Random Post-Hysterectomy Thoughts
Having staples in your belly hurts, and if you have anything other than washboard abs, the natural force of gravity makes them hurt more (use your imagination, folks). I didn’t really notice this the two other times I’ve had my gut stapled b/c those times, the doc removed the staples before I left the hospital. This time, she’s leaving them in until Thursday, just to play it safe.
I have some really terrific friends. So, first Zib had that wonderful package of spinning supplies sent here a while ago with this rough time in mind. Then, Chrissy shows up at the hospital on Wednesday, bearing a box of Fruit Loops, some milk, and two cannoli. How cool is that? (Sadly, I was still npo, so I had to let Hubby eat the cannoli, but he deserved them.) Then, when I come home from the hospital, there’s a card from Paul & Carol. Today was a triple-whammy: Donna showed up at my door with a huge bouquet of gorgeous flowers (hope she didn’t get any weird ideas about Hubby when he answered the door in my green satin robe!), I got a package from Knitting Magic Girl with three balls of dishcloth cotton (see previous post), four balls of WOTA in Spruce, one in Maple Syrup, and one in Pumpkin, plus a knitting magazine, then later Patricia & Aura showed up just to visit, bringing a pretty scented candle. Monday, Patricia’s going to spend about seven hours here cleaning and watching the girls while Hubby golfs up in Petaluma with the guys to celebrate Danielito’s birthday. Like I said, I’ve got some really terrific friends.
Nana rocks! I mean it. Think about it — she stayed here from Monday through Thursday, taking care of the Things and Jenna, having to deal with the Things on Tuesday morning when they were crying and didn’t want to go to school b/c they were worried about me and Thing Two thought I was going to die. She only left if we’d consider her “on call,” knowing that she could be here within an hour. [I'll tell you a secret: I think she ENJOYED it. The older the Things get, the more fun she has with them. Taking care of a kindergartener and a third-grader is MUCH more her speed than the whole newborn thing, which is FINE.] Hubby did say, however, that it was weird having her wash his underwear. When I told Nana, she cackled, and said she knew he’d say that!
It’s really weird to have 16 staples in your belly. Oh, did I say that? Well, it IS. And it makes it hard to sit up for more than five or ten minutes (which reminds me that I need to wrap this up and go take a pill).
It’s easier and less painful to knit reclined in Butch’s old recliner than sitting up in bed.
Darvocet is better than ibuprofen.
When you go home from an abdominal hysterectomy (or a c-section, for that matter), it’s a lot harder to get in & out of bed b/c (I assume) you don’t have an adjustable hospital bed. It is, however, easier if you have a Tempurpedic mattress, b/c you can grab a handful of the edge of the bed to help you get up.
Read the label on your Colace. It may actually say “twice a day”. I didn’t realize until this morning that mine was “twice a day” instead of “once a day”. D’oh! Funny how it finally worked, once I took it twice in one day.
Most importantly: Hubby is DA BOMB. He spent the night in the hospital with me Tuesday, even though I told him he didn’t have to. I really, truly, honestly didn’t expect flowers or anything from him, but in one of my brief waking moments on Tuesday, the Things showed me that he’d gotten me a card (see previous post) and a climbing jasmine plant to put outside our bedroom window when we finally “do” our front yard. He’s been taking care of me without a single complaint or anything, even turning down some available help, when he’s ON SABBATICAL. He could be totally resentful, but he’s not. If I ever had any doubts about his being a keeper (I haven’t; I’ve known since the first date), I wouldn’t now.
