Surgery Day

Last week I had my tonsils removed. I have had strep throat at least 4 times in the last year and since we have met our deductible this year, there was no way I could pass on this surgery. I have been dreading it the last few months and heard horror story after horror story. I was near a panic attack all week with the thought of actually going in and doing it. 

Dr. Mayes and me.

He was all bright and jolly that morning. 

I appeared to be, but I really wanted to jump up and head for the hills. 

I told the nurse anesthetist that I was a little nervous (ok, a lot!) and he said I would be fine, but right before they wheeled me out I noticed he had a syringe of something that he slipped into my iv. I asked him if he could just let me sleep for like an extra four hours. I told him I had four kids at home and I just needed a really good medicated nap with no distractions. He said that he would probably get in trouble for that, but he could make it so I could sleep comfortably for the rest of the day after I left. Deal. That was the kind of nurse anesthetist I was looking for! 

I said goodbye to Vaughn and I remember him saying, "she won't remember you saying that." Well Ha! I do remember him saying that. I even remember being wheeled into the OR and whatever the nurses and I were talking about was SOO funny! Seriously. They cracked me up big time...it was probably the meds he gave me, but I just remember laughing and laughing and having a great time. That is all I remember. I don't remember moving to the OR bed or laying down or anyone else.    

Of course the next thing I remember was being waken up by the nurses and them telling me it was time to wake up. I started getting nauseous, so they gave me something to help with that and let me go back to sleep. It made me have to stay a little bit longer, but I didn't care! I just got to take my nap, so no worries for me! 

Finally, they kicked me out for good. I was still super groggy and slept all the way home. I didn't even notice that Vaughn stopped to get gas and stopped at Walmart to get my meds. What did I care? I was just snoozin' away in the passenger seat. Probably got a ton of weird looks, but I didn't care, so oh well! 

I slept the whole day and it was awesome. 

The 2nd day is when I started noticing reality. It was painful. It sucked so bad and I have lived off of pain killers ever since. 

It has been five days and today is the first day that I have been able to not take a painkiller and only use tylenol and ibuprofen. I am still super sore, can't eat anything besides liquid and have a frog sounding voice, but I can tell, slowly and surely I am getting better. I have been sleeping all morning and afternoon every day, thanks to my awesome mom. Who literally saved me with this surgery. She is gone now. Sniff sniff, but she took Taysom to Utah for her and my dad to watch and it has been the greatest help ever. I could not have done it without her. 

I do remember the doctor telling Vaughn that my tonsils were worse than he thought. Which doesn't surprise me. Every time I went to the doctor for strep I was told I didn't have it, because it didn't look like it, but after they swabbed me it confirmed that I did in fact have it. They were deceiving little devils. Anyway, he said he cut them out and they were chuck full of the nasty tonsil stones. Ugh. No wonder I always had such awful embarrassing breath. I can't say yet that I am glad that I did this, but I think I will be able to very, very soon.