what a day!

but so much better than the day i'd feared it would be. we got to magee on time, found surgical services easily, checked in with the friendly and cheerful checker-in, answered questions for the friendly and cheerful questioner, and waited in the waiting room (i did not enjoy this part thanks to loud-talking man). we were taken back to my preop room by a friendly and cheerful nurse (are you sensing a theme here? IT IS TRUE THEY ARE ALL FRIENDLY AND CHEERFUL THERE); had blood taken (relatively painlessly) by the friendly and cheerful vernon the patient-services tech (i think that's what he called himself); had vitals taken by a friendly and cheerful nurse (who was a little loopy, but she seemed to get the job done just fine); had the IV inserted by the friendly, cheerful, and competent tina (who was awesome because this was a seriously feared part of the day for me) (i sobbed like a tiny girl but she was so patient and sweet); had a good (if again sobbily tearful) conversation with the friendly, cheerful, compassionate, and competent anesthesiologist dr. sue mcelroy, who patiently explained why this experience would be different from what i'd gone through with the colonoscopy in 2006; had a good visit from the awesome, friendly, and competent gynecologist dr. carole chesin; signed more consent forms; and waited some more. i listened to enya on my iphone and looked at pictures of zuzu to keep myself calm. eventually, a couple of guys came to take me away

and the next thing i remember is waking up and being asked how i was feeling. the nurse gave me a pad, and i thought to myself, "why is she giving me a pad? it's just going to get in the way when dr. chesin goes to do the procedure?" but it was already over! i was so happy. so happy that i asked to see dr. mcelroy so i could thank her, which i did, profusely. i waited in recovery for a little while and was then moved back to a room (by room, here and in the preop situation, i mean a curtained-off space in a larger room--nothing fancy) where andrew was brought to me and the whole world got even better. i was a little crampy and was a bit drugged, but i felt okay other than that. 

we came home and i went straight to bed with a thermacare pad on my lower abdomen, where i stayed for several hours. andrew picked up a prescription for 600 mg of ibuprofen, which i'm taking every four hours but will probably not need tomorrow (yay!). but i've had cream-of-chicken soup and a couple of graham crackers (yay andrew for bringing me food!) and a lean cuisine and a little ben and jerry's and ginger ale for dinner. i'm about to head back to bed for the night. i'm so, so happy to feel as good as i do. i am never going anywhere except magee ever again for anything ever.

Comments

[K Blue]

I am so happy that everything went smoothly for you. I prayed for you as soon as I woke up that morning! It is awesome that you thanked your doctor profusely afterwards. :) {{{hugs}}}