Surgery is over!

Well surgery is over....and lets just say this post op surgery is a bitch! I have never felt like such crap before in my life. They said I would feel like I have a sinus infection but having two stints up my nose is not my equivalent to a sinus infection. I have to wear gauze's over my nostrils so that I do not bleed out. Oh and let's not forget the drainage going down my throat! Let's just say the drainage has made me more nauseous then the medication I've been taking. I have never felt like such a train wreck in my life. I know things will get better but my patients is wearing thin. When I can't even get up to go to the bathroom without hyperventilating or going up the stairs without getting winded *insert visual of old lady crawling up stairs*. Right now I am going on about 3 days of no sleep. If I didn't have a head ache due to the surgery, I've got to be getting headaches do to lack of sleep. I feel like am confined to my first floor, which basically I am because going up and downstairs makes my heart beat out of my chest! I hate it when I think of things that I need and then realize "crap" it's up stairs, or I need to restock the toilet paper and it's down in the basement. These are the times I say to myself "Don't EVER take it for granted when you are healthy!" and REMEMBER TO PAY IT FORWARD!! Wether it's a nice gesture or an act of kindness, the people who have been helping me out do not understand how much it's been helping. Bringing me a meal, calling/texting to check up on me, or moving my room around so that I can somehow get some kind of sleep (love my friends!).

I have learned a few things through this experience and I have to put a blog site up for you to read if you wish. This blogger was very helpful in making light of surgery before taking that big plunge with her situation being more severe than mine. The website is:  www.everywhereist.com/70-things-i-learned-from-having-a-brain-tumor/

She gave me many ideas to how to handle what I am and was going through with humor. She was the inspiration in deciding to name my tumor. Of course my friends chimed in on what I should name it-- "Elivs". I don't think I will look at Elvis Presley the same way ever again! I appreciate that I could have a sense of humor with the medical staff around me. I have to joke about things! Life is too serious not to joke about what is going on. I'm glad my ICU nurse had a sense of humor too since whatever must have been left in my stomach projectile all over myself. I tried to give her a heads up before I got sick but she wasn't fast enough....poor thing! I am amazed at people who are able to do what hospital/medical people can do. I was totally grossed out and she was like "eh?!?". My hospital stay was very short. I was only in there for two days and that's including the actual surgery itself. When they want you to get out of the hospital they want you out. They asked me if I wanted to stay but I felt like that was a loaded question....."Let me think?....Stay where I am waited on hand and foot 24/7 and taken care of if for any reason there is any discomfort or pain by people who have gone to school and trained to take care of people such as myself?, OR go home where you will be laying on the couch knowing your Dad is doing his absolute very best taking care of you but he is no medical care person, well at least he never showed me a degree! Also asking a person who has been heavily sedated is (in my opinion) not a very good thing to do. Of course I agreed to discharge as soon as possible so that I could get home.

The minute they put me in the hospital wheelchair I knew the hard part was just about to begin. It amazes me the very little tiny things we take for granted on a daily basis, such as taking a shower. My first shower home was NOT fun! All I can say is that water got on me and I was pretty much done after that. I couldn't breathe worth crap and I thought my head was actually going to pop off! I literally crawled to get my clothes on and my hair....well I'm just surprised I didn't shave it off. It would have been easier than trying to brush it after that shower. It's been almost a week since my surgery and I took my second shower since I have been home. HOLY CRAP! Time does heal! I was actually able to enjoy my shower and get myself clean. The brushing of my hair went really smoothly. Still need it cut but my head did not pop off and it doesn't hurt like it did before. I'm still a bit dizzy and stuff but that's to be expected!

What I am really looking forward to is getting the stints in my nose removed on Wednesday! Can not wait until those are out! Those are the things that are giving me the biggest problem right now. Still difficult to sleep and lay my head down. I feel like I could probably sleep a year when those come out! I can hear every little pounding in my brain and swish of whatever liquids are in your skull to keep it intact. That noise is not pleasant and very annoying! Of course it worsens when you lay your head down. Sleeping sitting straight up is not very easy. I've been making it work (sort of) but I usually wake up quickly when my body wants to lay down on its side. With that I have been watching a lot of TV. If you work during the day you are not missing anything. There is nothing on!! I think the television companies just replay the same day over and over again!

I am feeling truly blessed and lucky to have the people that I do in my life. People have been very helpful and caring with everything that has been going on! I can't believe how many wonderful people that I have in my life that care so much! It's scary going into a surgical situation and not knowing what or who will be there for you when you get out! No matter what anyone says....Friends ARE family. You cannot convince me other wise. It takes a village to raise a child but it also takes humanity to help someone in need!

Now that I am able to think more clearly......I am going to try to work on my "Thank You" cards! I do not want to forget anyone who has offered any little help at all possible. Even the smallest of things can make a HUGE difference!!