Monday was a day I longed for. My visit to the doctor's office at which I will hopefully lose the catheter and the staples. I am certain the staples will be removed because when preparing to shower I take the bandages off and they are clean. No fluids or sticking! I am less sure of the catheter because the urine still has blood in it as evidenced by looking like Lancers Rose in a bag.
Too bad I have to wait until 2:30 for the appointment. But the time does come. I get back to the room with Sally in tow. I am instructed to strip from the waist down, sit on the table and and put the paper sheet over my lap. I have often wondered why medical personnel seem so shy when we both know they will again see all I have.
The physicians assistant, Becky Luekens, knocks and comes back in. She gives me a choice of first action. Do I want to do the catheter or the staples first? Since the catheter has been the most uncomfortable I choose to have that removed first. If that is Okay?
Becky assures me that it is and has me lie back on the table. She folds back the paper sheet and uses a syringe to remove the liquid that inflates the bulb and hold the catheter in place. She then instructs me to exhale as much as I can before breathing in slowly as she pulls it out. I think they have you exhale so you don't cry out as they start to remove it. She pulls and pulls; 'til her hand is over her head. It is about two feet long (the catheter). She inspects the end for clots and detritus. Everything is goodness. WOW! That feels much more comfortable already.
Although the educational part of the visit is that first urination may be accompanied by pain or burning sensation. I don't look forward to that. In the long run, I have no problems with it. I am even amazed that my 'hemorrhoids' improve so quickly.
The staple puller is a four and half inch gadget that looks like a cuticle nipper or little scissor implement. I have six incisions. Four in a row across my waistline between my hip bones. They are horizontal and about a half inch each. The farthest on my left has no staples. It was sutured and held the abdominal drain. The other three have just a couple staples each and one has three. Then I have a vertical incision from my umbilicus (bellybutton) down. It has six or eight staples. Then there is another incision at about ten o'clock from the pivot of my umbilicus that has two. Apparently the implement causes the legs to spread as it is pulled and there is no pain for most of them. There were only two that seemed to pinch as she lifted them.
Becky daubed glue on next to the incisions and let it dry, much like contact cement. She then place steri-strips across the incisions. This takes the strain off the newly formed scar tissue. Becky said they will probably fall off in a day or two and that is fine. They can even fall off later the same day and it isn't a problem unless I pull one open. But I was healing fine and that should be no problem. No lifting of anything more than ten pounds for another week or two and do nothing strenuous. Basically I need to take it easy and do nothing more that walk.
Becky is a sweetheart. She is tall, blond and absolutely under thirty. She seems to have good training and a very pleasant bedside manor. I am again astounded at how young so many very skilled people are in the professions. I again have hope for the human race. We are not a dying breed. There are many young, bright people to carry on after us. They don't all skate board and do drugs.
While at the desk making my next appointment, my room mate Jerry was signing in. Coincidence that it is Jerry was next in surgery after me and here he is next in having his catheter and staples removed. We exchange greetings and joy at having this part done with.
My incontinence is immediately apparent to me. Every move that increases abdominal pressure cause a warm spot that is far from my heart. Moving either leg independently causes a squirt. Sitting or standing cause one. Turning into the car seat causes one. Thank goodness (not God) for Serenity pads. This is going to require some work.
Becky said that boys don't learn about their kegel muscles for some reason. She explained that little girls do at an early age. It's like they just always knew. And then she looked at Sally as if for a supporting nod or something. Basically, I should practice interrupting the flow without clinching my gluteous maximus. That is the pubocoxygeal muscle, muscle that is targeted by kegel exercises. At first practice in the mirror to see that the pelvis is not being tipped or thrust forward and the glutes are not being clinched. If done correctly there should be no visible evidence that I am contracting them. Contract them and hold for a five count. Do this five or six times. Repeat the set every hour or so. Over time this will strengthen the pc muscle and impact continence. We should all be doing these whether we had surgery or not. It is a part of continued good health.
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