I did get up and take a quick shower. I had someone else in the room with me, just in case I got dizzy or needed help. I was OK, but worn out just from a very quick shower. The bandage that covered the Steri Strips is waterproof, so showering is OK. I was just not supposed to let the water beat for a long time on the bandage.
Still frightened of the pain meds, I only took Tylenol and the muscle relaxers. I had been taking the muscle relaxers prior to surgery, so knew they would not make me sick. I had been told the day of surgery how I would need to get out of and into bed. I did this exactly one time while still at the surgery center (and completely drugged up). I am not allowed to bend or twist at the waist for 4 weeks. So, to get into bed I must sit on side of bed and then lay over like a board. To get up, I have to use my arms and push myself up into the same sitting position. This doesn’t sound so hard until you have to do it.
I had been using a lot of the muscles down my sides instead of as much arms that first day. I had also been lifting my head a lot trying to get the pillow comfortable, which also strains all those side muscles. I was getting very sore from this and the pain was getting progressively worse. Finally at 4pm Tuesday (day after surgery) I took the first Percocet. I had the Phenergan ready, just in case, but there was no way I could continue on Tylenol alone. Halleluiah, I can take Percocet without getting nauseated!! We were very careful to make sure I ate before taking it. By this point I was in a lot of pain the pain from both the surgery and the odd way I had to sit, stand, lay and move in general. I was actually frightened by how much I hurt. As tears slid down my face I told my mom that if I had known it would hurt so much, I didn’t think I would have done it. Repeat this same scene at 8pm Tuesday.
We were surprised that the surgery center did not call Tuesday. Turns out they had, and somehow we had missed the call and the voice mail. If we had talked to a nurse that day, we would probably have tried pain pills earlier in day.
(Disclaimer: These are my observations about my surgery and recovery only. I am not a medical professional. I do not in any way intend for these observations to be used as medical advice or guidance. Please discuss with your physicians any questions, concerns, etc you may have.)
