Sunday, December 18, 2011

Day 1: The Surgery

I was finally contacted late Thursday afternoon about the time of surgery. It was scheduled for 10:40, but I had to be there at 8:40. I was asked to purchase an antiseptic soap called hibiclense and wash thoroughly with it, so against everything I believe in I purchased this ridiculously expensive, over-sized bottle of liquid soap at full price. And without a coupon. I almost fainted. I got up early to shower with that stuff and make a big pan of baked oatmeal. Why do I torture myself like that. I love baked oatmeal, especially the smell of it baking and yet I wasn't able to eat any of it. Nothing to eat or drink since midnight.

We arrived at the hospital a couple minutes late and they checked me in, asked me to change into the dreaded hospital gown and pee in a cup to make sure a wasn't pregnant. Then an annoying, yet slightly humorous routine started. A lady entered the room to check my medical history, but first she asked me to state my full name and birth date. Then another lady entered the room to wash my leg with the exact same stuff I spent a fortune on, but first asked me to state my full name and birth date. Then a man entered the room to go over my anesthesia with me, but first asked me... Yep, you guessed it. And still one more lady and one more man.
Such a tedious thing just begged to be interrupted by some excitement. So surgery was started about an hour early! They wheeled me down to the anesthesia room and gave me a relaxant and a femoral block, which basically numbed my whole right leg. That's the last I remember, but apparently they wheeled me back to see Micah one last time before surgery and we conversed... apparently. And I asked him to take my picture.


Then around 1:00 I woke up in recovery. Very drowsy. I stayed there for a about 10 minutes, but I can't recall anything that was said or done during that time except that I overheard a nurse complaining about how one of her co-workers who always makes a delicious white chocolate peppermint stuff was on vacation. I yelled out "peppermint bark!" She came over and I told her how to make it :) At least I think I did. Hopefully she's not trying to cook it on a grill or something. Two men wheeled me to my room and on the way they asked me how I injured my knee. I decided to tell them that it happened in an MMA fight with my husband. I think they believed me.

They gave me a morphine drip which I controlled, using as often as I wanted, but no more then once every 8 minutes. This made me very nauseas. My leg was still numb, but there was a strong ache in the lower half of my shin. I hate medications, so I put off taking the oxycodone until around 6:00. That helped, but it takes an hour to kick in and that first hour makes you super drowsy. Then at 9:00 they started me on a blood thinner injection into my abdomen.

Micah and I tried to sleep. At 1:30am I awoke to incredible pain, now in my knee. The block must have worn off. The nurse gave me more oxycodone which wouldn't kick in for nearly an hour, so with the help of the drowsy side effect and cried myself to sleep.

2 comments:

  1. oh amanda:( bless your heart. i love the picture and i love your sense of humor through everything! i have been thinking of you and was praying for the surgery. how are you doing by now? will pray. xo

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  2. Just catching up on this blog... Wish I knew you needed hibiclense. I had to get it for my hernia surgery and had the same reaction. And now I have 3/4 of a bottle in my medicine cabinet that I'm hoping I never have to use. bleh.

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