I am 4 days post-op from a complete Thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer. I was nervous going into the pre-surgery holding area, so I was grateful when the wonderful 'La La Land' injection finally went streaming through my veins! I remember the nurses positioning and stabilizing my arms, then realizing I was being rolled toward the elevators in the 'new' part of the hospital. I knew when the elevator doors opened that we were on the 4th floor, and they rolled me into a room with a glass wall---ICU. I remember the position of the nurses station, and immediately knew that I was in the same room that my grandmother was in after her massive stroke. But, I was OK with it. Thinking about it now, I could cry, but at that moment, I found it rather comforting.
After a few minutes, my family came in to see me, and they saw the confused look on my face as if asking why was I in the ICU? Mama told me that the hospital was full, therefore it was in overflow mode, and the ICU was the only place they could put me. Talk about a gigantic "WHEW!" Then I looked at the clock and saw that it was 6:30 PM, and I knew I went into the surgery suite at 1:15. One of my boys realized I was upset about the time, so they had to tell me that the surgery was a lot longer than expected. Mama told me then, that it was cancer, so the surgeon had to take the entire thyroid out.
Everyone had left the room when I felt the nausea coming on, and I knew I what was coming. I didn't have a call light, so I started banging on the tray that they had rolled up beside me, as I could barely make a hoarse whisper. A nurse finally heard me, and I told her what was about to happen, and she tried to get the "courtesy pan" and remove the goodies out of it, but she didn't get all the plastic off of it, so much of it went down the front of me, all over the bed, and the icepack. This is the first time in many years, since the addition of nausea meds and reflux meds have been administered before and after surgery, that I have gotten that sick from anesthesia. So they got me cleaned up and a new ice bag, a big dose of Zofran, and Lortab, and about an hour later, a shot of Morphine. This kept me comfortable for only about 3 hours. I couldn't have any more medicine for 3 more hours. Needless-to-say, I was miserable.
It's true what they say, the hospital is the worst place to be when you are sick, and need to sleep through it. I'm not like most people. The magnitude of drugs that they pumped into me should have knocked me out for hours! Not me, no, it has the reverse effect on me. But it wasn't the only thing preventing me from sleeping. Though the staff were good as can be to me, they saw to my every need, and did everything they could to see that I was comfortable, they talked as loud as they would in their own homes, even yelled to one another from across the ward! One nurse came into my room, when I had just dozed off, yelling something to the other male nurse in another room! I nearly jumped out of the bed! People are there because they are sick, and though it's not the staff's time to sleep, it is the patient's time to sleep! Why is this so difficult? Now, I'm at their mercy, so I don't say anything, because I knew I would continue to need help through the night. I just knew that no matter what, I was getting out of there they next day so I could get some sleep at home!
I slept well the first night at home. The pain meds were doing enough that I could sleep, but I was no where near pain free. The next morning, Sunday, I managed to watch a little bit of Liberty Baptist Church's broadcast on the internet. I couldn't sit up long enough to watch all of it, though. I had to lay back down. When I got up, I knew that I had a fever. So, I took some medicine, then got in the shower. The fever didn't come down. Chills set in next, making the pain I was in magnified by 100! So, it was a trip to the Hospital ER. They were very busy, and I understand this, but I layed on that hard gurney for nearly 2 hours before they did anything. My Mama had to go out and nearly drag the nurse in because I was having a meltdown, crying uncontrollably, fever spiking up, pain out of this world and a raging headache! The nurse finally drew my blood. They couldn't do anything until they got the results back, which took another hour. If they had only drawn my blood when I first got in there........
I was given a CT scan with contrast, don't know why, but an hour after that, I was told that it was clear. The only thing they found was a slight white count elevation. So they started me on a sulfa drug, gave me a shot of Zofran and a shot of Stadol, which made me high as a kite! But, my pain was finally gone! The boys said that I was saying crazy things, even refused to get into Darin's truck because I didn't think it was his truck. He said I pointed to Andy's truck, and said: "There's your truck!" I guess I was messed up!
All those drugs, you guessed it, no sleep that night for Wanda! I forced myself to stay awake all day Monday, so that I could sleep that night. It worked. I slept very well! I think I overdid it by talking so much yesterday. So, today, I'm going to try more voice rest, and see if my voice will return to normal in a faster manner. My voice is lowered about an octave! Folks, that is 12 half steps, or 6 whole steps on the piano! It's insane! Right now, I can't sing, not a lick! I have only about 3 tones to my voice. There is no rise and falls, just monotone. I surely hope this isn't permanent! When people call, they can't believe they are talking to me!
Thank you everyone, who has been so faithful to pray for me! I know that the Lord was holding my hand through this, and He hasn't let go! I praise Him! Your support through this ordeal has been priceless! Thank you Lord, for your faithful children, my brothers and sisters in Christ!
There is so much more to tell, but I'm exhausted from sitting here. More later.
No comments:
Post a Comment