EHL Tendon Surgery and Dressings.

August 18, 2011

Yesterday I arrived at the hospital at 10:30am and was immediately processed through Pre-Op. Nurse Beth you're amazing. Thank you! Dr. S stopped by to give me a hearty prep talk which I appreciated since I was feeling really anxious and just preferred to get it over with. (Truthfully I was terrified though and I wanted to disappear). He recapped briefly the procedure and where he would be making the incisions to repair my EHL tendon.  8 miserable inches.
Eric and Russell the Anesthesiologists came by and explained the procedure of how I would "go under". I would be fully anesthetized and would require breathing tubes in my throat to pump oxygen into my lungs. In other words I would be unable to breathe for myself.
A kiss and a goodbye from hubby and I was on my way. I walked with them down the concrete and stainless steel halls to my OR room where a small team of nurses and Dr. S were waiting. I was a bit overwhelmed as I stared into this cold sterile environment. I took a deep breath as they assisted me onto the table.
I assume the Jesus Christ pose as the team proceed to plug me into all the tubes, monitors and wires necessary. They are idly chatting with me in the background as they place the Oxygen mask over my face. I feel the cold fluid entering my veins through the intravenous. Noel (one of the nurses) is squeezing my hand for support and wiped away the tears streaming down my face. He reminded me I was in good hands. I went to sleep.

I awaken to the sound of my own weeping in the Post-Operative Care Unit (POCU). Russell the Anesthesiologist is right alongside me and holds my hand for support, a quick flick into my intravenous bag and the pain begins to subside. Nurse Christine is asking me on a scale of 1 to 10 how much pain am I in; a full robust 10. A couple of Percocet’s and within a few minutes we’ve knocked it back to 6 and I start to doze off once again. I take a quick look at my foot; it is heavily wrapped in a cast and soft gauze. I see my toes peeking out; my big toe is dorsiflexed forward. I don’t know at this point the success or failure of the procedure. I most likely won’t find out until my 2 week Post-Op appointment with Dr. S.

Russell bids his goodbye and good luck. Nurse Christine takes over. She sits beside me taking notes and softly chatting with me.  She wipes away my tears.

I’m then wheeled to Day Surgery Outpatient Recovery Area; I see my hubby in the distance as I approach on my glamorous gurney.  I must have looked like I was knocking on deaths door. He looked so sad. I asked him to crack some jokes about my appearance and take some pictures so I can have a good laugh later.

They find me a neat corner of the recovery room. Nurse Pinky is having a bad day- she flicks my foot to see if I can feel my toes and I nearly jump right off the bed.  More pain relief is required-Oxycodone is the new choice, this is the one that’s going home with me. Nurse Lori, the Pain Relief Nurse is the best! She knows her stuff and gives me the speech on Oxycodone. Basically she says take every last one; don’t let the pain take over. They boost me with some quick fix pain relief intravenously once again alongside the pills. I have been out of OR now for about 3 hours. I want to go home.

I lay awake most of the night, drifting in and out of painful sleep. Pain, Pain and more Pain. My foot is fully elevated on pillows but throbbing incredulously. I gently doze off sitting up on my sofa, then I attempt going to bed, either way it’s restless and painful. I feel like scratching the walls.

Focus and come back.