So much has happened since my last post. Well actually, just three major things, now that I think about it:
1. Birthday
2. Surgery
3. Closet
Because the surgery has kept me from posting, I'll write about that first.
I was told not to eat or drink anything after 12:00 the night before my procedure. Ack! I was to arrive at the surgery center at 2:30 pm, so that was a long wait. No coffee, no breakfast, no lunch. Did I mention no coffee? So I slept late that morning and tried to keep busy, cleaning the bathroom and stuff so that I wouldn't think so much about food. And coffee.
Finally! Arrived at the surgery center to be told that the doctor was running a bit behind. About an hour behind. Oh well. My stomach had given up long ago so I settled in to wait. I was called to the pre-op area fairly quickly though. Tom opted to stay in the lobby as he doesn't relish watching anyone else having procedures done. Despite the fact that he pretty much does his own procedures on a regular basis. He once drilled a hole in his own toenail to relieve the pressure after smashing it.
In the pre-op area I was told to strip down to my undies and was given a lovely blue and white checked hospital gown to wear. All this for my pinky finger? So, I did and was soon chatting with a nurse while having my vitals taken. This is when the sad truth came out. Because I was only electing local anesthesia, the No Food No Drink rule didn't apply. How sad is that? She felt really bad for me and gave me an apple juice to sip on. At this point, Tom was brought back to join me. Since it was going to be at least another hour, he might as well hang out with me than sit alone in the lobby.
Finally! It was time, and I was wheeled back to an operating room. The whole scenario was a lot more serious and real than I had expected. Somehow I was imagining an examination style room and sitting in a chair watching my hand get cut open. This was not how it turned out.
I was told to lay on a table with a pillow for my head and another for my legs. There was a perpendicular table on the right for my arm to stretch out on. A gloved and masked nurse painted my entire arm with a terribly sticky yellow substance, electrodes were stuck to my chest and side, then a huge blue tent was placed over me so I couldn't see a thing that the doctor did to my hand. Perhaps that was a good thing.
Overall, I'm glad I chose the local anesthesia, but when the doctor gave me a shot to numb my hand, I almost came off the table. It was, without a doubt, the worst pain I have ever experienced. But soon the shot had done its job and I couldn't really feel anything. Some tugging and pulling sensations, but no pain. The procedure didn't take long, maybe ten minutes. Then the electrodes were removed, the tent was taken down, and I was helped to a sitting position. My well wrapped hand greatly resembled a paw and would turn out to be about as useful.
Immediately after leaving the surgery center, Tom took me to mall so that I could get my free birthday ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery. I got my usual: chocolate and cake batter ice cream with caramel and strawberries in a waffle cone.
So what has transpired since the surgery? Well, turns out I have reactions to Darvocet. First it nauseated me, then it caused me to break out in a rash. My right arm and my neck are itchy and bumpy. I quit taking the pain meds, but the rash hasn't quite left.
Speaking of left, my left hand got sick of doing everything and was planning a mutiny, but the huge bandage was removed on Monday and now the right hand is starting to pitch in again. Slowly and painfully, but it gets better each day. The left hand has decided to stay.
I get the stitches out on Monday, so I still have to keep the surgical site clean and dry. But I can get a rubber glove on now so showering and washing my hair is so much better. Now if I could just get that yellow sticky stuff off!
Next up: The Birthday Weekend Extravaganza
For your viewing pleasure, my hand after the bandage was removed:
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