Today is my two year anniversary. Exactly two years ago this very moment I was dreaming away, sooo pleasantly, on the table, feeling warm, and experiencing the best 'high' of my life. I chose the spinal block and Propofol route, and it was soooo yummy!
When I awoke, I was laughing and chattering away like a child at an amusement park. The nurse that was there with me looked at me and smiled, as I blurted out "Let's go again, I wanna go again, lolol". She laughed and we both felt the joy. I asked her if everybody felt so good from the drugs, and she said that happy people wake up happy, and sad people wake up not so happy. I hadn't even considered the fact that my parts had been fixed yet, it was just the fun of the 'twilight sleep' that propofol creates. No wonder Michael Jackson used it every night, heck, he could..
But, nore importantly, down below, where my legs lay immobile, where I still felt so warm, and peaceful, and safe, down there was the real prize. I had been restored, and my new life was upon me.
Yes, there is another journey beyond that surgical miracle, and it was a LOT of work during those first three months post-op, and I did underestimate how much time and maintenance that recovery entailed. I am fortunate that I had my two sisters available to scrub and sterilize my tub four times a day, and to shop for me, and to make me meals, and to buy me lube and pads and wipes and so many other things..
I am sooo very lucky, in so many ways.
We live in amazing times, we really do, and Dr. Brassard and Dr. Belanger are two very special people. They gave me my life back. For that, I will always feel a HUGE debt of gratitude.
To those that come after me, enjoy the ride, this is one very special trip.
I recovered in room #5, the single bed unit upstairs by the back exit. Every day, before breakfast, I would get up early and wash myself, put on my makeup, and dress for breakfast in the dining room. The chef was a real sweetheart, we were thick as thieves, and she would always greet me with "ahh, Missy la Belle, how are you feeling today?", lol. Because I didn't choose to go under fully with general anesthesia, I was never nauseated and my appetite was strong. The other girls were green and had a hard time eating and holding food and fluids down, which slowed their recoveries down a lot. I am not a doctor, but they did inform us all that this was to be expected, so I chose the spinal blocker, and I am glad I did. Just sayin', cuz I was up and out of bed right away, and I felt great really quickly. My first day after surgery I completed 50 trips around the nurse's station, many girls struggled with even a few, some couldn't do any more than the required minimum the whole time before we were transferred to the recovery house next door.
Can't say what others should do, but that was my experience, for what it is worth..
Good luck, sisters, whatever you choose!!
Missy
