Surgery Day...

Well, the fact that I am blogging tells you that I survived the procedure.
hecked in right in the parking lot.
I had to be at Lancaster General Hospital, the Orthopedic Center, at 7:30 AM.  Marji & Danny arrived around 6:00 AM.  Danny went with me to the basement to see the procedure for shutting off the water, turn off the hot water heater and water treatment stuff.  i also showed him how to reset the time.  I am sure i will not be able to do stairs when I finally make it home, so he will have to go down and do it for me.

We left the house in pitch black a few minutes early, and with the  lack of traffic, we arrived at the hospital about a half an hour early.  We had to do the block circling once as we missed the entrance.  We parked, got my suitcase and bag out and were checked in right there in the garage.

At the check in desk, I was greeted with smiles.  Marji was able to come back with me.  from that moment there was a parade of folks asking me my name, date of Birth and why I was there.  If it was asked once, I was asked 40 to 50 times.  I signed forms and had procedures explained.  Finally, a few minutes before I was scheduled, i was whisked off to the Operating Suite, transferred to the table and in no time, I was out like a light.

In two hours, I was waking up in recovery.  My right leg was covered in one of the biggest ACE bandages I have ever seen.  There was some significant pain but they gave me a minimal pain med until I was taken to my room, given some lunch so I could be given a pain pill.  Marji & Danny soon joined me.  They sat with me, helped me get cords set up for the cell phone and this netbook.  We met all of the day staff and Miss Marji lightened the mood with her wonderful sense of humor.

They left around 3:00 PM.  Dinner came.  The food here is not bad.  Things were a bit unsalted, as would be expected.  But the chicken noodle soup was delicious.  I had a turkey sandwich for lunch and chicken salad sandwich for dinner.  They were nothing special, but tasty for hospital food.  I am guessing that they must have an Amish/Mennonite folk working in the kitchen.

I dozed for a bit and then had a bright and shiny Sheila visiting me.  She burst into the room with her ear to ear smile and she bubbled with news and stories.  We chatted for a bit before she had to head home.

So i am sitting here, writing on my blog, legs elevated, little booties on my feet that are pumping up in an alternating pattern to keep the blood coming out of them and keeping things circulating.  I have a CD player in the room with some lovely relaxing music, and some lavender essential oil to help me relax.  The TV has some fairly good channels and I can surf the Internet.... what more could I ask for??

Well, maybe less pain!!  I am not allowed out of bed today.  Tomorrow the rehab work begins.  Yuck!!!  Pictures tomorrow!!