Rick's surgery & the first week ...

Shoulder/rotator cuff surgery was last Wednesday, at ETMC in Tyler w/Dr. DeVinney. 
Rick was taken into surgery around 10 ... given the block in his shoulder, then put under. Surgery lasted about an hour. 
Dr. DeVinney came out and talked to me. Said that there wasn't as much damage as what it had looked like. That it was an "easy fix" - explained that so many times the "fix" is a lot more complicated. And that he had thought Rick's would be. So, he was well pleased - and we Praise God for His healing! 
Dr said that I could see Rick in Recovery 2 ... in about an hour. 
Warned me to expect him to be in pain for the next several days. We were sent home with a pain medication (to be used as needed) and a muscle relaxer (not to be used unless no other option). 

There was a delay in me getting to see Rick in Recovery ... and I was not happy at all! Sigh. That nurse will remember me! LOL ... In fact, I overheard her tell the other nurse that she was not going to deal with me any more - because I was "mean and mad"!!! The other nurse came and talked to me, and we worked together with Rick to get him breathing and off the oxygen, drinking and talking. Afterwards the 2nd nurse went back to the first one and told her that I had every right to be upset over not being taken to my husband when I was supposed to, especially with my husband asking for me! She also told the first nurse that I was a "nice and kind lady", as well as a "wife who knows her husband". LOL 

We got home late Wednesday afternoon. Rick tolerated the ride home very well. Awake, alert, aware. Talked to Bro. Jeremy and me most of the way from Tyler back to the house. 

Rick's dad and mom were waiting on us. Helped to get us both in the house and a bit settled. His dad spent the night in the other recliner. Helped Rick up and down and to the bathroom. 

**This first week, Rick has only had a couple of spikes in pain. Once, the ice pack had slipped down while he was asleep and was pressing into the shoulder. I removed the ice pack and he took pain meds - pain was under control in just minutes. 
The second spike was about 4:30 one morning. He had been asleep with the ice pack on, the ac was on, and he had a fan turned towards him. No covers. And a cool front blew thru. So, the house temp dropped to around 68* ... and his shoulder temp dropped even more. I removed the ice pack, he took pain meds, turned the ac off, turned the fan away, covered him with a blanket - pain under control in just minutes again. 
He said that mostly the pain has been around a 5 ... a few times getting to a 7 ... more often the last 2 or 3 days around a 2. 
Pain meds are Tylenol with Codeine - a 10 mg Codeine. But instead of him having 1 every 4 hours, he has been taking 1/2 every 3. Nurse said that was a better way to maintain control of the pain. (Has been working with me since surgery.) 

Beginning 2nd week after surgery now ...