Elective surgeries are set to expire
So…
I was back home by noon today. However did this work?
Well, let’s just do a quick run-through of the past week. So, in my efforts at perfect denial, I acted like it was no big deal…another surgery. I got prepared like I usually do for these kinds of things…I got the heparin (lovenox) and started doing injections twice a day starting Tuesday morning. Lovenox is what you get to use when you are special like me and have good relations with your coumadin nurse and she hooks you up (coumadin is a blood thinner I am on and prevents strokes). This saved me several days in the hospital and some special headaches and aggravation. I am a weirdo, and can admit that I feel a special kind of comfort at the hospital (Mt. Sinai in particular), but who wants to do that on purpose?
So I walked my slick ass to the train this morning at 4:15 am…got to Mt. Sinai at a quarter of 6, and checked in. I made a new friend in the OR patient waiting room who laughed with me when I was talking to the anesthesiologist about my history…something in response to his question of is there anything else in terms of medical stuff we need to know about…the guy and I were both like, “I think that that is enough.”
Then I went in, and thought I was being tricky about the oxygen mask. Unfortunately it was general anesthesia, and yes, I was intubated. They can’t finagle so well with the larynx reacting to the stimulation without the tube in place. I was awake for about ten minutes, EXCITED to go under, and then poof, I was being rustled out of peaceful sleep. This was really no fun-at-all. Not only was my throat on fire, but I could not see, and I could not freaking breathe. The most effective comparison was this: Imagine swallowing a dry rope (I told them this is how I felt). Then imagine it being pulled in and out a few times and just left in. Oh fun. So Dr. Woo had to break out his fancy briefcase and stick his camera down my nostril to check on the larynx (that sucked pretty bad as well…but I have had that procedure before). He saw a little bruise, which was responsible for a bit of discomfort, and said it looked ok.
After a few painkillers injected into my IV I started feeling better and got up to use the restroom after I regained my sight. Then they prepped me for my departure and my post op nurse rolled me down to the 2nd floor herself so I wouldn’t have to wait an hour for transport. I got there and the nurses were very nice even being obviously stressed but understaffed because of the storm. When I was leaving the nurse asked me if I worked there, to which I whispered, no, I’m just here a lot.
Then we scurried to the snowbank on 5th avenue and caught a cab to 9th street. Took that home and then voila—walked to our home through the snow.
My conclusion–no more elective surgeries. If I ever have to have one, fine. But never will I say, oh yeah, great idea, cut me open for something not life threatening. Though I do like certain facets of hospital town…being in pain is not one of them.
Thank you to every one of you who thought of me and sent me good thoughts and/or texted those happy wishes. It’s always the nicest when you have a web of support going into these things.
And PS: I think it worked. I am not supposed to talk for many days so the material injected does not get dislodged, but my whispers seem to match my old voice (pre-surgery). That sounds about right to me.
Stay warm, and throw snow. 🙂
I’m glad you are okay 🙂
My nurse hooked me up with Lovenox once so I could go home a few days early 🙂 Isn’t it nice to have those sort of people in charge?
Thank you and yes! I agree. I feel like Liz (my nurse) is like a very maternal figure–very interested in helping me though sometimes all business. It seems to depend on when I get a hold of her (this is a 10 year relationship now). But nobody wants me to have to be in the hospital unless it is absolutely necessary these days…which is right in line with my thinking. The only other surgical possibility would have had a week in the hospital. How much better is it to sit on the couch and relax? Sooo much.
Ok, well, I read this a few times and don’t really get what happened, but whatever- it sounded really sucky & painful but optimistic and worth it (?? I hope!!)
You need your voice back- for quality of life alone. So, while technically it *was* elective, but it was still important.
Hope you’re feeling ok and getting taken care of well.
I didn’t go to work today because my mini cooper couldn’t even make it down the driveway. So, I’m still on the couch, in my pajamas- and no throwing snow for me. 🙂
ah forget about it…the snow was terrible. I have camera phone photos I should put up. I meant to document my day, but we can all see how often I follow up on those promises. I need better tools (ie a camera).
oh…and I did a bit of edit so it was a bit clearer…maybe?
Thanks for the well wishes, too!
🙂
That description of how your throat felt after surgery made me cringe, but I’m glad it went well.
Get plenty of rest and I hope you have a speedy recovery 🙂
Thanks!
The rope metaphor hit me immediately and was fresh for the moment. It sucked. I don’t recommend taking it lightly…though I think it did work.
🙂
I’m glad you are ok sweetheart. *HUG* I was worried sick…too many nightmares to contemplate. Please please take care. It’s worth it to protect yourself you you don’t HAVE to go back under. *gentle hugs*
Glad it’s over and you are ok. 🙂
It is weird how elective surgeries or minor procedures can end up being such a bigger deal than the major ones. I don’t remember suffering much from my 3 major surgeries… (heart was just being extubated, nausea and its result and having the chest tubes pulled at the end of the stay – which all was more just scary than painful in comparison) but for the tubaligation, which was just a spinal, pain management became a much bigger issue during surgery and afterwards.
Totally agree… avoid them as much as possible.
It’ll be nice to have your voice back though…
Aww, I liked the female Tom Waits thing you had going on.
…after I regained my sight.
What do you mean by that? You were briefly blind?
Not only was my throat on fire, but I could not see, and I could not freaking breathe. The most effective comparison was this: Imagine swallowing a dry rope (I told them this is how I felt). Then imagine it being pulled in and out a few times and just left in. Oh fun. So Dr. Woo had to break out his fancy briefcase and stick his camera down my nostril to check on the larynx (that sucked pretty bad as well…but I have had that procedure before).
This sounds so painful Francis. Why could you not see?
Right now PsychoRoommate [tm] is saturating his former room with chemicals (painting and plastering and fuck knows what else), and the chemical fumes are giving me a splitting headache.
I love you. XO