The day started bright and early by leaving the house at 4:30 am. I had to sign in at 5 am for my 7 am surgery. I wasn't feeling too nervous which was surprising to me. Usually in a situation like this I am extremely nervous, sweaty, emotional, you name it. But today I was good. I was ready. Kev and I got to the hospital and checked in and Alicia met us there. We waited in the waiting room for a few minutes and then I was called in to finish up my registration, get my wristbands and of course pay my co-pay. It was just a short time after that that a nurse came out to get me and we all went back to the pre-op area for more preparations. I had to change out of my clothes and put on the lovely gown which was now going to be my outfit for the nest couple days. Different nurses came in and asked different questions, verified what I was doing there and basically did more preparations. The anestisologist came in and talked about what she would be doing to take care of me in the surgery room as well as how I would be getting a spinal block and light anesthesia so that I would not have any pain or be awake. This was now about the time I started to get nervous. I think she could tell because she was very reassuring that I wouldn't feel anything and would have the surgery and then wake up in the recovery room. The nurse told me I was the doctors first surgery that morning so we were just about ready to get started. I had an IV put in and then I had my spinal block put in. Although it was not as easy as I just made it sound. I had to swing my legs over the side of the bed while I hugged a pillow and the nurse held me. This was the preferred method of getting the block in. Try # 1 fail. Try # 2 fail. Try # 3 fail again. Finally try # 4 was a success. There were times this hurt, a lot. I remember the nurse getting a tissue and wiping the tears from my eyes. The anestisologist couldn't get it in. My body was not cooperating. Evidently I have arthritis in my back and she could not get the needle to go in past it. I felt sharp pains here and there and that is what brought on the tears. Plus I think I was just getting super nervous. So she tried again and again still with no luck. By the end of the third try she decided she would wait for the head of the department who was right across hall with a different patient. He came over and got it right in.
I don't remember too much from here but I do know I saw the doctor and introduced him to Kev and Alicia and then told Alicia to take our picture.
Later in the afternoon one of the physical therapists from the hospital came in and got me up.
I had a walker to use and wasn't really sure how to use it. I was trying to use it like crutches and was picking it up and then scooting it and was just doing it all wrong. You really are just supposed to slide it and stay in between it. It is good to keep as a guide as well as a stabilizer. We walked two doors down the hall turned around and came back. I was exhausted. This hurt quite a bit but was definitely tolerable. It was shocking to me and everyone else that I got up and walked on my new knee right away. But for it to be successful you need to put it to work right away. The PT gave me some exercises to do while I was just sitting in bed and assured me that although they may hurt they are necessary for recovery. Honestly I figured anything from here on out that I did was going to hurt.
Through out the rest of the day I was monitored to see where my pain level was at and given what I needed to help get it under control. I was getting morphin shots in my IV but that was something that they did not want to keep doing. It's very strong and very addictive. I liked it cause it works very well. They started to just give me some pain pills which worked at times and other times had to be backed up with an IV shot.
Surgery was a success so far. Overall the day went well. They do say that day two can sometimes be harder because everything is now wearing off. But we'll see. Right now I just need to make it thru the night.
Through out the rest of the day I was monitored to see where my pain level was at and given what I needed to help get it under control. I was getting morphin shots in my IV but that was something that they did not want to keep doing. It's very strong and very addictive. I liked it cause it works very well. They started to just give me some pain pills which worked at times and other times had to be backed up with an IV shot.
Surgery was a success so far. Overall the day went well. They do say that day two can sometimes be harder because everything is now wearing off. But we'll see. Right now I just need to make it thru the night.
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