Around 3 hours after taking the meds, I feel a little pain and I know that the time for another pill is approaching. The first time I tried walking to the bathroom, I was almost due for another painkiller, and just lowering my legs off the bed was painful as the blood rushed down. Remember that I had both feet done, so I had to scoot on my bum to the bathroom. Now I'm timing my bathroom breaks for AFTER I take my meds, and I am able to walk on my heels.
Also taking a stool softener, since painkillers cause constipation (something nobody told me at the hospital), and aspirin on the advice of my doctor to avoid blood clotting from lying around all day.
"What
have I done to myself?" Lingering doubts as I lie in bed all day with my feet propped
up. I tell myself that fear and doubt are probably
normal after any surgery. I read
online horror stories of people whose surgeries did not succeed (I know, I
should be reading a good novel instead). People with bad experiences are
probably more motivated to write. I add my anecdotal story to this mix,
hopeful that it will ultimately counterbalance all of the bad stories.
Day 1 Surgery day Aug 20, 2013
ReplyDeleteSurgery was originally scheduled for 7am which meant I was due in the hospital at 5 (eek). Luckily it was changed to 11 am which made it much easier. Having bilateral surgery meant that I had to go under general anesthesia. The amount of local anesthesia required for both feet would be more than a body could tolerate.
Arrived at hospital at 9 for 11 am appt. I was surprised that I had to remove ALL of my clothing (why do I have to take off my underwear when I am having my feet operated on?). I asked if I could listen to my music during surgery (Indian meditative music) and was allowed to do so (although they all thought it was odd since I was going under general anesthesia). They gave me a pain block in both feet as well. I don't remember much after I got the first bit of happy juice prior to the foot pain block other than saying I think I should put my headphones on now. I think I managed to turn my music on. Next thing I remember is being carried out to the car by my friend Lee who took me home and carried me up to bed.
My friend Kathy was waiting for me (wife has just started a new job and I thought it was a bit much to ask her to stay home on her day 2).
So, first day home was fine - no pain but the pain block was still in effect. I kept my feet elevated, ate dinner and took an (Percocet) Hydrocodone/Acetaminphen 5-500 TB pill before I went to bed in anticipation of the pain block wearing off during the night.