Five Days of Hospital (-ity)

February 1, 2014

First Day at the hospital was spent in surgery and then the rest of the time was spent in recovery receiving fluids and antibiotics via IV, and also oxygen. I was also being monitored every two hours for my vital signs-this is normal. All was going very well and other than a bit of a higher than normal heart rate in the beginning, which seemed to settle itself.

Pain management: Every two hours I was able to receive some type of pain management medication. I was either receiving an IV Morphine, or a Percocet tablet. I was also asked at each administration of medication what my pain level was based on the Wong-Baker Pain Scale (illustrated below)

During my first days I was also still feeling numbness in my left hand .

The doctors were monitoring the sensation/lack of sensation that I was feeling and swelling. They suspected that it was due to the positioning that my body was in for the extended period of time and that possibly some nerves were "squished' or "asleep" and it was taking them a bit longer to "wake up". This while I knew was probably the case, I was a bit concerned. During this time I was unable to use my left hand to hold, grip, or feel anything. On more than one occasion i had fallen asleep holding a cup of ginger ale and because I had no sensation in my left hand was awakened only when the cup spilled onto my front.

Post Surgery-w/Oxygen

Since my surgery was on a Friday, the next thing I experienced was the phenomenon of  WEEKEND HOSPITAL NURSING STAFF . **Please note: this is my experience, my blog, and my opinion**

In my experience of being a patient several times in my life I have found that Nursing staff and nursing support staff on the weekends are not nearly as attentive as those during the night or as those on the weekdays. This was proven as I was having to call multiple times on the second day in the hospital for pain medication. This was only my first day post surgery and I was still in a HUGE amount of pain. I was also not sure what was going on as far as what to expect. I still had my Foley catheter and was unable to move very much at all. I didn't appreciate having been told by one set of staff that I was going to be able to have the Morphine as a "breakthrough" in between other doses of pain meds and then the weekend staff it was a chore of having to use the nurse's call button more than once and having to ask for medicine each time. When the nurse did come into the room, it was almost always as if I was taking up the woman's time or a nuisance. It was my understanding that I had been moved from a nicer and bigger room to this side of the orthopedic ward so that there would be adequate nursing staff to patient ratios. Maybe I was wrong.

The other experience I had that I found interesting was that I had to ask the nursing staff to assist me in daily bathing and grooming. I am very lucky and thankful to have a very good friend in the field that came to visit me a few times who showed me how to do bedside bathing and also how to assist me in other areas of self-care and grooming. I cannot thank Gail enough for all she has done for me, not only as a friend but only as a health care professional for knowing how to go to the nurses and get the things I need and letting staff know that I was going to want to be on a regular schedule. I know that you cannot shower or really get an incision area wet after a major operation. But, after even one full day in bed, you will want to brush your teeth and at least have a warm soapy wash cloth to wash your face and perhaps sponge bathe your back, chest and arms. It can really make a difference in how the rest of the day goes as far as your demeanor and outlook. 

I was seen very early every morning by the Orthopedic Team, usually right as I was just getting to sleep (usually seemed to work out that way-hospital stays are not known for getting all the rest you think you would or should get), and then the IV team came in to either check or change the IV in my arm. The medications and fluids took their toll on my tiny veins and had to be changed twice during my stay.

They also monitored my wound drain. The drain was placed a few centimeters from the main incision site and used as a means for drainage and prevention of hematomas and swelling. As a result I really have had little swelling and very little ugly bruising. While it sounds very gross, it was pretty painless, as I was very numbed up with local anesthesia . I had a lot of drainage the first two (2) days, but then went down significantly. By the time i was ready to be discharged it was managed with a regular wound dressing.

Wound drain reservoir

Second Room

Gail takes a well deserved snooze

Throughout the other days I was at the hospital the weather continued to be terrible.

Surprise Visit From Coworkers

View from my room Pittsburgh Cultural District

Despite the staffing issues, I was okay and managed to get the care and medications I needed. Over the years I think hospital food has gone through an overhaul and I was actually not that displeased with my meals. They weren't 5-star, but they were more than edible and I was given a choice of what to order (within reason).  I was always able to have snacks from the nurses if I wanted them. And thanks to friends and family I received a fruit basket, cookies, and candy as well.

Proudly Serves Starbucks @ AGH

Get Well Cake received from Coworkers who visited

Fruit basket from family

My days were filled with visits from my husband, a surprise visit from coworkers, daily I was visited by a phlebotomist who took blood, and then I was starting Physical Therapy. The first part of physical therapy was just being able to stand and hold myself up with my walker. Then, as I do right now need help to get my leg down from the bed, and I am only to put at most 20 pounds of pressure on my left leg/foot (a touch with my foot flat). I was scared at first, but slowly each day I was able to go a little further. 

Physical Therapy Room

Walker training-Taking a long walk towards the Occupational Therapy Room

I really enjoyed the Physical Therapy and the ladies that worked in the beautiful room that was on the orthopedic Floor at AGH. They were all very kind and helpful. They also really liked the idea that I had a blog and were very willing to take pictures and wanted to read and follow along. During my sessions I worked on skills with my walker, as well as occupational skills like getting dressed, using a sock aid, using a raised seat safety toilet (sounds kind of weird, but with a hip injury/surgery this is necessary), and navigating a bathroom to get on and off of a shower bench.

sock aid

shower transfer bench by Safety First brand

In preparation to go home and as the weather continued to stay snowy and icy, I was very concerned. We even had a period of time that there wasn't water on our street. I was to be discharged to go home on February 4, 2014. The major challenge would be, considering my very limited mobility, was the stairs from the driveway to the porch and the porch stairs. I was determined. This was the best way to get into the house.  In the the PT (Physical Therapy) room they have a mock-up of a few types of stairs in varying widths, steepness, and numbers. I looked them over and together was taught how to navigate them.

"Up with the Good Leg-Down with the Bad Leg"

I practiced two days in a row and twice on the day I was to go home. This was very tiring, I was exhausted. But it was enough to get me out of the car and with David's help into my home. I was ready. 

When it was all said and done I had spent four (4) nights and five (5) days as a Patient/Guest of Allegheny General Hospital's Orthopedic Movement Department. It was time to go home. It would be an extension of the hospital stay, but at home. Visiting nurses and Physical therapists making their trips to my home.

~Homeward Bound DRIVE SLOW~