TODAY IS THE DAY!
My alarm is set for 4:00 am, although I have to shower again with the special soap, David said that even if we leave by 4:30 we will for sure get there by 5:00 am check in. Not likely to have traffic at that time. My mom is setting her alarm for 3:00, she says because she wants to do her hair and makeup, but I am sure it is for nerves also. I slept fairly well, but i get up at about 3:45 to shower and dress. My nerves are okay.
I hear my mother upstairs getting ready. my husband is the last to awaken. They have a small breakfast and coffee. They also make cups to go. We grab our items, books, iPads, and head out.
4:45AM We arrive at the James Street Garage. It is a cold morning. But thankfully it isn't the sub-zero temperatures we have been experiencing. Going up to the elevator, we get a little mixed up, but finally get to the main lobby and find our way to the main elevators and to the 3rd Floor to Ambulatory Surgery, check in and wait to be called.
5:34 They call my name and I am brought back to a bed where a nurse gives me a bracelet and a gown. They take my first set of vitals, ask me the obligatory questions to confirm my name, birthdate, and why I am here. they also ask me other hospital questions required by law. My nurse is very nice and at this point, it is a waiting game. i am my Surgeon's first case (not sure about the only case-but I think I am) of the day.
Sitting and waiting for surgery is never a "good time". But for some reason, I was extremely calm. I knew that it would all be fine. I have every confidence in the procedure, the surgeons, the hospital, the fact that it is known for its orthopedic surgery unit all came into play. I was also pretty tired too. There was a TV on in the waiting area, and that helped to keep things calm.
Shortly I was given my IV, and prepped with yet another scrub down. No infections here! They also came in and took some preliminary blood tests and checked the red bracelet that I had been wearing.
My mother and husband, were brought back and then my Anesthesiologist, a young man who introduced himself in the most friendly and upbeat way. I was really impressed at his level of respect and care in his demeanor. I also really liked how he said "I am going to take excellent care of you today Jennifer". After that we went over the procedure, the process, and were just waiting for blood work to come back.
About 20 minutes or so later, my surgeon, Dr. Timothy J Sauber came in and marked my leg. Said hello and in about two minutes later I was given my first shot of a cocktail of relaxation juice. I said my goodbyes and was wheeled away. From there I cannot tell you anything else but the foggy recollections of the recover room.
My family tells me that the surgery was about 7 1/2 hours in total. Complication free. They did the PAO and also did some work to resurface the femoral head of my leg bone (the femur). they said that they got a call at 4 hours and that they got a good signal. It was just going to be a bit longer.
In recovery, I can remember seeing my Anesthesiologist again, hearing my name being called to me, and that is about it. I know that they were giving me pain level tests and pain medicines. In addition my left hand was experiencing a feeling of extreme numbness. My thumb, index and middle fingers were stiff feeling and felt-to me- numb and waxy. My only complaint was the Recovery Room Nurse who kept passing off my telling her about my hand and then telling my doctors and Nurse in my room that i was "Complaining for no reason"
I was NOT complaining for no reason! I just came out of a 7 1/2 hour surgery and I was experiencing something that wasn't normal. Parts or my body felt abnormal and I was reporting this to medical professionals. There was a reason. Thankfully my nurse in my first room on the tenth floor, Mary called for a Consult and that Jerk Nurse got the stink eye and sent away.
I began to drink ginger ale. My mother and husband visited for a while. I wasn't really able to speak to well since my throat was sore from the breathing tube. I still had a Foley Catheter and would for at least a day or two. I was completely immobile from the waist down. Since I seemed to be somewhat awake, David decided to drive my mother home to her house and was going to come back. While he was gone they brought me a tiny plate of macaroni and cheese with tomatoes and I tolerated it very well. I hadn't eaten since Thursday at 5PM
My first Day/Night after surgery was spent receiving pain medicines, answering pain scale questions (at this point is was 9 or 10). I saw a few doctors, the resident who was in surgery with me, who was super sweet and checked on me a few times.
David stayed with me. And in Godfather style I was moved to another room like Vito Corleone late at night, Since there wasn't enough staff to take care of all of the patients i was being moved from the much nicer rooms to an older section of the Orthopedic floor. It was okay, at that point, it was the care that was important.
Instead of a pull out couch for David they left the extra bed and that is where David slept.
My nighttime nurse was Karen, a very very kind lady who even brought covers for David and would talk to me about the show the First 48 on A&E. It was the only thing I could find that was on that I could watch while I was in and out of sleep. I spent my first night calling for medicines as they began to wear off, or calling for water. I can say it wasn't bad, it was what I expected. I was in a controlled pain state. I would give the day a good grade. The worst was over, the surgery was over and the healing was the next chapter.
~DriveSlow~
