The Current Lifestyle: Mommy is now Iron Man

How I view myself now

Tonight on The Current Lifestyle: Mommy is now Iron Man.

I survived. Yep, as I write this, I'm a little hopped up on Percocet. Thankfully for you my reader, I cut the dose in half. I'm not going to lie, this wasn't fun, but now that the worst is over, I'm glad I can now move on with my new back up plan.

This is the story of my ICD implant and how I became Iron Man.

Thursday, I needed to be at the hospital at 10:30 am. I wasn't too thrilled that it was that late in the morning, because prior to any surgical procedure, you can not eat or drink anything after midnight. My last meal was at, no joke, 11:53 pm. My husband drove me to the hospital where we were told to check in on the 2nd floor. The gentleman that checked me in then handed me a cup and said, " the doctor wants a urine sample before the surgery." I swear it took every once of my being not to lose it on this nice guy. I went to the ladies room, and squeezed out any remaining fluids my bladder could muster. I walked my sad looking sample back to the check in guy and said, "how could anyone request and even expect a decent urine sample after I've had nothing to eat or drink in over 10 hours?" He laughed and said," I don't know, I don't understand it either." Shortly after, I was taken into a pre-op holding room. It had several beds circling a nurses station. Each bed was separated by those amazingly secretive curtains. A sweet nurse showed me my bed. She asked me to take everything off, place my belongings into a bag and before donning the gown that fits no one, asked that I again scrub myself with warm surgical soap pads that she was in the process of opening. I did as I was instructed, and then sat on my bed. Soon after the nurse came back and placed a heart monitor on my back. (Since my operation will be in the front.) She then started my IV which was by far the best one I've ever had. I barely felt it.

my hubby

She told me that she would then go get my husband and also return with something to make me relax. When she returned, Scott was with her, smiling. I guess he wanted to try and not look concerned. That or I looked so funny and small in my gown. The nurse asked me my name and birthdate then gave me a drug that she promised was a cocktail without the hangover. She was right! Unfortunately my doctor was held up in an EP study and the OR was behind on schedule and my meds started to wear off. I was supposed to be in surgery at 11:45. I wasn't wheeled back until 2:30. Needless to say, that nurse just kept giving me cocktails.

When the OR nurses came to get me, they placed my hair into a surgical cap. They loaded me up with blankets and wheeled me down hallways that I swear are kept at a fridge temp in case you die and they need your organs.

brave face

When I was in the OR room, I was able to look around. I saw the thousands of instruments that had already been sterilized and out for my procedure. I saw the massive lights hanging above the OR table. The anesthesiologist was already in the room waiting for me. Another nurse asked me to scoot myself over onto the table. As I did so, I was able to see through to another operating room. Through the glass doors, I could see a man with tubes hanging out of his mouth and several doctors standing over him. The next and last thing I remember was a nice nurse placing a non-rebreather mask on my face.

I woke up in PACU on my right side around 3:30ish. Apparently the first thing I said to that nurse was, "was I good?" I don't remember much after that first hour, but I slowly came around from the anesthesia. My husband was allowed in to visit with me. We sat in PACU and waited for a room upstairs. My husband said the procedure went pretty fast. He said my doctor came to speak with him about 50 minutes after I was taken back. My doctor said," are you the boyfriend?" My husband replied, "uh no, I'm her husband." Then my doctor said, "okay well its in and should be a very tiny scar. Everything went well." I laughed when Scott told me this. I guess I can understand why my doctor thought we weren't married. 90% of his patients are in their 60's or older. Although, he shouldn't have assumed.

Just woke up in PACU

I was allowed to finally eat some crackers and fruit after 5pm. Scott had returned home to check on my sister who was watching our little chunk and at my request bring me sushi. I didn't get a room until after 7pm. When I did finally make it upstairs it was shift change. I wasn't thrilled because at this point my pain meds had worn off and I couldn't receive my meds until the shift change was complete. My father, his wife, my sister and brother visited me soon after. They stayed and chatted with me glad to see I was okay when Scott walked in with sushi. I was so excited.

Me in my room

My family left shortly after we started eating. A nurse came into my room to give me my pain meds around 9ish and asked if I had any questions. I'll spare the rest of the boring details of this story. To make it short, Scott had to go home to be with our chunk. I tossed and turned most of the night because either I was in pain or someone was in my room for vitals or checking to make sure I was still alive. My resting heart rate dips into the low 50s and the hospital doesn't like that. Plus, my blood pressure was 98/65 and the nurse was very concerned I could be bottoming out.

The following day, I was finally allowed to go home after noon. I had received a dose of Zophran before leaving to cure the nausea the Percocet gave me. I was also told the best discharge instructions ever.

1) no shower for a week
2)no driving for 2 weeks
3) schedule a visit to see your doctor next week
4) no lifting of your left arm
There was more but those were the most important. I think number 1 is my favorite. For fear of getting my surgical sites wet and infected, I get to stink. Awesomesauce.!!!!!!

That's all for now. I'll write more on this subject later. I'm actually feeling nauseous from the pain meds as I type. Thank you to those who called, visited, texted or prayed. Like what I post? Then please leave a comment or subscribe.