The Driver AND The Nurse

It has been a week since I last posted.  My new job has me running around quite a bit.  Well, not really running, and not actually leaving the house most of the time.  It's a temp job, but I'm taking it very seriously. :)

On the 2nd day post-surgery, Betsy made the comment "as I lay here, I regret doing this procedure."  In addition, I think she said something to the effect of, I hate Dr. Thomas.  Of course, she didn't use that exact phrase, and whatever negative connotation there may have been, was definitely coming from the pain AND the drugs to remedy said pain.  She was not only in physical pain, but emotionally, she was having a pretty rough day.  As you can all attest, it is really hard to see someone you love in physical pain.  But emotional pain - it breaks my heart. 

About 7 minutes later, Dr. Thomas came in and asked how it was going.  She said, "it hurts"...his response "most of my patients hate me the first 3 to 5 days and many actually regret having the procedure altogether.  Once they hit the 1 week follow up and definitely by the 3 week follow up, all of my patients are very thankful they went through the process and end up very happy about the results."  His timing could not have been ANY BETTER.  Was she still in pain?  Yes.  Was she still in a tough spot emotionally?  Yes.  His words gave her validation for feeling the way she was feeling.  And his words gave her hope; hope she would one day feel just the same as his previous patients...thankful and happy.  

So how is she today?  Well, I just asked her, and she said, "thankful and happy." Yeah, that's right!  She is ahead of schedule!  No but seriously, she is.  We had her 1 week follow up yesterday.  Dr. Thomas came in the room and said "well, how are you doing today, because last time we talked, I wasn't your favorite person."  Her response "I'm a little nervous about having these drains pulled, but aside from that, I'm doing well."  He says, "good deal, let's check you out."

After reviewing her incisions and studying the reconstruction work and belly button dressing, he had her stand up a little bit straighter.  "How does that feel." he asks.  "Good, no pain" she says.  "Okay, stand up a little more...and a little more."  She reluctantly raised up further.  "Wow, you're healing up very nicely.  You can begin walking a little more upright and less like an old lady but listen to your body.  If it hurts, make the appropriate adjustments and press on."  

Then came time for the drain tubes.  I can't tell you how excited I was for them to come out!!  It was a pain in the ass to get her in and out of her super suit with 3 drains coming out of her body.  Yeah, I renamed her compression garment the 'super suit'.  Incredibles, anyone? 

I didn't mind the stripping, draining and recording measurements.  Oddly, I enjoyed being able to provide that care to and for her...mainly because I saw how much it grossed her out to look at them or have to deal with them.  This is where I went a little overboard.  I began handwriting everything in the form they gave me, but I didn't feel it was adequate enough.  It only had 1 space for me to record 3 drain readings.  So...what's a guy to do?  I jumped into Excel and made a new and improved form.  If you know me, you know I love a good Excel spreadsheet.  So much, my wife bought me a coffee mug and it says, "freak in the sheets" with an Excel image wrapped around the cup.  

When the nurse asked about the JP drain records, I handed her my version.  She looked at it, then turned to me and said, "this is the best drain log I've ever seen."  Yeah, I was kinda proud of it.  My wife turned and gave me the look 'of course it is.'  lol

I shaded the cells so the 3 recordings from each day could be easily deciphered.  30cc's or less for 2 consecutive days, the drains come out.  Also, for good record keeping, I made a new log for her meds as well.  Yes, of course I used the same shading to account for each day's pills.  Dr. Thomas saw this and said, "are you sure you don't want to go to nursing school?"  Pretty sure that's a no.  Although, after some of the care (or lack thereof) we received, I had a glimmer of doing just that.  Go back to school so I can fix the system.  Not likely.  Imagine though - having no college education whatsoever, I could go back to school, and then med school and be in my residency at 60 years old!  Doogie Houser in reverse!  lol

Enough of that nonsense.  Dr. Thomas expressed that he is pleased with how she is healing and appears to be well ahead of schedule.  Back to see him in 3 weeks for the next follow up.  Until then, I will continue my new job and provide the best level of care for my beautiful, deserving wife.  

One final note before I sign off.  Betsy, Cole and I were driving home from dinner at Gwen and Conner's last night.  As the discussion sometimes goes, down a trail that led to laughter.  Betsy says, "I can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight."  No more drains, so it's feasible.  She then says, "I can't wait to sleep with my nurse."  We laugh a little.  Then Cole pipes in, "you also get to sleep with your driver...and your husband is HAPPY about it!"