I'm Coming Home

Well, my doctor came in and sat with me and told me that they did a biopsy on the piece they removed and confirmed that I did have a sequestration along with the bronchiactisis. He said he got it all out and that I was good as new. Just need to get through recovery. I am so grateful for people like him and the gift of technology. He just changed the quality of the rest of my life. It was like giving someone a new lung. I told him how grateful I was and how he must have a very rewarding job. He replied with, "Well, I don't get the opportunity to operate on young patients very often" .... lol. So, I guess I was one of the rare cases for him. So, after we chatted he gave me the all clear to go home.

My husband showed up and helped me get my things and head home. It was great to finally go home, but I was also scared about the challenges I would face at home. As I walked in my door it was great to hug my daughter again and just be home.

Stop ... Shower Time

I was introduced to my new nurse and he was awesome. I knew after speaking with him he was gay (the reason I point this out will come into play later). He was so nice and was hooking me up with the only thing that actually tasted good; orange sorbet.

Well, as I am starting to move around and walk a little bit I decided I wanted to take on the task of taking a shower. I knew that I would feel so much better after having a head of clean hair and having a clean body. After I finished my shower I was EXHAUSTED! It took so much energy and I didn't have any left to dry off my lower body and I was afraid that I might not be able to stand long enough to dry myself off. So, I called for my nurse. I was standing there butt naked asking for his help. I told him that as long as he was comfortable I was. He replied with, "Don't worry I am gay" LOL. I just said, "I'm not worried I know you are a professional.

After all of that was taken care of and I was able to lay back down I felt SO much better.

Removal of the Chest Tube

Well, today was the day that I was least looking forward to the most. My mind and imagination was driving me crazy wondering what this process was going to be like.

The nurse and doctor comes in to remove the tube. At this point I am very nervous and gave myself a little extra morphine. I held the nurses hand and began using my learned breathing techniques from giving labor. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be at all. It felt like someone pulling stitches out. Maybe because I was still numb in that area it helped with the pain. I remember saying, "That's it?" to the doctor.

A Wonderful Visitor

Another fuzzy morphine day. But, on this day something special happened. As the nurse was checking my vitals I see my Dad come into the room!! It was such a wonderful surprise. You could tell that he was a little nervous because I had so many tubes and cords, etc. We chatted for awhile and before he left he grabbed my hand and with teary eyes he says, "You know I love you right?" It was so heartfelt and sweet. It really lifted my spirits.

My Friend ... Morphine

Well, the next day is still a little fuzzy to me. But, I do know that morphine was my friend. I didn't have any sharp pains. I mainly felt a sense of pressure in my chest. My left arm was also hard to raise. I think it was because of all of the morpine, but I did throw up a few times. It made me a little dizzy. So, they had me on a "delicious" diet of jello, ice, and orange sorbet.

Surgery Day

Today is the day I had my surgery. I was blessed to have the company of my husband and my best friend. When I first got there, they put me in a temporary room where I put on my gown, did some blood work, and answered some questions about my health history.

I could feel the nerves start to get the best of me. That is the worst thing that I do; I think too much. So they allowed me to have one Xanax to ease my nerves a bit. It helped a lot. The next moment they come in and tell me that it is time to go. They wheeled me through some halls and then I kissed my husband before I went in. Then, they stopped my bed right in front of the operating room. I was so happy that they didn't bring me in there. I think seeing all of that equipment would overwhelm me. So, I see the Dr walking down the hall to say hello and to write on my left side. I guess this is to ensure me that they will operate on the correct side. He smiled and assured me that I was in good hands. I remember a lady there holding my hand and telling me that everything will be alright and to put my trust in god. Then, the anesthesiologist arrived and introduced himself and told me that he was going to give me my cocktail. That was the last moment I remember before surgery.

My surgery took 3 hours and was completely successful. My memory is a little fuzzy on the after surgery part. But, I do remember waking up and feeling the difference in my breathing already. I was actually laying on my left side and I had NO congestion. This was a first for a long time! Then, I remember them saying that my blood pressure was getting really low and they needed to take me off a certain medicine. I normally always have low pressure so this didn't surprise me.

Then, they wheeled me into my room. It was the cute guy that my best friend and I were talking about earlier! LOL. I remember telling him that he smelled good LOL. As, he was wheeling me around I felt really dizzy. I remember feeling the cool air of the AC vent as I was wheeled into my room. I asked him to stop right there for just a moment so I could make the dizzyness go away. After that, I went to sleep and that is all I remember of that day.