Surgery

November 2nd, 2011

Hospital Check-in: 11am
Surgery: 1pm

Today is the big surgery day and I'm feeling good.  I've got everything around the house prepared for my post surgery one foot for 6 weeks self and at this point I'm just ready to get it over with.  On the big day, I was up early and was out the door with my hubby and mom by 10am and at the hospital a little before 11am.  Walking in the doors it was ironic to think I would not be walking out of these doors on two feet, but It was exciting that I was finally doing something that needed to be done.  I've been in pain long enough, so it was all good!  No, really I decided to drive to the hospital and on at least one or maybe two occasions I seriously considered turning around.  But that was just me being a wimp.

Crankle on Surgery day!

Let me tell you one of the biggest reasons I hate surgeries that start late in the day....you cannot eat or drink after 12 midnight the day before until after the surgery.  Yeah that includes water, no water ugh!  I was soo damn hungry and thirsty it wasn't even funny.  Ok, aside from that I gotta say that I was very impressed with Kernan Hospital in Baltimore.  I had never heard of this place before, but apparently they are an orthopedic and rehabilitation facility.  All the doctors, nurses and staff there were absolutely wonderful and they all really made the process very easy and convenient for me and my family.   In fact, I arrived just before 11am and they had me through admissions and in pre-opt with my IV in by 11:20am, they were not even playing.  I thought I would have more time to rethink surgery and run out if needed, but once the IV was in, so was I.

So yeah,  it was kinda overwhelming how quickly they had me strip all my clothes and put on a gown and then all the poking and prodding began, fun times.  But after about an hour of the same 10 questions beings asked about my medical history, they finally called my mom and my husband to come back and hang with me up until they rolled me into surgery.

My husband had to get a picture of me, so i smiled!

After waiting for awhile I got visits from the resident who would be assisting my doctor, the anesthesiologist and of course my doctor came by and explained what he was going to do and he even finalized things by signing my left ankle with a sharpie.  So, as I signed off on going forward with surgery so did he...on my ankle to be exact.  At least I know that they know which ankle to cut open.  Also, the form that my doctor had me sign for the first time identified the procedures that would be done during my surgery.  Now had done substantial research prior to surgery and what he indicated on the form as the procedures only confirmed what I had already determined they were going to do.  He said that they were to conduct a Modified Brostrom and Arthroscopic debridgement chondroplasty.  Awesome, I love google.  Well that was it and it was time, I said my goodbyes to the family and was rolling to the Operating Room.