All Gone

Yesterday I had a D&C. It's definitely weird. The procedure itself wasn't bad, actually, because I chose to go totally under anesthesia. I was uncomfortable with this at first, because it seemed a little extreme. But after messaging with people online who have already been through it, I was convinced it was the way to go.

I was wheeled into the operating room and moved to a fixed table. The anesthesiologist told me she was "giving me a margarita" and two seconds later I was gone - in the deepest sleep I've slept in a long long time. I woke up an hour later not freaked out or anything. I was put under when I had jaw surgery in high school and I woke up all in a panic that they were just halfway through. So I announced to everyone, "I'm awake, I'm awake," to let them know it was time to put the drill down. I guess that was my last thought before going under. This time, though, I woke up peacefully.

I was sore. They gave me painkillers in my IV. Eventually they wheeled me into the recovery room. I had three nurses taking care of me - one made me toast with butter; one got me a heating pad; and the third got me a vicodin. I could have stayed there all day. But about an hour later I felt well enough to get up and get dressed. Jase and Charlie came to get me and we all went home.

Charlie and I took a nap and I slept on and off throughout the night. Today I'm sore - they said that it would feel like cramps but it doesn't. It feels like someone punched me from the inside. I've been taking vicodin that I got for a rib injury, plus ibuprofen and using a heating pad. It kind of sucks.

I'm not sure if I'm being wimpy or if this is a hard thing to deal with. A friend of mine told me that her friend just had one done - she wasn't put under and the next day she went to the zoo. I ain't going to no zoo. And I read somewhere that if you have this done, ibuprofen should suffice with the pain. Well it's not sufficing over here. I'm gonna call my doctor tomorrow to see what's up with that. So like I said, I could just be a wuss. But it's not like this was just a pap smear. Whatever.

So many of my friends have been so great the last few days. Monica came over and took care of Charlie while Jase and I went in yesterday. I don't know what I would have done without her. We don't have family out here - so when you have a friend you can rely on like your sister, well, it means a lot. Also, all my moms from preschool pulled through - especially Joanne, who left a whole dinner in a cooler on the front steps of our house. How nice is that? The preschool moms know how to rally around a person and help them out for sure.

Jason really has been the person saving the day lately. He's been the primary caregiver to Charlie, while working and making sure I'm comfortable. We're both a little confused and sad about everything. But we're getting through it together.

And Charlie. Thank god he's so full of life. He makes it hard to wallow. When something is done, he waves his hands back and forth across his body and says, "All gone! All gone!" Well, after yesterday, it's all gone. And it's time to move forward.