Surgery time again!
I wish I could say that my capsulectomy surgery was as good of an experience as my initial BA and lift, but I was at a different facility this time and they really didn't do much to make me feel comfortable. When I arrived for my surgery, there was only a very short 5 min wait before the nurse came out and got me. We shared some small talk as she showed me to a small cubicle with one of those hospital "recliner" chairs in it. After verifying my name etc, she took my vitals and asked me a few questions about when and what I had eaten last. She then left me with a bag to place my belongings into and had me get changed into that lovely hospital gown and footies. I was glad to be told I could wear my undies this time around! Must have to do with the fact this surgery was shorter, so no need to be catheterized.
Anyway, the nurse came back and started hunting down my veins so she could begin my IV. Now in the past, I have had issues with giving blood and getting IV's and the such, because my veins are crappy. So this part always worries me, since I am not a big fan of getting stuck a bajillion times with a needle. The nurse was good, and got the stick on the first try so I was a happy camper. After she got me all taped up, she put on my hospital ID bracelet, propped my legs up, and gave me some magazines to read while I waited. Now, I don't mind reading but it was odd to not have a small tv there for some background noise. No big deal, I was still feeling pretty calm about everything.
The anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself, asked me some questions about my past history with general anesthesia and intubations, had me sign a consent, and off he went! Dr. Vanek came in, made his marks around my right breast, and then he took off to scrub up for surgery. The nurse came back in, and helped me to walk to the surgical suite, and at this point I really started getting nervous. I mean, this is it...going back under the knife and wondering if this is all really worth it. Plus, there's a ton of nurses in surgical gowns buzzing about the room and it's freakin cold in there and my nerves are shot!
So my nurse helps me climb onto the operating table, making sure I don't bump into any of the blue sterile fields, and helps me get all situated with my gown and stuffs. Then a nurse starts putting those inflating TENS units on my legs, so I don't get blood clots, while at the same time a nurse on each side is strapping down my arms to the little arm tray thingies. So yeah, even though they are talking to me, and joking that now is about the time my nose will itch ( since I'm strapped down at this time ) I was lying there thinking how horrible all this feels. All these people doing all this stuff all at once, and then, all the sudden I feel a burning in my left arm and I look up and realize that the anesthesiologist has just put the medicine into my IV without saying boo to me about it first. Just as a side note, it's pretty much standard practice to tell your patients what your going to do BEFORE you do it. That was just awful to have him putting me under without warning me first. And I was lying there thinking that they didn't do it this way at the hospital where I had my first surgery done. I then hear that Dr. Vanek is going to hold my hand, and I did feel a hand and I did squeeze it as hard as I could as I watched the oxygen mask come down over my face. I vaguely remember saying " Take good care of me" as tears began to form and then I was out.
Next up.....Recovery!
Anyway, the nurse came back and started hunting down my veins so she could begin my IV. Now in the past, I have had issues with giving blood and getting IV's and the such, because my veins are crappy. So this part always worries me, since I am not a big fan of getting stuck a bajillion times with a needle. The nurse was good, and got the stick on the first try so I was a happy camper. After she got me all taped up, she put on my hospital ID bracelet, propped my legs up, and gave me some magazines to read while I waited. Now, I don't mind reading but it was odd to not have a small tv there for some background noise. No big deal, I was still feeling pretty calm about everything.
The anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself, asked me some questions about my past history with general anesthesia and intubations, had me sign a consent, and off he went! Dr. Vanek came in, made his marks around my right breast, and then he took off to scrub up for surgery. The nurse came back in, and helped me to walk to the surgical suite, and at this point I really started getting nervous. I mean, this is it...going back under the knife and wondering if this is all really worth it. Plus, there's a ton of nurses in surgical gowns buzzing about the room and it's freakin cold in there and my nerves are shot!
So my nurse helps me climb onto the operating table, making sure I don't bump into any of the blue sterile fields, and helps me get all situated with my gown and stuffs. Then a nurse starts putting those inflating TENS units on my legs, so I don't get blood clots, while at the same time a nurse on each side is strapping down my arms to the little arm tray thingies. So yeah, even though they are talking to me, and joking that now is about the time my nose will itch ( since I'm strapped down at this time ) I was lying there thinking how horrible all this feels. All these people doing all this stuff all at once, and then, all the sudden I feel a burning in my left arm and I look up and realize that the anesthesiologist has just put the medicine into my IV without saying boo to me about it first. Just as a side note, it's pretty much standard practice to tell your patients what your going to do BEFORE you do it. That was just awful to have him putting me under without warning me first. And I was lying there thinking that they didn't do it this way at the hospital where I had my first surgery done. I then hear that Dr. Vanek is going to hold my hand, and I did feel a hand and I did squeeze it as hard as I could as I watched the oxygen mask come down over my face. I vaguely remember saying " Take good care of me" as tears began to form and then I was out.
Next up.....Recovery!
posted by Millie @ 3/25/2008 07:48:00 AM
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