[NPInfo] Linda's Personal Update--Her Humor and Grace are Back!!!!

[EPartinFNP at aol.com]

Linda,
So good to have you back... and what a story!! I have been  following the 
messages, but not knowing how to send any back. (I tried the link,  but it didn't 
work). You have been in the thoughts of many on NPINFO as we  have read 
updates from your husband. I'm wishing for your speedy recovery and  hope all of 
this soon will be nothing more than an unpleasant  memory.
Beth Partin
 
In a message dated 10/21/2007 6:10:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
GRETAOB at aol.com writes:

15 -  October 21, 2007 at 02:36 PM  PDT
Good Morning Everyone 

It was  one week ago when we last left off; I  wrote my preoperative stories  
and checked my message board one last time. Yes,  Doug, I did see  your 
message 
just as I was walking out the hotel door. It was  the  perfect imagery for 
surgery. 

We were the first ones to arrive  in  holding. I was placed in a gown, 
booties, and cap. A RN started  my IV and  completed my paperwork. I was so 
nervous 
that I walked my  IV pole to the  bathroom multiple times. Chaplain Tom 
visited 
and  spoke with us regarding  Arizona and Advanced Directives and Living  
Wills. 
Next was Dr. Washington, the  neuro-anesthesiologist. He was  incredibly 
awesome. The knowledge that man  possesses is immense. He  explained that 
neuro-anesthesiology differs from  general  anesthesiology b/c he focuses on 
anesthetizing 
the brain in addition  to  the body. He explains during anesthesia, I would 
become  poikillothermic, meaning  that my body would assume room temperature, 
 
thus propagating a hypothermic  state. I was greatly comforted by his  
presence 
and jovial nature. ILARIA – have  your mother call him. Next  into the room 
was 
the OR circulating RN to confirm my  name,  procedure, etc. Chaplain Tom then 
returned for prayer. Next was a  short  visit by one of Dr. Spetzler’s 
3rd-year-residents. Dr.  Washington then returned  with two “Margaritas”. We 
took 
pictures  (posted), hugged, and said “see you  later”. Although that’s the 
last  
thing I remember, I apparently LOUDLY promised  my husband oral  
gratification We 
were the first ones to arrive in  holding. I was  placed in a gown, booties, 
and 
cap. A RN started my IV and   com

The  next 24 hours are a complete blur. I was either  unconscious, 
vomiting/dry  heaving, or trying to correctly answer  questions while someone 
shone a 
light  into my eyes. I frequently got  1997 and 2007 confused. When they 
asked me 
what  hospital I was in I  would either say Holy Cross, Boca Raton, or 
Barrows. 
I would  try and  tell them which floor I was on; in retrospect I really had 
no 
idea.  For  some reason I was convinced I was on either the 4th or 6th (4th  
was correct). On  Wednesday morning (POD #1) around 1 AM was my first  
post-operative CT scan. It  seems more like a dream than an actual  memory. 
At around 5 
or 6 AM was my  post-operative MRI. It was a  whirlwind experience because it 
felt like there was  no gravity in my  world. I trusted that the staff would 
not 
drop me (I was  comforted  in knowing that I had never dropped a patient). 
Later in the day I   convinced myself to have my foley removed because I knew 
it 
would force me  out  of bed more frequently. This was true b/c after every 
trip 
to  the toilet was a  walk down the hall. My RNs were incredible and kept me  
on 
high doses of  anti-nausea drugs (Reglan, Zofran, and Phenergan)  throughout 
my 
stay. I also  added sherbet to my diet of ice chips.  POD #1 was a good day. 
On Thursday (POD  #2) I would have been  discharged but developed a fever 
ranging between 101.5-102  F. I was  pan-cultured, x-rayed, and started on 
antibiotics. A lot of that day   seems to be a blur as well. I didn’t walk as 
frequently 
as previously.  I  declined the Percocet and opted for Morphine b/c I was 
afraid of  getting  nauseated again. The docs kept me an additional day 
because of  
the fever and my  IgA-deficiency. I must have turned the proverbial  corner 
during that night b/c I  felt good the next day (Friday, POD  #3). I ate, 
went for 
a couple of walks, and  then was discharged back  to the care of Rob and 
Dave. 


...Need to  rest...More to  follow. 

Love - Linda







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