The days went by fast and slow. Then came the final day, the prep day. I was pretty anxious on Monday while waiting to start the final pre-op routine. When 4pm came I had to do my first enema. Let's just say it's not fun, but not as bad as I thought it was going to be. The next few hours crept along, until it finally came time to go over to the hospital. My surgery buddy and I followed one of the nurses over to the hospital and into our room. There we were given an overview of the process. We put on our pajamas, were given something to help us sleep and we went to bed.
I barely slept at all. The next morning I was awake when a nurse came in and said that there was a minor procedure before us, then Lisa (my surgery buddy) would be next, then me. It was another restless couple of hours until they came in and took Lisa away to be remade. I just waited, and waited. I heard no word from anyone until around 1pm when a nurse came and said it was my turn. I followed her to the elevator and we stopped on a floor where a bunch of gernies were lying around. She took me to the first one, took some measurements, and told me, "When you get out of surgery you will be taken to a recovery room and someone will be there the whole time. I leave you now but this is the last time you will be alone."
She left me there wrapped in a warm blanket. It was some time before someone came out of the operating room ahead and came up to me. This was it. I crept a hand down there and touched it one last time. This is where we depart. I was wheeled into the OR among the constant hustle and bustle of French-speaking people. I just smiled. Occassionally I would hear a phrase in English...they were asking me a question. I answered. I remember them doing whatever they do for the spinal tap. Before I went into surgery, Dr. Brassard came to me and asked me if I had any questions. I asked him if I would be completely out during the surgery. He said it was my choice. I told him that's what I wanted.
I remember waking up in my room. The details are fuzzy, but at some point Dr. Brassard came in to check up on me. He asked me if I remember anything from the surgery. I said no and thanked him. He was very personable and comforting. I smiled. After a while my senses came back. The nurses would come in and take some measurements, give me drugs, and go about their business. There was not much pain at all. I didn't really sleep that night, but I'm not complaining. I was pretty loopy from the drugs they gave me, so I just turned my iPod on and floated through the night.
The schedule was easy to follow. Wake up, get measurements taken, take drugs, eat breakfast, wait, then repeat for lunch and dinner. The schedule worked out well, but any deviation left me very uncomfortable. Yesterday they took my order for lunch but forgot to give me my pain meds. It didn't take long before I was a 6 out of 10 on the pain scale. They quickly gave me the meds, and the drugs work quickly. Overall, I only remember being in pain two times, the rest of the time was mild discomfort, which was easily forgotten with some music or conversation.
Today I was taken back to the residence. It was the first time I used the donut they provided me. I will be getting a better one soon. It was still about an hour until lunch when the pain started increasing. Going from lying in bed all day at the hospital to walking up stairs, down stairs, all around, really takes its toll. By the time lunch came I was in very much pain. I asked a nurse when I'll be getting my pain meds and she went to check when I was due. During that time I tried preparing myself for lunch. It wasn't going very well. The donut sucks, it hurts sitting upright (that was the only time pain started creeping in at the hospital), and I started crying. The nurse gave me 2 blue pills - the pain meds - and said to take them quickly, knowing I was in pain.
I couldn't get my position right and eventually decided I wasn't hungry enough for this pain and I went upstairs. The drugs have taken affect. The pain is still there now, but it's manageable. I think I'm going to try and sleep now. I'll post another update when appropriate.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and support.
~Sarah
