Back in the Land of the Living (Sort of!)

Hi all ~ First, thanks so much for your comments. I just read them all today. Was discharged from hospital today and am back at hotel. I planned to make more calls to you all, but internet kept going off at the hospital (we use the internet to make calls using Skype) and my dad was able to figure out a few numbers on his own to make some calls. Hopefully, you got word that the surgery went fine, etc. It was just a real rocky four days. No complications or anything; I just WAY underestimated how much I'd feel like doing in the few days after surgery. I know I have a low pain tolerance and.... okay okay, I'm probably also somewhat of a baby when it comes to my own pain, but let me tell you that it hurt like a mother! It's very hard to get comfortable when you've been cut up the middle and your ribs and sternum have been retracted for god knows how long. Oh, I just asked - my surgery was approx 2.5 hrs. It's true what they say - that each day is SO much better. Dr. M said I could go back to hotel last night if I wanted to. I didn't. Today is better. pain control isnt as great as it is in the US - you have to be insistent. They believe in not masking all the pain so that they can identify problems. Also, I guess we're more likely to move our asses when we're drugged less.
I know I endeavored to write each day, but itr will probably be less frequent for a while. I feel fine; it's just not comfortable sitting at hte computer so much. So... more details later. And thanks for your messages! I'm mostly wondering how Leo (my dog) is. Jean - could you check and let me know? Thanks again all! Ciao