Post-op

So yesterday was the surgery to repair my retracted eyelid. It never ceases to amaze me how nice everyone is at this hospital. They try to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. I was not looking forward to having the IV put in and as it turned out, at the first attempt, I 'kicked out the needle'. The nurse had to get the anesthesiologist. He was very nice and was teasing me the whole time. He asked me 4 times if I wanted to get a local anesthetic first before he put the IV in and I didn't reply, but Frendell  kept answering for me, "yes doctor, she needs it". He knows me too well. I think I nearly broke his hand when I gripped it so hard when the needle went it. 


I really thought I would be mostly asleep during this surgery. I was wrong, although the nurse said I was probably asleep the first hour or so and then they woke me up quite easily. I could hear the surgeon talking to the assistant and the anesthesiologist. I was hoping I would not feel a thing, but apparently I flinched enough times coz I heard him say "local please"; and I know 2 or 3 times I actually said, "ouch that hurts, I can feel that". I'm sure he was not happy that I was awake because i asked questions and talked to him during the surgery. He probably wished he had knocked me out completely :-)  He said his main concern during surgery was bleeding. He also said he is not certain that the lid will not retract anymore. He said my eye has not reached a stable point yet, instead it has gotten progressively worse in the past 4 months. He is hoping it will not retract anymore but there is no way to tell. He does not think the medication I started will affect it in anyway. All I know is that I hope I don't have to have another surgery like this. Its pretty painful.. and I look like I've been in a barroom brawl, not that I would know what that's like, but I have seen some movies with fighting in it.  It was uncomfortable to sleep last night. Poor Frendell. I know I asked for tylenol every 2 - 3 hrs; he was a very good murse and told me I can only have it every 4. He has really come through for me in many ways. All the discharge instructions were given to him and he followed them to the T, even to the bag of peas for cold compress. Poor guy did not get any sleep either coz he woke up when I needed my meds. Today we have to go back to the hospital to see the doctor for a follow-up. They want to make sure I do not get infection in the surgical site. I feel tired and kinda queasy. The nurse said they didn't want to give me heavier narcotics so I don't get nausea and vomiting. 


I sure hope this worked coz I don't want to repeat it anytime soon. I am so thankful for a caring medical team; for a loving and supportive family; for our church family who came and brought food and flowers and comfort; for friends who prayed for me and cheered me up and most of all I am so blessed to have a husband who not only held my hand but continues to take gentle care of me, making sure that all my needs are taken cared of. Thank you everyone... I am blessed indeed. I would not survive this journey without you. No man is an island, no man stands alone....