Two Decades Later
Just so y’all know…I didn’t have the strength to start writing any of this until Jan 8, 2026…two days post-op Prepping before surgery I did a ton of research and wanted to make sure I had everything I thought I may need post-surgery. I will list all of the things I did to prep. All of these things I list are what I felt would help me personally…your journey may be different. I decided to rent a lift chair as the thought of getting in and out of a bed terrified me. I have an extremely low pain tolerance and knew that I would want to limit the amount of bending forward (even with a caregiver). The chair I rented was the type that raises all the way forward to an almost standing position. It has two separate motors so that you are able to sit with your back forward and your feet up at the same time. The chair they had with the single motor only allowed for the back part of the chair to lay flat if your legs are elevated. The rental cost for the two-motor chair was $595 for 30 days. The rental was $400 and delivery/pickup $75 each plus taxes. Yes, I know this may be an unnecessary costs for some, but for me it was a non-negotiable. It is a cost I paid out of pocket. I also had to pay $293 for pre surgery lab work and $154 for eight prescriptions. I had the chair delivered the day before my surgery and set it up in my living room. I also took my two end tables and placed them next to my chair so that I can have things easily accessible. On one side table is my surge protector. It has my phone charger, ipad charger, and has several other available outlets in case I need to plug in anything else like my laptop. The table also has space for me to set other things on it when I’m not using them. The side table to my right has my water cup and Gatorade. Has plenty of room for other things as well. I did put together a basket before surgery that has my ipad, puzzle books, kindle, another book I want to read, adult body wipes. These were moved out of reach up til now since I havn’t been able to do much but sleep. More things I bought was a walker. I know some surgeons don’t like these but the walk from my car to my front door is long. The day of surgery was a blur and I don’t remember much. I do remember being extremely nauseous, weak and in pain and there is no way I would have made it to my front door without that walker. I have not used it since the first day. I also purchased a raised toilet seat. I do currently have a catheter in but it has to come out tomorrow before my first post op appt with Dr. Strock. I put all of my Rx in a box and put the medication schedule on the fridge so that my caregiver could easily see everything. I have all my post op appts written down in one location as well. I also bought something called Vapor Soothers. Strong medicines normally make me nauseous so I bought these with hope that the peppermint scent would help with that. They seem to have worked, especially that first day. They are just little plastic clips that you place on your nose. Other things I have for my comfort is a pillow to hold in front of my abdomen; I am just using a decorative lumbar pillow I had on my sofa. I also have a shower wand for showerheads and a wooden shower stool. These are items I already had on hand and I know they will be helpful when it is time for me to shower. I also am using my travel neck pillow and eye mask for sleeping. I snap the neck pillow behind my neck so that it supports my head when I am sleeping. I use my Bluetooth speaker to play thunderstorms sounds to help me sleep during these uncomfortable times. I am also taking double doses of aloe vera juice which is supposed to lubricate your bowels. I am definitely worried about having to strain due to this medicine. Beyond these things I had to stop taking all my vitamins 2 weeks beforehand and had to take five showers with Hibiclens starting the Sunday before my Tuesday surgery. I made sure to follow all instructions the Dr’s office gave as I did not want to be the reason I had any adverse reactions to anything. I don’t drink or smoke, so I didn’t have to worry about those things. I think another important thing is to make sure your caregiver can physically help you get up and down, is patient, and kind. The first couple of days they will be doing everything for you including making your food, getting drinks, meds, helping you walk, prepping your toothbrush so you can brush your teeth, emptying your catheter (if applicable), emptying and charting your drains, wiping your body down, pulling up your socks, helping you change and so much more. There will be things they do that you didn’t even realize you would need help with. Like reaching under the cabinet to grab your hairbrush, etc. because you can’t bend over. They need to be able to monitor and distribute your medications appropriately either by having a great memory or by writing down everything you take and when. I am grateful that my husband is an ER Nurse and has the patience of a Saint. I listen to everything he says without any pushback because he has more knowledge of dealing with patients and medications than I do. Tue, Jan 6, 2026 Surgery day I arrived at the Surgery Center at 10:45. I was nervous of course but ready as this has been a long time coming. The registrar (Maritza) had me come back and sign some papers. She was very nice and answered all my questions. I returned to the lobby and after a few minutes a nurse, Ms. Marcia, came to take me back to the pre-op area. I answered a few questions at a podium like stand and then she had me go to the bathroom to empty my bladder. She asked me a few more questions then had me change into a gown and put my clothes in the standard plastic hospital bag. I was then taken to the hospital bed where I would be until my surgery. She placed two warm blankets on me then placed my IV. She asked me where they usually place the IV and did it in that spot (which I am grateful for). Once my IV was placed she gave me some medicine Dr. Strock wanted me to have before surgery. One of them had me feeling kind of out of it…believe it was the gabapentin. They then went to get my husband, and he sat with me until it was my time. The nurse checked on me periodically and informed me that Dr. Strock was running behind as one of his surgeries was delayed. Not a big deal because at that point I had no concept of time as the medicine had me fighting sleepiness. The anesthesiologist (Lane) came to ask me the standard pre-op questions they ask, then a nurse name R.J. came and asked me the same questions. Again, no big deal because you can never be too thorough before surgery. Dr. Strock came in next to talk to us and mark up the surgery area (I forgot to take pics because I was struggling to stay awake at this point). He had a student with him which I didn’t mind as the young man seemed respectable. Dr. Strock sat down in the chair and talked to us about many things and answered all of our questions with no sense of hurry. This is one of the reasons I chose him. The first encounter with him seemed so genuine and he did not seem like he was in a rush. Very patient and listened to everything I had to say. He was also very upfront with risks and so forth which I also appreciated. The anesthesiologist came back in and said he was going to give me something to make me calm and that is all I remember. I did not leave the pre-op area awake. Whatever he gave me knocked me out. Next thing I know I was waking up in that same spot in pain. I remember a burning sensation like nothing I’ve ever felt before. The post op nurses Mileka and Harrision gave me some meds. I also remember asking about my catheter. It was supposed to stay in after surgery, but I guess the surgical team didn’t know and took it out. So the nurses put one in before I left the surgery center. I don’t remember feeling it because I was still out of it from the anesthesia and the meds they gave me after I woke up. (If your Dr. doesn’t mention a catheter, I would ask for one). I could not imagine going to the bathroom over and over these first three days. I have to say the hardest part of all of this up to now has been getting out of that hospital bed to the wheelchair. I wanted to scream, cry, punch kick and just flat our refuse but I internally sucked it up and did it. With the help of my husband and nurse Harrison they managed to get me in the chair and into the car with only one tear rolling down my cheek. We left the facility at 6:30 pm. I remember my husband having to make me eat something when we got home so that I could get the antibiotics and pain meds in my system. I had no appetite at all that first day. I’m pretty sure I slept for the rest of the day. Keep the grippy socks the hospital sends you home with. They make you feel more secure when you are taking those baby steps back and forth during your daily walks. Wed, Jan 7, 2026 Post Op Day 1 This day I had to start walking at least three times a day. That first walk after you wake up in the morning is the hardest. I highly recommend taking the first walk 30 minutes after you take your pain meds. After I did my morning walk, I had breakfast then slept. That was pretty much my whole day. Appetite wasn’t there but I ate because I didn’t want the antibiotics to be on an empty stomach. Thu, Jan 8, 2026 Post Op Day 2 Much of the same as yesterday, except I have an appetite now. I also get these instances where it feels hard to breathe, but it is because of the taping on the abdomen and it being so tight. Once I get up and walk my breathing feels better. Today I had enough energy to start documenting this journey. I will continue my walks and meds and sleep as my body is still super tired. You are supposed to walk further everyday, which my hubby makes sure I do, but it is definitely tiring. Oh, and you are also supposed to flex your feet up and down to promote circulation which helps prevent blood clots. I would say to definitely take it easy on your mind and know that it is ok to do nothing while your body heals. Tomorrow I will update after my first post op appt with Dr. Strock. Fri, Jan 9, 2026 Post Op Day 3 This morning was hard. The last pain meds I took was at 1 am. My husband got up and moving around 7:45 am. I was in a lot of pain this morning…emphasis on a lot! It is my own fault for not taking the pain meds my husband left next to my chair and for not waking him up to ask for other medicine…so take your pain meds regularly. I ate breakfast around 8 am and took all my meds about 20 minutes after that. I wanted to wait until the meds were working before I got up because that first movement in the morning is the hardest and most painful for me. Before I finish talking about me getting ready, I would like to say that you will be yawning and stretching different as well. No more of that extra wide morning yawn with your high reaching to the sky to stretch out those arms. You will need to yawn in short shallow breaths because breathing deep right now hurts. Your stretches will also need to be minimized to a controlled stretch or else it will hurt your abdomen. Ok back to me getting ready. After my husband got my hair things out of the cabinet for I was able to get my hair into some type of order. I have curly hair that can be unruly so I have to spray it to get it wet, then apply gel or mousse then brush into however I am wearing it that day. Today I chose a simple ponytail because I was tired y’all. Let me just say that this took 4 times a long as it normally does. Your body will be tired so give yourself some grace. If you have somewhere to go during this period (i.e. dr. appt) start getting ready an hour earlier than what you think you should. This is coming from someone that was in the military that can literally wake up and be dressed and out of the house in 10 minutes. I tested out the raised toilet seat. Since it has handles on it, I was able to lower myself on it without any extra assistance and did not have to use any core muscles so that made me feel better. My catheter will be coming out here in a few minutes and I have to say that I am not looking forward to actually getting up every time I have to pee. Ughhhhhh! I am also not looking forward to my first bm…hopefully the aloe vera juice works like it should and things will go smoothly. Just got back from my first post-op appt. I did use the walker to get from my apartment to the car. Not because I needed it to walk but I had to stop and rest several times. Your body will be tired. Kelly removed the tape and Dr. Strock looked over my incision. They said everything looked good. Kelly put on the binder over my tank top and gave us some tips on tightening it when it started to loosen throughout the day. They said I was walking good and that I can try to stand up more when I feel good about it and to not worry about the incision. I figure my body will tell me when it is time. Until then I will keep a heating pad on my lower back when sitting because walking while bent over has caused some deep soreness in my lower back area. I will spend the rest of the day resting and relaxing. Y’all tired of hearing from me yet? I hope not. Well…I forgot I still had to get up and walk one more time. The good thing is that I was able to get up with the assistance of my lift chair and my walker. I know this is only because I have already been moving around quite bit today. I know I will still need help in the middle of the night and especially first thing in the morning. Never thought I’d miss a catheter lmbo. Sat, Jan 10, 2026 4 Days Post Op It is currently 5:27 am but let me back up to my last night fiasco. So y’all know that the tape was removed and the binder was put on. It is placed over a tank top. Well, when I was home I could feel the tank top sticking to my incision. It hurt because every time the shirt moved in that area it pulled at the incision area. I was already uncomfortable because it was so tight. I asked my ER Nurse husband (he’s so smart lol) the reason it had to be so tight and once he explained it was because it is literally holding the incisions together so they can heal properly I was ok with it. What I wanted to do though, was place some gauze on the incision area underneath my tank top. So we decided to do just that. He got the gauze and undid my binder. When I say I immediately started looking at the floor because it felt like my incision had burst open and my guts had spilled out, when in reality my face was metaphorically on the floor in shock. I’m telling y’all this to say…keep the binder on! I could not wait to get that thing back on. I do recommend gauze between your incision and the shirt but I highly recommend getting this done in office so you don’t have to take the binder off until your next appt. Just trust me on this. Dr. Strock mentioned that I could remove the binder Sunday to take a quick shower….I will not! I know Kelly will be removing the binder on Monday during my 2nd post op appt and I do not think I can handle that feeling two days in a row. Now back to the present….well I woke up at 2:33 am to go to the bathroom. Let me just say this is an extremely humbling experience to have to wake someone else up out of their sleep to help you stand up. I can walk (mostly) on my own and lower myself down but the standing up part is still difficult. Also, when you stand gravity hits you. Your incision area feels heavy and starts to burn from the weight of your body mixed with gravity. So I did all that and took pain meds because the nighttime pain is different from the day time pain and let me tell you it hurts! I was able to sleep another two hours, which has been my standard since having the surgery. So here I am at 5;53am with another dose of pain meds in me but still can’t sleep. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. Take those pain meds….especially at night. For me, the pain seems to awaken fully when it gets dark. Like a gremlin after midnight when you give it water…just multiplying all over the place haha. Thank your caregiver a lot too. Let them know that you appreciate them. Even if they say you don’t have to thank them everytime do it anyway. I know I would not be able to take care of myself fully at this point and I know getting awaken in the middle of the night can be frustrating even for the most patient person so thank them! Updated on 12 Jan 2026: Today has been kind of a challenge. What I have realized in these past few days is that your body will feel different every single day so be gentle on yourself if one day is good or so so and the next day is hard. I think the doctor appt, the extra walking, and the new binder really did a number on me yesterday. Today I feel really sore and just really tired overall. Tbh I haven’t walked today except to go to the bathroom a couple of times. I will walk here soon though because I know I am supposed to. My husband went to get us some food and once I eat and take more pain meds I will walk. Also, I have been gassy since I had the surgery and burping a lot. Husband said that is normal after surgery…idk but just wanted to share that with y’all. Updated on 12 Jan 2026: So about last night. Finally felt the urge to have first bm since surgery. It was a traumatizing experience. Friday at the dr office Dr. Strock mentioned getting some enema/suppositories and I had every intention on doing so but we both completely forgot about it. So my husband drove across town to a 24hr CVS to get them at 11pm last night. All the while I am pacing because I can’t sit down because everything hurts and I can’t sit on the toilet because my body wants to strain to try to go. I was so nauseous. My husband gave me a Zofran and was waiving alcohol wipes under my nose to keep me from heaving. I must add here that he had to place the enema as I am not able to reach back there yet. After it was placed it took about 15 minutes before my body had any type of movement. I sat on the porcelain throne for 30 minutes before gravity took over. Your body will naturally want to push and strain but the pain from the incisions will remind you not to. During my initial attempt at going, before the enema, the drain tube on my right side was pulled a little (this will be important later). Anyway, after I went I was still nauseous and my stomach was so upset. I didn’t take any ore meds as I was afraid it would make me heave. I didn’t sleep well at all. After breakfast around 10am I had to take pain meds. I also decided to try to shower since the previous night and the bm. My husband helped to undress and I leaned on the wall while he started to wash me. Remember earlier when I mentioned my right drain was pulled a little….well it started to burn with a fury of fire from hell. I am not sure if it was water or soap and I really didn’t care. All I know is the pain was unbearable. I cried and tried to remember to breathe while trying to tell my husband what was wrong. He reminded me to breathe as I couldn’t cry hard because the heaving would hurt my abdomen. He didn’t even get to finish rinsing me off. He dried me off and did everything needed to get me dressed. He got me back to my lift chair, gave me more pain meds and I eventually fell asleep. I slept for about an hour then I just kind of sat around for a while. It is now 5:30pm and I did some walking in the house today. Just going to rest the remainder of the day as I start work in the morning at 6:30am. It’s just work emails but it still will take energy. Updated on 12 Jan 2026: So about last night. Finally felt the urge to have first bm since surgery. It was a traumatizing experience. Friday at the dr office Dr. Strock mentioned getting some enema/suppositories and I had every intention on doing so but we both completely forgot about it. So my husband drove across town to a 24hr CVS to get them at 11pm last night. All the while I am pacing because I can’t sit down because everything hurts and I can’t sit on the toilet because my body wants to strain to try to go. I was so nauseous. My husband gave me a Zofran and was waiving alcohol wipes under my nose to keep me from heaving. I must add here that he had to place the enema as I am not able to reach back there yet. After it was placed it took about 15 minutes before my body had any type of movement. I sat on the porcelain throne for 30 minutes before gravity took over. Your body will naturally want to push and strain but the pain from the incisions will remind you not to. During my initial attempt at going, before the enema, the drain tube on my right side was pulled a little (this will be important later). Anyway, after I went I was still nauseous and my stomach was so upset. I didn’t take any ore meds as I was afraid it would make me heave. I didn’t sleep well at all. After breakfast around 10am I had to take pain meds. I also decided to try to shower since the previous night and the bm. My husband helped to undress and I leaned on the wall while he started to wash me. Remember earlier when I mentioned my right drain was pulled a little….well it started to burn with a fury of fire from hell. I am not sure if it was water or soap and I really didn’t care. All I know is the pain was unbearable. I cried and tried to remember to breathe while trying to tell my husband what was wrong. He reminded me to breathe as I couldn’t cry hard because the heaving would hurt my abdomen. He didn’t even get to finish rinsing me off. He dried me off and did everything needed to get me dressed. He got me back to my lift chair, gave me more pain meds and I eventually fell asleep. I slept for about an hour then I just kind of sat around for a while. It is now 5:30pm and I did some walking in the house today. Just going to rest the remainder of the day as I start work in the morning at 6:30am. It’s just work emails but it still will take energy.
