So, September 21, 2016, was my second Endometriosis excision surgery.  It was done by robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery.  What does that mean?  My surgeon sat at the controls of console and directed teeny tiny robot hands inside my belly.  I had forgotten a lot of the recovery process from my 2014 surgery, so decided to take notes every day…so that way if I ever go back in, I sort of know a timeline!

I meant to publish this a long time ago…but, well…the dog ate my homework?

A “brief” little note – I tracked my pain, symptoms, diet, milestones, and whatever for a week, but as of today (8/16/17) I could not find the rest of my notes.  So, we get four days.  And I’m most certainly going to refer to this if I ever have to go back in for another surgery…

Day One: Wed, 9/21/16

Shortly after getting home, I was helped into bed on an incline of pillows.  Had immediate right and left shooting shoulder pain (10 out of 10).  Did a little bit of screaming.  Removed the pillows to see if lying flat would help…made it worse.  Did a little bit more screaming (still not as bad as my 2014 surgery).  Mom and Jim danced around the house trying to find the best solution for my sleeping arrangements and it turned out to be the tall-back computer chair, a pillow on the seat, a pillow on the back, the ottoman pulled close, a pillow on the ottoman.  Once I was seated, another pillow behind my head, and a pillow tucked underneath my legs (between the ottoman and the seat) to support my knees.  Quite the plushy palace…little did I know it would be my bed for the next three days.

6:15pm, Percocet.

6:20pm, GasX

9:05pm, vomited (clear bile) in the toilet on all fours.  Not an easy feat. Note: cool washcloth on bare back is heaven when hurling.

9:26pm, lower ab pain (3 out of 10) and lower back pain (5 out of 10)

9:40pm, crackers

9:45pm, Naproxen Sodium

10:20pm, lower rib pain (3 out of 10)

10:45pm, lower rib pain (2 out of 10)

10:55pm, nausea, but no vomiting

11:15pm, GasX

I didn’t make any records of sleeping.  I know we did a lot of walking around that first day.  I also remember it not being as horrific as my first surgery.  And all but two of the notes are in my own handwriting, so couldn’t have been that wonky…

Day Two: Thurs. 9/22/16

1:20am, walked around

5:30am, incision pain (7 out of 10) woke me up, walked around, took Percocet

5:35pm, GasX

6:25am, walked around

6:50am nausea, but didn’t vomit

7:05am, ginger turmeric tea to help with nausea, took a stool softener

7:45am, vomited (bile) in toilet on all fours

7:46am, vomited (green liquid) in toilet on all fours

8:30am, ate small portion of scrambled eggs

8:35am, right lower rib pain (3 out of 10), lower back pain (4 out of 10)

8:37am, ate butternut squash soup

11:37am, GasX

12:00pm, nausea without vomiting

3:15pm, ate a few raspberries

3:25pm, ate crackers, belly button pain (2 out of 10), right lower back pain (4 out of 10), right lower rib pain (3 out of 10)

4:35pm, right hip pain (6 out of 10)

6:05pm, right hip pain (8 out of 10), left hip pain (5 out of 10), lower rib pain (6 out of 10)

7:10pm, Zofran and ate tomato soup

7:40pm, Percocet

7:42pm, GasX

9:15pm-11:45pm, good sleep

 

Day Three: Friday, 9/23/16

1:30am, left hip pain (7 out of 10)

1:45-3:00am, sleeping

3:30-5:05am, sleeping

5:10am, belly button pain (5 out of 10), left hip pain (5 out of 10), deep breaths and  yawning hurt lower ribs (5 out of 10)

6:55am, lower rib pain (6 out of 10)

7:00am, GasX, stool softener

7:05am, ginger tea with honey and coconut oil

7:30am, left hip pain (8 out of 10)

9:00am, ate 2 scrambled eggs

9:10am, ate handful of blueberries

9:25am, Naproxen

11:05am, right hip pain (7 out of 10), upper back pain (4 out of 10)

11:30am, ate soup

12:20pm, ate crackers

1:00pm, GasX

2:00pm, lower ab pain (3 out of 10). Shifty gas or poo?

2:15pm-4:30pm, nap

4:45pm, ate a few blueberries

5:00pm, my first fart (no pain)!

6:10pm, ate tomato soup with crackers

6:35pm, stool softener and GasX

7:00pm, lightning bolt pain at belly button (9 out of 10)

7:50pm, lower right rib pain (6 out of 10)

7:55pm, left shoulder pain (5 out of 10)

8:20pm, lower rib and side pain (8 out of 10)

8:30pm, ate crackers

9:30pm, right hip pain (9 out of 10), but had to pee

9:40pm-2:30am, sleep

Milestones: Able to sit and stand alone.  Able to fart!  Able to lay flat!!

Day Four: Saturday, 9/24

2:30am, woke to (do something?)

2:30-4:45am, sleep

4:45am, woke up with cat walking on belly button (10 out of 10)

5:00am, Naproxen Sodium

5:25am, GasX

6:00am, ate crackers

6:40am, farted with no pain

6:45am, stool softener

7:30am-9:05am, nap

9:10am, farted with no pain

9:20am-11:00am, nap

11:25am, lower ab pain (4 out of 10)

11:45am, ginger tea with honey.  Lower ab pain (2 out of 10)

12:10pm, ate tomato soup with crackers.  Took GasX.

12:15pm, right ab pain (6 out of 10)

12:25pm, farted with no pain

12:35pm, lower right ab pain (4 out of 10)

1:05pm, lower right ab pain (6 out of 10), farted with pain (6 out of 10)

1:07pm, Naproxen Sodium, ate crackers

2:00pm, lower right hip pain (5 out of 10)

2:10pm, belly button pain (8 out of 10)

3:10pm, left ab/incision pain (8 out of 10)

3:15pm, GasX

3:47pm, left lower hip pain (8 out of 10)

3:50pm, left ab pain (8 out of 10), lower back pain (6 out of 10)

Milestones: Showered alone.

So at least I know these things:

1.  Expect that shoulder pain when I lay down flat (this happened with my first surgery, too)
2. Eat things nice and easy.
3. Don’t expect a lot of sleep.  It may take three days before I can lay down flat.
4. And I DO remember this – it was seven days before I pooped…and needed the assistance of a doctor-commanded enema.  All the stool softeners and easy diet and lots of water weren’t enough to combat the constipation-inducing meds…*sigh*
5. And most importantly: don’t be alone for the first three days in case I can’t sit/stand by myself.  This includes using the bathroom *double sigh*

What did you learn from your past recoveries?