March 14, 2017

March 14, Surgery Day.

This day has come upon us so quickly and yet, I feel like we are as prepped as we can be and are as ready as we'll ever be.

You see, we've read blogs and forums.  We've prepped the house, I've spent days nesting and cleaning like crazy.

At work, I was able to completely empty my email inbox and have my job tied off and ready to hand off to my fabulous Manager who will be covering my position for the next 6 weeks.

6 weeks.  That's baffling to me that I will need 6 weeks for recovery, I am following all instructions and guidelines to make sure I don't set back my recovery time.  I have also worked very diligently at getting myself into the best shape and health going into this surgery.

My alarm went off this morning at 4:30 am.  We arrived at the hospital before 6 am and we were greeted by this lovely sight:

Georgie the RJH Cat.

I've had Georgie in my office several times over the past 4 years, when she saw us she came over and greeted us.  We caught her guarding the door, a dog had walked by and she went running up to the door to see the dog. 

I was taken up to the third floor to pre-op and was prepped for surgery:

I had to wear compression stockings for the surgery and then they put air massage-y things on my legs to aid in circulation--they became the most annoying thing ever.  I wore them day and night for over 24 hours.

I was wheeled into the Operating Room at 8, last time I remember was 8:15, the next time I noticed the time was 7:20.

In Post Anesthetic Recovery, I woke 3 times.  The nurses asked me my pain level and I said, 8, three times.  When I came around again, I noted the time on the clock, 7:20 and I realized I had the most amazing peace.  I was watching one nurse at the bottom of my neighbours bed.  I looked back at the clock, looked back at the nurse when she said rather loudly, she's not breathing and the alarms went off.  I must've passed out because the next thing I remember I was on the ward and it was about 9 pm. 

I lost a whole day.

I was on the 7th floor of the PCC and had the most amazing nursing staff.  At 9.30 the nursing staff came in to check my reconstruction...and every hour after that.

They'd check the reconstruction for warmth, and the first 12 hours they were cold.  They'd check cap refill and that seemed to be working well.  The final check they'd do was with a Doppler, to listen to the vein and artery to make sure they were flowing well.  The sounds could not be found.  The nurses didn't seem concerned at first, but around 3 am, they were getting tense about it.

In my drug fog, I texted my sister Lanette who is in Ontario.  Knowing she was 3 hours ahead of me, I took a chance she might be up.  I asked her to pray.  After going through all this surgery, to loose the DIEP flap would be horrible.

At the 4 am check, the sounds could be heard, faintly.  By 5 am, the sounds were robust and easily found.  We were out of the woods.

At the shift change -- the new nursing staff checked with the Doppler, and all was well.  I had made it through 24 hours.

My scripture reading for March 14th, seemed fitting, to give thanks -- I knew that God was all over this journey.