Surgery day

Surgery day was the sixth. We had originally thought I was the first appointment of the day (on the table by 8, home by noon! Yay!) then found out the day before I had been bumped by emergency surgeries and was scheduled for 3 pm. They wanted us there by 12:50, so spent the morning hanging out with my mom and Bob and playing with Thomas.

Got to the hospital and it was a big hurry up and wait. We were on time (of course) but didn't get ushered back into the ASU (ambulatory surgery unit) until after 2. Gown on, IV in....still didn't have a set surgery time. 3 o'clock came and went. Finally a little before 4 I was ushered out for prep. At 4 they wheeled me into the OR - completely awake and coherent I might add. I don't know why I found this disturbing but I did. My other experiences in the OR (appendectomy / childbirth) I was either drugged up or in so much pain when they wheeled me in there that I didn't really look around or notice much. But this time i noticed it all - scalpels on the table, insanely bright lights...no bueno. It was unsettling.

Within 10 minutes they gave me drugs to relax me and knocked me out.

An hour and a half later I woke up in recovery. They brought my mom in right away and I groggily told her that I loved her and felt fine. Unfortunately she had to catch a flight back home and had to leave in ten minutes (we thought my surgery was going to be much earlier). They brought Bob in a little while later and the drugs were wearing off. I didn't feel so hot. Pain scale creeped up from 4 to 7 and I kept asking for pain meds. It was a sharp burning pain at the incision mark. They gave me something in my IV to ease the pain and told me it might make me feel nauseous. Since I hadn't eaten all day (!) they brought in saltines and juice which I scarfed down. Unfortunately the pain meds didn't do anything but make me vomit....continuously. Everytime I tried to move I threw up. They were ready to discharge me but I couldn't even get up. This I was not ready for. All I wanted to do was go home. Finally the nurse said "there's no rush to leave....but you can either be nauseous at home or nauseous here." They had already given me all anti-nausea drugs they could and after throwing up about ten times I was convinced I had nothing left in me and said let's bite the bullet and head out. The drive home was quick and I almost made it all the way (unfortunately threw up in the hallway right outside our apartment - in a plastic bag). Crawled into bed and felt better immediately. It was ten o'clock.

Since the surgery was so much later than anticipated we asked our good friend Joe P. to come over at seven so our nanny could go home. Joe has been up for many awards over the years - best father, most supporting husband, amazing best man....but I am putting him up for a new award - Wolf in training. I'll explain - you know the scene in Pulp Fiction where they call The Wolf and he comes screeching in to save the day? Well that is what we call my Dad (coined by Rob, and it was a perfect fit). No matter where he is in Portland, if you need something you call my dad and he is there in five minutes. He is The Wolf. And since there can really be only one Wolf, I name Joe P as a Wolf in Training. But it's really only a technicality my friend...you are a close second to Dave. He also happens to be married to an amazing Mom of two, Michelle, who somehow found the time to make us a huge thing of pasta and some brownies. Big hugs to the Pipitones today....what would we do without you.