The Hospital Stay

Tuesday morning started very early. Dan got up first.and got ready for the day, then I took my turn in the bathroom, taking the final of my three prescribed antibacterial soap showers. We were at the hospital by 5:45 a.m., and they took us immediately to a room where I donned my stylish hospital gown and had an IV line started with saline solution.

An hour or so later I kissed Dan goodbye and took the ride to the operating room, which felt exactly like a walk-in freezer. Thankfully, I don't remember much about being cold, because very quickly the anesthesiologist began adding some of his magic fluid to my IV. I remember him asking if I was okay, and I started to answer that it was a little tingly . . .

BAM!

As if no time had passed, someone was tapping my shoulder and saying, " Mrs. Judd. Wake up. Your surgery is all over." It hadn't been like sleeping, because when I sleep and then wake I have a sense of time having passed. Not with this, though. I really couldn't believe the surgery was over.

They moved me to my room. I don't remember if Dan was already there or if he came up after me In fact I don't remember anything about those first couple of hours. I need to ask Dan if I was loopy enough to be saying crazy things. Or maybe I don't want to know.

What surprised me was that at noon they brought me a full meal. No ice chips or clear liquids, no chicken soup or jello . . . regular food. I had requested a low carb diet, because of my diabetes, but their "low carb" was nothing like my "low carb." That first meal was a piece of breaded chicken with gravy, roasted potatoes, green beans, a biscuit, jello - regular, not sugar free, salad and apple juice. The rest of the meals, throughout my stay, we're similarly "carby," but I didn't worry about it. I had very little appetite, so just worked on getting something in my stomach and didn't worry about my blood glucose. Lots of time to get back on that train once I'm back home.

The next morning I was supposed to begin therapy. But when they got me up and walked me to the door of my room, my blood pressure plummeted and I nearly passed out. They took me back to bed, joking that  some people will do anything to get out of physical therapy. But they came back later and I did much better. That tine I was encouraged to try to walk (with my walker, of course) to and from the gym, but I only made it part way each direction. The exercises were really painful, and I wondered if I'd ever be able to do them well.

Thursday morning I was feeling much better. I walked to and from the gym and did all of my exercises like a pro! Same in the afternoon. The doctor told me that morning that I could go home if therapy went well, but after another very low blood pressure episode (69/46), we all decided one more night in the hospital would be wise. My therapy session on Friday was really good, and afterward I got to take a shower, which was delightful.

Highlights of my stay included visits from numerous friends and a Skype visit with the grand kids. I hope my disheveled appearance and drug-induced dopiness didn't scare them! Hearing them chatter on certainly picked up my spirits.

The medical staff was amazing! The nurses and aides couldn't have been more caring, attentive and professional. The housekeeping staff and those bringing in my food were cheerful and friendly. And, of course, the doctors, who literally held my life in their hands, were terrific.

Dan drove me home on Friday, and we'd hardly gotten home before two friends from church, Janet and Linda, were at our door with a delicious dinner of roast pork, sweet potatoes, green beans, salad and fresh fruit cups.

Yesterday the home health care therapist came to work with me. I think a therapist will come every day for a week, then every other day for a couple more weeks. I'm doing real well today, feeling somewhat independent, strong and encouraged, and also grateful as can be for Dan's care and attention. Without him here I couldn't have come home, and home is exactly where I want to be right now.

A Wonderful Weekend

Friday, the day after Joint Camp, I went to the hospital clinic for my pre-op appointments. Everything went very smoothly, and I was cleared for the surgery. There was still no pre-authorization from my insurance company, although they had sent the hospital a financial report of what would be covered. (Seems a little backward, doesn't it - no authorization, but here's what we'll cover? But that's how it was.) I was amazed and grateful to hear that the insurance would cover nearly all of the costs, and leave us without a big financial burden.

Friday evening Chris, Kelsey and the children arrived in time for dinner. It was such a blessing to have them here, especially at this time. It made the weekend fly by in a flurry of activity, and kept my mind off of the coming hospital experience.

I had freshened up the toy box a bit, adding a few new things for them to discover, which only took about five minutes for Robert. He spent most of the weekend playing with a new set of Hot Wheels, while Clara styled Barbie's hair and colored Hello Kitty pictures.

After dinner on Friday we sat outside on the back patio while the kids and their Daddy ran around in the yard squirting each other with water. The laughing, squealing and hollering were the most noise our neighbors had ever heard coming from our backyard. And to my ears it was music.

On Sunday we went to Bible classes and worship. The children were both so good, and that prompted compliment after compliment on how well behaved and precious our grandchildren were. Grandma and Grandpa were very proud of them.

We ate lunch out at a Mexican restaurant, then came home for naps. By 4:00 parents and kids, alike, were rested, and they piled into the car for the trip home.

Sunday evening, after worship, my friend Wynn handed me a piece of paper with a list of ladies who have offered to bring dinner to our home for a week, beginning Friday (my anticipated first day home). I was touched and overwhelmed. Once again I marveled at how blessed Dan and I are to have, both, a loving physical family and spiritual one.

This morning I received a call from Scott & White, informing me that my insurance authorization had finally been received. No more hurdles! Tomorrow morning I am supposed to check into the hospital at 6:00 a.m., and surgery is tentatively scheduled for 7:30 a.m. I've surprised myself at how calm I've been . . . no worries. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if the adrenaline kicks in, and I find it a little difficult to sleep tonight. Many of you who read my blog have sent me emails saying you'll be praying for me. You don't know how much that means to me! Thank you.

52 in 2013 - #22 Theme of the Week: Quiet

Chris, Kelsey and the children were here this weekend. What a treat for us! 

The only time Robert is QUIET is when he's asleep. Isn't he precious?

(Photo softened and desaturated in Photoshop)

Scott & White: Emergency Room, Joint Camp and Pre-op Appointments

Starting the middle of last week, Dan wasn't feeling well. He was running a low-grade fever, aching, lacking an appetite, and feeling the need to sleep a lot. By Friday night, there was nothing "low-grade" about his situation. I ended up running him to the Scott & White (S&W) ER, where he received outstanding care, which involved testing, scanning, diagnosing, pain-management and (most importantly) sympathy. I don't mind sharing all the details of my own medical issues with the world, here on my blog, but will give Dan the respect of not disclosing the details of his night in the ER. We finally came home around 2:30 a.m., and he has been slowly but steadily improving each day, with the help of some strong medicines.

Today was the day I was registered to attend S&W 's "Rapid Recovery Joint Program" (more commonly known as "Joint Camp"). I wasn't sure that Dan would be up to going with me, but he proved himself a trooper, and came along. The information presented at Joint Camp included a general guide to joint replacement surgery, the physical map of the S&W campus and where to park/where to go/what to expect on the day of surgery, post op activity goals and exercises, follow-up in-home PT and care, and contact information. There were about a dozen folks there who will be undergoing either hip or knee replacement surgery in the next few days, as well as their at-home care givers. I thought the staff did a bang-up good job of informing us and easing some of the anxiety that comes along with a hospital stay.

Tomorrow I have several pre-op appointments to keep: a blood draw, a pre-op evaluation and medical clearance, a session with the admissions and scheduling office, and an appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Allen. The only thing I'm nervous about is that I don't think they've YET contacted my insurance company and gotten pre-approval for the surgery. I'm hoping that during the admissions session tomorrow they will take care of that. I've bugged them several times about it, and they don't seem nearly as concerned as I am!

52 in 2013 - #21 Theme of the Week: Weather

Bell County, where we live, was under both a tornado watch and a thunder storm/hail watch this afternoon. Thankfully, we didn't see any tornados, but we did have some thunder, lightning, occasional hail, and heavy rain. At one point we looked out to see someone's garbage can floating down the street at a rather rapid clip.

52 in 2013 - #20 Theme of the Week: Transportation

In Roswell it's not uncommon to see some rather alien modes of transportation. I hope this guy succeeded in getting his pickup truck jump-started.