RECOVERING WELL...

It's been a full week since surgery. I must say that I am shocked at how easily it has gone. The pain has been minimal. What I am finding now is what I believe to be some nerves coming back to 'life' and making sure I am aware that they are there. Other than that, I am just tired. You know how it is... Getting back into the swing of things after lying around in a hospital doing a whole lot of nothing for several days.

Now, do I think that Xocai chocolate has helped me through this surgery? Yes, I do. However, I must say that there is no scientific evidence to post. I did not have a team of doctors following me around. But what I do have is my own personal testimony. I have had 4 c-sections in my life and now one (I don't think that I can have more) hysterectomy. I read several message boards before the surgery trying to figure out what recovery would be like. Most of what I read said that it was the same, if not worse than a c-section. So that was what I had my mind set for. I went in expecting the same thing that I had experienced with my previous c-sections (I wasn't accepting 'worse').

I remember a whole lot of nothing about my surgery. I remember being prepped for the epidural and telling the anasthesiologist that I felt sure that they would not need to give me too much to 'relax' me. As you remember from my last post that was at the 4-1/2 hour countdown, I did not get a lot of sleep. Two hours to be exact. Went to bed at 1:30AM and back up at 3:30AM. So, that was it, I remember the epidural. If I spoke with my doctor, I don't remember. I've been racking my brain trying to remember post-op recovery and there's nothing there. I sort of remember trying to move my legs. I remember from previous c-sections that I had to be able to move my legs before they would let me out of post-op and into a room. Next thing I remember is being in my room. I had a cath still in place and the epidural was still there for pain. I remember being asked about my pain level. I said a 7. Who REALLY knows what to say when they give you that silly smiley face scale of 1-10? I've just never really gotten that one. So, I said, "seven". We spent most of the rest of that day trying to decide what was the best way to administer pain meds to me. I am not much on the epidural and we finally settled in on a 'pump' method that I was able to control myself (it was administered through an IV). I was able to give myself a dose every six minutes which I thought was pretty crazy. Heck, I couldn't even stay awake for much more than 15 minutes. I think I took about three doses an hour and slept for most of the 1st two days. I know that I took a book that I had been saving to read while I was in the hospital and it took my until Thursday to even get through the foreward. By Thursday they had removed the cath and all IV's and I was up and using the restroom on my own. I got a shower and walked the hallways. My pain was very minimal. I was able to get two pain meds by mouth every 6 hours, but was only requesting one. Two put me to sleep and I was really looking forward to having some time to read.

One thing I do remember is that the nurses and even the doctors would tell me that when I got home I could take some motrin to help with the inflammation. I had to remind them that I was allergic to ibuprofen and I kept thinking, "that's OK, I have healthy dark chocolate for inflammation." I took my chocolate to the hospital with me. The first couple of days (day of surgery and the day after) I would suck on bits of the chocolate. I was on a liquid diet and wasn't tolerating much yet, but by day three I was back into the swing of things and eating a couple of pieces a day and tolerating 'some' food. The doctor was ready to release me by day 4, but it was late and I stayed until the next morning.

I got home on a Saturday and spent most of the weekend in bed with my husband babying me. (I love you, honey!) It was certainly good to be home. I had my post-op appointment yesterday and it looks like things are going great!!!! According to my doctor, pathology showed that there was good reason for the surgery and after I am completely healed, I should be a new woman!!!

I will keep you updated as things progress. If it wasn't for the mandatory restrictions that come with surgery and the fact that yes, I am tired after a full day of 'life', I would tell you that I am great! But...I'll give it a couple of weeks. Xocai healthy chocolate is only a 'super-food', not a 'miracle-food'.

The Final Countdown...

It's midnight. In 4-1/2 hours I will have to be at the hospital prepping for surgery. It's been pretty crazy. Can someone please tell me why we women worry about things like cleaning our carpet before we leave the house for surgery? Or, how many of you go crazy cleaning before you leave for vacation? Yes, I know, it is to make it feel nicer when we get home. Right? Whatever the reason, it's truly unnecessary!

But I am ready. This surgery has been a few years in the making, but the timing has just been off. Now the timing is perfect. I mean, really. Tomorrow night when they announce the next President of the United States of America, if the outcome is not to my liking, I can just pop another pain killer. What more can a girl ask for?

I will be back after I have had a little time to rest. I feel great. I have packed a nice, new pair of jammies and, of course, my chocolate.