Please forgive me for not writing last night from my hospital bed, but by the time I woke up from my 2nd or 3rd nap of the afternoon, I had no way of getting to my overnight bag to get my Surface out, and even if I had managed to retrieve it, I don't think I was focused enough to get it set up and plugged in. Plus, above all, I was so groggy that I just didn't feel like it.
Now that my complaining and making excuses is over, I will tell you about surgery day. Just like last time, I couldn't sleep much and so finally decided to get up at 4:30 a.m. After taking a super long Hibiclens shower and washing my hair, I made one last swing around my bedroom to make sure I had everything, got dressed, and went downstairs. Needless to say, I didn't eat breakfast but I was happy to spend time with Stan while he ate.
We left home at 6:45 a.m. and were at the hospital shortly after 7:00. At 7:30 we went to the registration area on the second floor and waited our turn to sit at one of the desks to go over all the forms and payments, etc. Actually, it wasn't too bad. Because I had done the eCheck In, everything was on file, all forms were filled out, and aside from scanning in 3 items (driver's license, insurance card, and Advance Directive), we were ready to go. We were given a buzzer so we went off to a quieter adjacent waiting room were we remained for maybe 20-25 minutes until our buzzer buzzed. That's when the fun started. Thankfully Stan was allowed to stay with me until the very last moment which was a comfort. The first thing, just like last time, was to take a "cocktail" of pills (7 or 8). After that it was time to take off everything and put on the lovely hospital gown, then wipe every inch of myself with (heated) anti-bacterial wipes. A port was put in my hand, and then our pre-op nurse, Donna, talked to us a long time, took yet another medical history, and was imminently pleasant and reassuring. Next in line was the anesthesiology physician who discussed the anesthesia I would have and asked me about my concerns. I emphasized at length my fear of waking up during the surgery, and the doctor assured me that she'd make sure I didn't wake up. The nurse anesthetist then joined us and together that fitted me out with and ON-Q nerve block, a pouch which will be with me until Friday. The wonderful Dr. M, my surgeon came in next to talk with us, and I can't say enough good about him. He's so very reassuring, mild-mannered, and cheerful, so just like last time, he calmed me down. And then, after a short wait, it was showtime!
Stan had to leave at this point and off I went with the technician pushing while the orthopedic nurse and the nurse anesthetist chatted with me as they willed me through the halls. In the theater, I met a nice man, Steve (I think) who appeared to be in charge of instruments and machines. Dr. M's Physician Assistant joined us so, with a full crew, I was scooted off the gurney and onto the operating table. I was given a pillow as I sat on the side of the table and told to bend over it. A lovely heated blanket was place over my shoulders (operating rooms are COLD!) and the spinal was administered. It was as near painless as could be. I was told to lie down, a mask was placed over my nose and mouth, and that's the last thing I remember until I woke up in recovery about 1.5 hours later.
Unlike 8 years ago, I didn't spend all that long in recovery because, so I was told, spinal anesthesia doesn't have the long period of waking up and confusion. Not long thereafter, I was taken to my room and Stan appeared with my overnight case, walker, and cane. We met the nurse assigned to me, discussed a couple of things, and then, to my embarrassment, my nausea got the better of me and I vomited. Fortunately that helped a bit and before long, I was asleep. When I woke, about 4:30, I talked with Stan and soon thereafter, with our son who stopped by on his way home from work. Once he left, at the urging of Stan, I ordered a fruit and cheese plate for dinner, but the idea of eating was completely repulsive, so when Stan left, the plate of food was still sitting there. I got sick again, vomited more, and before collapsing back into a stupor of sleep, the nurse gave me an anti-nausea pill. When I woke up two hours later, the nausea was gone, I felt hungry so I ate almost all my fruit and cheese while reading a book on my Kindle. After yet another trip to the restroom, I went to sleep for the night. Lights out on surgery day!
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