The Day I was De-Livered

One year ago today, Sept 20th, I went in for my operation to remove my cancer. The prep for it, which I did the day before, really sucked. I don't know if anyone has had the pleasure of a colonoscopy, but I basically had to do the same thing as if I was having one of those. They give you this stuff to drink that tastes horrible, then after a few hours you pretty much evacuate everything you've eaten since the fourth grade if you know what I mean. Then you have to starve yourself for about 24 hours. The day of the operation I was real quiet at home. I was scheduled for a 5 pm start time with a 2 o'clock arrival. I went with my wife and my brother. They were talking, I was not saying much. I think they were trying to take my mind off of things but I remember being very focused. Last year it fell on a Monday. I had kayaked for 81 consecutive days (even through 6 months of chemo) and stopped on Saturday. I spent my whole summer preparing physically and mentally for this day. I also spent almost every night getting drunk. I had gotten so drunk one night (the night I told Dana about that woman at work) that I fell backwards into the bathtub when I was taking a leak and took down the shower curtain. I had never been a fall down drunk, I was always the funny, happy drunk. Dana was concerned because I was getting pretty hammered every night. I had a coffee and Kaluha the other week and 1/4 of a beer the other night, otherwise I haven't been allowed to drink. I miss it and I don't. Anyway, I'm getting side tracked here (so much for my focus anymore). I remember having to say goodbye to Dana and Larry and having to get into hospital garb. I insisted on bringing my spare eyeglasses because I can't see well at all without them and I wanted to know what was going on before they put me under. They gave me a little bit of a hard time, but they let me wear them. I had to take off my wedding ring too, that sucked because I've worn it for almost 16 years at the time. I also had to take off my necklace with a celtic cross that I've had for many years and my LiveStrong bracelet that I've worn since getting cancer. They wheeled me in a wheelchair and I got to see Dana and Larry again before they brought me through the doors and toward the O.R. I told them I'd see them later...It was almost 5 pm. I remember going into the operating room. It was real cold, I didn't mind. I guess they don't want the doctors dripping sweat into you. They covered me with this air blanket that had hot air blowing into it. I remember thinking how Dana would love one of these, she's often cold while I have shorts and a T-shirt on. It was kind of interesting in there, I never had major surgery before. There were many people in there and they all have masks on (to protect their identities). I was making small talk with many of them. I remember the room was rather old looking too. Not spotless like I thought it would be. It was a little after 5 when the surgeons came in. I had one for the liver resection and pump installation and one for the colon resection. The operation lasted until 2 am - 8 hours long. I vaguely remember seeing Dana and Larry in the post op room. After seeing them, I remember checking to see if I had a coloscopy bag, I didn't. They left my asshole where it was. I was thrilled. Going in to this I didn't know if they would give me a temporary bag, a permanant one, or leave things as they were. They wound up taking out 60% of my liver, my gallbladder, some lymph nodes, a section of my lower intestine (8 inches or so) and they installed a hepatic pump under my skin. I woke up again at about 10 am. They were on my case to start walking already. I have a scar that goes from just under my sternum to an inch or two above my navel, then it goes to the right for about 8-9 inches. I have another scar to the left where they put the pump in. That is about 5 inches long. The pump is like the size of a hockey puck. I'm used to it now. I also have a scar that runs from my navel, south to right above my 'whatchamacallit'. I felt like I was thrown down a flight of stairs. I did not prepare for all of the pain I would experience. The next 16 days in the hospital were real rough. I didn't eat for about 2 weeks, I was allowed only limited ice chips for liquid. Everything else was done by IV. The pain from the surgery was incredible (I'm still feeling the pain) and I had to try to walk everyday. It hurt so much. It took me forever to do anything. I remember the World Series was on so I watched some of that, the presidential debates were on so I watched some of those and Mt St Helens was erupting so I was trying to get inspiration to either pass wind (which was a prerequisite to leaving the hospital - funny, I'm usually asked NOT to do that) or to have a BM (I hate that term). Anyway, this is going on and on. The nurses were great, I met some cool folks. I had like 4 roommates. There is a funny story about one of them that I will post at a later date. I finally went home after 16 days. As soon as I got home, I threw up. It felt good to do it at home. It seems like yesterday, it seems like forever ago...I'm glad I'm Blogging ;-)