8/16/07

Ahhhh! I’m a loser! I’m a loser! I’m a loser!

I made it to the other side and without any problems. Let me tell you my surgery story:

I got the hospital 8:15 a.m. Dang cab made me wait almost an hour. I was supposed to be there 7:45 a.m. but they didn’t have a problem with me being late. I was the 2nd surgery for Dr. Khalili. I changed into the robe. I’m glad they finally had one of those big mama robes for me. For all my other appointments, they had the skinny minnie robes and I had to hold the darn thing closed or my thingies would fall out.

First, my surgeon, Dr. Khalili came to talk to me. He was nice and sweet, and I totally love him. Then the anesthesiologists’s assistant, Dr. Richardson, came and talked to me. Then the anesthesiologist, Dr. Barrington came and talked to me. Then the head of OR came and talked to me. Basically they ask you the same questions over and over again, including what surgery are you having. I guess that’s a good thing or I might end up with a prostatectomy, LOL!

At around 9, I thought I heard them say the OR room was ready, and I don’t remember a thing after that. I woke up at 4:30 p.m. The nurse said my surgery didn’t start until 10 and it ended at 1 p.m. 3 hours! Wow, I must have weird anatomy or something. I’m sure I must have walked to the OR but I don’t remember ever leaving the room where I first changed. It’s scary the way anesthesia can completely wipe out your memory.

I had to go to the bathroom when I woke up but they wouldn’t let me. I had to go in a small bedpan and ended up urinating everywhere but the bedpan. Hey, it’s not like I got something to aim with. They had to change my sheets and my robe. No biggie! Fortunately, they let me go to the bathroom on my own after that.

I had to wait 2 hours for my room so I didn’t get wheeled into there until 6:30 p.m. Wow! I was out of it half of the day. My room was worth the wait though. I’ve never seen a hospital room that looks like a fancy hotel room before. There was a nice couch, a table and two nice chairs, plus a couple more chairs. I could have had a party in my room. The room was bigger than my apartment. I kid you not! I had two big windows with a nice view. Talk about classy!

I was nauseous when I first woke up but they gave me something for the nausea and I never had a problem with nausea again. I got to drink water after I got to my room. I sipped small amounts just like everyone tells you and had no problem drinking. No hunger whatsoever.

The nurses were all nice and friendly. My nurse Felly sang “Oh Donna” to me. She said that’s her favorite song. It’s mine too! All in all, my surgery day went pretty well. The pain was not horrific. It basically feels like I’ve done 100 sit-ups. It’s not the incisions that hurt. It’s the fact that they cut into the muscle but it’s not bad, and when they give me the pain medication, there are times when I felt no pain whatsoever.