Day 2. Still at the hospital. My surgery went well…or so they thought until in recovery I was feeling extreme discomfort and a lot of swelling. The surgical resident examined me and determined I had excessive bleeding in my left chest area. My drains were filling up within minutes with bright red blood. This needed to be controlled and fast! It’s been an ordeal. The surgeon had to pump my chest full of hydrogen peroxide to help clot things. This was done by pushing the hydrogen peroxide up through my drainage tube into my chest. I watched my chest expand to the point I thought it would explode. I could feel the peroxide bubbling inside. I was having to hold myself up without having much use or mobility in my arms. I could feel my sutures being pushed to the limits. Once filled to capacity the surgeon and nurses bound me extremely tight with compression bandages and tape to keep the fluid contained and letting it work it’s magic, clotting the “bleeder” inside.

“If this doesn’t work,” the surgeon said “we will have to take you back to surgery in the morning”. That was the last thing I wanted to hear. For half an hour I endured the compression bandages, not able to breathe. After the allotted time passed, the surgeon and three nurses had to press down on all the areas of my chest to push the peroxide back out through the tubes. I have never felt so much pain in my life!

Good news…I made it through the night and am almost certain that I won’t be back in the O.R. today. I’m still in the hospital as they try to manage my pain which has been a roller coaster to say the least. I am staying focused… as much as one can through a morphine haze. I will get back to you all again soon. I appreciate all the kindness and support you’ve all shown me. I am a warrior!

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