THE DAY BEFORE SURGERY
After a the disappointment of not being able to have the day off from work, I decided to fore go my bus ride and suck it up and pay for parking. We woke up to sub-freezing temperatures and below zero wind chills. Thankful for my remote starter, I put on my layers and headed out the door. I made it to the office by 7:00AM. I was feeling anxious, but also knew that I could only do what I could in my work day and the rest would have to fall into the hands of my very capable coworkers and a very eager, caring Temp. I wasn't planning on slacking, but I wasn't going to add to the stress that was naturally occurring. I had my NutriBullet smoothie ready for lunch and the day was off to a good start.
The day progressed, however I was anxiously awaiting my call from the hospital for my arrival time. Apparently in recent years it has become protocol to call a patient the day before a procedure for their official arrival time. I guess to account for cancellations, or to just make us crazy. I am sure there is a lot that goes into Operating Room Logistics that we would never see, nor want to know about. Things like procurement of equipment, tools, staff, etc. It has to be a huge undertaking in and of itself. I keep my phone with me, with the ringer on, AT ALL TIMES.
1:14PM RING RING RING A-ha! I get my call from Colleen at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) Surgery Scheduling. One of THE nicest and most helpful schedule callers I have ever had the pleasure to speak with in my life. So, if anyone knows Colleen, please pass this along to her!
Speaking with Miss Colleen, I was instructed to arrive at the hospital at 5:00AM, Park in the James Street Garage, go to the third floor to the Ambulatory Surgical Center and check in at the Desk. I was also given last minute pre surgery instructions which are as follows:
- No makeup
- No nail polish
- No contact lenses (wear your glasses)
- No jewelry of any kind
- No eating or drinking after 11:30 pm
- Use Hibicleanse tonight and again on the morning of surgery from the neck down as an anti-bacterial body wash.
- Wear loose clothing
- Do not bring valuables
- If I was staying overnight have my family member keep the bag in the car.
So, I thanked her and got on with my day. Googled Hibicleanse and texted my mother who kindly said that she would go out to WalMart and get it. She would be coming to our house and spending the night and coming with us to the hospital. I was told that the parking voucher was only one per family per patient. Which, in all honesty, seemed pretty fair.
After having a conversation with my boss, who somehow thought my surgery was a SATURDAY and not the day I had told him about a few months earlier He asked me if I was getting ready Ummm, yes, my surgery is tomorrow..... So after telling me I could leave early, I was already at work well over half the day. this conversation came after he declined my request for the day off, going through the proper channels, I could have just called off and left everyone hanging. What surgeon does a planned surgery on a SATURDAY??? NONE-ZERO That is reserved for emergency cases. But whatever, I guess some people don't listen.
After I got my daily deposit of checks of course, today, the day before the end of the month, was the day that the check scanner decides not to work. I decided that the best thing to do was to put in a ticket for the help desk, tell my boss that I would take the stack to the bank, post the deposit and go the heck home!
He agreed-wished me well and I was done for the day. I gave a few hugs. Had a few people come by throughout the day, but in order to keep myself calm I didn't want any big to-do.
My friend Donna did pray with me as I left the building-She was in the lunchroom and we hugged.
There is a bank in my way home so i stopped at that one rather than walk in the freezing cold weather Downtown
The evening was pretty calm-I went to dinner with my mom, just a short trip to "Fancy Wendy's"
Watching Jeopardy-
I did my shower and we watched a little tv then went to bed. David had a Basketball game and he returned home later. I made sure my few items were packed and I was ready to go.
It was going to happen!
~DRIVE SLOW~
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