March 7, 2012

d is for drama


Generally speaking, I am not much in the drama department.

I'm pretty even keel.

I'm rational. Not prone to hysteria. Not really a "the sky is falling" kind of girl.

Generally speaking.


However.

In one particular area, I am pretty much a basket case.

That area is the medical world. I'm cool with most any doctor visit, but in all things hospital related, I am a worst case scenario freak show.


Case in point.

I had all three of my boys without any form of pain killer, and it's not because I'm a free spirited, embrace the pain, natural granola kind of girl.

It's because they make you sign a piece of paper saying that you understand that you could possibly die from your epidural.

I didn't want to die from my epidural. The very small rational part of my brain totally knew that statistically speaking, I was not going to die from an epidural, but the larger, irrational when it comes to all things hospital part of my brain didn't want to actually become one of the statistics that led the lawyers to draft the paperwork you're required to sign if you decide you are indeed going to have an epidural.

And yes, I know those statistics are somewhere in the one in a hundred kazillion range.

I would much rather just suck up the pain than take my chances, and three bouncing baby boys later, I'm still alive.

Ha! Take that, Grim Reaper.


Fast forwarding a bit, and making a long and very boring story a little bit shorter, I've had a surgery hovering over my head for the last couple years. I came close to taking the plunge several times, but when push came to shove, I always chickened out. Obviously, it wasn't life threatening, but it was quality of life threatening and last week, quality of life finally won out.

As you can see, I have cheated death once again. And this time, it was full anesthesia death that I cheated. Full anesthesia makes an epidural look like a walk in the park.

Let me know if you'd like me to buy you a lottery ticket, because I'm obviously on a roll here.


I cried before my surgery, but only for a minute. Once I got it out of my system, I was okay. I was extra, extra okay once they put the "little something to relax you" in my IV.

I got to wear the dreaded open back hospital gown during my stay, but the quality of my painkillers was such that I didn't even really care if my backside was exposed while I strolled down the hospital halls. I'm a pretty modest person, but I truly did not care even one little bit. Fortunately, my hubby cared enough for both of us and was my rear guard, as well as my IV holder and general all around fabulous care taker both in the hospital and since I've been home.

As far as the painkillers go, I now totally understand the term "take a chill pill". My pharmaceuticals left me in a warm and fuzzy state of half awareness and total not careness. I'm not gonna lie...I kind of enjoyed it. I was only on them for two and a half days, but I think it took a whole week for the fog in my brain to clear out.


Now that my head is clear, I've got a raging case of cabin fever, so I think I must be well on the road to recovery.

Unless, of course, the doctor left a scalpel inside me.

It's happened before.

I saw it on Dateline.


I had great plans to catch up on all my blog visiting and emails while I was recuperating, but the aforementioned fuzzy brain did not allow for such things. If you've sent me an email, look for a response shortly!

Just don't expect it to make much sense.

Have yourselves a wonderfully drama free Wednesday!

53 comments:

  1. The upside of surgeries is that people show you how much they care! I don't love going under the knife, but I do love the warm fuzzies from all the hugs, cards and flowers.

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  2. I understand completely!!! Glad you are on the road to recovery and here's to not needing any more chill pills :) xoxo Debbie

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  3. Hopefully you are on the mend! Hope all turned out as it should with your surgery. Sounds like a great husband had your back when it was needed. Lucky you!

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  4. Too funny! Glad you're on the road to recovery. Beautiful photos!

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  5. I'm right there with you on hating the whole surgery thing. Glad you came through with flying colors and are back to tell the tale.

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  6. never had a surgery, but I'm sure glad yours went well! fuzzy brain considered :)

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  7. Glad it went well, hope you're back to 100% soon. Anesthesia is a scary thing, proud of you for being brave. Hugs ~ Mary

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  8. I'm a huge chicken too. And it's not like raising kids is for sissies either. But that medical stff scares me! SO so glad to hear you're doing better and on the mend!

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  9. Glad your hubby was your rear guard. lol Glad you are on the mend. I have missed your posts!

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  10. Or just maybe Kramer dropped a junior mint in you! =O ;) Love your heart though. And I'm talking about three natural births! ;) Hope you have a quick recovery. :) The photos are spectacular, as usual. :)

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  11. Glad you're recovering with your sense of humor. Take it easy and don't overdo.

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  12. You make me laugh!! Glad you are on the road to recovery. Louise

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  13. I'm all for the pill that takes the chill out. I'm truly glad you are okay and getting cabin fever. God Bless~

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  14. Hope you're mending,
    nicely! I have terrible
    fogginess for going under
    with a general anesthesia,
    so the last surgery I had ~
    14 years ago ~ I opted for
    a local {hand surgery}. I
    also had the loopy stuff
    to calm me down, but the
    whole rigamarole was just
    so much better with a local.

    Glad you survived to continue
    making us smile. LOVE the pics!

    xx Suzanne

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  15. I'm glad you are on the road to recovery and that you can check that nasty little surgery of your list. They out to bottle that happy juice they give you just before you go under...on second thought there would probably be alot more of us in that fuzzy, happy world. Take care and don't overdue. Patty

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  16. You are singing my tune!! I too am recovering from a surgery I put off for several years. Take it easy and let it heal right!!

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  17. You are so cute and funny and even with going through surgery, you make it sound so hilarious. I am glad that you are getting better and are done with it all so you can now remedy your cabin fever. xx

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  18. Oy! I'm glad you are on the mend. I didn't have a choice with my kiddos...all three c-sections. Sometimes I'm sad that I don't have any labor stories to tell. Take care of yourself!!

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  19. So glad you are fine. I can understand the fear. It's like when you listen to those commercials for drugs and think it sounds good until they get to the possible side effects...they can kill you!! Take care of yourself and do what the doc says.
    Annette

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  20. Can understand completely. Did the natural childbirth for 3 myself only because the thought of a needle in my spine freaked me out more than any pain from pushing them out.

    Glad you are on the mend. Just in time for spring to work its magic in your garden. Love your blog.

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  21. I wondered where you'd been hiding. Missed you 'round these parts! Hope you're feeling better! {hugs} Love, Sal

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  22. Sorry you had to have surgery. That is no fun! :(
    Glad to hear you are feeling better now.
    Can't wait to see your flower/garden/pond pictures. Spring is a coming!!
    Hugs!

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  23. Godspeed on your recovery!!!! Hope you are out there digging in your gardens soon!!!!

    nancy

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  24. Glad it all went well, and I can relate to the worse case scenario part! Your pictures clearly show that you are on the road to full recovery, they are just as lovely as ever!

    Kat :)

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  25. Pretty flowers . . . happy you are doing well . . . take it easy and enjoy a great recovery!

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  26. Same type of person here - had my kids w/o an epidural. Mine was really all about the thought of a big needle in my spine. EEEEK!
    Glad to here you are a-ok!

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  27. So happy that you are on the mend. Take care of yourself.

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  28. Well, good heavens! Glad you came through it okay. :) Welcome back!

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  29. i don't think i could have gotten through childbirth without an epidural...you are pretty amazing to have done it sans epidural 3 times! glad you are recovering and doing well! i'm not gonna lie, i like a painkiller now and then when prescribed...it's nice to live in lala land for a couple days ;)

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  30. Oh my goodness.. sorry you had to go through surgery and all that! Of course the nosy in me wants to know what kind of surgery.. :-) Gorgeous flower photos.. very surreal and kind of like we're seeing them through drug induced haziness.. lol! You're so funny.. I love funny... ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  31. Had surgery myself two times last year. I was much like you...but I made it and don't wanna have it again but if push can to shove....I guess I could.

    Nice post and fabulous photos. It is not always the camera...it is the picture taker. What a marvelous job!

    Feel better.

    Susannah

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  32. Yay, you're back!! We've missed you. Great to hear that everything went well.

    For me, I'd rather avoid doctors completely, but that's not a smart thing to do on this side of 50. It's the fear of the unknown that gets to me most. I'm okay with the gorey details, in fact I want to know ALL the gorey details so I can make an informed decision. For some reason, it's comforting.

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  33. Dear Teresa, I am so glad to hear your surgery went well and you are recovering. You can check that off your list! Your pictures calm me, your words make me smile. Thank you dear friend!
    Blessings,
    Julie

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  34. So glad your surgery went well and you are on your way to recovering.

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  35. Happy to hear that your surgery went well and that you are healing quickly. I love your blog. If I would have known that about the epidural I would have thought harder about it but I honestly had no choice. I had 3 c-sections. I never liked the idea of it and I know one wrong move could turn into something bad but I made it through Thank God! I remember having my little cry before I went in and had it done the second time. The doctor asked what was wrong and I said- I don't like having to do this but I have to so lets do it. He was a great man and I trusted him. He rubbed my hand and said- You're going to be okay kid. And I had a little procedure done a few years later that required anesthesia and I get majorly fog brained too. I'm fog brained normally but it's really bad and does take a day or two. These pictures are beautiful. I love your photography. So excited that spring is almost upon us :)

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  36. So glad to hear you survived and on the road to complete recovery! I can't stand going to the Dr. It's bad enough when my spouse had to go through some surgeries the last couple of years. We must be kindred spirits, so to speak, since I am one of those who could never stand the thought of signing my life away and enduring the epidurals. Not for me. Natural all the way. These days gals think we were just crazy, but whatever, right? Thanks for sharing.

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  37. I'm so glad you are feeling better T. Sometimes we need that drug induced fog to get through something. Maddie had her wisdom teeth out this morning and I plan to keep her foggy for the next day or so too.

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  38. Love that I'm not the only person more afraid of epidurals than of the pain of birth. I cannot stand the thought of a needle near my spine, so feeling like your pelvis is in vice grips is much more appealing, ha!

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  39. So glad you are on the mend, no one likes putting their life in someone elses hands that has a knife...just think though how great things will be now that you faced your fears and you will be mended to live a better life. Very pretty photos!

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  40. so happy to hear you are okay! thank you for such beautiful and hopeful pictures :)

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  41. Glad you're back...missed your posts. Hopefully it will all have been worth it. I'm thinking child birth is more dangerous than an epidural. lol

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  42. Hope you are feeling better~ So glad I found your blog.
    Bristol

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  43. Teresa, you are such a wonderful writer! So happy to hear that the "chill pills" worked for you and that you are on your way to recovering. High 5 to the hubs for having your back...well, being respectful of not being a Jack Nicholson of sorts (Something's Gotta Give Jack...). Anywho, lovely pics and do be good to yourself.

    Becky

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  44. Hope you are feeling better..Love your blog, when I want a minute in the country there you are..I love the country..Teresa welcome back we have missed you. Still can't find the bread you like from Costco...

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  45. Good to have you back and so glad the surgery was OK, nothing is ever as bad as your worst fears right? I'm right with you on the epidural thing, no way I was surrendering an immobile numbed up body to other people to deliver my babies, that's my job!(assisted by fab midwives obviously) Maybe you should have had your op here in the UK- you are free to wear your own clothes post op for the sake of your dignity! Here's to a speedy recovery, and spring is on it's way so you can get right back into that gorgeous garden X

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  46. So glad that surgery is now behind you and you won't have to dread it anymore.

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  47. hmmm still trying to get you on my blog roll ...but it wont work...I am doing all I can..seems its not enough!
    Anyway SO HAPPY you are feeling good...an amazing husband is such an asset when one is recuperating!
    (I just had kidney stones ...had to take yucky drugs...that made the pain go away very fast, which I really enjoyed. But like you said I tried to function too soon and had to STOP..my fuzzy brain had not rid itself of the chemicals! So thankful for my sweet husband!)
    Love the pictures of your garden..always do, even the brown & grey ones...they make the others even more outstanding! We had snow rain hail & sun today and trust me SPRING cannot get here soon enough!
    GLad all is well.....Take care..Colleen

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  48. Oh my goodness Teresa, I've been a horrible best friend. I've missed so many of your posts lately. I had no idea you were having surgery. I hope you are recovering well, my dear. Take care of yourself and I talk to you soon.

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  49. Wow, who many post about hospitals, surgery, and the like look so stunning, such beautiful flower photos!
    I see from your more recent post that you are recovering nicely…good to read.
    I am just like you when it comes to someone handing me a paper to sign consenting to the fact that I might die. 
    May you be encouraged and strengthened today.

    ☺ Hope

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  50. OH...I began writing "who writes a post, " and meant to change it to "how many post..."

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  51. And that was supposed to be a smiley after the word die.

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