Preparing

My stepmom has arrived to help out this week with my surgery. She brought Kiki and their Golden Retriever, Chance.

We have loads of soup, water, gatorade, ginger ale, and rice. You'd think we were preparing for a disaster.

I bought about 5 magazines, a book and rented 4 movies. I'm scared of boredom.

My last meal, Mexican. Also, hopefully, my last set of pains, heart burn and nausea.

Lil sis was upset that mom would be gone this week. The following took place before she left:

Sis: Why can't daddy go down and take care of Sissy and you stay with me.

SM: If you were having surgery, would you want daddy or mommy to take care of you?

Sis: Ooookay, go take care of Sissy.

Hehe!

So tomorrow is the big day. I'm not worried, but I am a little nervous. Eh, such is life.

Meanwhile, here's who will be taking care of me this week...

And so you understand my state of mind, in the extended entry are quots from my surgery information:

"On the day of surgery, allow plenty of time to get to the hospital: traffic around Piedmont Hospital is generally very congested from about 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM" ~haha, only in Atlanta

"As soon as your operating room is ready, you will be transported to it on a narrow rolling stretcher." ~ not sure why this bothers me....

"After you are in the Operating Room, you will be moved over onto the operating table. You will probably be rather drowsy, but you may be aware of several people arranging instruments and getting the equipment ready for surgery."

"During surgery you are rolled about 30 degrees to the left and the head of the table will be elevated to allow the abdominal contents to move away from the gallbladder.....Wide straps will be placed across your chest and thights to keep you securely in place as the operating table is lifted." ~ Suddenly I'll be at Six Flags

"One of the anesthesia team will ask you to breathe oxygen through a soft facemask for several minutes and then an anesthetic will be injected into your IV. This may cause a slight burning or aching, but this is not something to worry about; it is perfectly normal. The next this you will be aware of is waking up in the PACU." ~ Burning and aching has alwasy be cause to worry before...why not now.

"Once you are sound asleep, a soft plastic tube will be inserted into your trachea and connected to a mechanical venilator" ~ yea, not too happy about this part. Could have lived with out knowing this!

"For the first 12 to 18 hours the pain will probably be more than you expect based on stroies that you may have heard. By the next morning, however, the pain is generally much less, and you too will probably will tell others, 'It really did not hurt that much.' " ~ Heh, I doubt it.

"We will order strong pain pills for you in the hospital....You will be given a prescription for pain medication and are encouraged to use this medication..." ~ Heh, I like this part!

Under Discharge Instructions:

Driving Car: O.K. as soon as you are off narcotics and can brake vigorously (but no sooner than 3 days after surgery).

Sitting in a cramped position in a car, chair or airplane seat: limited to 30 min. at a time for the next 7 days.

.... more stuff....

Sex: cautiously when you feel able and interested (does this mean it's provided?)