Post Surgery Update
It is 6:00am, and I have been lying in bed in pain awake for hours. This surely isn’t easy my friends, but I know it can only get better from here. I kept thinking of how so many of you precious loved ones might be wondering about me, and I thought I would just give you a brief update so I don’t wrestle with feeling the burden of wanting to reach you as I lay back in bed again and again until I feel well enough to plunge back into life.
For those of you have read this entire story, I gotta tell ya this part! I was escorted back to pre-op where I immediately saw my surgeon down the hallway at the computer. I yelled out to her to catch her attention and asked if she had her power drink today waving both thumbs up in the air! (Apparently, nobody does this sort of behavior… only I do.) She gave me that awkward smile and nod. I felt assured. Ha! She was nice enough to come visit me and chat about her pregnancy and that she is feeling good and I told her I wrote all about her and my fears on my blog. She’s just lovely. I absolutely adore personable Doctors. They make a world of difference.
During the two- hour pre-op fun, my dear friend and pastor came to visit Derek and I, and keep me company with lots of laughter and hugs. I am just so blessed and grateful for him. I was getting especially tired of waiting with my caffeine detox induced headache and my stomach gurgling… all hooked up and ready to go, until they came in quick and swooped me away. I vaguely remember yelling with frantic surprise as they pushed me down the corridor, “What did you put in me? Something is happening!!!! Oh God… I’m getting all weird!” My husband and my Pastor/friend laughed at my exit. I giggle to myself at the thought of it. Classic Chrissy.
The surgery went well! Unfortunately they scoop your drug induced limp mumbling self into a wheelchair and push you out the door, the moment you can slur a coherent sentence and peel open your eyes. I was worth not much of anything afterward, but being escorted in my anesthesia-induced stupor up to bed when we got home last night. I listened to the children outside and my neighbor’s bull horn go off every time a child neared his lawn of outstretched tombstones. I’m not too fond of his yearly tradition of ghastly goodness.
I was in a lot of pain. And completely out of it. I don’t do anesthesia or narcotics well at all. I am still dizzy and sick and weak and shaky from what loads of medicine they put in me yesterday, as I’m sure it will take the weekend to really clear me out. From now on…I am on Tylenol. That’s it. And if I were to describe the pain I am feeling now, I guess it comes close to a bat to the side of my head, ear and neck. I can’t open my mouth. So I slurp drinks and yogurt to get something in me. My jaw radiates a pain with a throbbing pulse, and my ear aches deep within and all around. The incision starts at the front middle part of my ear and curves around to the back of my neck. It’s ugly, people. Much like a frightening Halloween monster. No stitches or gauze… just some kind of film covering and crusting on it as it’s seeping blood and oozing crud out of it, and completely grossing me out. I don’t know what the stuff’s name is that is keeping the incision together, but apparently it will? I’m not so convinced. I can’t turn my neck anyway, but I feel like every time I move I am breaking open the incision, as I hear popping and crackling. My throat and chest still hurt, apparently from being incubated.
I am so relieved I had set up sleep-overs for the kids last night. It would have been dreadful for them to see me in the state I was in. I miss them so much. I wondered about them all day and night. I know they called Derek to talk to him and see how I was. I know they are worried. I want to go to the school today and see them, but I am not sure I can stay upright or stand for that long. Not to mention, I would scare all the children with my wound anyway. I am so weak. Ugh. I hate this.
But ya know what? I am filled with so much joy! I am so grateful I made it through the surgery. I have an amazing husband that is caring for me, beautiful children that had a fun Halloween, and this gorgeous and comfortable home to stay in. I constantly think about all the incredibly rich relationships I have, that fulfill me with innumerable blessings every day. I am incredibly encouraged by the thoughts and prayers of so many people I love. I am so deeply grateful. So thankful…
For you.
I hope to dive back into life soon. For now, it’s back to bed. God bless you all.
I love you. XO
Go take care of you! Get rest and heal. We will all be her whenever you feel like coming back. Hugs and prayers!
Thanks so much Lisa… you are a beloved friend. I am so grateful for all your support through this. XO
So that stuff keeping your ear together…it’s called Dermabond, or it’s a functional “liquid stitch” by another brand. It’s really cool stuff. al of the surgeons love it. Less scarring, less chance of infection, less OR and Anesthesia time. 🙂 I am so glad you are doing better. Stay on top of your Tylenol, you want to try and stay AHEAD of the pain…I am so relieved you are doing better. Still sending thoughts and prayers your way….and btw…that’s not an UGLY scar…it’s a ROCK STAR scar that you can totally show off when you are comparing scars…. 🙂 Take care, rest up!!
I love that you are “in this” with me Jen. You have been such a tremendous help to me!! Who knew what that goop was? YOU did of course!! And I do hope I can show off my “ROCK SCAR” when I am feeling up to it! Good Lord, I have realized it goes all around to the back of my ear and down my neck… Glad there aren’t stitches through those tricky spots. 🙂
Awe, Chris, I was so happy to see an update from you and just glad you are now on the road to recovery. Seriously, feel so bad for all the pain you are in, but just happy to see what great spirits you are in. You truly are a hero and inspiration to me. Totally thinking about you today and sending good thoughts, as well as saying prayers that you will heal quickly now.
Gosh, I feel so bad it’s taken me this long to get a response to you and so many others…
It feels like weeks ago, when I wrote this post. And yet- I guess it hasn’t been weeks, but days. Time will heal… it always does.
HUGS to you Janine. You are simply the best. XO
Your beauty (inside and out) over power that wound and that wound tells me you are okay. That you are going to be okay and that it is out of you so I kind of love it. I am so sorry you are in pain, though. I wish I lived by you so I could send you food and bring you milkshakes. Still praying and thinking of you and glad to read this update. REST, my friend. Lots of love!
When I saw my surgeon this morning, she was so cute- because she knew I was really hurting and she felt so bad for me and she said “Well the good news is that it’s OUT of you!!” And she gave her two thumbs up with a cute smile and a shake of her prego body! It made me smile and also made me remember- ah yes. Good point. 🙂
Love you, Chris! Praying for less pain and a quick recovery.
Hugs, Ali
Thanks so much sweet friend. And I am praying for you- for your work issues, and for God’s Presence and Discernment to be in and around you through this challenging time. Will keep praying for you Alison!!!
Thank you for the update! So glad that it all went well. Miss you and can’t wait for a REAL “Chrissy” hug 😉 Love you!
I can’t wait for a real MARCIA hug! Need it badly… ugh. What a mess this has been. Missing you so much. 🙁
Thank you so much for the update. Get lots of rest and focus on healing your body. Don’t worry about posting…we’ll be here when you are yourself again. Blessings!!!
Thanks so much Stephanie… it’s been a rough recovery for sure. I am fully loaded with meds right now, and taking advantage of the relief while I can. XO
Praying for healing… and less pain.
Continuing to pray for you and sending you lots of love! Thanks so much for the update! On a medical note- I’m sure there are stitches under the skin that will hold it together :-)!
The incision wraps around my ear all the way to the back and down my neck. A lot more than I anticipated. But at least it’s NOT infected. Praying she’s right. Still wonder because the pain has been excruciating…
This too shall pass.
Praying for you and your sweet precious babe honey. Update me when you can… I have been wondering how he is doing. XO
I love you! XOXOXO SSSF!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!! Totally dude. 😉
I can’t believe you sat up and typed all of that! You are incredible!!!
I can’t even imagine the pain you are in (plus all the other nasty feelings that come with surgery). I’m so glad that you even in pain you are still keeping a sense of humor.
Just rest as much as you can so that you will feel like yourself sooner.
I’m glad that the surgery went well – I thought about you yesterday!!
Continued prayers as you recover!
Thanks so much for all your support Kim, You have been such a great source of love and encouragement for me. I am grateful for you. XO
Yes, back to bed! So happy to hear the surgery went well and I seriously read every word twice. The last paragraph is wonderful. A lot of pain, yes, but you see your beautiful life so strongly. Thinking of you! May you have a fast recovery!
It’s been a bit brutal, as you know. But it’s going to be okay. At least I have the pain under some control now- that is a huge blessing!
Thanks for all your love, sweet friend. I do hope you are feeling a bit better too. XO
*PUNCHES THE AIR* 😀
So, SO glad to read that it all went well, and that you’re still here, and now at home with your family (presumably complication-free) where you should be. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6umWkVwpfBk
Have as many lines as you want. Take them all.
I might be sitting on the sofa, but I promise you, I’m dancing, dancing and throwing lines all over the place <3
I just keep thinking how blessed I am that I have you in my life, Lizzi.
Isn’t it just so cool? Our friendship- ah, so lovely. I thank God that we found each other. XO
It’s awesome 🙂 God bless the internet
*hugs*
Thanks for sharing! Prayers for you and your recovery.
Thanks so much for stopping by Karmen!! I appreciate your sweet sentiments! 🙂
I am so glad it’s over! Now praying for you to have quiet and restful time to heal and recover, girl! xoxo
It’s been rougher than I intended, that’s for sure! But at least I think I have my pain under control. For that I am so grateful.
Your soup was perfect… so so delicious. What a blessing you are to me, dear friend. XOXOXO
Oh Chris, I can’t believe you were able to blog! I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing. I can imagine it’s going to take some time to heal, but I am so happy everything went well. That scar will be fun to show later on. What a story! You have a wonderful support system and it’s amazing to see how filled with gratitude you are even in so much pain. Get some rest, my friend and enjoy the service of your family! 🙂
Thanks so much Jen. I am soooo behind in blog stuff- but pacing myself as best I can. I hate that I haven’t been able to respond to my sweet readers- so I am doing bits at a time.
I think my pain is finally under control with the combo of meds. I hope soon, I won’t need them. This will all be but a memory- in time. For that I am so grateful. XO
Thank you for the update. You have constantly been on my mind. Hubby kept asking me where I was going to yesterday as I stared off into space, so I had to explain to him. I don’t know why these kind of things get to me the way they do. I’m glad you made it thru surgery well, and I hope that you have a super speedy recovery.
I came into this story halfway thru, so I need to go back and look at what all this was. From the looks of it, it looks exactly like my sisters scar, which by the way is now hardly noticeable unless you know it’s there and look for it. She had a cyst grow right behind her ear that had to be removed.
Keep us updated and I will be continuing prayers for you!!
Oh Melissa- you have blessed me so so much with your precious support and prayers! I am so grateful for YOU.
It’s been a rough recovery- but at least my pain is under control for the most part. I know this will pass… and for that I am so thankful.
Healing just takes time I suppose. XO
So happy the surgery went well – take care of yourself and rest up and know you have lots of prayers for a speedy recovery.
Thank you so much for your support through all of this Dana. I am so grateful for you! XO
I love you, and we were very glad to get updated! I was worried as to your recovery, and am glad you are doing okay! Hang in there, food is coming soon!!! <3<3<3
I LOVED seeing you tonight, although I was groggy and stinky!! 😉
I can’t tell you how much it means that you came over during the few minutes you had to yourself. Oh Pea- you are simply the best.
I love you like crazy. XOXOXO
I know it must have been difficult to write this today since you’re in a lot of pain, but I’m so glad you updated us and that you are safe and doing well.
Ashley and I thought about you and talked about you all day yesterday. We were sending you all our love and prayers. I hope you could feel them across the miles.
I am so thankful that things went well and you are on the road to recovery. You take care of yourself!! Love you sweet friend! –Lisa
Oh how sweet you two are to think of me on my surgery day!! I am soooo blessed by you both!!!! Thanks so much for always being there for me…
You two are amazing. Truly. XOXO
Glad it’s over and that you are ok enough to write! Now you rest, missy!!
It takes a lot to knock me down…I suck at resting! lol
It’s been rough enough that I have had to lay low- but at least my pain is under control finally. I am so grateful that this too, will be but a memory.
You are a dear to come over and shine your sweet light on me. I am so thankful for you Hillary! God bless you sweetie. XO
You are so sweet to update us even though you are exhausted and in pain. So happy to hear the surgery went well! Now focus on taking it easy. I know it’s not easy to put your life on hold, but it’s time to focus on you for a change.
Oh that’s good Jennifer… SO GOOD! Okay- so I need to do a bit more of what you said, I confess! But truly, I have been in so much pain that I have been FORCED to lay low. Hate that.
At least the pain is manageable now- and the meds are doing their job. SO grateful I can sit up and actually finally respond to your precious encouragement.
Thanks so much my friend. You blessed me. XO
Hurts deeply for me to see. . .someone cut up on my baby!!! But so grateful it was benign and not on your nose, eye, mouth. . .Heal well, Chrissy; take the rest you deserve!!!!!
I love you, Mom.
Oh that would have been horrible! Can you imagine on my face? Such a great point mama. 🙂
My pain is finally under control. The mix of meds is just enough to take it down a notch so I can function fairly well. I am exhausted and still hurting. I hate that I can’t move my jaw well- eating and talking- so painful.
Please know I am okay- and cared for. I hope in the days to come, I will be able to actually connect. Love you mom. XO
Only you would post something to make sure that we are updated. Loving your heart!!! And now, GO GET SOME REST! 😉
Thanks so much sweet friend. I knew I would be obsessing about it lying in bed, so I just went for it! As I am doing now with my comments- I am SO behind! ugh.
Pain is under better control for the most part- with the combo of meds I am taking. I surely thought it would be easier to recover from this surgery. But I am still so grateful that this will all be but a memory soon.
I will continue to try to pace myself. I really don’t have a choice. I took a three hour nap earlier- so I am using a bit of energy to at least start responding to comments!
Promise to get over to SheShares tomorrow hopefully! 🙂
Ohhh Chris!!! You are a trooper girl!! I love how you find beauty in even the toughest things! I so love that about you! 🙂 Praying for your speedy recovery my friend…LOVE YOU!! xoxoxo
Michell- you’re such a love and a light. I am so grateful for your friendship and all your precious support, my friend.
Hoping by next Wednesday- I’ll be back into life 100%. For now, I am trying to pace myself, and at least my pain is more manageable with these meds. That’s progress!
Good to hear from you and how it all went down. Time for rest and recovery!
Thanks so much for your support Laurie. So grateful, my friend! XO
Hang in there dear sister, you are as much in my prayers now for pain to pass as you were for safety during surgery. Love you!
Oh sis- you don’t know much your prayers and love mean to me.
Thank you thank you thank you… XO
Thanks for the update. So happy to know you are back home and have time to recover in peace and quiet. Take care!
It’s been a rough recovery… not gonna lie. But I know this too will be a memory soon. And for that, I am so grateful. XO
Have been thinking about you! So glad you posted an update and seem to be doing well. I hope things continue to get better and better every minute. xo
Thanks so much for your sweet support Leah! It means the world to me… XO
Praying for a quick recovery for you!
I’m glad you had someone who could watch the kids that first night. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Hugs!
Thanks SO much for your prayers… apparently, it’s not going to be quick. But I am still grateful that once it IS over, it really IS over. That is something to be thankful for. So I am trying to focus on that blessing as best I can, while I struggle with the pain.
You are such a trouper! Sending good and healthy thoughts your way and so so happy that you are doing well. Get lots of rest (as hard as that may be!)
Thanks so much Tricia! Rest hasn’t been easy- with all this pain. But- I am hoping I can start to feel relief and actually sleep soon! I am so anxious to get past this and get back into life… it’s just killing me. But in time I suppose.
Oh Chris, that wound looks so angry. So sorry your in pain. Take care of yourself , take advantage of being cared of. Would have loved to have been there when you were being wheeled into the OR!!! Love u and miss u.
You could picture it, can’t you? I still giggle at the thought of me totally freaking like an airhead- “WAIT WHAT? What is going ON??” HA! Derek said him and Rick were laughing at me being rolled away as I was all surprised and confused. Classic Chrissy! I got more stories when we hook up- 😉
I’m so glad surgery was a success. Praying for a speedy recovery!
Thanks so much Adrienne! Now I just need to get past the painful part and move forward. It’s been rough, but I am grateful that once this is over- it really is over. Thanks so much for coming by to catch up on it all my friend. XO
Hang in there, Chris, you’ll be back to yourself soon! b
Thanks so much sweet friend! I know it will just take time. It’s been rough, but at least I know this is all I have to endure. And for that, I am grateful. 🙂
I found your blog while searching “fear” on pinterest. I had surgery to remove my cancerous thyroid earlier this year and I could totally relate to your before and after surgery blogs. Being a mother and being the one that needs to be taken care of is humbling and frustrating. Best wishes on your recovery!
oh Andrea, I am thrilled that you found my blog! And yet, I am so sorry you had to endure such trying times…you are so right: Humbling and frustrating it is.
I pray you are healed and recovered from it all, and I thank you so much for sharing and relating to what us moms go through when faced with health issues/scares. It ain’t easy, is it?
Your comment is such a blessing to me today. Thank you so very much for taking the time to connect. 🙂
Been thinking about you and praying for you!
Sending you lots of love. Now stop reading this comment and go get some rest. xo
HA!! I totally am slouched in my chair and nauseous as all heck- whining and moaning in pain to my husband, thinking- “just one more thing”. DUH. I needed to read your comment- thank you for slapping me back to reality. I’m an idiot sometimes. A bit OCD and stubborn to boot.
I am getting OFF now. Going. Seriously. This is insane! Thanks Shell. Perfect timing.