Vacation

This weekend I had a vacation at an all inclusive resort… uhm… err… uhhh… hospital….yeah, that’s right.

Friday morning, very early in the morning, I went checked into this swanky resort….uhhh…hospital.  It was for day surgery.  I believe the term is, “excisional biopsy of the left neck.”  I was not too worried.  I handle anesthesia well, so let the fun begin.  We started the morning with debily marking which lymph nodes were screaming to be taken.  The surgery went well, I was wheeled into recovery at about 9:40 or so.  The first thing I remember was about 10:00, so was I really awake then?  I don’t think so.  I also remember thinking, wow it is late.  My surgery was supposed to be done at about 8:30 or so.  I soon learned why.  They had to take the large lymph node out of my neck.  This required a drain to be installed in my neck as well.  That is when my day surgery changed to admittance into the hospital.  My sister saved the day by making a run to our house and getting items required for our stay.  We had not brought anything for an overnight stay.  Debbi opted to spend the night with me there since the kids were already farmed out to Grandma.  Friday night was a fitful nights sleep, but I did sleep.

The lymph node they removed was the size of a smallish computer mouse, or a large lemon.  Take your pick.  I did not get into my room until after two, so I got to know the people in recovery very well.  Lunch was tomato soup.  It was good, and sort of South Beach friendly.  I am sure they used white flour, but what can I do?  Turn it down?  Dinner was some really good tortilla soup.  These all inclusive places always have the best food.

I also had to endure chicken strips, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, bacon, hash browns, cheesy broccoli, apple spice cake, yellow cake, and other evil foods.  It was great!  Yeah, the South Beach Diet was blown completely out of the water.  I think I am the only one who can enter a hospital and gain weight.

Saturday was a day spent chilling out in the room.  I was able to move around a bit more as the IV was not hooked up to me all the time.  That was nice.  Debbi went home to get a few things, deal with pets and came back rather quickly.  During her time away the doctor came in and gave me the news that it was lymphoma.  We already knew that, but now we really did now.  It was now time to let work know too, so I made a few phone calls.  Debbi left again in the early afternoon to get the kiddos.  Yes, I needed to see them, and they needed to see me.  It was a short visit and Trey did not handle it too well.  The drain hanging from my neck was a bit too much for him.  Crisana seemed okay with it, she just wanted to give me hugs in places where it would not hurt.  That was nice.  They all went home and I had the night to myself.  My good friend RC had made an electronic care package.  It was a portable hard drive with movies, TV shows, etc on it.  I got to watch the second National Treasure flick.  I enjoyed it.

Sunday was spent waiting to leave, literally, for most of the morning.  Debbi and the kids showed up at about 10ish and my sister came shortly afterwords.  The doctor came by and was upset that the resident had not taken the drain out yet.  He finally showed up, yanked the drain out, and I was free to go.  The first thing I did was shower.  Man, that was nice.  My hair was getting some pretty nasty.  I don’t think I smelled that bad, because I had not been doing anything, just staying bed.  I got cleaned up and headed out.  We did stop for some lunch on the way home.

While it is not a five star hotel.  I do recommend UT Southwestern University Hospital – Zale Lipshy for all your surgical needs.  Seriously, the staff there was wonderful, knowledgeable, and competent.  I am hoping my treatments are much closer to home though.