OUCH ! ! ! !

It is the next day after surgery, and I’m ‘feeling it’ pretty much. Yesterday I had a left side inguinal hernia fixed. Not really too sure how long I’ve had this but have been ‘tucking my gut’ back in way to often since last Spring. During our Harley trip to southern New Mexico in the late summer really reminded me that I needed to get this fixed, and soon. Our insurance is changing at the end of the year because of Geris’ employment changes. The management and/or ownership of the dialysis unit of St. Patrick’s Hospital has changed and will be effective come January. He insurance options and carrier will change at that time, so ‘we’ decided that I should go ahead and get this done before the end of 2010.

I chose the Dr. that came recommended by the majority of professional and non-professionals in our area. Dr. Bellamah did the surgery on the 29th of December in the morning. I did not get the opportunity to speak with the Dr. after the operation, but he did tell Geri the details of the work performed. I guess the hernia had become as large as a fist, and needed a fairly large mesh patch to cover and reinforce the area. I told the Dr. before the surgery that I was going to be wrestling around large Harley-Davidson motorcycles for the foreseeable future, so please make the patch large and strong, and to ‘throw in a few extra stitches’ for good measure!!

Surgery was scheduled for 8:30, and Geri took me home from the hospital around 11:30. Now to wait for the bills to come in!! Ugh~~~.

I have a large ice pack bag given me at the hospital, and Geri picked up my pain meds from the hospital drug store. She took a couple days off from her work to take care of me the first couple of critical days. She is a great nurse, both figuratively and actually. You see, she is a Registered Nurse with St. Patrick’s Hospital, is my loving companion, so I am in the BEST of care.

My med is 325MG tabs of Oxycodone, which I have never taken for pain before. It IS effective, for sure, and really takes the edge off the pain.

Many years ago my old friend Dean had a double hernia surgery, and I remember that he had an infection issue with his, and damned near didn’t survive it. He is long gone now, and I wish he were still around to visit with about this… RIP, brother….

During my initial consultation with Dr. Bellamah, he indicated I would be healing for some stretch of time, and to plan being away from work for a week to three weeks, and that my lifting capabilities would be greatly reduced up to a few months. I work shipping and receiving for my employer, so that will hamper somewhat. It is the slowest time of year for our business, so this is the best time to take off. I know it is going to stretch and strain our finances a bit, but we feel we can handle it.

I am really looking forward to not having to deal with a herniated body come this summer. It will make life so much more productive and relaxed for me.

Meanwhile, I am home in the loving arms of my mate, warm and fed and with LOTS of computer time!!!!