I apologize for not posting much sooner than this...I now understand why many people who are on the other side choose not to come back to post, but this site helped me so much that I feel obligated. I'm on the mend and it wasn't really a pleasant experience, so I'd really like to just forget about it...
Day 1 - woke up with breathing tube still in. I was writing that I was going to be sick, and they were saying, "that's normal, many people have that reaction to the anesthetic" I tried to write that it was because of gagging on the tube, not nausea, but I don't think they understood. Needless to say I wanted it out, and they took it out relatively soon.
The rest of that afternoon was a blur, I vomited several times due to meds, but surprisingly it didn't hurt too much...not any more than a cough.
Next couple days were all about adjusting meds and forcing me to walk and do PT.
I stayed in ICU a little longer than expected because they didn't have a room on the regular floor for me. When they did get a room, it was a private room, so that is a BONUS!
They took my chest tubes out right before they moved me to the regular floor, and all I'm going to say about that is, I agree, it's the worst part. Actually, pulling the stitches closed afterwards was the WORST. Thankfully, I only had two tubes and two fabulous nurses pulled them out at the same time. I do have to say that as awful as it feels to have done, it was the best thing by far for easing my back pain!
I had a massage one night...Highly recommend taking advantage of that service if it's available.
My nurse on the last day in ICU was fabulous (others were OK...not bad but nothing over and above). The fabulous one washed my hair and braided it for me, so that I looked a little more human when I got to see my daughter that night. They snuck her in to the ICU!
When they told me I was moving to the floor I had a minor panic attack because I didn't think they'd be monitoring me as closely, but it turns out that they have been very attentive. When you are a general status in ICU, you lose that attention quickly.
I was off all meds but Tylenol, but will end up on a very low dose beta blocker and Warfarin for a short time as well. Initially they tried to give me a pain med that ended up dropping my platelet counts, so they didn't give me the warfarin right away.
Pacing wires came out today (not fun, but not as bad as the tubes). Doctor came in and wanted to send me home today, but I wanted to be at least started on all of my meds first because of how I react to them. I should go home tomorrow. 5 days...not a record, but not bad.
So that's my story so far...not fun, but feeling better every day!
Day 1 - woke up with breathing tube still in. I was writing that I was going to be sick, and they were saying, "that's normal, many people have that reaction to the anesthetic" I tried to write that it was because of gagging on the tube, not nausea, but I don't think they understood. Needless to say I wanted it out, and they took it out relatively soon.
The rest of that afternoon was a blur, I vomited several times due to meds, but surprisingly it didn't hurt too much...not any more than a cough.
Next couple days were all about adjusting meds and forcing me to walk and do PT.
I stayed in ICU a little longer than expected because they didn't have a room on the regular floor for me. When they did get a room, it was a private room, so that is a BONUS!
They took my chest tubes out right before they moved me to the regular floor, and all I'm going to say about that is, I agree, it's the worst part. Actually, pulling the stitches closed afterwards was the WORST. Thankfully, I only had two tubes and two fabulous nurses pulled them out at the same time. I do have to say that as awful as it feels to have done, it was the best thing by far for easing my back pain!
I had a massage one night...Highly recommend taking advantage of that service if it's available.
My nurse on the last day in ICU was fabulous (others were OK...not bad but nothing over and above). The fabulous one washed my hair and braided it for me, so that I looked a little more human when I got to see my daughter that night. They snuck her in to the ICU!
When they told me I was moving to the floor I had a minor panic attack because I didn't think they'd be monitoring me as closely, but it turns out that they have been very attentive. When you are a general status in ICU, you lose that attention quickly.
I was off all meds but Tylenol, but will end up on a very low dose beta blocker and Warfarin for a short time as well. Initially they tried to give me a pain med that ended up dropping my platelet counts, so they didn't give me the warfarin right away.
Pacing wires came out today (not fun, but not as bad as the tubes). Doctor came in and wanted to send me home today, but I wanted to be at least started on all of my meds first because of how I react to them. I should go home tomorrow. 5 days...not a record, but not bad.
So that's my story so far...not fun, but feeling better every day!
