Recovery: the hospital: part 3 – pass gas!

Posted on by nszymonik

Saturday evening, March 21

The dr finally put me on a drug that went through my iv but lasted 6 hours.  And it was amazing.  I would later ask to to go home on it, but no such luck.

Saturday late afternoon, Betsy, Brittany and Jessica came to visit. And I had one goal, To pass gas!  For two reasons: once I passed gas, I got upgraded to a soft liquid diet or for me, I got to have coffee!!!  And the gas that was settling in my bones would have someplace to go.  

If you have ever had a baby, you have probably experienced gas settling in your bones and you know it is excruciating pain. 

So, the nurse suggested a few poses to get things moving. So me and the girls were moving me around in all these different ways, part laughing and part crying, and me mainly with my ass in the air.  Oh my!  It didn’t work but Jessica did give me some breathing tips that I think later helped.

We also got a wheelchair and they took me out to the courtyard. It was a nice day, even though I didn’t really feel like being out there. It was good to get some fresh air. 

And after all that excitement, it was time for a nap before Scott got back to the hospital for the night.  

Sunday, March 22 at 2:30am!!  I passed gas!!  I woke up Scott and called my nurse!  It was a reason to celebrate!!  (You got to love when your wife wakes you up to let you know she farted!)

Scott got me coffee first thing in the morning and even though I only had small sips, it was a amazing!!  This also meant that I could go home. And I was ready to see my babies!

Nikki commentary: I had a really nice nurse this day/night.  She brushed my hair and I just liked her.  We were the same age, same place in life, but she had 5 kids, one set of twins.

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Recovery: the hospital part 2- I give up

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Saturday, March 21

It was a pretty awful day, while they  tried to figure out the best pain medicine.  What they would give me worked right away, put me to sleep and I would wake up in more pain andhaving  to pee, which meant more pain to move. 

Jessica and Adam came to visit, along with Jason and Abigail. It was nice to have company.

Pep talk: I was in a lot of pain and I was crying and wanted to give up.  I just didn’t want to do any of it anymore. And the nurse told me, “this is the hardest it’s going to be. It has to get harder before it gets easier. And I promise, it’s going to get easier.”

Dr orders: I started my walks to the hall and down the hallway. The dr finally put me on something that lasted longer and I was more comfortable that early evening.   I also had a new goal, to pass gas!  Once I passed gas, I got coffee!!!  And I could  go home!   I would later tell the dr I told everyone he yelled me. And he said, “I didn’t yell at you, I’m just trying to get you home.”

Nikki commentary: I remember when my dad was in Mayo Clinic. He also had to walk the halls as part of his recovery. He would say, “Nicole, I try to get around 7 times, for all 7 kids.  But I don’t always make it around the last time.”  And I understand Dad.  It was a big deal for me to make  it to the nurses station!

Cruel Joke: the mean thing about having your insides worked on, it hurts when you cry.  So you stop crying pretty fast!  

It also hurts when you laugh, and of anyone knows Scott, he was making smart ass comments a lot. 

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Recovery: the hospital part 1- F*^k

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I remember very little from Thursday, post surgery. I remember waking up in the recovery room in excruciating pain and screaming “I can’t breathe!”  They asked me if I had anxiety, and I said “yes” in between my cries of “I can’t breathe”. And I was back asleep.

I woke up in the hospital room with Scott and Angie.  I was dozing on and off.  Apparently I didn’t look to hot.  Just really pale. I remember the dr or someone asking me if I felt like I got hit by a truck, to which I responded.  “I’ve been hit by a fucking train!” And then repeated the f word, explaining that “my mother didn’t like when I said it, but fuck!”.

Scott stayed the night at the hospital (for the next three nights) and my mom, Tina and Angie were at the house with the kids.

Nikki commentary: my sister reminded me that I was a on machine that monitored my oxygen levels and would beep to remind me to “breathe”.  I would get in such a deep sleep it would beep loudly an jerk me awake and I would push my button like 30 times and start gasping for air. 

Friday, March 20

I got to push a button, every time it turned green, that meant it was time for more drugs.  It started off at every 6 minutes but soon it was longer than that.  And I was severely dehydrated and only allowed ice chips and Popsicles. They started increasing fluids in my iv.

Two things that suprised me about drugs- how itchy I was and how it changed my vision. Overall, the surgeon said I wouldn’t be a good drug addict and didn’t respond well to narcotics. 

Mom, Angie and Tina came to visit during the morning and early afternoon. 

Scott headed home to spend some time with the kids around 4pm.  His brother, Jason and his wife Abigail were also coming in town to stay at the house with the kids.

By Friday late afternoon, Ron, Libby and Steve and Rose’s visit, it was time for lots of action, so I don’t remember their visit.  

But it was time for the catheter to come out and to get off the happy button and the nurses would have to put the pain medicine into the IV manually. (I would later find out, that this was not a great way to keep me comfortable). And I was also having shots in my stomach to avoid blood clots.  All good times really. 

It was also time to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom.  Holy hell, that is painful after you have had your abs cut open. 

For better or for worse… Scott would brush my hair, lift my legs in and out of bed and help me use the bathroom. I asked him if he ever thought would be doing this and he responded, “not this early on life.” And to add to it, I was on my period. So every person who helped me use the bathroom also got to deal with that!

At about 7pm, Malinda came to visit and it was about this time I started having an anxiety attack from one of the  medicines. I was shaking, couldn’t calm down, and finally the nurse got approval from the dr to give me Benadryl, to counteract the drug. Malinda waited until Scott got to the hospital, and I was drifting off to sleep.  This was around 10pm.  

Friday night was rough, I would wake up every two hours to use the bathroom and to call the nurse for more medicine. It was a long night. 

Nikki commentary: I don’t know why, but I was shocked to wake up to flowers in my room. I was and still am truly humbled by the well wishes and gifts. It really does give strength to keep trying. 

   

 

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Surgery: Here we go

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Thursday, March 19

Surgery wasn’t til 3pm, we had to be there at 1.  So the morning  was spent with Ron and Steve helping Scott fix the toilet and trying to get the kids settled before leaving for a few days.  It was a cloudy day, kind of cold.  Matched how I was feeling, which was nice. 

Mom, my sister Tina and sister Angie came in town. Mom and Tina were going to stay with the kids and Angie was going to be with Scott during surgery.  It was hectic around the house, as always. When you have a 28 month old and a 11 month old, it’s always crazy.  Good crazy, but crazy!

We headed to the hospital and got checked in.  They brought us to a room to get ready for surgery.  Dr. Brabbee was the first person we spoke to  for any final questions.  He also said he appreciated my “get some rest” advice.

The nurse came in and put in my iv, which I found out I would have for the rest of my hospital stay.   Egh. I hate needles! But they actually found a good place for it and it didn’t bother me.  They also warned me that I might wake up with another IV (which I did) and a catheter. I weighed 118 before surgery. 

After talking to the anesthesiologist, we decided to put a motion sickness patch on the back of my ear for the duration of my stay, to avoid nausea. I explained that I get sick on the train and the zoo and apparently the drugs thy had planned were going to be strong.

Before we knew it, it was game time.  I have Scott and Angie a kiss and I was rolled into the Operating Room.  I remember being moved to the OR table and was asleep within seconds. 

Nikki commentary:  the nurse was checking me in and reviewingy medical history. You know, the usual, seizures, diabetes, etc.  To which I responded, “no, just the cancer!”

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Surgery: prep

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Fat Tuesday: March 17 

 Scott was great keeping me distracted and planning and preparing all the meals I would want before I had to fast and start my prep.   We had a pizza party with Scott’s Dad, Ron, and Steve and Rose.

It worked out well that they came over because I also had to go the hospital for blood work an other prep. I weighed 125 at the prep appt.  they also asked me where I got the nice bruise on my arm. To which I explained that was from a training nurse who blew the vain. My arms at this point look pretty bruised from all the needles. 

March 18, “the fast” 

Spent the day trying to be as normal as possible with the kids, having living room dance parties and just enjoying each other.  Our current jams are “uptown funk” and “Shake it off”.  Jeffrey rides his red car around and I hold Cecilia while we dance. We pretty much rock!!

Liquids only and I started prep around 4pm. With my colonoscopy, I followed the Gatorade prep.  This was a super bowel prep. It was basically two bottles of sulfate and egh.  I struggled to get the first bottle down, I can’t even describe how awful it tasted.  Little did I know this prep was going to work super fast, and by that, I mean immediately. 4 hours later, it was time to drink the second bottle, and I knew I couldn’t do it.  One swallow and I started to throw up. Luckily, I called the dr. Exchange and the surgeon was on call and called me back personally.  I explained that I couldn’t quit vomitting and he said I didn’t need to finish the  prep.  I also threw up one of three doses of antibiotics that was part of the prep.

And lucky me, I get to have routine colonoscopies for the rest of my life. I hope I have several more but man the prep sucks.

That night, it was a combo of exhaustion and illness battling in my body…Exhaustion eventually won, and I got some rest.

 Nikki Commentary: Poor Scott, gets a phone call from me, asking him to come home right away because I need to be in the bathroom, and he needs to watch the kids, and oh yes, the bathroom on the main floor will not flush. 

 After Dr. Brabbee called me back to discuss the prep, I told him to get some rest.  He responded, “I’m still at work, Kid!”

  

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Surgery: consult 

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Monday, March 16

Scott and I met with the surgeon late Monday afternoon. Lucky for me, Scott’s work has been extremely flexible through out all of this, so he came by the house to pick me up for the appt. Mind you, he hasn’t taken off any time off through out all of this.  He has only left for the appts and always went back to the office or finished his work from home. He is such a hard worker, anyways…

The surgeon reviewed the plan for the surgery, drew a diagram of the colon and explained how they would go in through the belly button, remove the tumor, about 18 inches of the colon, and reconnect it all with a titanium ring.  

He also reviewed the CT Scan results, any complications that could occur and possible scenerios of next steps. 

I told Scott I wanted a turkey sandwich post surgery and the surgeon said I wouldn’t be on solid foods until I was home from the hospital. That was when I cried. Not that I didn’t understand that he was completely rearranging my GI tract, but I realized this was really happening and it was going to be painful. 

Surgery was scheduled for Thursday, March 19. 

Nikki commentary:  at all these appts, they ask if you have an advanced directive. I guess it is time to get one. Mercy was great and they called a notary for me and within 5 minutes, I had an advanced directive. 

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Pappa Nick

Quote posted on by nszymonik

March 19…really, March 19?

This date is a day of celebration in my family and my close friends.  It’s a celebration of life. March 19, 2015 would be the 15th anniversary of my father’s death from esphophegeal cancer.  The year he died, I was a senior in high school. I was 18 years old.

And now, I’m 33 years old and have a tumor removed on the 15 anniversary of my father’s passing.

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And the verdict is…

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Thursday, March 12, 2015

We had an 11am appt with the gastronologist. We would review the biopsy, blood work and CT scan results.  My sister, Angie, came with us and my mom and Rose watched the kids. 

The results: the CT Scan was clear, blood was good, and the tumor was Colon adenocarcinoma cancer.

We will meet with the surgeon on Monday. 

We went and had those cheeseburgers that we didn’t have after the colonoscopy. I even had a glass of wine.  I forsure thought they were going to say it was everywhere.  And, atleast we had a plan.  I love a good plan!


Nikki commentary: we went to Jeffrey’s swim lessons this same evening and I just felt like we had this huge elephant walking around with us.  Trying to go about life as normal and yet, at the same time it’s like the world is crashing down all around you. 



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…Never felt more alone 

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Wednesday, March 11. 

The second morning in a row that I am not getting my kids out of bed and giving them breakfast. Egh.  I hate this…

I arrive at the Imaging office Mercy at 6:45am and I am the youngest person by 40 years. Ok. maybe 30. 

The plan was for Scott to meet me for the appt. after Steve and Rose got to the house to watch the kids, but once I was there, I soon realized it was silly for him to come, just to wait with me.  He wasn’t allowed in the room during the scan and we wouldn’t have any results. So, I told him to just go to work and I would call him after it was all over.  I was also hoping to get over to see my friend Kristi and her new baby boy.  I was just next door from Mercy Hospital , but soon realized the appt would take longer than expected.  

Longer then expected because I made them take a blood pregnancy test.  I didn’t think I was pregnant, but I hadn’t started my period and they said that a CT scan to a first trimester child would be, well, not good. Funny how you love your kids even before you know they exist. So, that delayed things an hour, but after a negative test came back, it was time for the scan.

Overall, morning was awful. I was still going to the bathroom from the colonoscopy prep, the nurse blew my vain when giving me my IV for the CT scan, and the place just was not a fun place. And I haven’t had any coffee, forthe  second morning in a row. 

They brought me into the room for the scan, and laying on the scan, the woman asked me to describe my faith. To which I described as “strong” and she looked into my eyes and grabbed my hands and said she would pray for me. She left the room and the machine would do the rest of the talking. 

It was in that moment that I knew, no matter how much support I would have in this journey, I would always be completely alone in the physical sense to fight the battles ahead. 

And that is where faith steps in.

 Nikki Commentary: when Jeffrey can’t fall asleep at night, he recites “twinkle twinkle little star”.  That is what I find myself reciting in times of need. 

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So much support…

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March 10, 2015

Lucky for me, I have a lot of strong relationships. I am very close to my family – the youngest of 7, I talk to my mother multiple times a week, and close to my nieces and nephews.  My in-laws have always treated me like family. 

I have a great group of girlfriends from home (Effingham) and college (St. Louis University). And lucky enough to have great friends from my working days at the St. Louis Cardinals and on the marketing team for Panera. 

So it was no surprise that I reached out to everyone when finding out that I had a tumor.  

I also believe in the power of prayer and knew we needed to get praying. 

The support was overwhelming and comforting and yet shocking because we were still in shock.  It was just words… I was just communicating the facts…what we knew and what next steps were…

And we would find out next steps on Thursday, March 12.



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