Flippy - I Rant, You Read
Friday, May 25, 2007
My Pa’s Surgery
My dad’s surgery went well. They cut some chunks o’ cancer out of his forehead, and then sent extra bits to the lab. The news from the lab was good - no extra cancer found, so they stopped digging around in Dad’s forehead. He charmed the nurse - she said, and I quote, “He’s so cute! But, I think he knows that.” Heh. That’s something when you can charm a cute little nurse (she was really cute) while in a lovely hospital gown with a big chunk out of your forehead.
Gah, the men in my family are SO annoyingly stubborn about taking pain meds. My oldest brother basically refuses to take anything...unless he has a kidney stone. My dad refuses to take anything...just about ever. Even my other two brothers, while better than the “it’s totally manly to be in pain” oldest brother and dad, still are such guys. My dad was given a pain med prescription for after his surgery. He had it filled, it was just sitting there at home, waiting to be taken. I told him to have a bite to eat when he got home, and to take a pill. Did he? No. I called my parents a couple of hours after we all left the hospital, to make sure my dad took his pill. I know, and Leigh-Ann knows, because we live with pain every day, that taking the meds before the pain engulfs you (like when, oh, you’re still NUMB from being sliced open) helps keep the pain away. Does anyone listen to us? Hrumph. It’s harder for pain meds to take pain away, after it’s already started, than it is to prevent it. Also, it’s been proven that patients heal faster when their pain is controlled. Not to mention, you don’t get any brownie points for suffering in pain, so why would you want to not just take a tiny little pill? Anyway, you may be surprised by this, but after a surgery where your forehead is cut open and then stitched back up, when the numbness wears off, you end up in pain. I know, totally shocking. And yes, I realize I’m being sarcastic, but I really hate this refusing to take pain meds stuff from my dad and brother. I suppose if they’d grown up having headaches like my mom and I, they’d probably be more willing to do whatever it took to get rid of the pain. And, I’m happy that they didn’t have the headaches, because they suck. Still, taking pain meds when you’re in pain is a good thing. It’s an even better thing when you have a prescription just sitting on your counter, that you take it before the pain starts when you’ve had surgery. Most people don’t have chronic pain, so they’re not generally going to be taking pain meds to prevent pain, they’re going to have to take them to relieve pain. But when you’ve had surgery, you do what the surgeon tells you (never mind what your kid tells you) and take the medication prescribed.
When I was talking to my mom, before my dad had taken the pill, my dad was in pain. It was making him nauseous and giving him the cold sweats...because that’s what pain can do, make you feel sick. I stomped my feet over the phone and told my mom to bring my dad something to drink and the pill. He was going to take something, or I was just going to keep calling back until he at least told me he’d taken something. I talked to my sister-in-law, and we somehow “found” a bit of Ativan magically floating in front of my parents’ house, so it was decided that if he felt nauseous again, .5mg of Ativan would do the trick. I hope that he keeps on top of the pain now, instead of letting it sink its grubby little paws in again, but who knows...he’s stubborn. Sometimes it drives Leigh-Ann crazy how stubborn my family is about certain things. I admit it, I’m stubborn too, but not when it comes to pain. After a childhood of headaches, followed by a car accident & back pain, followed by a herniated disc and fibromyalgia, I’m not going to win any awards (or even attempt to) for sucking up pain. Life is hard enough without physical pain, and pharmaceuticals were invented for a reason. I’m in a constant battle to prevent pain, and I HATE taking the pills. I hate the side effects and the cost. But, I hate the pain more. So, Dad, you have pain meds specifically for the pain...take them. Take them even if you’re not in pain yet, if it’s time to take them. Prevent the pain (but don’t drive), and do it regularly at least for a few days, if not more. Oh, and uh, make sure you get enough fiber. Pain meds can cause constipation. Don’t let it get out of hand, because although I don’t want to discuss it with you personally, I can tell you that that is one really lousy side effect. Easy enough to deal with though, if you’re prepared. Plus, don’t take your meds on an empty stomach, it’ll probably make you feel a little sick. A bite to eat, a bunch of fiber, and some pain meds. The perfect prescription to healing from surgery. 
Love, Your Daughter
Hey Dad, did I make my point strongly enough? I don’t want you to be in pain, so get up and go take one of your pills now. If you’re due and you haven’t taken one, you should feel guilty...and go get one.
Updated at 11am Friday - My sister-in-law took a picture of my dad and his snazzy bonnet before he was wheeled away. Not bad for 82 and a paper (or is it plastic?) hat - it’s tipped jauntily to one side. I got my mom’s permission to upload the picture. I asked if she thought it would annoy my dad, and she said that she didn’t think so.
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But, wait - I thought the whole point of being Jewish was racking up brownie points by suffering in pain. Oy.
Seriously, I’m really glad your dad’s surgery went well and that there’s no sign of additional cancer.
Helly on 05/25 at 04:28 AM -
And I agree with Nancy!!!!!!!!
Hope you are feeling better Dad and taking your medication AS DIRECTED!
Ilona
on 05/25 at 06:16 AM -
I’m glad he’s better.
on 05/25 at 02:57 PM -
Glad your dad is okay - that IS a pretty snazzy pic…
Chickie on 05/26 at 01:57 PM -
Sounds like a hard headed man… but he is a bit cute
Anyway, happy to hear that your dad is going to be ok. Hopefully he will take his meds…
on 05/26 at 03:02 PM
