FIRST NIGHT
We left the hospital at 6:30pm, and I slept most of the way home with my new favorite possession on my lap – the ice pillow! It is a long thin ice bag that is sorta soft and fuzzy on the outside. I was using it so frequently the first three days that our ice maker could not keep up!
Upon arriving home, I was still starving and had a feast of pudding cups, soup, gummy bears and lots of water. I tried to participate in the conversations between my parents and husband, but I was very much drugged up and nodding off constantly. I did manage to get out an email to all the friends who had emailed, texted and called to wish me luck or see how it went. I re-read it while not on drugs – it was more than a little disjointed!
The pain wasn’t bad if I stayed still, but I still found myself looking forward to the time I could take my first dose of pain meds at home. I had read that the shoulder pain from the surgery gases would occur the day after, but I found it the worst that night. It was just as painful as my abdomen.
At 9:30, my husband and I decided it was finally not too early to turn in for the night. During pillow talk, we both expressed how glad we were that the surgery was over. It feels like a totally fresh start to this whole trying to conceive thing! Slightly ironic that if we had gotten pregnant on our first try the next day, June 30th, would have been the due date.
THURSDAY
I camped out on the couch all day and my memories are foggy. I can’t recall lots of the detail from the day. I felt good because of the Percocet, but man that stuff is crazy! I was totally on drugs – it was hard to hold a conversation, a thought, watch a movie or write an email. So I mainly tried to surf the web but I think I mostly aimlessly clicked. My husband I both realized I could not be responsible for my pill schedule. I could not easily recall when and what I took, just an hour after taking it. I found myself easily confused, so I sat like a happy idiot on the couch most of the day.
My husband’s mother came to visit and came bearing ice cream. We had show and tell with the surgery images. The sheets of images were a big hit with the visitors who stopped by all week. Our family and friends have invested themselves too in our journey of trying to conceive. I think seeing the images of real physical issues that were removed is hopeful to everyone.
My mom came back again and spent most of the time doing chores. I kept trying to get her to stop and just sit down with me and watch old movies, but this was probably her way of feeling like she was helping and actually doing something to help me.
Thursday, lots of flowers arrived – I received flowers from my husband’s mom, my husband’s good friend and his fiancé, and from my childhood best friend. Check out this gorgeous bouquet…

That night my husband left for an hour to go play basketball and I had a mini panic attack right before he left, because I didn’t feel right. I wasn’t sure what was going on but I started imagining the worst. I must have freaked him out because he called his mom to check in on me. Hilariously, I think I just had to toot and the pressure was a whole new sensation. Seriously! I had a mini panic attack about gas!
That night I waited 8 hours instead on 6 to take the Percocet, so that we would not have to set an alarm for me to take a pill in the middle of the night. Big mistake! Just moving from the couch to the bathroom to bed resulted in so much pain, I was crying! The drugs also seemed to be wearing down my mental state too. I could see the concerned look on my husbands face and that made me cry more, but being us he found a way to make me laugh after I was laying down, which shook my belly, which hurt, so I’d cry a bit more while laughing!
FRIDAY
The hubby went back to work for the day. He made sure I got showered and situated on the couch before he left. I was glad to notice that the shoulder pain was practically gone.
Once he left though, I was bad and got up and made a different breakfast. I wanted to eat oatmeal because I still hadn’t pooped and wanted more fiber (in addition to the lovely stool softeners we picked up at the drug store). Taking care of myself and being alone, I could feel myself getting upset. This emotional downslide from the pain pills was starting to wear on me.
The rest of the day was pretty much the same as the day before – a drugged haze. My mom came over around noon and we watched some movies she picked up from red box. Then one my high school best friends came by with a smoothie. Life was so hectic before the surgery and we had a lot of catching up to do.
SATURDAY
I was still taking the Percocet and wasn’t feeling any pain and I majorly over did it! I also had finally stopped spotting from surgery – yeah, to no more pads and liners!
feeling great, I picked up the house and vacuumed (I know, I know – I really should not have done that!), then a friend came with sweet treats and we ended up standing around in the kitchen talking for a while before sitting down. My husband talked my into going to the pool later, where I sat in a coverup under the awning reading a magazine (probably the most relaxing part of the day). After the pool, we took a trip to BB&B to get my bro a birthday microwave. He is learning that being an adult so exciting! After all this, I went home and got cleaned up to go over to my parents for his birthday dinner. Way too much for three days post op! I crashed when we got home at 10:30pm and did not wake up once until 10:30am the next morning.
SUNDAY
I had decided the night before that I was going to try going cold turkey on the Percocet. So I was going to be so lazy to try and make up for over doing it the day before. I cat napped, watched movies the whole day and was basically a complete slug the whole day. The hubby kept himself occupied by making a fabulous dinner from the cookbook, Ad Hoc at Home. Everything from that cookbook is to die for! After only being up 11 hours, I crawled into bed for another 12 hour night of sleep. Even now 10 days post op, I still have to sleep on my back. Things just do not feel right inside when I lay on my side. It feels like things are falling out of place and pulling.
MONDAY
The fourth of July holiday was a bittersweet day as I knew I had to face the real world again the next day. I savored all the laziness, my nap on the couch, having my husband’s undivided attention and tried not to think about going back to work. That night we went to the in-laws for a BBQ with a small group of family members. Everyone was very glad that I was feeling better and it was good to be out of the house. We turned in early again and could hear the faint echo of fireworks as we were drifting off to sleep.
BACK TO WORK
Before eating breakfast on Tuesday, I weighed myself to be self torturous and I had gained 5 pounds since pre op! I am still hoping it is partially swelling and bloating weight, but I know I had been on a food binge. My appetite was never effected by the surgery and I definitely over indulged for 6 days. I had hopes of kicking off the week with a new healthy outlook, but that did not stick. There is always next week!
At work, sitting in my chair all day was not bad at all. I just needed to be conscious not to hunch over as folding my stomach irritated my belly button. I am still very bloated even today and skirts / dresses are the most comfortable choices. I tried wearing my fat pants yesterday and spent half the day with them unbuttoned. Luckily I had worn a long shirt!
I am still more tired than usual, but can feel myself getting restless as my energy starts coming back. I overdid it yesterday by lifting and moving too much. I was so sore by the end of the day! I need to remember to just keep taking it easy. I am doing a lot of lounging around today:). Dreaming of a baby of my own and getting this show on the road!