Saturday, January 15, 2011 -- Day 3

My night nurse stopped my epidural at 6am and immediately gave me my Oxycodone (4-6 hour relief) and Tylenol which helps the pain meds get absorbed. I was still nervous waiting to feel pain. Around 8am they gave me Oxycontin which is a 12 hour slow release pain med and also Valium which helps with muscle relaxation. So they basically took out all my wires and cords and buttons and my catheder! Thus far that was the most painful, YUCK!

Physical Therapy was to come down late morning so we tried to plan my pain meds so they would be kicking in when they arrived. So they came in and it was time to get me out of bed. BOY was I not prepared for that pain. I went from no pain to immediate 9-10 level pain. I cried but fought through it to get in that chair! I felt a bit light headed from the meds but got pretty comfy and sat there. After the hour and half sitting in the chair they got me back in bed…but of course I had to pee first! So They got me on the commode and wheeled me into the bathroom, my pain was not under control and I was really upset. So they got me back in bed and decided to cancel my afternoon PT session after Dr. Millis came in and I told him how bad my pain was. He told them to up my meds to every 3 hours and the long release to 3 times a day. That REALLY helped. 

Today was the first day I felt like eating more than saltines so I ordered Chicken Noodle soup, a tossed salad and hard boiled egg, it was pretty good! My mother in law and sister in law came to visit today which I didn’t know they were and was not a good day for visitors because of the pain…so I basically slept the whole time. Kevin and his mom and sister went to dinner and Mom stayed with me. 

Because of the pain I was in, they suggested I use the bedpan for the night. It was not pretty but was much less painful than trying to get out of bed!  I told Kevin to go home that night and stay in the hotel as I felt much more under control and comfortable