Pre Op Day of Surgery.
Hi, Im Neal, (folks in Seattle know me as Art or Mr Jury) yesterday I
had surgery on my left ankle to stabilize it after 30 years of sprains. If you are a poor sucker that has to have this surgery I hope this helps. If you are a friend or family member you can keep up on my status. Please comment so I know someone is reading this.
After my 2 hibicleans showers I showed up at Swedish hospital in Seattle at 5:40 am for a 7:40 surgery on 14 Dec 2011
My
first nurse helped me get dressed in a hospital gown and robe and got
me started on a bit of paper work and turning in my valuables for the
safe. (Drivers licence, insurance cards, $30 in cash, Ipod touch, and
cell phone)
Found a paperwork mess up. Consent I signed said Rt
leg instead of Left leg. How did I miss that! Really wound me up (and I
was already pretty nervous!) I ended up writing all over the consent
form and my right ankle. Calmed down (I didn't yell or anything, just
paced and bounced around a lot). Nurse pages DR Vickers. I move on to
surgery (meeting the only grumpy person of the day) .
In pre op
met the Minions (4th year medical students) nice but unsure folks they
took a medical history and wrote up a new consent form. Very efficient
but a bit tentative, good practice even though my medical history is
pretty short.
Anesthesiologist shows up and lets me know what he
is going to do and gets the IV going (no meds until I clear up the
paperwork!) He explains what will be done. Nerve block (reginal) for
the lower leg. 2 nerves, if your knee is square, one runs on lower left
corner outside, one runs lower right corner inside.
Dr Michael
Vickars shows up and clears up the paper work, holds the old one next to
the new one so I can see the changes. Tells me not to worry about it
happens once in a while. He then Initials the correct leg.
We
chat, my Aunt Judy (aka CAJ Crazy Aunt Judy) used to work and have fun
with him and his staff. I pass on greetings and her warning to not mess
up her #1 Nephew! He assures me. I ask if he had a good nights sleep
and felt good. We agreed the best set up was nervous patient happy
doctor.
I asked why the knot on the inside of my left ankle was so
large when the damaged tendon was on the other side. #1 tendon on that
side is much larger and better blood supply to the bone so when it gets
pulled hard (with a bad sprain) the bone grows out.
He reminds me that he will either:
repair the existing tendon (ligament?) unlikely due to many injuries (but prefered) or
cut out the bad one and replace it with part of another tendon and fasten it in with screws set in the bone.
Then
check out the cartilage in my leg and repair as necessary (I hope he
did not do this it adds 6 weeks to no weight bearing time) I will find
out later today. *update messed with cartilage 4 to 6 weeks on
crutches.* darn!
After a bit more conversation he leaves and I get up and use the bathroom for the final time before surgery.
Anesthesiologist
does the nerve block I could only see a bit of the ultrasound display
(that's OK I wanted him to have the better view) Small pinch (about like a
hair being pulled) and he placed a needle in each nerve and put in a
chemical to interrupt the sodium movement that the nerves use to
communicate. Both done in less time than it takes to write it. Now I
feel confidant in this fellow he knows his stuff! Doing it for 11 years
and everyday. Wish I had collected names.
Wheeled into surgery
said hi to Doc. mask held over my mouth and nose (oxygen they said, I
think it was spiked), Then I wake up in recovery.
Next Recovery
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