on the road

[monker]

On the road to recovery there's been ample time to read many of the posts offered up on this forum. This is a very cool place.

If I can just mention to those who may be facing surgery, keep in mind that this will be one of those life experiences that when related to friends, will captivate them for hours. Especially when you can get real graphic. Geez, I can't think of anything that comes close to as interesting as having heart surgery!

My surgery went well (Jan. 13th) and I'm feelin' pretty good, although I've never had heart surgery before so I guess I don't really know how I'm supposed to feel.

I do know my pec muscles feel like they have cuts in them. But there's no visible sign. And my pace-maker is kinda buggin' me.
And I used to be a salt freak! Salt on everything! Now, I can't stand the stuff. Well enough wa-wa-wa for today.

Good luck to everyone.

Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

 

[Ross]

Welcome back and glad to hear that your feeling pretty good.

Your taste is going to be messed up for some time to come but you'll be back into the game shortly. I'm really glad it all went well for you.

 

[monker]

showering

showering

Thanks Ross, I've read many of your posts, it's nice to hear from you personally.

I was just sitting here going over in my mind some of the things that happened during my stay in hospital.
By mid-week I was up and around and was ready for a shower as you can well imagine. A delightful young lady in her 20's named Inez came to my room and asked if I would like to follow her and she would show me where the shower rooms were located. I followed, but little did I know that the lovely Inez' job was to shower me. Inez donned big black rubber boots, and one of those big ol' rubber aprons and rubber gloves. Man, she looked like she was going to work in an abattoir. And I was the slab of meat. I had three more showers with Inez before leaving hospital.

Anyway, I was just thinking, in a few months when I'm back at the hospital for my check-up and I run into Inez I can say, "hi Inez, my name's Dave, you probably don't recognize me with my clothes on." I don't know why but I've always wanted to say that to someone.

 

[terry40]

Monker

Monker

I couldn't stand anything salty or sweet, my family had to go stock up on no sodium foods, but Ross is right, it does go back to normal, it's better right after surgery to eliminate that extra salt anyway.

I kept a journal, hoping I'd be able to help someone else whose will be going through this type of surgery, I'm glad I did, 'cause you tend to forget, probably all part of the healing process.

My favorite shocker was decribing the operating table, about the width of a diving board so your shoulders and arms hung over the side, so when they cranked open your chest they could seperate the sterum/ribs as far back as possible. I only told that one a few times though, it grossed people out just thinking about it.

Terry40

 

[monker]

Wow

Wow

Hi Terry...that is a good one.

I admit to having toyed with the idea of having my surgery video-taped. I've always been fascinated with those TV documentaries concerning major surgery and I was thinking this one would be a great one to show your buddys. When I do see the extent of some major surgeries I'm always in awe, not just of the medical profession, but of the human body and its ability to heal itself.

Perhaps if I had taped the event, I could have some explanation
to the bruises on my biceps and lower shoulders. I can only think I was being restrained on the table by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
But we'll never know for sure 'cause he's got a surgical mask on.

 

[Ross]

My surgeries didn't go so well. I think about both of them all the time. I don't say much about them on here because most people don't have bad times from the surgery.

The shower-I didn't get one of those until my 54th day in the hospital. You can imagine how great it felt to actually have one after all those darn "wash in a bag" days. I wasn't fortunate enough to have a 20 year old for the occasion, but the 40 year old I did have was just great!

 

[joy]

Yup, the showers were great! My husband gave me my showers Icould tell you some pretty funny yet not my most glorious moments! I remember in the antenatal department, my husband was staying with me for the night, and I had been trying to get ahold of the nurse(they only had one at night for the whole area) for like 1/2 an hour, and I had to go #2. So I went to wake my hubby up, and he was so groggy, that he told me to just "go in the catheter" and walked me back to my bed. Well, I woke up the next morning, and HE had to give me a shower, because I went in my bed! I guess he went back to the fisher house almost in tears and told my mom and my brother what happened. Then there was the first night in the antenatal unit where, after having asked for my sleep pants, my family brought them, but decided to put them out of reach...so, I got out of bed( still unable to walk by myself, mind you) and tried to get to them, but tripped over my foley catheter, and I went down big time. I didn't get hurt, but here I was with my butt in the air, and my head on the ground! The nurse came in like two seconds after it happened, and gave me my pants Just a couple of my stories. I have many many many more! Take it easy, and I hope you got some laughs out of these!

 

[Ross]

I have many many many more!

Hey, don't stop there! It was just getting interesting and you stopped.

 

[terry40]

I did't get a shower in the hospital either...

I did't get a shower in the hospital either...

I was in for 10 days. That was the first thing I did when I got home, what a production, but I wouldn't let anyone in the bathroom with me, so my husband and 3 adult kids were hoovering outside the door, calling out everytime I moaned, or bump into something.

Terry40

 

[monker]

its a wonder

its a wonder

What with Ross washing in a bag for almost 2 months, Tinkerbelles' bare bum in the air, and Terry moaning and bumping into things in the washroom, it's a wonder any of us actually decide to have surgery at all.

On my final night in hospital, at around 1 A.M., one of the nurses at the nursing station located close to my room decided it would be a good time to play one of those hand-held video gambling games. From 1 in the morning 'til 3, when it's all very quiet on the floor all you could hear was, "blinkety, blinkety, blinkety" and then if she matched numbers it was "blinkety, blinkety, blinkety"
"thweep!-thweep!-thweep!-thweep!-thweep!

 

[joy]

Oh those stories weren't from when I had my surgery, that was in January of '01 when I was in the hospital recovering from 10 days of the vent. Lets see, I fell asleep one time...I didn't have many visiters that day because Kevin had to work, and there was an "all in the family" marathon, and it just so happened to be on my TV, and I started dreaming that I had some of the dinners that Edith cooked for Archie, and made the nurses microwave them. Weird...Those drugs sure made me hallucinate alot! Let's see..... I had this weird dream that this one guy that Kevinused to work with had his wife come in and put stuff all over my naked body...THAT was a weird dream. It was so funny, I stole one of my son's favorite blankets, and one time, he just freaked out about it! He came in and saw it, and started screaming! He got to come in and visit me for an hour and I babysat him, while my mom and brother went to eat in quiet once, and it was so cute, he was dancing around to this musical toy they brought, and everytime a song ended, he would start clapping and say, "YAY!" He was a very cute 2 year old! One of my nurses used to come in and talk to me all the time. Actually, they all did, because I was the only pregnant one with really bad heart problems on the floor, so I had this pregnant nurse, and she'd come in and just talk to me while she could. I had this one mexican nurse that loved to bathe me while I was still in the ICU. SHe was like, "you want to look pretty for when Kevin comes to visit you, don't you?" I enjoyed getting cleaned up. Just sort of made me feel better! I guess the funniest thing that happened when I had my surgery, was they were going to give me 2 units of packed red blood cells because my platlett levels were low, but I kept saying, "No, they sent the blood back, I swear, they did...they said I didn't need it!" My nurse just laughed and said, "no, they have it right here, don't worry." I guess I could say one thing, My brother did all the laundry when they were out here, and my mom brought her lace bras and her black panties, and my brother just said, "yeah, I didn't want to know my mom wore victoria's secret langerie." I was laughing at him when they told me about that! If you knew him, you'd be laughing too. Wow, this reply has gotten pretty long, so enjoy these and I will tell more in a while! By the way, while these might seem depressing, they weren't, they were funny.. I joked around alot in the hospital to mke a tough situation better.

 

[EVELYN]

HI MONKER.....SO GLAD TO WELCOME YOU BACK FROM SURGERY. YES, THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE. I WAS JUST READING THROUGH ALL THE POSTS AND I THINK WHAT I FOUND MOST AMAZING IS HOW WE STILL KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR THROUGH IT ALL. LOOKING BACK ON TYCE'S SURGERY I CAN'T BELIEVE IT WAS7 MONTHS AGO.....WOW, WHERE DOES THE TIME GO!!!

BE WELL, STAY WELL, AND DEFINITELY GO BACK AND SEE INEZ!!!!

EVELYN

 

[monker]

time flys

time flys

Hi Ev:

It's always nice to get a personal note from those whose posts you've been reading over the last little while. Thank you.

It sounds as though Tyce is making great progress when you make surgery sound so long ago.

As for Inez, I'm afraid I had my chance. Honestly, I don't want to find myself in a position where I would have to be showered by her again. The hospital food just isn't worth it.

Hey Evelyn, I see you live on Long Island. Do you know a guy by the name of Ray Romano? His family is nuts but he's a nice guy.
Everybody loves Raymond.

I'll be watching you various posts to other members. Thanks again Evelyn.

Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi monker!
so glad that you are well on your way to recovery.
please let us know how things go.. don't rush things, rest, walk, breathe.
happy to hear the worst of it is behind you.
stay well, sylvia

 

[Bob]

stories

stories

My story isn't humerous. It seems that the night shift of nurses were having a labor dispute with the hospital. So each night they would discuss (bitch) their feelings all night long. Often at the top of their voices. My last night I got out of bed with tubes hanging everywhere, 02 tank dragging, and marched out to the nurses station and read them the riot act. "If you dont like your job then quit!" was my parting statement. The next morning the day shift nurse told me the whole episode had been video taped including my bare bumm marching away from the station. She tanked me saying they had previous complaints but never any evidence. Now they could act.

 

[hensylee]

That's funny, Bob......

Monker - good about keeping a journal. I did, too. and when I went back to read it, I was surprised at how much I had forgotten. One day you will use it to help somebody else. Tell Inez Hey.

 

[monker]

video

video

Hi Bob:

It would certainly be no fun recuperating in an atmosphere tainted by a labor dispute, but what's even worse was your bare butt video being shown last week on "Real TV" with Amad Rashad!

 

[monker]

say hey

say hey

Hi Hensylee:

I'm not sure my journal documenting my hospital stay will help anyone in the future but I am thinking of submitting it to "MAD"
magazine.

As for Inez, I will definitely say "hey", but if I ever find out she's a patient there I'm applying for the job of "shower boy"! woohoo!!

Stay well.