13. The Hospital Stay
I think the actual surgery was three hours and then post op. When I awoke, I really did not know what time it was or how long I was in the post op. What I do know is that I was in my room after 4 pm. The doctor said it would be an overnight stay. Longer if there were complications.
Three items would dictate the situation: Ability to Pee, Move (Walk, take food myself, etc.) and healthy vitals (no temperature, bleeding, etic). Within a few hours, I did accomplish all three. So all that was left was to survive the night.
Surviving the night would be harder than you think. There is no rest in the hospital. Someone is always coming in. And you would think, after being put to sleep and a variety of anti-pain meds, sleep would be easy.
First came the nurse(s). Editors Note: I give these men and women kudos. They work hard and as far as I can tell, work 12-hour shifts. These shifts are staggered so there is coverage to every patient—like me—get the care they need. I really think COVID has something to do with these strange hours. To say I had great nursing care—I did, but I cannot attribute it to any one nurse. Many different nurses came in throughout the time I was a captured audience—and I did get GREAT care.
To start, the first nurse came in and took my vitals, added some massage mechanism to my legs (to prevent blood clots) and asked if I would like a snack. (Since I had not eaten since 6 pm the night before, that sounded like a good idea). Graham crackers, cranberry juice and a turkey sandwich was ordered. I had no concept of time, and thought it was after 5:30. She soon brought the repast I had ordered, and I ate the graham crackers and cranberry juice and asked for more juice. I was very thirsty, and my throat felt a little sore. In fact, my voice sounded weird. Turns out they put a tube to breathe down my throat and it irritated the lining. These symptoms remained for a few more days.
I had only taken a few bites of my sandwich and gave it to my husband who finished it. Just then my dinner arrive—turkey, mashed potatoes and broccoli. I could not eat it. The graham crackers filled me. My husband ate that too.
The Baby, hubby and I were then left alone for a little while. They told me the doctor visited them after the operation in the waiting room and said I had come through with flying colors. Even the evasive Sentinel Lymph node, in her opinion, felt healthy, the pathology tests will provide more information and they wouldn’t be ready for a week (turned out to be two). As we relaxed, another nurse came in.
The instructions were simple: Here is how the bed moves, here is the TV remote buttons, and if you need to go to the bathroom, here is the call button as you need to be escorted by the nurse. No getting out of bed on your own. At this point, the nurse went to a big dry erase board and wrote down the names of the team who would be assisting me overnight. As I did not have my glasses on, that was for naught. Would you like your arms propped with pillows? YES! The result was very comfortable—and would be used for weeks after. In fact, as I right this, weeks later, propping feels great!
The nurse then took the vitals, checked my incisions, and started to scan the many QR codes on my wrist. It was then she realized the Nuke Med bracelet was still on. “I need to take that off, is that OK?” Sure. “It is also time for Tylenol, and you can have an Advil in between, The doctor has not ordered any Oxi (DARN!) and we will only ask should you really need it. Otherwise, it is the combination. So let me know how your pain is from 1-10.” I took Tylenol. Remember, take it as the dosage and timing is outlined. Do not try to be a hero and go without. That is my motto given to me by friends in the medical field and was reiterated by this nurse as well.
“We need to do your drains. We need to milk the tube into the drain, empty each drain into the measuring cup, and note the total amounts.” Great- my caregivers are here and need a lesson as well. They all gathered around my now missing chest and had a lesson. As a graduation gift for learning, the nurse gave the students—hubby and Baby—a set of measuring cups marked with L and R. It was the best gift we could have gotten as my glass measuring cups at home only did tablespoons and cups, these were marked in Milliliters.
My husband, devoted to me through hip replacement and now breast removal, looked very tired. It was around 8:30 and he had been at the hospital with the baby for 13 plus hours—longer than the nursing staff. I asked/told them to go home. Tomorrow, the doctor said she would be in early, so I am going home! (Think Positive)
Family on their way home, I turned on the TV. After the long day, around 10 pm I decided, turn off the TV and let’s get some sleep. I slept 1.5 hours, when the nurse came in for Vitals. Lights on, another set of pills, milking the drains and measuring, she warned me of a return visit at 3pm for another dose, and then 4AM for vitals etc. It was then I asked if could go to the Bathroom. OK she said, give her a moment, and she will return, DO NOT get out of bed on my own.
She left and returned immediately. Helping me up, we went to the bathroom down the hall. Here you go. Do your thing, then press the nurse call button, and the nurse will come get you. Here is where we went our separate ways. The toilet had the red call button next to it. There was no way I was going to have her wipe me and get me two feet to the sink to wash my hands. So, I did it myself. Please note—there are railings all around, so if I did feel wobbly, the railing was in easy reach. I did my business and opened the door where the nurse was waiting. She was not happy—and expressed her reasons. OK, Me Bad. I felt good. I needed to do things on my own or I would be here extra time. We made a truce, and she escorted me back to the bed.
Hooked to the leg massagers, lights out in my room, the multi-level parking garage was outside my picture window. The blinds were fully open. The cars, probably with the ever-changing staff as this went on all night, would shine their headlights into my room. I could watch as they wound their way down to the first floor and escape. I could not get back to sleep. By 4:30 I did start to get sleepy, a new shift of nurses arrived and introduced themselves since I was awake. This nurse asked if I wanted the blinds shut. With the sun starting to rise, I agreed.
I dozed a little bit and was awoken again at 7AM by my Breast Doctor. Glad to see her and get a report straight from her did ease my mind. Everything looked good and I went through well. Vitals looked good, incisions, drains, I met all the criteria—pee, walk, ate, moved—and she will complete the paperwork for my freedom.
I immediately called home. I am free! No rush though as they will be bringing me breakfast and I still have to be released from the variety of tubes and massagers. My family said they would be at the hospital around 9:30.
As I relaxed again, the pills came, and now another set of doctors and nurses—Anesthesia, the anesthesia research gal, the Breast Resident, and finally, my breakfast. You know how they make fun of hospital food? Dinner was great—my breakfast, not so much. Even the woman who delivered the meal, after I said something about the eggs. She agreed. Then apologized. I told her not too.
I began to take stock of what I needed to take home. I loved the large water bottle. My L and R plastic measuring cups, which I learned was for Urine measurement as well, and one bed pad that could be used for the grand dog. My family had arrived. Ready to go? No not yet. Still waiting for the nurse to remove my shackles and provide the release care information and paperwork.
The nurse came in to milk the drains. We are still working on the release forms. By the end of the morning, the family decided they would go to the café and get something to eat. It turns out, nubby loved the food in the café and with the enclosed outside patio area, it had a nice ambience. The price of food, how good it was, and the ambience made him invite us all to eat at the hospital as the café never appeared full and since we lived in a tourist area where restaurants are overflowing Memorial Day through Labor Day, this might make a great alternative when we want to wat out. We shall see.
They left. My lunch arrived, an Italian meal of stuffed shells. Not too bad. Again I relaxed. The family returned. And finally, the nurse with instructions, paperwork and removing the IV port and the leg items. She then asked the family if they wanted to help me get dressed. The nurse would go and call for Transportation. It was protocol that I take a wheelchair. I could not walk out on my own. My husband volunteered. Soon I was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for transport.
Transport soon arrived and loaded me and my suitcase on the chair. As this was a busy time, they knew of a short cut that would make for an uncongested hallway and faster. We made it to the Valet parking lot and awaited our car.
We left the hospital at 3 p.m.