Back From the Hospital

Well, its been a few days since my last blog because I have been in the hospital recovering from my RPAO. It has been a long and challenging week. Here is a recap of my last week:

Monday:
Surgery Day! I had surgery at 8am at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, which was quite an experience. Waiting for the OR nurse that morning to be prepped for surgery was making me nervous. I had even began to cry while waiting, so my mom was allowed to come back and wait with me as I got ready. I had the IV placed in my hand and was wheeled down to the OR. Once I got into the OR, I began to cry because it seemed so scary. Equipment was everywhere, people in scrubs, and an OR table that was nothing I had ever seen before and the tears continued to stream down my face. My doctors reassured me that everything was going to be okay and a few minutes later I was asleep and surgery was under way.

They used general anaesthesia, IV, and an arterial blood gas line to monitor blood pressure during the surgery. The torn labral cartilage was repaired by Dr. Maier from Methodist Sports Medicine and the osteotomy was preformed by Dr. Scheid from OrthoIndy, which went well with less bleeding than expected. The surgery lasted about 4 and a half hours and was in the recovery room for another 4 hours before being brought up to my own room.

I remember very little after the surgery and was very incoherent for the first couple days. I do remember seeing the faces of my family and boyfriend when I came into my room.

The day after surgery


Incision: 2 days post-op

Tuesday:
I don't remember much from Tuesday, but it was the worst day in regards to pain, even though I was on norco and vistaril by mouth and had a morphine and dilaudid pain pump. Respiratory therapy did come to my room to give me an inspirator, the thing that you breath into that measures breath volumes, so that I could learn to take deep breathes and decrease the chance of blood clots. I also sat up for the first time after surgery on the edge of my bed and stood up for a few seconds before getting too dizzy and having to sit back down. That night was the worst with pain...all I remember I was shaking and screaming for medicines because the pain was so severe.

3 days post-op

Wednesday:
I woke up and was still incredibly pale and my blood count was low so the decision was made to transfuse two units of blood. I was only allowed to transfuse one of the two I donated due to the fact that it needed to be destroyed for reasons I do not know. The other unit was from the Indiana Blood Center. PT came back twice and I was able to get up and walk a little with the aid of a walker. I didn't realize how different and painful it was going to be, but I did alright.

Getting up for the first time after the surgery

Thursday:
By now, the blood transfusion had taken effect, my color was back and I looked better than I had for days. I was even able to eat more than yogurt for breakfast and had some pizza for dinner. PT was really good and I was determined to use the crutches and walk a little. I was able to get up and down the stairs, as well as walk, "crutch", the length of the hallway and back. I had managed to impress my physical therapist. I had an ultrasound on my legs to check for blood clots and all was well. My IV and pain pump, as well as catheter had come out, which felt great, and I was one step closer to going home! I was feeling pretty good, so later that evening I took a lap around the orthopedic floor with my cool, millennial crutches.

That night was a little more rough and required a shot of morphine and zofran for nausea. The pain goes up and down and I had a big day. My leg looked a little more red and swollen and was checked for infection. I had even spiked a fever, for the second time during the week.

Conquering the hallway

Friday:
After a long week, in which I felt that I rested little with all the nurses coming in and out of the room every few hours, shots, medicines and vitals that had to be checked, I was finally going home. I saw my surgeon, his assistant and my physical therapist with a "good-to-go" report and I was headed home to recover. I had ambulance transport home, which wasn't too bad, and I was finally back to a normal room! It has been a long week and now that I am home, the therapy is up to me and I even have to give myself blood thinner shots.

Discharge Day

Lovenox shots

My friends and family had come throughout the week to visit, bringing balloons, flowers, cards, magazines and things to make me smile. It was greatly appreciated and kept my spirits up.

It has been a long week, filled with shots, IV's, doctors, nurses, therapy and lots of pain. But I feel better now that I am home and have my own bed :) Let the recovery begin!