Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Liquids, bladder and pain meds

My first day post-op and I am doing pretty good. The bowels haven't fully awaken yet (in other terms I haven't farted) so I am only allowed a liquid diet. Once the bowels are awake I can graduate to solid foods. So far today I've had cream of wheat, peach smoothie and pudding. Not bad for hospital food.

My catheter got removed at 6 am this morning, but my bladder did not get the message. By 11am (5 hours and 2 IV bags later) I had finally convinced my nurse I needed the catheter back. (You know you are in pain when you are begging someone to insert a catheter) 1000 ccs of urine later I felt like a new woman. Luckily, my bladder and I are now on the same page.

I was surprised by my post-op pain. Currently I am on Dilaudid and Toradol and they are doing a good job of controlling the pain. I thought it would just be some superficial pain where the incision was, but it is more intense then that. Probably because they are letting the wound heal from the inside out and it is packed with gauze right now. During the procedure the surgeon cut a one inch incision on either side of Stoma Stan, from there he fished out the other end of the small intestines. Once he sewed them back together and placed them back inside my body, he sutured those two sides closed and left the middle open. The whole operation took two hours.

How long will I be in here you ask? Good question. I will be allowed to leave once I am on oral pain meds, eating solids foods and we can see that those solid foods have made their way through me. I'm guessing I'll be able to go home Friday morning that is if I start passing some gas here soon.

**The author cannot be held responsible for any errors in this post due to the use of pain meds. See above.

9 comments:

Kristi H. said...

All the Pets gals are pulling for you :-) Glad to hear that the procedure went well.

kkh

apt said...

Good report. Rest up (except for the parts that need to wake up).

Anonymous said...

On to the next stage ... I know you will do well and before long this will all be but a memory.
Love ya Steph, Aunt Jay

aunt colleen said...

Good to hear you haven't lost your sense of humor. Good spirits help the healing -
Love,
Aunt Colleen

Keri said...

Glad to hear that it went well!

Anonymous said...

Hey Steph - Once again you continue to amaze us all with your strength - glad to hear the pain is less than the first surgery. Follow Pups advise "Slow down baby"!!
Love Aunt Paula

Anonymous said...

Stephers,
SOOO glad to hear everything went ok! I am thinking of you and honestly wish I was with you instead of with mean, rude, abnoxious 6th graders!! Ugggg...love, Jess

Anonymous said...

Steph you are amazing and an inspiration to all of us. Hang in there. Love, Aunt Teri

Transitional Sapce said...

Congratulations! Sounds like things are all going well. I'm so happy for you. so so so happy! :) I can't wait to join you on 'the other side' :)