Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Surgery Update

Patsy's surgeon, Dr. Holcomb just updated me. Patsy is out of surgery. About one foot of bowel was removed due to it being "balled up" in her hernia, then the hernia was repaired with a biological mesh. She will go to ICU for tonight, and then be in the hospital for five to seven days.

She's not going to like the news of that hospital stay, having gone into surgery expecting only the hernia repair and a two or three day stay..

Thank you all for being concerned. - Greg

Surgery in Progress

Hi; Greg here. I'm substituting for your normal host, the usually perky Patsy Terrell, who is currently in surgery at Hutchinson Hospital for a hernia.

Patsy was taken back for her hernia surgery later than scheduled today, at just about 5:15 PM.

I've just been informed that the surgery on her hernia is just starting at 7:10PM. There was a slight delay due to having to deal with some adhesions that had formed, but all is going well. A small bowel resection had to be done, but without talking to the surgeon I have fews details on that.

Such adhesions may explain some of her pain these last few months.



Before she was taken to surgery, we were fascinated by all the technology. In the photo, Patsy is wearing a sort of inflatable gown that warms the patient via an attachable air blower. It reminds me of an astronaut suit, or one of those inflatable Halloween costumes. It pretty much works, but she had a tendency to complain her fingers were cold just as she'd hold those icy digits against me and cackle with girlish mischief as my life's warmth was tapped.

All that just to illustrate that although she has the normal apprehension about surgery, her spirits were fine enough to pester me.


Ann was not able to be her nurse, but did pop in as we waited and helped with an IV right before Patsy went back. Medical people don't usually have trouble finding a good vein for an IV in Patsy, but this time they did. We think it's because she's a bit dehydrated.

I'll post again when I know more.

Tomorrow is the Day

My surgery has been rescheduled to 3:30 tomorrow. It was originally at 2, but the needed to reshuffle and were going to put me in the morning but I had planned to work in the morning to finish up a couple of things. So, they moved me to 3:30. I check in at 1:30.
 
Of course, this is "minor" surgery, to repair a hernia I acquired after surgery earlier this year. But, of course, nothing seems minor when it's you they're cutting on.
 
I'm thrilled that my recovery nurse will most likely be Annie, a friend I really adore. So, that's a big bonus. Greg will be updating here as things progress.

Posted via email from Patsy's posterous