This Isnt Half Bad

I remember waking up in the recovery room and the nurses kept checking my vitals. I wasnt in much pain, wasnt groggy, and felt better than I had when I arrived. I said a quick prayer thanking God for this experience, and began to cry. Not sobbing, but tears began to fall from my eyes and I just couldnt contain how far I'd been in my short 27 years on this Earth. I asked the nurse for tissues and she asked if I was ok. I told her "I'm more than ok, I am so blessed". When the OR concierge came to ask what message I wanted to relay to my family in the waiting area, I told her to tell them that I am crying tears of joy and that Im doing great.

A little while later I made it into my room, where once again my vitals were checked (as they would be round the clock, much to my chagrin at times) and my family came up. I was all smiles and taking camera phone pics, posting once again to my facebook account the going's on. I had my first meal of jello and broth (ewww) and longed for real food. That first evening, four of my closest Masonic PHAmily members came to visit me. Trice, Los, Kim, and Carm, I love you all so much and appreciate you all taking the time after a long day of work to come and see me. We laughed, cracked jokes, hung out, and snapped pictures, and when they and my family left, I felt great.

Didnt get much rest that first night, maybe a half hour here and there. But I also didnt use the pain pump as often as the nurses expected me to. I could use it every 10 minutes, and I think I actually used it once an hour.  I guess that my tolerance for pain had become so high after being in constant pain for so long, that it really didnt affect me the way it might have otherwise. I had a huge bandage over my leg that felt like it weighed 50 lbs, and there was some pain on the skin where the sutures were, but otherwise, just basic soreness. I began to experience some sciatic nerve pain radiating from my right buttock, and was forced to sleep tilted to the side for the most part. But overall, I was happy with my decision.