I had a wound check on Thursday with one of my favorite nurse practitioners. My umbilical incision is healing perfectly. It's the lower incision that isn't doing so great. Do I fault my surgeon? Absolutely not. He did a marvelous job with my tubal.
However, I believe that I am at fault for my delayed wound healing. Why?
I went back to work on post op day #3. I did do some lifting, nothing heavy. I was on my feet for 8 hours. I didn't gradually build back my activity level. My fault. Totally. I should not have gone back to work so soon.
Thus, I split my wound open, and it actively bled.
I also take up to about two weeks to blow the general anesthesia out of my system. I am tired, dizzy, and lightheaded until this happens. I am prone to needing to take 2-3 hr naps during the day time.
Anyhow, the NP opened my wound a little more, and did some digging with hydrogen peroxide and sterile Q tips. Turns out I had some nice blood clots that needed to be worked out of the wound before it could approximate and start to heal from the inside out.
I also was started on antibiotics - something I RARELY take. Just FYI.
I should also mention - I am a slow healer with some of my incisions. I have a history of slow wound healing, and even rejection of suture. It could be the site - were there is excess skin from weight loss (a.k.a. My Pannus).
WARNING! WARNING! PANNUS PICTURE BELOW!!!!
(Note: this is a picture from the web, not my pannus, but looks very much like my very own pannus. Isn't it beautiful?)
Picture from: http://xnet.kp.org/permanentejournal/spr08/TPJSpr08/Spring08bweb-web-images/PreopFig1_fmt.jpeg
It could be that I do not always get optimal amounts of nutrition (from having gastric bypass). I blame none of this on my surgeon. I knew this info, going into an elective surgical procedure. (This is aimed at the anonymous MD commenter from my previous post op post.)
Am I belly aching and moaning and groaning about my complications? Heck no. I'm just blogging. I write about whatever pops in my head. Take it or leave it.
(Oh, and I'm also off of work til Tuesday. Another wound check on Monday, this time with my surgeon.)
Signed,
Your sassy AtYourCervix Nursey Nurse
So..........
I went back to work on post op day #3. Big mistake. My lower incision burst open and was bleeding bright red blood. Had to change my dressing several times. Granted, the incision is only about 3/4 inch, but it wasn't closed with suture. Also, I wasn't doing any heavy lifting at work. Circulated for a c/section (felt like I was going to pass out at one point.....ahhh, the dizziness continues!), and took care of a post op c/section on complete bedrest. Just too much walking around, too soon.
I still have periods of dizziness -- not narcotic related - not taking them during the day at all, just one tab at night for soreness and PRN sleep.
I called off of work yesterday to rest up, and was still having some bleeding from the open incision. The bleeding is less today, and I'm leaving the incision open to air now.
To those of you who have had a tubal - how long did you take off of work afterwards? Do you have a highly physically active job or a sedentary job? Just curious......
I arrived home a few hours ago from getting my tubal ligation done. Still groggy from the meds and the general anesthesia.
Will post something when I'm more alert :-)
I don't know why it seems so difficult to let go of my fertility. I know in my mind and heart that I am done having children. I am in my mid 30's, with a child in college, one graduating from high school, and the youngest in the first grade. I am a fulltime nurse and student. I simply do not have the time or energy to expend on another pregnancy and subsequent infant/toddler.
So, why so sad to let go of my fertility, voluntarily at that? The end of a stage in my life, I suppose. I have either been giving birth or raising children from all ages from the time I was 15 until now. More than half of my life has been dedicated to pregnancy and parenting (my own, that is).
I am ready to see my children grow up and leave the home Yes, I admit, I do look forward to the day when they are ALL out of the house! I cannot wait to not have to worry about who is watching the youngest, or where everyone is and if they're safe. Ok, I guess as a parent you never really stop worrying about that. Even when they're off at college.......scratch that, most especially when they're off at college.
I'm ready to help women start their own families - pre-conception, pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum.
I'm ready to be able to travel with my partner and not worry about childcare issues at home.
But yet, I wonder........am I really ready to be done? I know the rational reasons to not have more children.
1. I suck at pregnancy. I'm miserable, constantly nauseated, and I cannot get enough sleep.
2. Might I mention school and lack of sleep doesn't bode well?
3. School, breastfeeding a new baby, work, pumping, going back to work. I hated this combo when I went back to work last time - and I didn't have school involved! I would have rather been a stay at home mom while breastfeeding.
4. I hate toilet training. Need I say more?
5. Another kiddo in the house for 18+/- years? Really? Am I nuts?
Saying goodbye to your fertility: it's not easy to let go. I think of cuddling a newborn, that oh-so-yummy smell, meeting and learning the personality of a new little person, seeing them grow up.
::sigh::
I'm scheduled to have a bilateral tubal ligation this Friday.
Bye bye fertility. I shall miss you.
