NOT coming unglued

My belly incision is glued, get it? hahaha. Yeah. Ok, FINE (don't you dare laugh Amanda j/k).

I swear, as God is my witness, if I am ever scheduled for a surgery that ACTUALLY happens on time, I think the shock will kill me. In the past 4 major surgeries, not once has it happened on time. Today, they were running 3 hrs late.

Now, that being said, I truly do understand--it's a hospital, the major one in our area. Accidents can, do, and did happen, and the OR was needed. There are worse things than waiting--like being the person who desperately needed that OR.

My only complaint is that since I can't take any meds while I'm there, my pain levels creep up and they can't give me anything. I wish they'd just hook me up to the "happy juice" and I'd be as happy as a clam. My nerves and pain was driving up my blood pressure which did concern them a bit until I explained my BP is dead-on normal.

I even slept for an hour, read half of Stephen King's e-book "Mile 81" on my Nook Color (awesomesauce!) and just chatted with hubby.

OOH OOH OOH! He has a HALF to FULL DAY interview at the company next week! This is SO VERY GOOD. Honestly I think anyone would be hard-pressed to meet my hub and not like him on the spot. He is just "that guy". Crossed fingers, toes, prayers, candles, anything you got--throw it our way!!

So, I got several comments on my hair. Upon learning that my daughter did her hair, likes her self-proclaimed "hippy look", one staff member said "Well, as long as it doesn't get too weird."

I pulled up my hair net, showing off the brightest pink/purple patch in my hair and said "Around our house, nothing is 'too weird'" and got a good laugh from a few of the staff. I didn't even have my nose ring in to prove it.

My anesthesiologist is Japanese and could read my tattoo--how cool is that? Technically "Joshi"--which in judo means "girl student of judo" also means "Female champ" or something like that. To which I commented she is nationally ranked. But she was most tickled about JudoQueen wanting to be a neuroscientist and is currently mentoring elementary-age girls about going into science.

My nails (which will be featured over on Manicured Slayer) got rave reviews from everyone today, especially as they were strapping me in for surgery in the OR. They thought it was cool about all my blogs. Yes I'm a chatty girl when nervous (the happy juice, sadly, was an epic fail. It even took a few minutes to knock me out).

Five stars to everyone involved today, especially my surgeon. She knew how terribly concerned I was about the pain. She returned a few minutes later and told me she was going to give me toradol at the beginning of surgery to help stop inflammation before she began. In addition, toradol increases the effectiveness of narcotic pain medication. Double bonus!

Now I have about a 3 inch incision across my button and to the right side. I never cease to be amazed that they use GLUE to hold it shut. The hernia--caused from my gall bladder surgery 3 yrs ago--was large, but not as large as it could have been. And nothing major was involved. It was.....belly fat. I think she removed it since it feels just a tiny bit flatter. HEY EVERY INCH COUNTS.

The surgery took less than an hour (good since anesthesia makes me dumb as Dory). However I once more awoke with a terribly sore throat from extubation, as well as a fat lip O_o Breathing tube going in--no problem. Getting it out--problem.

I also think that me & morphine don't get along--and perhaps was part of the severe pain I experienced w/ my GB surgery. My O2 sats kept falling in the low 90's and below a few times. They were awesome and gave me a mask instead of a cannula. Though a dose or two of morphine definitely took the edge off to where it was very tolerable.

AND, Dr. Incredible Surgeon sent me home with dilaudid for my pain. BOOYAH.

About 2 hrs after surgery, I was up and SO ready to go home. We were there a little less than 12 hrs due to the delay. Needless to say I am really pleased at how well I am doing.

Yes, I'm weak and wobbly, exhausted and sore, plus a bit nauseous. But at this moment (I just woke up to take pain meds) I don't feel like i had surgery--more like I did 100 crunches. That's a win in my book.

So I'm to take it easy, no lifting for at least 2 weeks, and I see the doc in a week. It is good to be home with my family--including the dog who was a bit intrigued by my "hospital smell". I am so relieved I didn't have to stay overnight. I got to hug my kids, sleep in my own bed, even watched an episode of Beavis & Butthead (heheheheh fire). And had a few bowls of ice cream, as well as some creamed corn (hey it's a comfort food, soft and warm). No wonky hospital food. No one waking me up (just the pain).

The Slayer declares the hernia to be slain, and the surgery a success.

Happy Weekend!