My Surgery

When I switched health insurances, I changed my doctor to Wayne’s doctor.  He quickly assessed that I had a torn meniscus that really needed repair.  To add to it, the tear was balled up under my knee cap which could explain why I can't put my leg up on the ottoman without pain and feeling like the whole cap would pop!

I saw a surgeon and my surgery set for December 16.  Since insurance is so wishy washy now, I wanted this done before the end of the year.  I figured I would be back on my feet in two weeks like Wayne was—I didn’t factor in this %$&!@ brace!

"The Brace"

The day of the surgery, I got checked in and put in a bed next a man and a 90 year old lady on either side of me separated by curtains.  The guy on my left was cantankerous and giving the nurses a hard time.  When the nurse came into my section, she said that her dad is just like that after he suffered a stroke—this man had suffered a stroke recently.  He did remind me of my dad—when his fear surfaced, he would be a bear too, so I totally understood.

The lady was pretty quiet—her husband did enough talking.  He was concerned about her and wanted to be informed of everything that was going on.  He wasn’t being informed enough and finally someone came in and satisfied his questions. His wife had been in before and went she went under, she lost some of her memory, hence, his concern. 

The drama of the two patients actually calmed me down.  I was more concerned with them then my stress.  Wayne was sitting next to me all the time being quiet too.  He has been super with this whole thing. The lady next to me went for her colonoscopy and came back.  They gave her something different to wake her up quickly.  Her memory seemed intact with all the questions she answered.  The grumpy man had already left and wasn’t back.  I think they took him early to quiet him.

 Some guy came in and fitted a brace on me for after the surgery and gave me some crutches. Strange, Wayne never got crutches and a brace.  We chalked it up to different surgeons. Time went by quickly and then a large black man who actually looked like the Obama fake deaf interpreter (at the funeral in Kenya).   

So off I went to the surgery. On the way I saw the lady’s husband standing in the hallway.  He asked about his wife, the intern said she was in her room and he could go back there. I said that she is doing fine; he gave me a smile and headed back.

My stress soon escalated and Wayne said my rosacea was in full bloom! He kissed me and I went into the surgery area where he couldn’t go.  The black intern was making me laugh—good strategy.  I was wheeled next to the grumpy guy (separated by the curtain but I knew his voice!)  Grumpy was looped on drugs when the black intern looked in on him.  Grumpy saw him and with drugged slurred speech said, “You’re ok, you know that ? You’re ok, man!”

The intern came to my side and said that Grumpy was out of it.  I told him that I know him from the previous room, just like the lady’s husband.  He laughed and said “We’re going to call you Mrs. Rogers!” “You know everyone!” He continued with the jokes…..it wasn’t working any more.  I needed drugs!

The anesthesiologist came and gave me something for nerves and it was seconds before it worked.  I woke up and everything was done.  I don’t remember much after that and maybe that’s good.  They kept giving me pain meds.

I am looking forward to walking without this brace!!!  I tire easily but I think that that is my medication.  Tonight, I am just taking Aleve because later this week I want my driving back! And with that, my freedom!

Misha loving up to me with my knee :)