Updates, updates, updates!

Whew the deed is done!

Mood: Groggy and a little grumpy to boot.
Thinking about: progress and perspective.

As I have been in the hospital the past four days I thought it would be understandable that I didn't really post anything. Funny enough, Dr. S, on his second day of checking up on me, asked me how my blog was going. He is really into creating ways to help future patients figure out what goes on with the surgery, it's cool.

The Night Before:
I was pretty nervous, no shaking, just ants in my pants. I couldn't really even think about the surgery;I was just hyped up on adrenaline. I packed everything I thought I would need and a lot of things that were complete rubbish. I said my final goodbyes and went to bed. I didn't really have trouble falling asleep after I had everything done, because the idea of surgery had already sunken in and I was just anticipating the healing process.

The Morning of:
I woke up at 5:30, and my grandparents, parents, and sister escorted me to the hospital at a crisp and lively 6:15 in the morning. As with all family trips, we sang most of the way there. Once we got to the waiting room we played Korean Jacks, which is one of the most addicting games ever that my family happens to be horrible at. A nurse named Corynne called me to the back and labeled me, checked me for babies and then set me down to wait. Then my anesthesiologist, Dr. Johnson came in and talked to me about the procedure. They were all very nice and answered all of my questions. Dr. Johnson said that if I was scared of the gas mask that I didn't have to be sedated by gas before the IV. (MAJOR relief for me, because I am scared to death of masks) I didn't take the pre-surgery medicine to calm me down either, because I gag when I take liquid oral medicine. Dr. S came in to talk to me and my family, and he seemed really relaxed. That was the part that helped me out the most.
When it was time for me to be taken back, my family took some pictures, said goodbyes, and tried to laugh off their nerves. I was surprisingly not as nervous as I thought I would be. I talked a lot, which showed that clearly, I was nervous, but I wasn't shaking or crying. The trip to the OR was long and windy, but wasn't scary. The nurse pushing my bed talked to me about sports, which I have no knowledge about, so that was interesting. I tried to make things up, but I was wrong every time.
When we reached the OR the nurses talked to me and covered me with warm blankets. It was a chilly, very large, very bright white room. I saw pictures of my hip all over the walls, and there was a large, caring team of people there to take care of me. They moved me from my bed to the table and suddenly I was surrounded by huge lights that weren't illuminated yet. I kept talking about how this is how supermodels must feel, and then the nurses would all pity laugh at my jokes (which I thought were pretty good, but whatever. Laughter is laughter.) Dr. Johnson put my IV in, no problems at all. They gave me some oxygen, which smelled weird, but it wasn't medicine so that was good. I asked if one of the nurses would hold my hand and I got a back rub, a foot massage, and a hand holder. They really take care of you back there. Before I knew it, I was out.
Contrary to popular belief, when you go out, the world does not go black. You can't tell what color the world turns because its like falling asleep. Its not like your eyes stop working but the rest of you can still sense your surroundings. It's much easier than you are told.

After Waking up:
I woke up and was in my room, moved to my new bed, all propped up and very, very groggy. I don't remember this part very much, because I was really drugged. In fact, most of the stuff in the hospital is foggy because they kept me so high.

Day 2:
Dr. S visited me, and checked out my dressings and what-not. Everything was ship-shape and I drifted back off to woozyland. People came to visit me, but it was all uneventful because I really can't remember any of it. All I know is that I loooooved my morphine pump. It was exquisite.
Progress for that day: My PT Mark visited me twice, helping me sit the first time (with my legs hanging over the bed), and then stand the second (using my walker). I was surprised at how tired I got from such simple tasks, but hey, learning to walk again takes time and patience. And a whole lot of sleep.

Day 3:
I walked for the first time on day three, just a few steps, but it was magnificent. My parents starting singing the rocky theme song. Normally I would've asked them to stop, but this was seriously one of the biggest accomplishments of my life to date.

Day 4:
I walked down the hallway, all the way to the end and back. It was about 30 ft total, but in perspective, it was massive. Mark had to move my right leg for me since I was still unable to move anything but my ankle.

Day 5:
I WALKED 100 FEET BY MYSELF!!! (using my walker of course) BUT STILL! I was so elated, it was the most incredible feeling in the world. Afterwards I hurt like hell, but who cares, because I walked. :) Once I woke up from my nap, my nurse Liz taught me how to give myself Lovenox injections in my tummy. I don't like those very much. It took a lot out of me, because I had never done anything like that before.
After that I went home, and crashed.

Day 6:
Here I am in bed, typing. I still feel a bit groggy, and my only pain comes from sleeping, because sleeping on my back is a pain in the butt. I always slept on my stomach before, and this arrangement hurts my back and my knee. I tried sleeping on my side yesterday, but my muscles started screaming at me so I stopped.

I don't know what the agenda for today is. I might get in my wheelchair and roll around outside of my parents room, I might just lay in bed and watch movies all day. All I know is that I need to eat more and drink more. I haven't been going to the bathroom enough lately. Going to the bathroom tells me two things: that I am healthy, and that I can still walk the same as I walked before and am progressing.

Drink up, me harties, yo ho!