I never thought I'd write that. Pretty crazy and cool...pretty crool ...if you ask me.
I had every intention of fully documenting the entire surgery experience, but to be honest, the closer the surgery was, the less and less I wanted to think about it (and I think that strategy worked!). And since I've been home, I haven't felt like writing about it.
I was honestly not nervous at all the day of the surgery, even on the drive there. I was more in get-it-done mode than anything. Yes, I might have excused myself from dinner the night before to go breifly cry in the bathroom stall at Threadgills, but that was my only "moment" prior to surgery that caused me pause.
The morning of surgery, we got there at 5:45am, waited in the waiting room with all the other folks who chose to go under the knife that day. I tried to stretch my hamstrings on the floor and cracked jokes, which is how I handle stress.
After I said goodbye to my parents and Travis, the next thing I remember is asking the nurse to please give me more pain meds. I was in recovery and wasn't as out of it as I had hoped. I was in a lot of pain.
The next few days were hard but I was moved into my own private room and had a rotation of nurses every so often. There were many that were great, and a few that left much to be desired. I never felt like my pain was fully managed well while I was in the hospital. The concoction of drugs they had me taking wasn't doing it, and usually wore off before I could take anything else. I also had zero appetite, but HAD to eat because I was getting nauseous since I wasn't eating. It felt like forcing food down my throat...kinda like when you compress garbage down in a bin to forcibly make room to add to the already full bin. That's what eating felt like.
I'm going to just remember that time in my life as bad-ass training/points. I am stronger now because of it.
I could say more about my hospital stay but honestly I was glad to get out of there. Once PT and my doctor's nurse cleared me, I said Bye Felicia to everyone and Mom drove me home.
I was so very lucky to have the support I did when I was there. My Dad flew in from Baltimore,Travis was there with me each day between his hectic work schedule, and my Mom was my lifeline, by my side the entire time, and basically my personal nurse.
I've been home for almost 2 weeks now, and I'm feeling so much better. I said this in a previous post, but pain really humbles you. I feel like I've made so much progress, but the moment I try to decrease my pain meds or space them out a little further, and that intense pain sets in, I'm instantly reminded about how major this surgery was...
It's no joke, y'all!
I'll try to update this a little more often, and when I'm feeling up to writing.
I can't believe I'm part titanium now.
Xoxo
EP
