Day 3 Post op! The jaw bone connects to the pain bone

 Pain: 5/10
Inconvenience: 10/10

I don't know where it came from or why I can't get it out of my head, but "the jaw bone connects to the...PAIN BONE" keeps repeating in the back of my head.

I'm home from the hospital, under the diligent care of my beautiful mother and sweet husband. Recap time:

Tuesday morning Hunt and I checked in to the hospital surgery center nice and early at 6am. Some nice nurses made me get into my hospital gown ran some blood and urine tests, which resulted in a big high five and laugh between Hunter and I when they announced the surgery was a go because I was definitely not pregnant. We waited for about an hour for the anesthesia tech and nurse and Dr. Wyatt to get themselves all set, and I'll not mince words with you, I was so freakin brave. Calm, cool, and collected, my friends. Only a short burst of tears when they gave me my anesthesia and wheeled me away from Hunter. I only caught a glimpse of the OR before I conked out without even counting down from ten.....

Then, there were lights, voices complimenting my coral painted toe nails, Hunter whispering into my ear something about being a champion...and NAUSEA. Ugh, the nausea. I was so loopy, all I could do was wave my hands around and the nurses kept thinking I was saying something about getting the doctor confused with Hunter, when finally my soul mate saved my life and announced "I think she is saying she is going to throw up," followed by a mad dash to get some anti-nausea meds into my IV. I felt the burn as the medicine ripped through my veins and BOOM out like a light again. This happened maybe 3 or 4 more times, while I was only catching glimpses of the stark hospital walls as they wheeled me to my private room.

Faint of heart, read not on.

I can't remember much of the rest of this day, lots of sleeping interrupted by my heart pounding in my chest warning me about the oncoming puke, followed by my begging my body not to do it. I was so scared that the force  would rip my jaw in two. But alas, my nurse finally did not make it in time and the vomit came. Oh it came. Bloody, thick, spewing through the sides of my cheeks where there were spaces to escape my teeth, all over. The bed, my gown, the nurse, all covered in vomit blood. Apparetly I had swallowed copious amounts of blood during the surgery. Sorry for the details, peeps, but it's life. The poor nurses had to figure out how to change my bed after I threw up everywhere, and kept laughing at me as I tried to motion for them not to worry about it. I think even I laughed a little bit at the looniness of trying to sleep in my own mess. I felt better after I vomited, but it didn't last long. Every hour or so the pounding would return, and the nurse taught me how to use the suction device to just suck it straight from my mouth without getting it everywhere. Happened 5,6 more times, each time more painful than the last because there was nothing in my stomach any more so it was a violent dry heave. Pain: 9/10. Awful. Maybeee a 10 but I'm saving my 10 for child birth just in case it's worse.

Finally I learned a very valuable lesson: STOP pressing the morphine button! After that, I didn't throw up. When I woke up the next day, the nurses took out all the most annoying things attached to my body and I felt SO much better. Cathatar, intibation that went into my lungs and stomach, and oxygen mask, gone. Whew, felt so much better. I drank some Gatorade with the help of Hunter, and slept and laid around. The pain wasn't too bad but the nastiness of it all was maddening. My mouth felt like a prison and I was rotting away inside.  I couldn't breath, speak, eat, nothing. My wrist felt like it was being gnawed away my the IV, and I kept asking the nurse to take it out, but she wouldn't! So when she left, you betcha I took matters into my own hands. Ripped that sucker right out. Props to my father-in-law for laughing it off and calling for the nurse as my blood shot out of my wrist and my IV sprayed all over. The nurse was so kind of told me I could keep it out for a few hours through my sobbing apology.

Anyway, not much else happened. The next morning (today) Hunter picked up my mom from the airport and I was discharged. We stopped by Dr. Wyatt's office and he said the surgery went totally smoothly and I was doing great. I'm alright. A little frustrated, terrible indigestion, headache, burning hot and swollen, but not as bad as you might expect 2 days post op.

My mom and Hunter and being such wonderful servants. I feel bad letting them wait on me so much, but I really not no other choice because standing and walking results in terrible dizziness. Drinking tons of medicines, Gatorade, 7-up, and Ensure. Bleh, all gross. Anyway, I'm starting to talk a little bit now because the Dr. loosened my bands a little bit.

HAVE to shout out to Hunter for being the best care taker in the world, seriously can't believe how kind and patient he is and how he understands my every mumbled grumbled word. He was my translator to the nurses. Mother-in-Law for cleaning my house until it shined when I got home from the hospital I found my bed with new silky sheets, linen closet organized, and fridge stacked with food for Hunter and mom. My father-in-law for being a great caretaker in the hospital as Hunter went home to shower, my sister Kate for the amazing care package complete with clearplay, books galore, and 42 hand written notes to open every day of the recovery. My sister-in-law Jen and brother AJ for the Mist Born series which I have wanted to read for so long!! My niece Lizzy for the "cats rule dogs drool" bookmark and for telling me I look "not too scary" while face timing today. My wonderful dad who let me be on his insurance for this entire thing, and for finagling a way to come visit later on, and my kind and devoted mother for flying all the way out and missing family reunion to spend time doting on me and just being a light around the house. And all those from church who've inquired and brought over nice things!

I was scared to be discharged from the hospital because it was nice to be under such watchful care, but I gotta say it feels sooo good to be home. Amazing what a long hot shower and your own bed can do. Here are some pics!

 Second day of recovery. Parents-in-laws and Hunter.

 My first walk around the hospital. Exhausting.

 Dr. Wyatt and me

Mom and me.

 Discharged!!

Good to be home!