8/31 Carter: No Test Today - Bean In Hospital - Recovery Updates

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Erica & Carter

Erica & Carter

Member Since 2016
Hi everyone,

Can't find Carter's last thread on my phone, sowwy! :oops:

No test for Carter today as I am currently in my hospital room at UAB recovering from my laparotomy yesterday.

He was 82 :D on Monday, and he's been in the 50s-70s since his OTJ trial ended but I didn't wait a full 3 hours to test him after his meal because I needed to leave the house, so that's probably why he ventured into the 80s, he wasn't quite at his lowest point, but still a low number!

Bean's Surgery:

Everything went better than expected! I was very scared while I was waiting for my turn, so they gave me a sedative and then everything was kittens and rainbows! They removed the 26cm cyst via a horizontal incision on my bikini line rather than making a cut from my
belly button to my pelvic bone.
The cut is only 5 inches and the healing time will be much better! They originally thought the right ovary and tube would have to come out to do the size of the cyst, but when they opened me up, they realized the cyst wasn't attached to anything. It was likely a functional cyst that formed from the ovary or tube that eventually just sepaRated itself and started growing.
Though they're almost positive it isn't cancer, they still sent some tissue off for a biopsy. In total, they drained 6 litres of liquid, so like, the equivalent of three 2 litres of coke, for example. :eek: This weighed about 13 pounds,
so I guess I lost 13 pounds!

I am having some pain but plan to take my IV and go for a walk with Lily around the hospital. The few times
I've gotten up to go pee after they took the catheter out, I would get very light-headed, dizzy and anxious and would have to rush to get back in bed so I didn't fall over. I'm on percasets(sp?) and morphine so I'm holding off on my next dose until we get back. The pain in my wound is more internal as it hurts to cough, sneeze or move into a different position, but isn't awful to touch. I didn't get the epidural catheter so that might have made a difference but I couldn't go through with it.

I've been poked with needles galore, whether it be shots or bloodwork and I think I've finally overcome my anxiety when it comes to that. Just two weeks ago I was crying and hyperventilating just to get one vile of blood taken.
Now I'm getting 10 viles taken,
yesterday I got two IVs, several anti-inflammatory shots in my shoulders and hip, shots in my stomach to reduce risk of blood clots, and blood taken - all without someone holding my hand or me freaking out. I'm very proud of myself.

The Dr. said if I felt fine I could be discharged today but I told her I just want one more day of being in a controlled environmemt tnat I can rest in and she said that was perfectly fine.

I miss the cats and my dog though!' :arghh:

Vines to those in need. Good luxk to all the OTJ trials happening... Which reminds me, Carter was 2 months OTJ yesterday. :joyful: Will be testing him Mondays and Fridays now for the next month.
 
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It's great to hear that the surgery went better than expected. I would, however, not advise this as a way to lose weight!!

Do you happen to know what your blood pressure is? The narcotics (percoset and morphine) can affect some people by causing a drop in BP. It's especially problematic when you go from a lying to standing position. If you're lightheaded when you go to the bathroom, call the nurse and ask for some assistance. Trust me, they'd much rather be there to help you than to have you fall over. They may also need to adjust your amount of pain meds if it's causing a drop in your BP.

 
Sounds like a smart idea to stay put in the hospital a little while longer. Let them take care of you for another day :) Glad to hear it all went well!
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
It's great to hear that the surgery went better than expected. I would, however, not advise this as a way to lose weight!!

Do you happen to know what your blood pressure is? The narcotics (percoset and morphine) can affect some people by causing a drop in BP. It's especially problematic when you go from a lying to standing position. If you're lightheaded when you go to the bathroom, call the nurse and ask for some assistance. Trust me, they'd much rather be there to help you than to have you fall over. They may also need to adjust your amount of pain meds if it's causing a drop in your BP.
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Oh no definitely not! But I will drop 13 pounds regardless based on how much they drained out. I've been trying to lose like 20 pounds for a while though and maybe now I can see some progress without this cyst growing and compensating for any weight loss I achieved.

My last BP was like 98/50. That's the lowest it has been, was normal up until that reading.
 
So happy to hear that the surgery is over and you're doing well, Erica!!

That Percocet and morphine is strong stuff...when you need to get up, do it slowly.....sit on the edge of your bed for a bit before you actually stand up and give your BP a chance to stabilize.....we sure wouldn't want you falling and ending up staying there even longer!

Walk as much as you can....it really does help...both with pain and healing

Sending hugs and vines for a quick recovery! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Chris & China said:
So happy to hear that the surgery is over and you're doing well, Erica!!

That Percocet and morphine is strong stuff...when you need to get up, do it slowly.....sit on the edge of your bed for a bit before you actually stand up and give your BP a chance to stabilize.....we sure wouldn't want you falling and ending up staying there even longer!

Walk as much as you can....it really does help...both with pain and healing

Sending hugs and vines for a quick recovery! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
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Yeah they have me off the morphine this morning but might have to resume this evening. I'm going to showe before we go for my walk.

And thanks Chris!!
 
Great news! Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and yeah, take it easy in the hospital! I had a similar, though smaller (dermoid) cyst removed in 2010 - it was entangled with my ovary so they had to take it too. My belly felt like it was run over by a truck, but I was doing well 4 days later. Don't overdo it - that can slow your healing.
 
PlumsMom said:
Great news! Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and yeah, take it easy in the hospital! I had a similar, though smaller (dermoid) cyst removed in 2010 - it was entangled with my ovary so they had to take it too. My belly felt like it was run over by a truck, but I was doing well 4 days later. Don't overdo it - that can slow your healing.
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I think if it had beem a vertical incision I would be in a lot more pain so I'm thankful I had a great surgeon.
 
I'm glad your surgery went well. Sending prayers for a quick recovery.

I'm glad Carter is doing well. You'll be home to see your furbabies before you know it.
 
When I had my hip surgery, it took almost 18 hrs post-op to see a drop in my BP. (It dropped to 77/44.) Please keep an eye on it and don't assume that the nurses will pay attention - the good ones will but not all nurses are aware of your BP if one of the aides comes by to get your vitals. Make sure they know you are getting lightheaded when you stand. Drink as much water as you can tolerate -- it will raise your BP. They can always hang a bag of fluids to help elevate your BP if it stays low. Lots of people have a drop in BP as a result of pain meds. This is not a time when you want to fall down and nurses hate having to write incident reports and "falls" are not a good thing for hospitals to have to report. And, more importantly, you can get hurt if you fall.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
When I had my hip surgery, it took almost 18 hrs post-op to see a drop in my BP. (It dropped to 77/44.) Please keep an eye on it and don't assume that the nurses will pay attention - the good ones will but not all nurses are aware of your BP if one of the aides comes by to get your vitals. Make sure they know you are getting lightheaded when you stand. Drink as much water as you can tolerate -- it will raise your BP. They can always hang a bag of fluids to help elevate your BP if it stays low. Lots of people have a drop in BP as a result of pain meds. This is not a time when you want to fall down and nurses hate having to write incident reports and "falls" are not a good thing for hospitals to have to report. And, more importantly, you can get hurt if you fall.
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Okay I will let them know! They said I didn't have to take the IV with me when I went for my walk (just keep it in) but I think I will opt to just roll it with me for my walk around the hospital to keep getting fluids and staying hydrated.
 
Piling on more good thoughts for a speedy recovery! ...and I think it's definitely a good choice to stay in the hospital for an extra day. It always amazes me how quickly people are released in the US. In Germany, they kept me for 4 days even after a little laparoscopic procedure.
 
Mandarin'sMom said:
Piling on more good thoughts for a speedy recovery! ...and I think it's definitely a good choice to stay in the hospital for an extra day. It always amazes me how quickly people are released in the US. In Germany, they kept me for 4 days even after a little laparoscopic procedure.
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Well originally if I were to have had the vertical cut down, I would have been here Friday maybe Saturday. But since they didn't remove any ovaries etc and my bloodwork and vitals were good, they gave me the option, but my BP is low right now and I'm still having pain/this is my first time going for a walk and I won't have anyone to help me at home my wife goes back to work like asap.
 
Yay Erica!!! So glad that you are through the surgery and doing so well!!!! Congrats!!! And Congrats to Carter two on his 2 mth anniversary!! Rest up as much as you can!!!!!:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Erica & Carter said:
Yeah they have me off the morphine this morning but might have to resume this evening.
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Don't be surprised if they won't give it to you....Most hospitals want you to be off injectable or IV pain meds for 24 hours before they release you...and usually, once you're off the "big guns", unless something really bad happens, they don't want to go back to them

They really want people either off narcotics completely (like "take 2 Tylenol and call me in the morning") or at least on oral pain meds only like Vicoden
 
Chris & China said:
Don't be surprised if they won't give it to you....Most hospitals want you to be off injectable or IV pain meds for 24 hours before they release you...and usually, once you're off the "big guns", unless something really bad happens, they don't want to go back to them

They really want people either off narcotics completely (like "take 2 Tylenol and call me in the morning") or at least on oral pain meds only like Vicoden
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I don't prefer the morphine, it makes me not know what the hell going on anyways.

They are keeping me on 2 percocet every 4 hours and sending me home with it but still said I could ease myself off with OTC stuff. I haven't taken my latest dose because I wanted to have the strength to go on this walk, but I'm definitely feeling the pain now.
 
Erica & Carter said:
The scary part is that it only grew to this size over a few months!
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Yikes! No wonder you were in so much pain. Once I had a very small cyst on my ovaries and I was in lots of pain! And these surgeons are so good at seeing the growth and knowing if its cancer and if they said it did not look like it I would rest easy. Of course the hospital procedures mandate that anything that comes off the body needs to be biopsied.
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
Yikes! No wonder you were in so much pain. Once I had a very small cyst on my ovaries and I was in lots of pain! And these surgeons are so good at seeing the growth and knowing if its cancer and if they said it did not look like it I would rest easy. Of course the hospital procedures mandate that anything that comes off the body needs to be biopsied.
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I'm very hopeful it is benign like they assumed it was. If they had any suspicions of it being cancer they would have taken it out whole.
 
Hi Erica,
So glad your surgery went well. We are sending vines for a speedy recovery. As a friend of mine once said while on morphine: "where's the party"!

Good idea to stay in the hospital another day. Carter and the other fur kids will be fine and you'll all have a fine reunion.

:bighug::bighug:
 
Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) said:
Hi Erica,
So glad your surgery went well. We are sending vines for a speedy recovery. As a friend of mine once said while on morphine: "where's the party"!

Good idea to stay in the hospital another day. Carter and the other fur kids will be fine and you'll all have a fine reunion.

:bighug::bighug:
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Poor thimgs won't be able to lie on my lap upon returning home!
 
Erica,

I'm late to the party, as usual, but I'm so glad to hear all went well with your surgery and you're on the road to recovery. I remember (or rather, I don't) how zoned out I was on morphine after my surgery. All I really recall is dialing for more, thinking I was actually increasing the amount I was getting. My DH told me later it was just to make me think I was getting more, but I really wasn't. :p

I will second everything Chris said about getting up slowly, etc. I had no choice, as that's the only way I could do it after back surgery, but it's definitely the best way.

I, too, wish I had a 13 pound cyst to explain my extra pounds. Not the best way to lose weight, tho...

I think you were right to ask for another day in the hospital. No sense in going home before you were comfortable doing so, and I'm glad they were okay with that. Nowaday they want to rush you out of there.

Glad to hear Carter is enjoying life at the Falls and behaving. I know you can't wait to get home to the furbabies and Lily.

Sending loads of healing vines for you. Please keep us updated on your progress! :bighug:
 
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