Surgery Aftermath
I had surgery on Tuesday, April 23rd, wearing the customary dressing gown with my butt showing. I’m not sure why there are so many questions; oh, I appreciate the detail about the event, the anesthesia precautions and explanations but the redundancy didn’t warm the back side of my open gown. After a wait in the on bull pen, I was finally gurneyed to a, staging area. A gruff appearing anesthetist, not one of the anesthetists that I had met the week before, wheeled me to the on deck circle. After several discussions about how they are going to manage my pain (no, I don’t want to be awake during surgery; why would I want to be awake?) they introduced sonograms to find my nerves for the nerve blocks, cold and greasy. Other than the skin pricks I felt nothing, instead I’m wondering why it takes four guys to witness this process, especially, the periodontist.
I’m finally I wheeled into the OR it’s after 11 AM. I notice that they are playing hard rock music in the background; hum, just like on TV. Really, hard rock? To add insult to injury they ask me to assist scooting onto the operating table. The music isn’t loud but there is a large number of people for the event. The periodontist places oxygen mask over my nose, he’s pressing on my bridge, I move his had so the mask in over my nose. He readjusts and is again pressing on the bridge on my nose, I move his hand again. No one is talking to me. I’m waiting…
I don’t know the time, l awoke and the inside of my ankle was on fire; after several unsuccessful attempts to stem the pain (at 6 or 7 on a scale of 10), I don’t remember what, another anesthetist, a woman, appeared and informed me that she would apply a never block on the inside of my leg. After about an hour the pain numbed.
We arrived at home about 7 PM. My brother-in-law, Mitchell Allen, was on site to assist my getting from the car to the house and up the two flights of stairs. He did really have to do much since my stair negotiation is straight forward function of the butt scoot; but his moral support spoke volumes. Thanks Mitch!
After the first two nights of sleeping in and breaking my side of the Lazy-Boy, I began to seek establishing a sense of presence. I had gotten more comfortable with the walker and began to sleep in bed, trying not to disturb Louise too much. As a Type II diabetic, which had been controlled by diet and exercise, I am most concerned since exercise has been dealt a serious blow. This issue will have to be addressed but for now; how to get comfortable lugging around the heavy plaster splint and getting some sleep. I sleep in 2 hour segments interrupted by frequent bedside water voiding. I know too much information.
I maintained my Mandarin tutoring not only as a way of maintaining my sanity but now there are none of the day to day distractions which interrupt my studying.
May 3, 2013
The last ten days have flowed uneventfully. Louise continues to be involved with her craft workshops, although she did forgo a cropping weekend (scrap booking) and did not stay overnight. Most important is that I have been getting visitors; plus, several times meals have been brought in and Louise brings me specialties from her lunch outings. Thank you all.
Next schedule visit to orthopedics in Tuesday, May 7th, my understanding is that if all is going well with my ankle healing I will get a “permanent” lightweight fiberglass cast. Big question: How can I improve my mobility, my need to negotiate stairs and getting out of the house for outings? I will email my VA med team and inquire about what options are available to me.
May 7, 2013
Spent late morning and early afternoon at the VA today for my orthopedic update. Other than a 45 minute waiting period to the day was long but agreeable. My ankle and foot were not infected and a very jovial lady cast me with a nice purple cast with Louise’s assistance.
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