Jewells of Thought

Five months ago I had to get up really early to tear off more of my skin for a second time. The Hibiclens soap I was given a week and a half earlier was to be used two times; half the bottle at a time. I think that was the worst part of the process having no skin left before the surgery even started.

After all this time there are still some moments that stick in my mind. When I got there I had already been registered online a week earlier so I just went to the desk and gave them my name and they had me and my parents sit down. We sat down on the opposite side from last time and I do remember it was a little longer than the last time. I did not let that work on my nerves though. Mom was with me this time and that was what I missed the most the last time.

Following every surgery, I have ended up throwing up on the way home or once I get home. To be prophylactic, it was discussed, with the assistant to the Anesthesiologist to use the transdermal route. The nurse put a patch behind my ear that would stop the effects of nausea in its tracks so I was told. Up to that point I didn’t think that could happen. I had up to 3 days that I could wear the patch then it needed to come off by that 3rd day. After this was done, I was pretty much ready and stamped by the nurses for the next stop in pre-op to where I would get my pain block with a big needle.

First though they said I had a few minutes with my parents. Mom went to find Dad and somehow got lost. It seemed like forever there were too many turnarounds and she went in the wrong direction. Finally after seeing them I was sent along the path somewhat early at that point.

Being early didn’t last very long though. I was told my Anesthesiologist was a very tall man. My goodness he was like a tower and a very busy tower. I could have fallen asleep and no one would have noticed and it wouldn’t have mattered because it took him no less than 45 minutes to get to me. I would like to say I wasn’t nervous at all because I had been through this and that may still be true, but I was also tired. I allowed myself to just rest and not worry about the countless other beds rolling in and out and doctors and nurses coming and going. If the doc hadn’t been in to see me to mark my arm with her signature purple marker I could have slept the whole time.

The lab nurse was really sweet and kept me company though too. I remember we conversed a bit but for the life of me don’t remember what we talked about except small talk. She had to call once maybe twice to check on the doctor to see where he was… she made sure I wasn’t forgotten. When he got to me his pregnant assistant who talked to me about the patch was with him. That was only partially how I knew it was him besides the fact he was a tree. He’s the one that used that big needle to put the pain block into my elbow area, not the same place they put it in last time on my right arm.

Some of this feels like it happened yesterday and some of it feels hazy already. Yet at this point in my narration, I’m only beginning to become numb I wasn’t under anesthesia until…

Find out more about my surgery day and the nurse that I had a moment with… it made the whole day a bit more surreal!