Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Easy for Mary To Say!!
Today is the day of the procedure, and I was not allowed to have anything but a teaspoon of water to take my morning pills. Have you ever tried to take four pounds of pills with a teaspoon of water?
Everything is going well until the phone rings, and it is the doctor’s office saying they still haven’t received insurance approval. I knew the operating/procedure was going for retail at $131,300. Needless to say, we were out of bed dialing the doctor’s office and insurance company for the next two hours. I thought for a while I would have to sell Scout and my firstborn (I could deal with the firstborn, but not Scout!)
It turns out the claim was approved, but apparently faxed to the incorrect FAX number. We got everything fixed by 10:00 am, just two hours before check-in! Good news, we can keep Scout.
I was dressed for the occasion.
We got checked in at noon, and we got called backstage a few minutes later. Mary helped me get ready, and at 2:45 I was under. Joe came and stayed with Mary for a long time.
Oops! Wrong jammies!
Transportation came to get me, and we were off. Mary walked as far as the OR.
I am ready!
I greeted the doctors with a big smile and a lot of jokes and with a BP of 130/82; not too bad for guy 80 years old facing surgery!
Counting down from 100…
As the anesthesia was taking its effect, I heard the doctors talking!
Anesthesia works by interrupting or altering the transmission of nerve signals throughout the body, though the specific mechanisms differ depending on the type. General anesthesia affects the brain to cause unconsciousness, while local and regional anesthesia target specific nerves to numb a particular area.
How general anesthesia works
General anesthesia is a drug-induced, reversible coma that induces unconsciousness, amnesia, and immobility. During the procedure, an anesthesiologist continuously administers medication, often a combination of intravenous (IV) drugs and inhaled gases.
I overheard some of the staff talking!
I was under for about two hours, and during that time, I got two catheters inserted, and the doctor did his thing.
After I came out, I was also a little worried as they didn’t seem to know what to do with the extra parts.
This situation was worrisome!
Mary said the doctor came to visit her and that I was A-OK. Mary then came into recovery and took GREAT care of me. She gave me water and ordered my dinner. The food was good, but I was also VERY hungry.
At 9:30 pm, it was decided I could go home, so Mary got the car (after falling in the parking lot).
We made it home by 10:00 pm, at which time I went to bed with Mary, checking for leaks every few minutes. I slept like a baby!
Side note: Again, I am blessed to have Mary in my life as she went and did more than the call of duty. She was my angel!
