Day of My Mastectomy

March 13, 2013

I came out of surgery at 9:15am.  Went to my room at 10:15.  Scott and Jan were waiting for me there.  I was awake and I think alert.  I was in a little bit of pain when I first came out of anesthesia,  but in good spirits.

The whole day was a little foggy for me.  I felt good, but I remember asking the same questions over and over again and I didn't remember the answer. I took my camera to the hospital to document my day in picture (which I did).  I didn't get much sleep. I could only eat or drink liquids.  I remember that my nose was really itchy and I kept scratching it till it was red and raw.  I think I must have had a reaction to the Dilaudid I was taking for pain.

Jan stayed till 6pm.  About the time she left, I started feeling nauseated.  The nurse put some anti-nausea medicine in my IV and it made me feel better almost instantly.  After that I didn't take anymore Dilaudid but I still took Norco.  Scott left about 7:30pm.  I wanted to get some sleep, but could only sleep a few hours at a time throughout the night.

My day had started at 4am when I got up, bathed, and washed my hair.  I was suppose to get to the hospital at 5:15, but think I was 10 minutes late.  That really didn't matter cause everyone else who had surgery at that time was there also, so I didn't get checked in til about 6 o'clock.

The nurse finally took me to the pre-op area.  I changed clothes. She noted my high blood pressure and proceeded to put in an IV. She also liked to talk alot and for some reason, my husband rolled his eyes whenever she turned away from him. (Can't imagine why.) First she tried to get the IV in my hand, and it didn't work out.  She kept saying, "Oh you have valves!" (whatever that means),  Then she tried on my inside forearm and again mentioned "the valves."  I think as a last resort she got out some sort of light gun and shined it on my arm and again mentioned valves.  (Apparently I have valves! Doesn't everybody?)  But anyway, she stuck me for the third time in the bend of the arm where she really didn't want to put it.  I didn't care.  I was tired of being stuck!  In between these IV attempts,  I had met with the surgeon, anesthesiologist and surgical nurse, who was sort of a no nonsense type and said to make sure I had said all my goodbyes and gave all my kisses because when she came back to get me she wanted to roll!

Bob and Lenora (some of my pastors) were waiting to see me before surgery, but were kept out till the nurse was finished with the IV.  Scott went to get them.  They came just in time to see me in my surgical cap  (not my best look).  We exchanged a few words, they gave me a present, and we prayed.  Shortly after that I was whisked away for surgery, somewhere around 7:15am.  Next thing I knew, I was in the recovery room.