The surgery took eight hours. There was nurse telling my mom and boyfriend how things were going every two. When I woke, I was in ICU. I can remember seeing my mom and Yvenson smiling at me. I think I smiled back.
My face was swollen from the length of the surgery. The nurse explained how to use the medicine that I administered myself with a button. It was morphine. Morphine does not cover up the pain entirely, so to deal with it, I fell asleep. I don't remember Yvenson leaving, but I would look over and see mom playing on her IPad. She talked to me about the surgery and asked how I was feeling. Then the nurse, whom I liked very much, would have to adjust my position in the bed. She had me press the button for morphine and then slide me to my side using sheets and propping me up with pillows. Even a crinkle in the sheets made it feel like needles poking me, but the nurse kept adjusting until I was perfect. Like the Princess and the pea. Moving just that little bit wore me out and was so painful that it made me fall asleep. Sleeping makes it go away. Until I open my eyes and realize where I am at.
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Hello all! I am so happy to be writing again! My energy is finally high enough so I can concentrate! I have so much to share so I'm just going to hit the ground running and start talking.
My Spinal Fusion surgery was October 3rd. I had about 2 hours of sleep and had to be at the hospital by 5am. Mom drove me in the wee hours of the morning. Let me just say, there wasn't much said on that trip. We were both pretty nervous I think. We checked into the Spinal Care Unit and it wasn't 20 minutes before they called me back to the holding area. I had to walk back there by myself, get changed into a diposable hospital gown (due to the "involvement of blood"), and the nurse began prepping me by asking all the medical history questions. After what seemed like 50 questions later, the nurse said she would get my mother. By the the time my mom came, the nurse was placing more chlorahexydine (antimicrobial) on my back. I was a freaking nervous wreck. I was so scared. I was shaking my foot so bad that I was rocking the whole bed. Mom noticed and naturally starting tearing up telling me that it was going to be fine. I cried a little, but I was trying to be strong for her. Inside I was screaming. Unfortunately, I only got to see her for 15 minutes before being rolled into the pre-op holding area. I could not look back at her. Never in my life have I been that terrified. Inside pre-op holding, I was the youngest person. Everyone else was middle aged or older. I was rolled into a corner with no one around me. I just stared at the wall trying to meditate and stay calm. A nurse by the name of Frank introduced himself. He said he was going to be with me the entire operation. He was very nice and made me as comfortable as he could. The prepping began by placing pulsating cuffs on my calves to help stop blood clots. The IV was placed on both arms. A nurse came walking towards my bed with a cooler and placed it on the table directly beside me. It read, "Blood Bank for Tiffany O'Neal". That's when I started to panic. I started to hyperventilate, but the nurse named Frank mellowed me out. My surgeon stopped by to check on me. He was very kind and reassuring. The moment he walked away however, I started crying like a baby. Finally, they gave me Versed (anxiety medicine) to get me to chill out. Then it was lights out. I did not remember a thing. My last day at work was yesterday and that was not a good day at all. I cleared my things from my desk and said goodbye to my coworkers and friends. Of course, I cried. I worked very hard and sacrificed a lot for that job plus, those girls became my friends in the process. But, now I am facing a world (after surgery) where I have no source of income. Luckily, my boyfriend is a supportive one and a good father. My mother, or should I say, "Super Mom" supports me through anything.
Tonight at home, I said my farwells to my son. Took everything I had not to cry. He was my shadow from the moment we picked him up from school. We talked to him the day before as well to try to prepare him and he apparently remembered. He hugged me and kept drawing pictures for me. When I put him to bed, I read him a story and reminded him of how proud I am of him. I wrote him a note (in 5 year old language) and tacked it to his wall so he is reminded every night of how much I love him. He seemed to really like that. Kissed him goodnight and walked out the room before the tears came. Then I had to say goodbye to Yvenson (my boyfriend). I wrote him a letter and gave it to him, but asked him to wait until I left to read it. I cried as we said goodbye by my car. We hugged for the longest while he kept telling me that it was going to be ok. Then being him, he tells a joke when anything gets serious and lightens the mood. Makes it easier that way....for both of us. I drove to my mom's since she is taking me to the hospital in the morning. Yvenson has to take our son to school in the morning and we are trying to keep it as normal as possible for him. He will drive to the hospital after dropping him off. Mom and I prepared anything that was left to prepare, like unpacking my bag to stay at her house for a few weeks and making sure my hospital bag has everything I would need. She also scrubbed my back with Chlorahexydine (antimicrobial) after I washed my hair. We have to wake up at 230am to be at the hospital by 5am. Long drive.... I highly doubt I will sleep tonight. Suprisingly, I am in pretty good spirits. Mom says it's because I had so much time to prepare for it. She is probably right. Besides, I have to stay postive. Postive mind equals postive and faster recovery. |