Tuesday, December 22, 2009

As I recall

I just had my first hospital stay in the country of Paraguay. I was operated on at the Adventist Sanatorium and was happy with the care and attention I received.  I am going to share a few of the things I remember of my surgery and hospital stay.

The first surprise was that I was not fully under for the surgery as I had expected to be. I have a few memories of clarity during the procedure but most are a blur, except I DO remember the doctor showing me my uterus in a jar, something I had never expected to see!  My first thought was,"How did my son ever fit in there?"  and then I was wishing I had my camera in the OR so that I could take a picture of it and post it here on the blog! Luckily for you all, I did not have one with me!


When I was returned to my room, I kept badgering my husband about the fact that my legs were paralyzed. I  could not understand why this did not concern him as it did me!


I had a friendly nurse from an island off the coast of Argentina in Tierra del Fuego! Imagine how hot she was finding our high 90's weather!  I also met an Ecuadorean/ Canadian who is here serving a short term mission and working in the hospital.

A long time blog reader dropped in to visit with goodies in hand. Kathy comments here frequently and lives in Curacao. She brought me very good medicine in the form of Hersheys!

The food in the hospital was vegetarian. I didn't eat solids until the last day and so the food was mostly tasty. I still don't know what they served me for dinner though. It was orange mush, wrapped in a green rubbery substance, but you know me, I will eat anything! Upon arriving home, Friday at mid day, my husband served me chicken and rice and it was DELISH!

I recall being accompanied by a talking llama in the elevator as I was transported from the OR back to my room. I swear! He was on the elevator with me. I am still unsure as to how a llama came to have a British accent though...

14 comments:

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

That's the best kind of medicine, Friend. And of course it was a talking llama. I completely believe you. His divine accent definitely cinched that as a possibility. Oh, and thank you for not having a camera at the moment you viewed your uterus in a jar.
:0)

So glad you are doing well and your sense of humor is intact! Rest well, my Friend, and have a beautiful, Merry Christmas!

Debbie said...

I'm glad they got your uterus instead of your humor. You don't need the uterus nearly as much! Yes, an English accent is troubling. I'm sure glad you're home recovering and that your husband can cook. Stay down, no matter how good you think you feel;D
Debbie

Brenda said...

Orange mush wrapped in green rubbery stuff? I'm surprised you didn't send Clint out for McDonalds!

Wish I had been there to visit you. . . . I hope to hear more of your adventures later. Especially about the llama :)

Shilo said...

Oh goodness...love that last bit about the British llama! :)
I'm praying for you today! I know you must be going through a lot of changes in your body with your surgery and I pray that our loving Father will give you peace in your mind and just a real grace with your expectation of yourself through this Christmas season.
Shilo

groovyoldlady said...

A British llama, eh? It was probably a carrot in disguise...

marion said...

British uh .. thats sweet and sort of comforting. Did you get the llamas name ? we got a few spitting friends.
They must use wacky ( but good ) stuff here - when i was in I saw a Rhino with south african rugby players on its back trying to slow it down.

Uterus in jar ... yuck - you left it there right ?? .... my neighbour actually got to bring hers home and had it in a jar on a shelf for aaaaaaages.
anyway - Stay cool and rest up etc etc ...

Sarah and the Gentlemen said...

I wonder if they often show body parts to unsuspecting patients...

MightyMom said...

I'm waay jealous about the llama!!

epidurals are AWESOME!!!!

No anesthesia side effects! so glad you were able to do it that waY! because of all my extra work I went under general for my hyst...but the morphine drip I had the first 24 hours made up for not having that fabulou epi post op!

:-)

Betty W said...

Sounds like a really interesting experience! :) Llamas and such... :)
And how nice of Kathy to come visit you! She´s a special friend!
Hope you are still resting up and enjoying Fox news! :)

Always On Watch said...

Whoa! What an experience!

I'd have asked to take the uterus home, though.

Unknown said...

You're crazy!! but I love you!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you are home. That's the best place to be .

Christie said...

So glad the care was good, and you're back home. It's nice to know you were thinking of your blog-fans in the middle of your operations!

Ryan said...

Getting operated on in unusual places is something in and of itself. I got my appendix removed in a dusty building on an airfield in Iraq. The Docs were good and they did their best but it jsut wasn't clean. Got an infection and almost died but it all turned out ok.