The Surgery ... Before and After

Monday night was by far the most pain I've ever been in. It felt like my worst period by far. No medicine I took helped ... I would finally get comfortable enough that it didn't hurt, but then the pain would find me again. Using the wonderful 'hospital pain chart,' I would have placed myself at an eight or nine. At about 1 o'clock in the morning, I passed a lot of blood and tissue. If I had planned a natural miscarriage, I would have said that was it. But since I had already scheduled the D&C for Wednesday, I decided to go thru with it anyway. Jaimie and I talked about having it done just to make sure everything was out and there would be nothing that could cause harm to me or the next baby we would try to conceive.

Tuesday I went back to the doctor to get a laminaria or two placed in my cervix to help dilate it so it wouldn't have to be forced open during the D&C. The placement was a little uncomfortable because my cervix tilts off to the left, but once they were in, I felt fine. There was a lot less bleeding from that point on as well.

Yesterday morning I was scheduled for a D&C, which is the removal of tissue in the uterus after miscarriage. Jaimie and I were up at 5:00 am and got to the hospital at 5:30. They set me up in a little room and started to get me ready for the surgery at 7:00. My nurse, Leona, was very nice and made me feel as comfortable as I could in spite of the circumstances. Jaimie stayed by my side the whole time until they had to take me to the OR.

They gave me some mighty fine drugs, because I was out in just a few minutes once they got me to the OR. They placed an oxygen mask on me and just told me to take deep breaths. Next thing I knew I was in recovery and the nurse was talking next to me. I laid there for a while very sleepy, but finally started to really wake up. My doctor, Dr. Stearnes, came in and did a quick ultrasound and said everything went great. The nurse asked me if I was in pain ...I was having a little discomfort in my abdomen, so they gave me a shot in my IV.

After a few minutes they wheeled me to the secondary recovery room and had me sit up in a chair. They had Jaimie come back in and he looked so relieved. I felt so bad that my poor baby had to sit out in the waiting room for nearly two hours. The nurse brought me the most delicious apple cinnamon muffin ever! and some apple juice and while I ate they monitored my vitals and finished up some paperwork. I had really expected to be pretty out of it still ...but everyone was surprised at how awake and mobile I was. Finally I was allowed to get dressed and Jaimie went to pull the car around.

Just after Jaimie walked out of the room, the nurse came back in carrying a small quilt and a card. She explained that it was something the hospital did to help honor the memory of the baby we lost. It was so incredibly sweet ...and I started to cry. Jaimie walked back in the room and I told him about the blanket. He hugged me and comforted me ...he is truly such a wonderful man!! I don't know what I would have done without him. The tag on the quilt says "Budded on earth ... to bloom in heaven."

Since I have been home, I have been feeling fantastic physically. Dr. Stearnes prescribed Percoset and Motrin for pain, as well as an antibiotic. Right before I left the hospital, they gave me a Percoset, and I've only taken two of my own since then. I expected to be sleeping most of the day yesterday, but only ended up taking a nap for about an hour. Based on that fabulous pain chart, I'd say the worst my pain has been is about a two. It's mostly just "gassy" discomfort ...and actually, my throat was hurting more than anything else because they had put a breathing tube in during the surgery. Since the surgery, the bleeding has slowed to nearly a stop, which I am very grateful for. I go back on Feb. 5th to see Dr. Stearnes again for a follow-up.

Jaimie waited on me hand and foot all day. Even tho I was feeling so great, he still made sure to help me if I needed to go to the bathroom and he made me lunch and dinner. <3 I have discovered a new favorite thing to drink: Sunny D. For those of you who've known me all or most of my life will be like "NO WAY!" Yes way! =D So far it's the closest thing to orange juice I've ever drank and liked. =D Who knows ...maybe orange juice will be next!! lol

Thank you all so much for your love and support during this emotionally difficult time. Without it, I don't know what I'd do!! I love you all!!!!!