Home from castle (very Long)

I want to again let you all know what a support you've been for me before my surgery and it's meant a lot to me. I regret having done the surgery now as my pain levels were often uncontrolled after surgery and I feel that I could have handled the level and frequency of pain I was having at home for a few more years in comparison.

I want to tell my castle story, but I also don't mean to scare any LIW either. While nothing truly "went wrong" I've often been in severe pain. I went to the castle on Tuesday, the 18th, for my 10:15 TAH/BSO at 8:15. I was left alone from 8:30 to 10:00 scared and eventually weeping. I called my family up to be with me as I was shaking and so scared. The nursing staff were too busy to do anything with me, including putting in an IV and giving me some medicine for my nerves. My family came up and they held my hand and helped my nerves somewhat, though I was often weepy again. Finally the nurse came in at 10:15 (isn't this what time my surgery was?) and started prepping me. Shaved my top half of pubic line, put in an IV, gave me some medicine so I could stop stressing, put on the compression stockings, and explained that my OR was busy and we would be waiting for it and she didn't know what time I would get to go in. I'm starving and thirsty, and have a headache.

I sat there until 2:00 p.m. though had to pee often due to IV running full force for almost four hours. LOL. I was brought in to the OR and saw my Dr. and my nurse anesthetist. It was an odd looking room (I've been in plenty of GYN surgeries before) and they stated it was usually used for orthopedic type surgeries. I was given a medication (Fentanyl) and went to sleep shortly thereafter.

Woke up in Recovery yelling, "Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!" The nurse would come by and ask if I was having pain and I'd reply yes, it was a '10' on scale of 1-10. Nurse gave me pain medication and I'd drift and then rouse yelling, "ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!" and the nurse would come by.... Well, you get the point. This happened repeatedly and I know I was not in Recovery long, but when I last yelled ouch, the nurse replied that I had been given all I could be given (30 mg. of morphine) and I would have to wait to get to my room. I was brought to my room shortly thereafter and I screamed and passed out when they transferred me to my bed, though I remember the entire ride there and I did rouse shortly after being put into my bed.

They hooked me up to a PCA with morphine in it and started it for me, though I had no relief for almost 4 hours, so the evening nurse gave me another "loading dose" from the morphine and then another shot from the pump and I began to feel somewhat better. My pain levels started to go down to an 8 and downward thereafter. I did spend a fairly comfortable night (around a 5) and got myself up and washed my face, hands, and brushed my teeth. My entire mouth was coated in white (yuck! ). Then I noticed that my IV had infiltrated and my hand was puffy and sore. The nurse came and discontinued it noting that my pain levels weren't severe and I was drinking. She refused to take out my Foley Cath until my urine output was better, though.

At 7:30, a nurse in training (they called them nurse techs) came in and I explained that I needed a pain pill. She came back and explained the Dr. ordered Percocet which I am allergic to and so the pharmacy would not send it. I told her to be sure the nurse got on the phone with the Dr. as soon as possible to get something else ordered. At 8:00 the nurse came in and gave me ibuprofen and I yelled at him explaining my pain levels were worsening and I needed to get something else for pain. At 8:40 my Dr. came in and he stated he was never called. I screamed and cursed at him for pain relief (because by this time I was in a good amount of pain having not used my PCA since almost 3:00 a.m.) He assured me he would allow my Foley cath out and would order pain relief immediately.

I never got the pain meds. By this time, I called my mom and she promised to run my Lortab up to me from home. I rang the nurse at 9:10 again for pain pills while weeping. The nurse never came. My mom came at 9:40 and gave me my pain pills. I told the nurse tech to make sure that the male nurse didn't get near me today or I would strangle him personally after explaining everything that had just gone on. I took two Lortab and within 2 hours my pain relief was going downhill again, so they called the IV team which took an hour to come and then hooked me back up to my PCA with morphine after lunch. They also yelled at me for bringing my own Lortab in from home. HA!

Unfortunately by that evening my new IV had infiltrated, but the nurse just disconnected the PCA telling me that I've been doing great with my pain control (I only used it 7 times in 7 hours). She then told me she'd bring my ibuprofen by in an hour when it was due again. And left the useless IV in my arm (don't ask me why). I asked her to bring my Lortab with her with the Ibuprofen and she told me she doesn't like to give them together. I told her they work in different ways and she can give them together. At 9:30 she gave me my ibuprofen and said she'd be back in an hour to give me my Lortab and no need to ring (haha). I rang at 10:40 asking for my Lortab. She brought it by at 10:50 explaining that somehow all my orders had been erased off the computer screen. At 11:30 I rang again for my second Lortab (I could have 1-2 Lortabs every 3-4 hours). She didn't want to bring it afraid it would be "too much" for me. I explained that it wouldn't be because I hurt too much and was again weeping which really hurts the tummy. Then I walked the halls thinking my pain had to be related to gas once the two Lortabs started working.

I have to admit I was a pretty good princess in the hospital, though. I drank tons, walked at least 8 times the following day after surgery, and did all I could for myself while fully watching my "restrictions". Well, this morning the Dr. came and pulled my drain and I told him I wanted to leave as I could handle things as well. I talked to the head nurse for half an hour explaining all that had happened to me since I entered the hospital, and then I showered and left. I feel great! Hardly any pain, I just take my medicines routinely and walk, walk, walk. Not to mention drink, drink, drink. Hopefully I will not have any more problems now but I do feel well and I'm just 2 days post-op! Take care and thanks for letting me rant and rave.

Gosh, I'm so sorry you were in so much pain! It sounds like your pain management was handled very poorly and once that happens it all goes downhill because it's hard to control the pain once it's been ignored (not by you, but by those administering the pain meds ofcourse) for awhile. You probably wouldn't have had near as much pain (if any) if your pain management had been handled better by everyone there at the hospital (including your dr!). I'm so sorry you went through all that. (and although I do not recommend this for anyone, I probably would have had something brought from home by that point also- if I had something there to be brought to me. LOL Or I would have been truly reaming some people up there at the hospital until they gave me something. I am a very vocal person and not afraid to use it especially if in pain!).

I am glad you are feeling better now and you shouldn't have any more problems with pain as long as you manage any pain that comes along before it gets too bad. Good luck in the rest of your recovery! You wear that crown well.

Wow!! I'm sorry you had to go through all that. It sounds like the nurses need to work on their bedside manner. I'm really glad you're feeling better. Hope your recovery continues to go well.

Becky

I'm sorry to hear that you were in so much pain while in the hospital. You might want to write a letter to the hospital administrator to let him/her know the situation. It's too late to help you now (though sometimes it does feel good just to get it off your chest), but it could help keep someone else from having to go through what you did.

Sounds like you're following your training very well. Keep up the good work! And remember, no vacuuming, no mowing the lawn, and no bungee jumping!

s and prayers for an uneventful and speedy recovery,

Lisa

wow, I'm really sorry to hear all the difficulties you had at the castle. You did well with your princess training though. Keep it up.
TC