Home Again

So I got out of the hospital for the second time Saturday afternoon. It's amazing how much a few little chest tubes can set you back. I mean when they describe the surgery to you it seams like nothing compared to the first operation. A "small" incision under my man boob to make a pericardial window and then two small holes for the drain tubes. Easy right? Not so much. Those three small holes hurt way more coming out of surgery than having my entire chest opened up. Granted it didn't take me as long to come out of this surgery....it just hurt a lot for a few hours, until they could get some drugs in me. The pain was so bad because the doctor basically spreads your ribs (no breaking though) and shoves a couple tubes between them to help with drainage. I got to keep those tubes for a day and a half. Every time I would breathe I could feel the pain in my ribs from those tubes moving around. It was really frustrating to have to be going threw all of this again. Not only was I frustrated to be going through another surgery so quickly but when I came out of this one I was sore and cranky.

Getting the chest tubes out is pretty fun too. I didn't realize how long they were each tube was probably 8-10 inches long. The doctor who removed them told me to breathe in and out three times and on the third one he told me to bare down. Sure enough on that third big breathe I felt a couple of tubes snaking their way out of my abdomen. At least he pulled them both at the same time. Getting them removed didn't hurt as much as I thought they would put its a pretty weird feeling.

Once those tubes were out I got to stay in the hospital for another day of observation and x-ray to make sure there wasn't any more fluid building up and then they sent me on my way again.

Again I have to say that the people at St. Joe's Hospital are pretty amazing. I was actually in the same room with the same nurses after my second surgery. They are all amazing people and took great care of me. Hopefully I never have to do anything like this again but if I should have to I know where I'm going.

All is well for now and things seem to be healing up nicely. Talk to ya later....