Day 1-Post Op

I slept like crap that night, which I figured I would. I was pushing my pain pump every 8 minutes. After about 4 pumps I could feel enough relief where I was getting about 2 hours of sleep each time.

I got up around 1am and walked around a little more. I was still attached to oxygen, the cath, and the pressure socks, so I had to call a nurse to come in and help me. I really loved my nurses that night. They were very sweet and I enjoyed talking to them. They were very impressed on how much I was moving, but I knew that it wasnt going to last much longer, I was started to feel pain a lot more and the pain in my chest and shoulder from the gas was horrible.

By the morning I felt more drained then I did before I went to sleep. I was up and moving around 7am, and I met one of the nurses who was in her second year of nursing school. Her name was Gina, and she was going to be assisting my nurse today. She came in around 8 and asked me some questions, which I was ok with. You cant learn in a teaching hospital if you dont ask. She asked me if she could go down with me to see my Upper GI being done, and I told her that would be fine, I would like the company.

They took me down a little after 8:30 for the test. Gina and I sat and talked about kids, college, clothing, and just random things. She's real nice, and I think she'll make a great nurse someday. That barium swallow was just horrible, especially since it was the first thing I've had in days. I got back to my room around 9 and asked if I could have my cath out so I could shower.

The nurse came back in a little after 10 and told me I passed the GI test and I could have something. She brought water in and told me I had to drink 30cc's every half hour for 2 hours, then I could order some broth and jello off the menu.

I was exhausted by then, and was having a hard time even staying awake, but I knew I'd be going home in a few hours, which made it better. By noon I was uncathed and had some chicken broth and strawberry jello. I swear it was the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted.

The nurses kept asking me if I had gone to the bathroom on my own yet, and I felt like I had to go, but I couldnt get it out. Eventually they told me if I didnt go the doctor might make me stay. I started to cry hysterically and told them I just wanted to go home. I sat in the bathroom for 20 minutes at a time, trying my hardest (without pushing) to go, I had no success. They did a single cath on me and of course I filled the bag. I begged my nurse Shelly to let me go home, but she said I would have to stay now to make sure I wasnt going to develop a bladder infection.

My phone was almost dead, I've been alone in the hospital all day, and now I was told I'd have to stay another night. Everyone started calling and texting my phone to see if I was home and I just ignored the calls.

My stepdad did eventually stop down for awhile to see me, and brought me my charger. It was nice to see someone. I felt very isolated and alone. And sure enough, after he left I went to the bathroom. It was after 8pm and I knew they werent going to let me go home this late.

I didnt care at all for the nurses I had this night. It took them 2 hours to get me my Roxocet and Ambien. I didnt get them til almost 11. I felt very left out and uncared for. Thankfully, all I had hooked to me was my IV so at this rate I was able to just unplug it and move about on my own.

I slept even worse then I did the night before...