Recovery

I'm home from surgery. Actually, I've been home since 11:30 or so, but I just went to bed and snoozed. I'm still tired. I'm still trying to clear the anesthesia from my body, and I can't decide which sounds better...eat that cheeseburger that's sitting in the microwave that I only took one bite of earlier, or just go throw up. Both sound good to me right now.

I've had a handful of surgeries requiring general anesthesia. I have to say, this is the most difficult when it comes to the anesthesia. I feel like shit.

So, I drive us all the way to BFE to the hospital, hauling ass on I-70 going 80-85mph. We decided to take the PT instead of Mom's SUV because it would be better on gas. And afterward, Mom would drive it home. More on this later.

I check in, fill out some paperwork. I pee in a cup so they can run a pregnancy test. Mom's eyes get big like paper plates when the nurse tells me this. Predictably, I'm not with child. Nurse puts in the IV (which hurts like bitch). Not meaning to toot my own horn here, but my IV's don't hurt when I put them in because I'm good like that. Not all nurses have mad IV skillz like me.

At any rate, she starts IV fluids and leaves the room. Almost instantly, I get really nauseated, and I get this funny tickling sensation in my throat. I cough like I'm going to expectorate a lung. It was really, really weird. By the time nurse returns, the episode has passed. Anesthesia doc and my ortho doc come in a talk to me. Ortho doc draws a smiley face on the knee he's supposed to work on.

I selected this particular orthopedic doctor for two reasons: A) he was highly recommended and B) I used to work with his mother...and she highly recommended him for 7.5 years. So, before ortho doc leaves my room, I tell him that if he botches this procedure, I'm going to rat him out to his mother.

A quick Versed push, and I'm wheeled to the O.R. By the time I get to there, I feel the effects, but I'm not all giggly like I usually am with Versed. I'm strapped onto a table, and then I'm out like a light.

The next thing I know, nurse is waking me up. Why can't they just let you sleep as long as you want, I don't know. It's not like they were busy today. I'm given the obligatory crackers and juice and Fentanyl. Less than an hour later, I'm ready to go home. Still groggy. Still grumpy. Mom goes to get the car.

As I'm sitting in a wheelchair outside the hospital, Mom proceeds to back the car right into a small concrete column. It results in a few scratches and she feels bad. I guess there is a big difference between driving a Jeep Liberty and a PT Cruiser.

En route, we stop at a pharmacy to fill my prescriptions, stop by McDonald's for something to eat. Still nauseated, I can only manage one bite before I wrap it back up to save for later. And it now sits in the microwave, waiting.

For the most part, my knee doesn't hurt. They ended up repairing the torn cartilage, and doing a tendon release. I should be able to return to work in two weeks. The best part...no physical therapy.

However, I still feel like crap. Nauseated as all get out. I've always heard of patients who get sick post-op, but have never experienced it until now. Oddly enough, I only feel gross when I'm out of bed, which I take a sign to stay in bed for the rest of the day.

And I'm going there right now.