my leg....

I had my VENUS leg surgery today and it went pretty well. I definitely hurt and I was most certainly nervous, but it went well and I am now home laying in bed with my leg wrapped and elevated. I feel like I have had my leg pressed through one of those old fashioned clothes-wringers that would wring out the access water from freshly washed laundry. Weird feeling, very sore. Ice helps a little though.

As I was having my procedure done the doctors were explaining to me why it was hurting more in certain areas and certain times and both things were a good bolster to my ego! Once was when they were feeding the the catheter up through my vein and it really hurt. They explained it was because my muscle was so dense and not allowing the vein to move around. It was hurting because it was rigid. So I have good muscle tone in my legs, thanks! The other time it really hurt was when they were shooting it with the heat, but only in certain areas. They explained that it was because I didn't have enough fat in between my vein and the millions of nerves just under my skin so I was feeling it with those nerves. They had to pump all this fluid into my leg making it look like an ugly bumpy balloon under my skin to separate my vein from the nerves more and then it didn't hurt as bad. It was VERY weird to watch and very painful to feel.

Overall it was an okay experience. So far, I think I will do the other leg (meaning I haven't been scared off yet and my recovery seems to be going well.) I was even able to walk out of the their office (okay so I was limping) but still a lot better than I feared may have happened.

Of course Nathan gave me a priesthood blessing to comfort me last night and I know that helped a lot! It was also neat to find out that one of the doctors is a member of our religion and we had that in common. Both doctors and nurses were so nice, competent, and skilled. I was in very good hands and I am grateful for an overall good experience.

Now as the numbing medication they shot all through my leg has completely wore off, the ice and pain meds are not quite cutting it. Hopefully this initial pain will not last long. OW!!!! I am suppose to keep this tight wrapping on for 24 hours and then replace it with the compression stockings and wear those for two weeks. I am suppose to keep it elevated as much as possible for the first day and then take it easy for two weeks. No running, yard work, etc. etc. That is why I have been busted my b*** to get as much done as I could over the past couple weeks. Now it is time to take it easy...if I have to! LOL!