watery and you can't focus for a while, because of the angle your body is placed in. All I wanted to do was sleep anyway, but I did eat a light dinner that same night. Catheter keeps you from moving, which was all right - didn't feel any pain - all right, too!
Don't expect to sleep in the hospital - bloodwork every 2 hours, then vitals on the every 2 hours between. Had a nurse my Mom had when she was on Psych Geriatrics - didn't give me a warm and fuzzy, but she was called away and got a good 'un after that.
Nurse "wakes" you up, as if you'd actually slept and asks, "Have you walked around yet?" "Um I have a catheter in and don't think I'm supposed to walk around yet." "Oh, let's see if I can take that out now." Breakfast comes and lo and behold, the catheter gets removed, but not the IV so now I can walk the zombie walk with the pole and it's all good again.
Bloodwork comes back with a creatinine level issue so that drags on the wait to go home. Given that my veins have all been blown out with various blood draws and IV moves, that presents a challenge ("it's because you had to do a bowel prep for surgery" was the comment that continually was said). Finally, a nurse from obstetrics finds a vein in a weird spot and draws enough for the kidney function check, which is good enough to send me home (thank you, Kathy).
It's hot as fuck outside, and I have the girdle thing on (to make me feel better, they said). Well, that thing lasts a whole 1 day, then I deal with the "my belly is going to rip apart" feeling cause that's better than being hot as fuck. No air conditioning in our house so have multiple fans on me for the next day.
Dad visits on Sunday. "So now that you're better, I gotta tell you about my bloating. They're gonna have to check it - ultrasound probably. When can you drive me?" He does bring flowers and strawberries.
"Um...not for 2 weeks, then we go to Vermont. Maybe you can get someone else?"
"I don't know, and then I have to get this thing on my wrist taken off so I'll need you to cook and help me with the house [1 bedroom apartment] and all."
This thing has been on his wrist for at least 5 years...
"Thanks for the berries and the flowers, Dad."
Dad was good about it all, at first, but thought we would need a nurse at home, like Mom did, back in 1974. Mom had the big cut, in hospital for a week, "with drains and stuff. I couldn't even see her", Dad said. Then she came home and he hired a nurse! Some of you may know how cheap Dad is, and be like, "a NURSE"? But he couldn't bear (still can't) the sight of stitches, or bandages, or blood and didn't even want to be around Mom so he worked lots of shifts at the phone company and at Pop's (the local gin joint) to pay for the nurse (Mrs. O'Leary, who just lost her son in a work accident).
Of course, I tried to explain that a robot was doing my surgery - called DaVinci, and I would go in on a Friday, go home the next day. "But what about stairs? And food? and..." I had to cut him off - "It's going to be fine, Dad. I can do stairs right off as long as I go slow. Food won't be an issue. Dirk is going to take care of it all." "Are you SURE?" "Yes, Dad. And what would you do if you could?" "Uh uh uh uh well, if you need anything you call?" "Ok."
So on July 10th, we schlep to the Hospital. Way too early, in my opinion. Little trouble with the old wedding rings - had to be cut off because of the way this surgery is done (on an angle - could have lost my finger). Became a teaching experience for all in pre-op, so that was fun. Anesthesiologist is king, so he made his assistant do it. Poor assistant - the king was not really nice about it at all, but everyone else made up for his assholeness.
It was all good, but they don't tell you that your eyes get all watery and you can't focus for a while, because of the angle your body is placed in. All I wanted to do was sleep anyway, but I did eat a light dinner that same night. Catheter keeps you from moving, which was all right - didn't feel any pain - all right, too!
Don't expect to sleep in the hospital - bloodwork every 2 hours, then vitals on the every 2 hours between. Had a nurse my Mom had when she was on Psych Geriatrics - didn't give me a warm and fuzzy, but she was called away and got a good 'un after that.
Nurse "wakes" you up, as if you'd actually slept and asks, "Have you walked around yet?" "Um I have a catheter in and don't think I'm supposed to walk around yet." "Oh, let's see if I can take that out now." Breakfast comes and lo and behold, the catheter gets removed, but not the IV so now I can walk the zombie walk with the pole and it's all good again.
Bloodwork comes back with a creatinine level issue so that drags on the wait to go home. Given that my veins have all been blown out with various blood draws and IV moves, that presents a challenge ("it's because you had to do a bowel prep for surgery" was the comment that continually was said). Finally, a nurse from obstetrics finds a vein in a weird spot and draws enough for the kidney function check, which is good enough to send me home (thank you, Kathy).
It's hot as fuck outside, and I have the girdle thing on (to make me feel better, they said). Well, that thing lasts a whole 1 day, then I deal with the "my belly is going to rip apart" feeling cause that's better than being hot as fuck. No air conditioning in our house so have multiple fans on me for the next day.
Dad visits on Sunday. "So now that you're better, I gotta tell you about my bloating. They're gonna have to check it - ultrasound probably. When can you drive me?" He does bring flowers and strawberries.
"Um...not for 2 weeks, then we go to Vermont. Maybe you can get someone else?"
"I don't know, and then I have to get this thing on my wrist taken off so I'll need you to cook and help me with the house [1 bedroom apartment] and all."
This thing has been on his wrist for at least 5 years...
"Thanks for the berries and the flowers, Dad."
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