My dear old buddy Walter (my stuffed elephant) was my companion for my surgery, along with both of my parents. Originally mom had an appointment with her Doctor in Columbus at 3pm but they actually called on Monday to reschedule her, so she was able to come and stay. And boy am I glad she was there!
Prep is the hardest part of surgery. I got there and the room was freezing and I had to change into one of those robes that tie up the back, and wasn't allowed to wear any other clothes. Of course, my panic made my heart race and therefore kept me warmer than I normally would have been. My favorite thing was the amazing green tractioned socks they gave me. I was allowed to keep them and am totes wearing them as we speak!
Not long after I got there and was changed a nurse came in to tell me that I was going to take a Valium and some anti-nausea meds before she stuck in my IV. Now, my doctor had said I would also be given the gas to sedate me due to my fear of needles but apparently the anesthesiologist said "NO!".
That was when the panic started.
However, Valium is pretty great, I won't lie, and once it kicked in I walked my mom through taking pictures with my Blackberry. Dad took pictures to text to dear Johnny.
Yes, the grey thing is Walter. And my arm is bent like that over him not just so I could keep hold but also because it turns out they needed to take blood. In the crook of my arm is a bit of gauze that you can't see that is clotting the tiny hole. Apparently they used what's called a butterfly needle. I guess it's smaller than the usual needles. I asked if they could check my blood type because we have no idea what it is but she said unfortunately they couldn't this time around. Mom told me just to visit a biology teacher, that's how she learned hers!
Anywho, Valium works wonders because there was no fainting at all, not with the IV or with the blood extraction. The IV definitely was uncomfortable and I refused to move my arm because it made it more noticeable, but actually once I came out of surgery and was awake I'd forgotten it was there. Although I do remember when they were moving me at some point that the tube got caught on something and nearly pulled it out.
All of the people who helped with the prep were great, very friendly and understanding.
My dad, due to being buddies with the doctor and being an athletic trainer, was actually allowed to come into the operation room and watch the procedure. I haven't discussed it with him but I'm positive he enjoyed it. We actually have a stack of photos of the inside of my knee that he's going to talk me through later. But because he got to come in he changed into the same scrubs everyone else was wearing and looked surprisingly normal in them.
The last thing I remember is being in the holding room surrounded by my dad, my doctor, the helper anesthesiologist guy and a nurse, all in teal scrubs, and the helper anesth. guy told me he was giving me the happy juice and stuck a needle into the IV tube. I felt the effects almost immediately.
Next thing I knew I was waking up. I heard all kinds of people around me but opening my eyes was hard. I was aware of my arm still clutching Walter (though he apparently did not go into the O.R. with me), but every time I tried to open my heavy eyelids the room kind of shook and I couldn't focus on anything. My body shook uncontrollably every few minutes. It was a relief to be sleeping, since I barely slept the night before. I remember the nurse asking questions, though I don't remember what they were, but I do remember asking why my tongue hurt. I guess I bit it sometime during the procedure. I also remember being asked if I'd rather have Sprite or water and opting for Sprite.
I don't even remember being wheeled back to my room, really.
They did give me Sprite, and nothing ever tasted so good. It went down easy and I had no nausea at all, though I was still shaking like a spastic colon, to quote Kirk from Gilmore Girls.
They brought mom and dad back in, and also our friend Susan. Susan was originally supposed to be my baby-sitter but was no longer needed since Mom was going to be home. Mom told me that she always shakes when she comes out of anesthesia too, so that was nothing to worry about. And it was really great that she was there because once I had stopped shaking and was more coherent I really had to go to the ladies room, but with ace bandages from mid-calf to mid-thigh that was going to be difficult.
She helped me waddle into the adjacent restroom and held my arm so I didn't fall and then held the IV bag that was still attached to my arm and then helped me get dressed. My knees didn't exactly bend. And I actually carried the IV bag back myself, which my parents thought was a huge accomplishment.
But being able to keep down liquids and using the restroom were the requirements to escaping!
Pretty soon I finished my Sprite and a package of graham crackers and was fully dressed and the IV was FINALLY out of my arm so they put me in a wheelchair where my legs stuck straight out in front of me with nothing to support them and took me out to the front doors where the car was waiting. Johnny had since sent me a text letting me know he was at my house waiting and a friend of the family had made dinner for us (but I ate some of the leftover mashed potatoes my younger sister thoughtfully made for me the night before... shhh, don't tell!).
All in all everything went very well. A million and one people had sent me texts and Facebook well wishes and one of my good friends actually stopped by to give me flowers, Hagen Daas vanilla caramel ice cream, and the first half of my bridesmaid gift! And honestly, I think that now I've been through this going to the Doctor for shots and such will be easier in the future.
But for now I take a generic Percocet every four hours or so to stave off pain, I am able to waddle around a little and can make it up the stairs (down requires some assistance), and I spent the day watching Iron Man 2 and Smallville and chatting with Johnny, who had the day off and spent it here with me. Currently I'm enjoying some chai tea and soon Dad will come down to explain the photos to me. Tomorrow my bandages come off and I'll finally be able to shower! I'm very thankful it's over, and even more thankful that soon, very soon, I will be pain free for the first time in months!
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