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I just got home after a long day at the hospital.
Doc's 3-4 hour prediction went to six hours (not counting prepping). We got there at 0600 (got up at 0400 to get ready). She went into surgery at 0630. Actual surgery started at 0655. It was a long haul in the waiting room for me. The TV didn't work and that HAS to be the slowest moving clock on the face of this planet!
A nurse came in around 8 and again at 10 to tell me things were "going well, but taking longer than anticipated." That's was great for MY nerves. The doc finally came out to say the surgery was "tough and tedious, but mostly 'textbook'." He thinks he's gotten all the tumors and, of course, removed all her plumbing. He said the endometriosis had gotten really bad too, which explained all the bleeding and intense pain.
Shelle didn't do so well in Recovery because they had her so long on an anesthestic they wouldn't normally have used on such a long procedure. Anesthesiologist thought she'd be in Recovery only 30 minutes but that dragged out to almost 3 hours due to some respiratory complications they didn't expect. Once she stabilized, though, they got her on to the floor at just after 3PM today. She's sleeping now as they have her on a morphine/demerol pump.
They've had her on so much fluids (in anticipation of a heavy blood loss and to prevent a resultant hypo-volemic shock) she doesn't have a single wrinkle in her face or hands. Sorta looks like a yellowy-grey Pillsbury dough-girl. She said before we left that she'd kill me if I took any pictures so you'll just have to use your imaginations.
Due to her surgery and age they gave her a private room so she won't have to be in with a young trainee. She has a nice view out over the forest to the southwest as well...when she's interested.
I came home real quick to grab a bite, check the mail, phone her work, feed the dogs and cats, drop you folks a line and then bring her some Sprite and crackers for later tonight and tomorrow from home (Post Hosp only has Ginger Ale).
I'll be spending the night with her tonight but should be able to come home by 10PM after tomorrow. If all goes well, she should be home by Friday and even back to work in six weeks, if she wants.
They are planning some post-operative treatments for her, but all "looks good" right now. *fingers crossed*
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.
I'm just relieved we made it to this point as well as we have. She's a trooper and almost never complains so my nursing duties shouldn't be too tough.
Anyway...that's why you haven't heard from me much lately or will much this coming week.
Gotta go, now. This short note got a bit long!
Thanks, again.
.
.
I just got home after a long day at the hospital.
Doc's 3-4 hour prediction went to six hours (not counting prepping). We got there at 0600 (got up at 0400 to get ready). She went into surgery at 0630. Actual surgery started at 0655. It was a long haul in the waiting room for me. The TV didn't work and that HAS to be the slowest moving clock on the face of this planet!
A nurse came in around 8 and again at 10 to tell me things were "going well, but taking longer than anticipated." That's was great for MY nerves. The doc finally came out to say the surgery was "tough and tedious, but mostly 'textbook'." He thinks he's gotten all the tumors and, of course, removed all her plumbing. He said the endometriosis had gotten really bad too, which explained all the bleeding and intense pain.
Shelle didn't do so well in Recovery because they had her so long on an anesthestic they wouldn't normally have used on such a long procedure. Anesthesiologist thought she'd be in Recovery only 30 minutes but that dragged out to almost 3 hours due to some respiratory complications they didn't expect. Once she stabilized, though, they got her on to the floor at just after 3PM today. She's sleeping now as they have her on a morphine/demerol pump.
They've had her on so much fluids (in anticipation of a heavy blood loss and to prevent a resultant hypo-volemic shock) she doesn't have a single wrinkle in her face or hands. Sorta looks like a yellowy-grey Pillsbury dough-girl. She said before we left that she'd kill me if I took any pictures so you'll just have to use your imaginations.
Due to her surgery and age they gave her a private room so she won't have to be in with a young trainee. She has a nice view out over the forest to the southwest as well...when she's interested.
I came home real quick to grab a bite, check the mail, phone her work, feed the dogs and cats, drop you folks a line and then bring her some Sprite and crackers for later tonight and tomorrow from home (Post Hosp only has Ginger Ale).
I'll be spending the night with her tonight but should be able to come home by 10PM after tomorrow. If all goes well, she should be home by Friday and even back to work in six weeks, if she wants.
They are planning some post-operative treatments for her, but all "looks good" right now. *fingers crossed*
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.
I'm just relieved we made it to this point as well as we have. She's a trooper and almost never complains so my nursing duties shouldn't be too tough.
Anyway...that's why you haven't heard from me much lately or will much this coming week.
Gotta go, now. This short note got a bit long!
Thanks, again.
.
.
