I had a TVH on 5/10. I have been so lucky that my post op course has been very uneventful. My surgery was scheduled for 9:45 am; so DH and I arrived at the castle at 8:15am...boy was I nervous and had a horrid headache too (I really missed my morning coffee!). The nurse had me put on that nifty backless gown, took my vitals, and started my IV then DH and I just chatted, joked and watched TV (the Montel show and Sally really helped lighten the mood!)
My doctor came to see me, and chatted with us for a while. Then more waiting...I feel that often times they have you arrive far too early for surgery, as it made me more nervous just having to wait there instead of at home. It turned out that they were running a bit late, about 30 min. The anesthesiologists, and nurses (2 each of them) came to go over the procedure one last time, and give me my pre op medication, boy that stuff worked FAST. I just remember being wheeled out of the holding room, kissing DH and that was it!
I awoke 1 hr and 30 minutes later when a very kind nurse told me it was all over. They took me to my room at 1:20 where DH was waiting for me. All the nurses were very nice to me, and so attentive too! I remember having very little pain and I was so surprised at that. I think that the most uncomfortable feeling was the catheter. I had a morphine pump, and only had to get medication for nausea one time (they had given me anti-nausea meds in the OR, as I told them that the anesthesia makes me sick). My doctor came to see me 3 times that day! I got the cath out that night, as it was really making my bladder feel uncomfortable. I was able to pee right off the bat. I only clicked my pump 19 times the whole time it was in, they removed it and my IV at about 3 am the next day, and I was started on Percocet.
I was doing so well that I got to go home the morning after my surgery. I am now a bit over 2 weeks post op, and I'm feeling great (there are days that I am pretty tired though!)! I am back to work now also. I did notice that about 1 week post op I had a bout of depression for a few days, nothing too major just a bit blue. I must say that the worst thing is the wait!!