I survived surgery

My cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) was scheduled for 1:00 yesterday with an 11:00 check-in. To make sure we weren't late for check in we left my place about 9:45 and ended up being almost an hour early. That was ok though because, with the renovation construction, we had to park on the opposite side of the hospital and wind our way through the construction detours in the hospital. I was then about 30 minutes early but that was ok. I got checked in and payed my bill in full- it was the remainder of my out of pocket maximum less 20% if I paid up front. Since the discount was significant, dad loaned me the money and I'll pay him back. It was a lot of money but a great deal for surgery- $1015.75.

After checking in, I headed to the second floor to short stay. They got me set up in a bed with a bear paw gown. It was the paper gown with a very plastic liner and within minutes I was rolling in sweat. The combination of nerves and my lower body temperature just lead we to overheat quickly. The bed was too flat for my back to handle so I ended up sitting on the bed for 30 minutes for someone to come. I was 15 minutes early and they were 15 minutes late so it combined to be a long wait. When the nurse came in she was great! She knew of my mom (mom taught nursing for 35 years and her students were usually place there at McKenzie Willamette- several people stopped her to say hi while we were there). She reassured me that my surgeon was very careful and the one she entrusted her daughter to when she needed surgery. Since I'd only met him once and had no information about him, that was very nice to hear. I realized my nerves partially stemmed from the rememberance that my grandmother died after this surgery due to a surgeon's poor sterile technique.

My heart rate and blood pressure were pretty high- 98 bpm, and 147/101. My diastolic has only ever been that high when I'm in the hospital. The nurse called it white coat syndrome and asked for Versed. She adjusted my bed to a comfortable position and got my bear paw hooked up to an airflow system which usually warms patients but in my case they used cool air to cool me down. It's really amusing to see my gown attached to a vacuum hose and blown up like a marshmallow. Between it and the compression wraps on my legs I looked like the Michelin Man.


Once the IV was in she delivered the Versed and I was much more comfortable. I dosed off and on but was grateful for Mom and Dad's reassuring presence (although I think Dad was just as nervous and scared as I was, he insisted on a picture of mom and I before I got checked in). Dr. Stites came by to go over the after care and to let me know they were running an hour behind. He restricted me to 15 lbs weight for four weeks, no immersion in a tub or exercise beyond walking until after he sees me in two weeks, a low fat diet consisting of NO red meat for two months, and no driving until after my follow up. Some of this had to be modified after surgery. But I'll get to that.

It ended up being 3:00 before I was rolled back to the OR through the construction zone hallways piled floor to ceiling with surgical equipment. It was rather terrifying. The OR is cold and intimidating but they got me under rather quickly.

I woke up in recovery in a panic attack they tried to give me Daloted but with no results so they gave me more Versed. Recovery is all a blur and I next remember waking up back in short term stay. The surgeon told me I was going to be sorer than expected because he'd had to enlarge on of the incisions and do quite a bit of tugging to get the gall bladder out due to a golf ball sized stone. He increased my restrictions to six weeks from four. They got me started on the Oxycodone and we waited until I could get up and pee before I was released. Peeing was no problem but getting out of bed was painful and challenging.
So now I'm back st Mon and Dad's and I'm definitely going to be here more than 24 hours since I cannot move with out assistance.
Now the pain meds gave kicked in and I'm going back to sleep.