AC Gets His Surgery

A vibration on my wrist awoke me at 5. I sat on the bed and turned it off. I then grabbed my phone and fumbled my way through the phone settings to turn off the phone alarm (set for 5:05) and the Alexa alarm (set for 5:10). They were just-in-case alarms, like I used to set when I would be called upon to drive Danica to work on those early Sunday mornings.

The house went down to 15C/59F overnight, and knowing that I needed a shower before surgery. I then accessed the thermostat app to set it to 20C/68F; this is our normal daytime temperature, but it often runs a little bit warmer. Then, it was time to go manual and also turn of the little heater in the bathroom. By 5:25 I was in there shaving and showering. Also by that time, I had availed myself of about a cup of apple juice and a cup of water: clear fluids which was all that I was allowed in take, and I had in ingest before 5:45 at that.

We weren't to hit the road until 7, but I needed to get in and out of the bathroom with my major doings before Sue would require it for her minor doings such as hair touchup and a bit of makeup. Sha was here by 7, and we were on our way to the Smiths Falls Hospital for 7:45 check-in.

Very soon, I found myself in another bathroom exchanging my daytime garments for a cap, gown and booties. I confessed to the attendant nurse that I am challenged and requested that she tie the dadgum thing up for me, and I was soon on the gurney. 

I have heard that smiles reach the eyes, but you are about to witness that they don't — at least not in my case under those circumstances. I did try though. 

Then came IV time. Nurse had great trouble. Apparently, I have good veins, but they weren't drawing well because of my lack of hydration. The first two efforts, pictured below, hurt like the dickens though. The next effort on the other hand went well.

I had already answered a plethora of questions once, before I even got to the gurney, and then I had to answer them (and more) again. But we weren't done, for I then had to answer similar questions and others from the anesthesiologist. I asked for a general, having had a bad experience with a spinal, with essentially the same procedure 16 years ago.

The procedure, by the way was a TURP (Transurethral resection of the prostate). There was also a spot on the bladder to be biopsied.

By 9 o'clock I had shuffled my way onto the operating table. Experience from my hernia surgery in 2019 told me that they would keep nattering at me after they asked my to remove my hearing aids. I avowed that the appliances were going to remain in until all of the chitchat was done. When I awoke at 9:40 someone had already put them back in my ears — not totally correctly, but basically. Now, that is good service, above and beyond.

I was still a trifle spacey when the conversation and instructions started up. Things such as meds and catheters and bags were discussed. Eventually, I got it, but I needed help when changing back into civvies. As I write this [drivel] on Wednesday evening (the same day as the surgery), it is still strapped to my leg and will remain there until a homecare worker comes to remove it on Friday. I have a larger bag for nighttime, but since I am used to getting up a lot anyway, I think that I will just keep the smaller leg bag attached and drain it as needed.

At this very moment (6:30) Alexa is reminding me to take my Dilaudid (Hydromorphone) pill. It is for pain, but I am not in pain. However, I will take it anyway for a day. Shauna told me expect some pleasant effects from the Dilaudid, but of course I haven't had that little pleasure. Sigh. Meds often don't affect me like they do other people. Too bad really (lol). I have also been prescribed Acetomenophen, and I will take that like a good [old] boy too.

So that is where I am at the moment: home, and I have been since noon. The catheter is in; I am not in pain, and I can get around semi normally. 

Meanwhile, while I was being attended to by the fine medical system this morning, Sue and Sha headed out for coffee. So, while I was sending the above pictures of pitiful me, they were able to send me a much more pleasant one in return. They took fab outdoor pics too, but I shall save them for tomorrow.

Thanks for bearing with me, assuming that you have — a very big assumption, for sure. But since I mentioned the surgery in passing a few days ago, I thought that I would lay it all on yiz.