Trust me. I promise not to hurt you.
So, my big idea to
start off 2014 by kicking it in the ass has a set-back. Surgery is in the cards
for me. I’ve actually postponed it, knowing it was lurking out there, figuring
if I ignored it, it would go away. I had bigger things to do late 2013, the
biggest was completing my novel. I was assured waiting was not a worry as it is
preventative surgery and not labeled as anything more than it is. Which is
enough in my book. I am sure that down the road I will be happy that this is
off my bucket list of things I really never planned, nor wanted to do. In the
scheme of things it is a mere bump in the road. It does take a bite out of my
favorite chant, no pain, no pain.
My book will be available on Amazon and
Kindle by Valentine’s Day. I’ve given birth to my first work of fiction and am
excited. Then three days later I head to the hospital for my surgery. I was
given the opportunity of going home at night or staying in the hospital
overnight. What made my decision for me? Time. To come home that night I had to
be at the hospital at 5:30 am. Seriously?
That was harder to get my head around than the fact by the next day a part of
me would be gone. So I opted to come in at 10 am and spend the night being
catered to in my hospital bed. Which actually made everyone I know happy. No
one wants me to go home to my house alone. I live with six dogs and my friends,
who have never met my pack, are horrified I will be dealing with dogs as I deal
with recovery. To tell you the truth, it worries me too.
My dogs are my
kids and my family. Try to explain to the medical community that you have six
dogs, six dogs who are pretty finicky in their routines, six dogs that sleep in
bed with me, the smallest, my seven pound Chi insists on curling up on my
stomach. And that there are no other humans in the house to help. They don’t
get it. I finally looked at the physician’s assistant and put it in words she
might get. “It is like I have six babies at home that need to be fed, cleaned
up after, and played with.
“I thought you
never had children.” She looked up from her chart.
Really. She still wasn’t listening.
Perhaps in Pre-Op on Monday they’ll get it. I need to know what to expect so I
can keep my house in order.
I have made some
preliminary arrangements. My pet sitter will be with my dogs while I am alone
in the hospital. They have a slumber party scheduled, I have a quiet night in
room number (tbd) whatever. I guess I’ll
finally discover what everyone who has spent a night in the hospital knows, it
is not quiet or restful. On the bright side, perhaps there will be drugs.
My medical issues
over my life have been minimal. I have had one other surgery. Looking back, a
book was paramount at that time too. In 2010 after my big launch party for The Unfaithful
Widow, which was a grand fete at a bed and breakfast in Atlanta in honor of
Animal Rescue, I ran into my kitchen in my bare feet and slipped on dog pee.
After landing hard on my padded butt I realized I’d dislocated my shoulder. It
was hard to miss, my left shoulder protruded out so far I got very scared. The
hospital is within a sneeze of my house and my neighbor drove me over to the
ER. I sat there alone, a small morphine drip, chattering that it was dog pee on
my butt, I had not actually peed myself. The drugs took hold while I waited for
three hours to see a doctor. In that short time I sold a few books by telling
the staff that kept checking on me I had just published my book. If I had only
realized there would be an interest, I could have packed a few copies to take
with me. But wait, I was in terrible pain! Not only had I dislocated my
shoulder, I tore my rotator cuff. I had surgery within the month. My dogs
tiptoed on all four paws when I came home from the ER. “Who peed?” My tone was
sharp. Their sweet faces told me all I needed to know, I would never know. I
better learn to tread lightly or wear shoes.
So, within a few
days of my new book, Danger In Her Words,
being released, history will repeat itself. I will have surgery. Easy-peasy I’ve been told. It’s a
non-invasive procedure. I am waiting for my list of do’s and don’ts. I am sure
top on that list will be, don’t let the dogs sleep with you! And so it
will begin. My Hysterical Hysterectomy Recovery.
Stayed tuned for the continuing posts if you have the stomach for it!
On a note, I have
a wonderful group of friends that have offered to help. I find it interesting
that I am shy about having them in my home to see what life with six dogs
entails. I am sure I will get over that as soon as my wimp factor hits.
