Surgery Update

Monday was the big day. Surgery was scheduled for 7:30 AM. We got to the hospital at 5:20, and was checked in by 5:30. About 5:45, the nurse took me back to begin surgery prep. Gown, anti-embolism boots, vital stats, more medical history, and then mostly waiting. About 6:15 Dr. Levine, my surgeon stopped by for a quick review and to mark me up for surgery:

 

 (update: The N stands for "Nucleus," the trademark name of my implant. I had a choice of which device to have implanted.)

Next up the anesthesiologist and her resident stopped by to set up the IV. Big time fail for the resident. His first attempt in my left hand, he missed completely, resulting in a big balloon of IV fluid building up under the skin. His second attempt on the right hand was better, but even that, after they wheeled me in to the operating room, they re-did the IV a third time in my right arm.

 

After wheeling me into the OR, they strapped me down to the table, and within a couple of minutes I was out, and the next thing I now, I’m waking up in the recovery room.  The first thoughts I remember waking were the Cowboy Junkies “Darkling Days” and their cover of “Sweet Jane.” Other than that mostly, I just remember the nurse saying that they had finished at 10:30, and asking every few minutes for me to rate the pain, and her giving me more painkillers by IV.

 

 

Being moved from recovery to my room made me a bit nauseous, so they gave me something for that. Other than that, the pain was surprisingly bearable: mostly in my jaw (the surgeon’s resident said they had to cut a little bit of muscle), and my neck (from being stretched to one side for three hours).

 

I think I’ve only had three or four percocet for the pain. The rest has been plain Tylenol. Just as well, since the percocet gives me a rash. They held me over night at the hospital, which I spent mostly sleeping and watching the fall out from the failed wall street vote in the  House of Representatives.

 

 

The next morning, the resident removed the bandage, showed off the incision to a group of medical students, and cleared me for discharge. No lifting over 15 pounds, and no strenuous activity (including biking) for two weeks. My post –op exam is scheduled for Oct. 21.

 

The incision is probably not even going to be visible after it heals. The made it right in the crease behind the ear:

 

 

I think I’m going to take at least one more day off,and maybe try to go in for at least awhile on Friday.