Valentine's Day

Surgery Day – Day one towards recovery

It has been 71 days, but surgery day has finally arrived. Neither Randy nor I slept well last night. He was worried about me and I was just plain nervous.

Our day started early. I don’t know why, but when I got dressed, I put on a bra. Can anyone explain that to me? Randy was sweet enough not to make a pot of coffee since I couldn’t have any, but when we arrived at TMC to have the pre-surgery injection, there was a Starbuck’s right in the lobby.  The smell was intoxicating and I walked just a little faster to get past the store. The valet parked the Jeep very close to the front door because this will only take about ½ hour.  Imagine, valet parking at a hospital.

First stop, a desk with a lovely older gentleman who told us where we needed to be and asked another older gentleman to take us there on the golf cart. Weeeeeeee! We arrived at Nuclear Medicine where a nurse greeted me who had her arm in a sling. I wondered if she was going to stick a needle in me or if she was just going to take me back to the room. That question was answered as soon as she shut the door.  She told me that she wouldn’t be using a numbing agent, but that this would feel like when you have a TB test. All well and good, but it does hurt a tiny bit more on your boob.  The injection was administered so the doctor could follow from the lump to the first 2 or 3 lymph nodes and remove them for biopsy. About ½ an hour later, the valet was delivering our Jeep and we were on our way the three miles to the surgery center.

Upon arrival, you have the necessary paperwork to fill out and we paid the bill. Then we waited. Amy, Randy and I sat in chairs and waited for my name to be called. About 15 minutes later, they did. Randy started to walk back with me and the nurse stopped him. Usually they don’t let spouses back until I’m all dressed and have the IV in my arm. I said I would be much better if they allowed him to come back now and they said sure.

Got undressed, put on a gown, nurse started the IV, and we waited. Dr. Whitacre stopped in to say good morning and that everything would be fine. The anesthesiologist stopped by to introduce himself and ask questions. Then the nurse dropped by to introduce himself. Usually, I am in na-na land before I ever hit the operating room, but not this time. However, I wasn’t awake long.

It went like this – Randy took my wedding ring and kissed me and said he’d see me in a little bit. Drew, the nurse wheeled me into the operating room where we were greeted by Linda. There are all sorts of beautiful quilts hanging on the walls and she made them all. I told her I was also a quilter and we talked about what kinds I made while they transferred me from one table to the other. She asked me what my favorite color is – I said purple. She asked Drew what his favorite color is – he said gray. I said that’s not a color and that’s the last I remember.

Until I woke up in recovery with a mask on my face and feeling kinda blurry. I called Randy’s name – no answer. I slipped in and out. I remember the doctor saying how well it went. A new nurse showed Randy how to empty the drains and gave him a sheet to write down the amounts, but she didn’t give us a cup to measure the amounts in. I remember drinking a glass of water and eating applesauce. The nurse gave me a neat trick for taking pills with the applesauce and I will use it over and over again. I asked for ½ a Percocet. Somehow, my clothes were on me and I was in a wheelchair headed for the car where my brother Wes met me.  Wes is like my dad, very stoic and matter of fact. He looked worried. He kissed my forehead and told me he loved me. Then he became Wes again and said he was jealous because his wife wouldn’t let him buy such a cool Jeep. I touched his face and said everything will be fine. Then he was gone.

We stopped at Randy’s parents so I could sit and wait while he went to buy chicken and stars soup, jello, and applesauce and fill my prescription. Wal Mart gave him a cup to measure my drains into but it shows measurements of teaspoons. I don’t know how to transfer that figure to cc’s. On the way home, Michelle from the doctor’s office called to see if I was settled in yet. We told her we were on our way and that my left hand was numb. She said that was normal and not worry – about anything.

Then it was just us in the quiet of the Jeep. Everything looked the same as it did when we left that morning. It was warm, sunny, with no breeze.

The ace bandage was tight and rubbed against my neck. The camisole they gave me was a medium (really? Do I look like a medium?) I was uncomfortable all night. But the drugs helped me sleep.

Tomorrow we take off the bandage and look at what’s left.