Wordless Wednesday

I've been PAO'd

So I had my left PAO (hip reconstruction) June 1st. We had to be at the hospital at 830. It was raining like crazy that morning, my nerves were already a mess and driving on 540 during morning Raleigh traffic and heavy rain didn't make things better. We got to Duke and the 3rd floor about 805. Just as soon as we sat down and got the laptop out, my buzzer went off. I looked at Joey and said "oh shit." They went ahead and took me back to the holding area. I was changed into my gown and had a red surgical hat on. I had the same nurse I had when I had my left hip arthroscopy done last year. She was I guess training a nurse and the trainer started my IV, or tried to. I showed her the vein in my left hand which they used with my c section, she didn't like that one too good so went up a little to a vein in my wrist. She had a 20 gauge needle and started digging. After about 3 minutes, I told her to get out of there that she wasn't going to get anything. I'm still bruised from that IV attempt. So the other nurse came in to try and start the IV, she pulled out a 22 gauge needle and went for my right hand. (we had a problem last time with her starting the IV with such a small needle, the anesthesiologist was pissed last time and this time too). I ended up coming out of surgery with another IV in my left hand as I knew I would. After the IV was started and blood work sent they let Joey come back to wait with me. I kept trying to talk him in to taking me home, I wanted to back out. Anesthesiologist came in to talk about getting the epidural. I finally saw Dr Olson and he "marked" me. My hat was changed to blue and I was getting ready to go, I immediately started crying and begging Joey and my mom to take me home, I didn't want to do this anymore. When it was time to start the epidural, the nurses gave me versed and fentynl to make me a little more relaxed. I don't even really remember them starting the epidural. They had sent Joey and my mom away but then found out that it was going to be about another 30 minutes or so before I could go to the OR so they paged them to come back for a little bit longer. They had gone to the cafeteria and spent 30 on food, so they crammed it down and came back to see me for a few more minutes. Dr Olson came back in and said we were ready to go and I really started crying. On board came some more versed, I love versed. I remember going into the OR, getting over onto the table, my arms being strapped down and the mask being put on my face. I woke up in PACU to nurses asking me if I could feel them touching me. This was the first time ever that I didn't get sick after surgery. I had the same anesthesiologist as last time as well and he put a patch behind my ear before surgery, it worked wonders. I have no idea how long I stayed in PACU but I eventually went up to my room, it was about 6pm I guess when I got there. The nurses told me about my pain pump and how often I could mash it, every 8 minutes. I didn't sleep well at all that night, I would fall asleep for about 15 minutes and wake up. I was in quite a bit of pain, but didn't know otherwise. The next morning my pain team came in to see me and I told them that I was in a lot of pain so they increased the amt of Dilaudid I could get. I was scared to mash it because my blood pressure had been like 50/30 that night and I was scared of it dropping more. The Dilaudid was making me itch like crazy so they added a drip to help with that. The day after it was determined that the epidural was not working as well on the operative side. My right leg was totally numb but my left leg (operative leg) was only numb in spots. I went down for x rays that first post op day and it was TERRIBLE. I had to move over onto the x ray table, turn on each side, I was in a ridiculous amount of pain. I got a bolus of Dilaudid when I got back to the room. I ended up being switched to a PCA pump for pain control, which even still didn't work all that well. Getting the epidural out was hell too because I had to turn onto my side. I couldn't get up with PT post op day 1 or 2 because my right leg was too numb from the epidural, so I was already a day behind in recovery. My foley ended up being taken out Thursday. I did get up to the recliner for about an hour on Thursday and boy was I ready to get back in bed. Dr Olson came in Thursday afternoon to look at my incision, my drain had been left in that morning because I was still having a good amount of drainage. He decided Thursday afternoon that it could be taken out. He found out about the amt of pain I had been in and was not happy. He went to pull the drain, which felt like he was pulling my hip out through the skin, and he was holding my hand while pushing my PCA. He apparently let the nurses have it because I had been in so much pain. I ended up getting an Oxycontin in addition to the PCA pump. I was having spasms so he brought on Valium, God Bless Valium. I finally got some good sleep. I knew I was going to have a longer stay just because I hadn't been able to do much because my pain hadn't been under control. Landon came for a visit on Friday, it was so good to see him. He cried when he saw me, he didn't understand what was going on. I told him I had a boo boo and showed him my incision. He ended up playing good. He didn't stay long because there isn't much to entertain an almost 2 year old in a hospital room. My mom and grandma had come to stay with me that day so they took him home. He didn't want to leave. I ended up coming home on Sunday after working with PT and going up and down stairs. I was exhausted by the time I got home Sunday. Recovery has been slow and sore. I think that things improve each day. I have a long way to go. I go for my post op follow up next Wednesday. I can do 30% weight bearing right now, which is basically just putting my foot on the floor, so basically nothing at all. I can get to the bathroom alone but still need help getting in the shower. Joey is giving me my Lovenox shots, I'm ready for those to be over with. I have to do them until Monday. The shot itself doesn't hurt but the medicine burns like the dickens after it goes in. My mom has been a God send with Landon. She basically does everything for him that I used to. After bath time, he comes and sits beside me in the chair and I read to him before bed. He asks to see my boo boo and kisses it and tells me "all better." He knows that I can't get up and move and he loves to play with my walker and crutches. He loves being at Nana's and being spoiled. Daycare is getting better. He cries when my mom hands him over to his teacher but he gets okay as soon as she leaves. That's a far cry from him crying all the way to daycare. He is starting to adjust well. They are amazed with how smart he is. He's finally started to come around and show them how good he can talk. Well I've been rambling on for a bit, time for a change of scenery. Now that my laptop has been introduced to the internet on Sheep Pasture Rd I hope to be able to blog more frequently. You know since I'm so busy sitting in the recliner and all!!

Till next time......