My Surgery
I wrote this yesterday.
We left this morning a little earlier than we needed to so that we'd have extra time to get lost, since we tend to do that. We knew about where it was, but not exactly. So as we drove there I was looking at the map and realized I knew exactly where it was. It was the first floor of the building my Ob/Gyn is in. So we had some extra time. Had I not been going in for surgery, I would've suggested running across the street to get a bagel.
We checked in and sat in the waiting room talking. I took a book to read, but I wasn't quite calm enough to just sit and read. So Eric and I talked about stuff. Mostly about Gramma Molly and Aunt Audrey and how I am mom are feeling about everything. I think the conversation was sparked because on the wall was an absolutely gorgeous quilt. It was a scene of a creek and a bridge with some mountains in the background. It was lovely. I thought of Gramma and Aunt Audrey and their quilting.
Then they took us back. They took my weight and asked me over and over again what I was having done. I wasn't sure if they were making small talk, double checking their notes, didn't have it in their notes, or making sure I knew what was going on. I got in the gown and laid on the bed. The gown and blanket were kept in a warmer, so I wasn't cold or anything. But then one of the nurses came by and dropped of the bag of IV fluid. I guess it just didn't occur to me that I would have an IV, because at that moment my mind started racing and thinking of all sorts of things and the simpleness of the procedure seemed not so simple anymore.
The nurse started the IV with no problems. I have a beautiful vein on the inside of my wrist that is just perfect for IVs. No one ever misses that vein. After being given the saline for a few minutes a nurse named Linda came by and gave me a couple cc's of "Linda's Cocktail." I don't know the name of it, but it was the anesthesia. I was given a local, but so that I wouldn't be combative I was also consciously sedated. It took about 5 minutes, but all of the sudden the room was spinning. It felt like moving a ton of bricks to turn my head to see Eric. I don't think I said or did anything very funny though.
Then Dr. A was in the building and ready for surgery. So they wheeled me off to the OR. Eric walked halfway down with me and kissed me goodbye. I remember looking around in the OR, but don't remember what I saw. I think there were lights, and I know there were people. I remember moving from the wheely bed to the operating table. And they stretched out my arms, and probably strapped them down, as if I were to be hung on a cross. They gave me some oxygen, and the doctor came in and said hello.
I think I was under a sheet or tent, because I remember my face being warm and then all of a sudden cold when someone talked to me. I vaguely remember someone unsnapping my gown at the shoulder so they could lower it and get to the area of operation.
The next thing I remember is someone taking the sheet off my face, the oxygen out of my nose, moving my arms back onto my bed, getting on the wheely bed again (and I think I asked if my clothes were there where I left them), and going to recovery. I think I glanced at the clock and it was only about 10:05. My surgery started 9:45. I remember thinking to myself something about getting to Chipotle right when they open, which was 11:00. I really wanted a burrito for lunch today and there's a Chipotle less than a block from the outpatient center.
Then Eric was there with me in recovery. He had his book with him that he was reading. I was so happy to see him. I remember telling the nurse I was in pain, and she gave me some demerol or something. The pain went away almost instantly. I wanted to sleep, but couldn't. They adjusted the bed to make me more comfortable. I asked Eric to read to me. It was something about airplanes, so I fell asleep nearly immediately. I tried so hard to pay attention, and even remember him telling me a story about his stage check he took on Tuesday, but I don't remember the book at all.
I asked Eric if he thought it would be OK if I rolled over onto my side. He didn't know, so I did anyway. I hate sleeping on my back. I guess I was asleep probably 20 minutes when the nurse came by again. She woke me up and took the IV out. She gave me a prescription the doc wrote for some pain killers and told Eric everything for my recovery. She told me too, but I don't remember what she said. She had me get dressed and she walked me over the recovery 2. In this recovery room I got to sit in a recliner. Eric sat in a rocking chair next to me reading again. I didn't have him read out loud this time. The nurse brought me crackers and 7-up. Mmmmm ...... food!
After about 15 minutes or so in there we got to leave. We drove over to Wal-greens and gave them my script. Then drove through the parking lot to Chipotle. I had a yummy burrito. Apparantly the nurse said I was to go home and have a sandwhich and soup, and I thought she said something about no burritos (but Eric doesn't remember that --- so maybe I was dreaming that), but I really wanted Chipotle and since Eric doesn't care for them I was taking advantage of having just had surgery. I admit it, I was milking the situation.
Then we got my drugs from Wal-greens and came home. I took my shoes off and went straight to bed. No messing around for me. It was probably 12:30 or so when we got home. I slept, easily, until 3. It was such a nice nap. And Eric's so good to me; he brought me my drugs and some water on my nightstand so that when I woke up they'd be there to take.
After I woke up from my nap I watched some TV and just rested. I'm now feeling a little restless, but overall feel fine. I'm not in much pain, unless I get jabbed in the chest. That hurts. But otherwise I feel fine. I haven't had any drugs since 3, when I woke up from my nap, so I think this recovery will be pretty quick.
I'm not supposed to shower tomorrow, sponge bath only. Glad I decided to shower this morning. I really contemplated not showering. I can shower and remove the bandage on Sunday. I have an appt to get my hair done tomorrow; I think I'll be able to make it OK. And they get to wash my hair for me, so that works out well.
I talked with my mom this afternoon. It was good to talk with her. Nothing much, just talking. I did learn, however, that my dad decided to do the South Beach Diet. I'm very excited for them. He said he already feels his clothes getting loose. And mom's lost 5 lbs already. My two aunts both lost a great deal of weight south beaching, and Eric and I have done pretty well (although we cheat A LOT) so I'm excited for my parents now too.
We left this morning a little earlier than we needed to so that we'd have extra time to get lost, since we tend to do that. We knew about where it was, but not exactly. So as we drove there I was looking at the map and realized I knew exactly where it was. It was the first floor of the building my Ob/Gyn is in. So we had some extra time. Had I not been going in for surgery, I would've suggested running across the street to get a bagel.
We checked in and sat in the waiting room talking. I took a book to read, but I wasn't quite calm enough to just sit and read. So Eric and I talked about stuff. Mostly about Gramma Molly and Aunt Audrey and how I am mom are feeling about everything. I think the conversation was sparked because on the wall was an absolutely gorgeous quilt. It was a scene of a creek and a bridge with some mountains in the background. It was lovely. I thought of Gramma and Aunt Audrey and their quilting.
Then they took us back. They took my weight and asked me over and over again what I was having done. I wasn't sure if they were making small talk, double checking their notes, didn't have it in their notes, or making sure I knew what was going on. I got in the gown and laid on the bed. The gown and blanket were kept in a warmer, so I wasn't cold or anything. But then one of the nurses came by and dropped of the bag of IV fluid. I guess it just didn't occur to me that I would have an IV, because at that moment my mind started racing and thinking of all sorts of things and the simpleness of the procedure seemed not so simple anymore.
The nurse started the IV with no problems. I have a beautiful vein on the inside of my wrist that is just perfect for IVs. No one ever misses that vein. After being given the saline for a few minutes a nurse named Linda came by and gave me a couple cc's of "Linda's Cocktail." I don't know the name of it, but it was the anesthesia. I was given a local, but so that I wouldn't be combative I was also consciously sedated. It took about 5 minutes, but all of the sudden the room was spinning. It felt like moving a ton of bricks to turn my head to see Eric. I don't think I said or did anything very funny though.
Then Dr. A was in the building and ready for surgery. So they wheeled me off to the OR. Eric walked halfway down with me and kissed me goodbye. I remember looking around in the OR, but don't remember what I saw. I think there were lights, and I know there were people. I remember moving from the wheely bed to the operating table. And they stretched out my arms, and probably strapped them down, as if I were to be hung on a cross. They gave me some oxygen, and the doctor came in and said hello.
I think I was under a sheet or tent, because I remember my face being warm and then all of a sudden cold when someone talked to me. I vaguely remember someone unsnapping my gown at the shoulder so they could lower it and get to the area of operation.
The next thing I remember is someone taking the sheet off my face, the oxygen out of my nose, moving my arms back onto my bed, getting on the wheely bed again (and I think I asked if my clothes were there where I left them), and going to recovery. I think I glanced at the clock and it was only about 10:05. My surgery started 9:45. I remember thinking to myself something about getting to Chipotle right when they open, which was 11:00. I really wanted a burrito for lunch today and there's a Chipotle less than a block from the outpatient center.
Then Eric was there with me in recovery. He had his book with him that he was reading. I was so happy to see him. I remember telling the nurse I was in pain, and she gave me some demerol or something. The pain went away almost instantly. I wanted to sleep, but couldn't. They adjusted the bed to make me more comfortable. I asked Eric to read to me. It was something about airplanes, so I fell asleep nearly immediately. I tried so hard to pay attention, and even remember him telling me a story about his stage check he took on Tuesday, but I don't remember the book at all.
I asked Eric if he thought it would be OK if I rolled over onto my side. He didn't know, so I did anyway. I hate sleeping on my back. I guess I was asleep probably 20 minutes when the nurse came by again. She woke me up and took the IV out. She gave me a prescription the doc wrote for some pain killers and told Eric everything for my recovery. She told me too, but I don't remember what she said. She had me get dressed and she walked me over the recovery 2. In this recovery room I got to sit in a recliner. Eric sat in a rocking chair next to me reading again. I didn't have him read out loud this time. The nurse brought me crackers and 7-up. Mmmmm ...... food!
After about 15 minutes or so in there we got to leave. We drove over to Wal-greens and gave them my script. Then drove through the parking lot to Chipotle. I had a yummy burrito. Apparantly the nurse said I was to go home and have a sandwhich and soup, and I thought she said something about no burritos (but Eric doesn't remember that --- so maybe I was dreaming that), but I really wanted Chipotle and since Eric doesn't care for them I was taking advantage of having just had surgery. I admit it, I was milking the situation.
Then we got my drugs from Wal-greens and came home. I took my shoes off and went straight to bed. No messing around for me. It was probably 12:30 or so when we got home. I slept, easily, until 3. It was such a nice nap. And Eric's so good to me; he brought me my drugs and some water on my nightstand so that when I woke up they'd be there to take.
After I woke up from my nap I watched some TV and just rested. I'm now feeling a little restless, but overall feel fine. I'm not in much pain, unless I get jabbed in the chest. That hurts. But otherwise I feel fine. I haven't had any drugs since 3, when I woke up from my nap, so I think this recovery will be pretty quick.
I'm not supposed to shower tomorrow, sponge bath only. Glad I decided to shower this morning. I really contemplated not showering. I can shower and remove the bandage on Sunday. I have an appt to get my hair done tomorrow; I think I'll be able to make it OK. And they get to wash my hair for me, so that works out well.
I talked with my mom this afternoon. It was good to talk with her. Nothing much, just talking. I did learn, however, that my dad decided to do the South Beach Diet. I'm very excited for them. He said he already feels his clothes getting loose. And mom's lost 5 lbs already. My two aunts both lost a great deal of weight south beaching, and Eric and I have done pretty well (although we cheat A LOT) so I'm excited for my parents now too.
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