surgery date set

kayandok said:

Thank you for the support!
It looks like my hospital room has wifi now (didn't use to) so once I'm able, I will update. The worst part of surgery for me is the day after. I get really weepy and strange. I feel like the world is upside down and nothing is right. Then the next day, the nausea kicks in from all the pain meds. The third day I get irritated because I just want to pass gas, so I know the bowels are ok. The fourth day, I get angry because I hate all the soft food (jello, soup and more jello) I have to have beacause I haven't passed gas yet. The fifth day I'm starving, and very grumpy. The sixth day I'm ready to jump out the window, if they don't let me go home. Well, at least I know what to expect after surgery, from doing it so many times.

Actually, having internet is going to make everything a whole lot better!!

hugs to all,
kathleen

An option other than opiates?
First of all, Kathleen, heartfelt congrats on making such a courageous decision. I'll be beaming light to CA on the 31st from the west Highlands of Scotland. From the description of your post op difficulties I'm wondering if you are super sensitive to opiates. I am!! My first surgery was an emergency from a tumor perforating my colon (during a colonoscopy). The surgeon couldn't even see my colon due to all of the cancer, so he gave me an ileostomy. Fortunately for me my blood pressures after surgery were in the 70's/30/s range, so I was only given half the usual amount of pain meds. Even THAT much made me nuts--weepy, strange, and also terrified. I'd hear the IV machines spouting weird words, and I couldn't sleep. I came off the opiates as fast as I could, as hurting was a much better option than pain relief. My second surgery was the debulking and ileostomy reversal, and this time I came with an "instruction manual"--ie, NO opiates if possible, no Compazine, no Tylenol. Luckily my surgeon was in total agreement with this. I had an epidural put in pre-op which was used to administer anesthetic AND Torridal, which is basically IV Ibuprofen. My surgery was on a Thursday, and the epidural stayed in until the following Monday. I could press the button and get a blast of Torridal whenever I needed it. It wasn't quite as effective as opiates, but I could sleep and not be crazy. Could that be an option for you? I'll be wishing you and your surgical team Godspeed and great success.