TOPSurgery: Surgery Day - At Last!
The day finally arrived: July 6th, 2018. The drive from Sacramento to San Francisco takes anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on traffic. Our friend Annmarie joined us graciously so that we could avail ourselves of the carpool lane (takes 3 in a vehicle in SF) during our trip.
One of the most interesting things about the hospital where the surgery would be performed is that it is one of our Sutter Health hospitals, and thus one in the scope of my job role. I was just hoping that because surgery would be performed in "same-day surgery" that I wouldn't encounter anyone that I knew.
I was honestly surprised how nice everyone was. Not that I didn't expect them to be nice, but to such an extent! So calming and reassuring. Also reassuring was that my friend and colleague, a critical care MD and VP of Quality for same hospital, was on call for my wife in the unlikelihood that anything went wrong.
After getting settled in my room the preparations began. The RN blew through my vein on the first IV try; no worries, it happens. My wife attentively jumped up to watch the re-do. Unfortunately she doesn't do well with ANYTHING medical. She suddenly became warm, sweaty and a little woozy. So adorable......
Wheeling down to pre-op holding, I really felt the reality of the day. Again, everyone was so darn nice! Then it happened. There was this woman who I thought may have been an apparition except my wife said that she was real, who recognized my name, and started talking about how famous I was and how amazing it was to have such a well-known professional in their midst. I was caught off guard, and didn't really know what to say. The strangest thing was that she was some kind of concierge or continuity coach, or some hard to fathom thing that seemed odd to me. Anyway, I was rescued when my surgeon came to Sharpie me up. He has me sit up and marks the sites with broad approximations of where the incisions will be made. This was it! The last time that my breasts would ever be a consideration for ANYTHING - at least for me. The surgical team still had some work to do.
Finally heading to the OR, finally going to happen. Slide over to the table, get some great drugs (propofol), and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........
I vaguely remember being awoken, and wheeled off the the PACU, but really came to life once back in my room. Yes the binder was tight, yes it was hard to walk to the bathroom. Yes I wanted some pain med. And I definitely wanted to go home. Recovered to the point to be wheeled out to curb, dumped into the car with my arms on pillows (more on this later) to start the long drive home in traffic. So happy for the carpool lane.
One of the most interesting things about the hospital where the surgery would be performed is that it is one of our Sutter Health hospitals, and thus one in the scope of my job role. I was just hoping that because surgery would be performed in "same-day surgery" that I wouldn't encounter anyone that I knew.
I was honestly surprised how nice everyone was. Not that I didn't expect them to be nice, but to such an extent! So calming and reassuring. Also reassuring was that my friend and colleague, a critical care MD and VP of Quality for same hospital, was on call for my wife in the unlikelihood that anything went wrong.
After getting settled in my room the preparations began. The RN blew through my vein on the first IV try; no worries, it happens. My wife attentively jumped up to watch the re-do. Unfortunately she doesn't do well with ANYTHING medical. She suddenly became warm, sweaty and a little woozy. So adorable......
Wheeling down to pre-op holding, I really felt the reality of the day. Again, everyone was so darn nice! Then it happened. There was this woman who I thought may have been an apparition except my wife said that she was real, who recognized my name, and started talking about how famous I was and how amazing it was to have such a well-known professional in their midst. I was caught off guard, and didn't really know what to say. The strangest thing was that she was some kind of concierge or continuity coach, or some hard to fathom thing that seemed odd to me. Anyway, I was rescued when my surgeon came to Sharpie me up. He has me sit up and marks the sites with broad approximations of where the incisions will be made. This was it! The last time that my breasts would ever be a consideration for ANYTHING - at least for me. The surgical team still had some work to do.
Finally heading to the OR, finally going to happen. Slide over to the table, get some great drugs (propofol), and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........
I vaguely remember being awoken, and wheeled off the the PACU, but really came to life once back in my room. Yes the binder was tight, yes it was hard to walk to the bathroom. Yes I wanted some pain med. And I definitely wanted to go home. Recovered to the point to be wheeled out to curb, dumped into the car with my arms on pillows (more on this later) to start the long drive home in traffic. So happy for the carpool lane.
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