A real night's sleep

OK I'm going to try to update before my pain meds kick in...if this gets confusing and / or convoluted as you read, my apologies in advance :). I blame it on the hydrocodone.

It is sooo nice being home. The hospital was horrible, I can't stress enough how crappy it was there. Don't go there if you need something done -- seriously. If you want attention or nurse care. The following are things I dealt with that I shouldn't have had to deal with:

1. 100+ degree heat because my thermostat literally did not work. The nurses' explanation (yes multiple nurses): "It's hot outside."
2. Waiting between 20 and 45 minutes after pushing the nurse button - for *anything*. Pain meds, catheder emptying (gross right?), help getting to the bathroom once the cath came out...no one who just had surgery a day prior should have to wait 30 minutes for meds or to urinate. I'm sorry but that's just messed up. Especially when they are pumping bags and bags of liquids into you.
3. I wasn't able to move myself...so my buttbone would fall asleep, my side would get sore, etc. and I couldn't do a damn thing except push the stupid button and wait. Again.

The last night I was there, I ended up crying from the pain during the 45 minute wait for the meds...EJ marched to the nurses station and bitched. It was so sweet of him. Lol. He usually does not complain about things like that, but him seeing me cry just pissed him off. I do have a high pain tolerance too, so I think he knew it must have been bad.

Not as bad as the guy across the hall, apparently. The moaner just screamed and moaned all night every night. I know the nurses suck with pain meds...but they must have heard him. Maybe he was already maxed out on his meds and had to deal with it. But that meant I got to deal with his screaming and moaning. Thank GOD the rooms were private. I would have strangled him with my little IV'd bruised arms.

OK enough about the stupid hospital. I am home!

Mom is trying to wait on me hand and foot and I am not letting her. It's good for me to get up and walk around. The pain is pretty localized on my left side of my stomach. There are 5 small incisions covered with tape around my stomach. Two on the right side, one above my belly button, and two on the left side. The left side incisions are where the surgeon entered with most of his equipment and did most of the work. I am bruised and swollen and it is very sore to move. I cannot lean on this side, and when I stand it is very painful on that side. However, it's normal considering that's where he worked mostly.

The big things to worry about now are to stay hydrated, which is hard with my little tummy pouch, and get protein in. I am sipping water, but I want to gulp it because I do feel thirsty. Even one gulp makes me burp and full / uncomfortable. So I am trying to get used to my pouch size while staying hydrated. It's hard, but I really think I can feel the new stomach pouch. My stomach itself is still there in its entirety, just not connected to anything. So my old big stomach is still growling, making gasses and acids, digesting nothing, etc. Poor thing. I can feel it growling, but this area to the left of it is tight and full and gassy, and I think that's my pouch. Kind of cool.

I slept a full 10 hours almost last night, waking up once for the bathroom and meds. I think a few more nights of good sleep like that and I'll be good as new :)

Now I have to give myself a blood thinner shot in my stomach, which I am nervous about. But I think I can do it. Wish me luck.

I love you all and I love your support and comments. I hope this blog helps someone in the future too.