Surgery Day!!

We get up and get moving rather early. Dave shows up and we are ready and headed out the door by 4:50 am. We needed to be at the hospital by 5:45...and me (being the backseat driver that I am) was telling John, "It's 5:38...we are not there yet!!)

Well, John was right on time...as usual (Love him for that) and we made it to the correct department to sign in.

NOW THE FUN BEGINS: (SARCASM)

First stop- Radiology for a "Needle Localization"- Definition: The insertion of a needle into the tumor followed by a wire with a small hook on the end. The wire is inserted into the tumor and completely through to mark the exact spot of the tumor. Once the wire is inserted the needle is removed. The wire can only be removed now by surgery due to the "hook". Did I mention..........NO NUMBING MEDICATION? Not fun. :( But I am ready for the next step.

Second stop- Nucelar Medicine for a "Sentinel Node Biopsy"- Definition: OUCH! The Dr. says, "I need to numb the area around the nipple in four different locations and then we will inject a radioactive material into you and trace it." Well, doesn't that sound fun? Let's go... First shot of numbing medication~OUCH....second shot~OUCH....third shot~OUCH....fourth shot~OUCH! Each time the Dr. apologized with each shot...and I knew he wasn't purposely hurting me...but it didn't make it feel better. He said, "OK...now you shouldn't feel anything that I am about to do. Can you feel that?" Me: "No." Him: "Can you feel that?" Me: "No." Him: "Can you feel that?" Me: "No...OHHHHHHHHHH OUCH..... YES!!!!!!" Him: "Sorry! Is it pressure? or pain?" Me: "PAIN. Didn't you hear me scream? Didn't you see my knees hit my chest? Pain." Him: "Sorry...can you feel this one?" Me: "No." After all of that the Dr. left the room and the tech took pictures for about 20 minutes and then told me the procedure was done and I would be going back to the surgery waiting area soon.

Back in the waiting area to see all my beautiful kids, John, my sister Tammy and our good friend Dave waiting for me. We all sat ther and laughed and chatted while we waited for transport to take us to the surgery waiting area. People in the room thought we were crazy...or at least thought Dave was. He made us laugh...and that is just what we needed.

Finally, transport came...and it's now after 11 am. Ever realize how hungry you are when you are told you CAN'T eat? Well I was starving. We made it back to the Ambulatory Surgery area and John and I went in while everyone else went to the family waiting area. The nurse put us in a room about the size of a small walk in closet. Really? She handed me this "paper-type" gown and told me to put that on...along with this "tin-foil" looking hat and those oh-so-beautiful hospital socks. I must have looked WONDERFUL. John helped me change my gown, he put my socks on me and then my hat. After he stopped laughing at me he opened the door to let the nurse know we were done. She came back in and said, "Alright, come with me and I will take you to your waiting room." Ohhh, we don't have to stay in the closet... :)

We walk into the area where we will be until surgery and the nurse at the desk asked my name. I told her and she said, "Looks like your surgery has been pushed back a little. You look to be scheduled for 3:44." WHAT? It's only 11:30. I said, "Well, I will have you know that I am going to starve to death by then." Before she could say another word, a male nurse came in with a paper in his hand and said, "Don't tell her that yet. I have her on here and it looks like she is up next. So probably around 1:00." Good...I like 1 better than almost 4. So she puts us in a room and I told John to take the kids and go eat. He left and Tammy, Brigette and Brittany came into the room. They sat with me until the guys were done eating. The guys came back and Dave came to tell them they could go get some food now. Dave sat down and we chatted for a few minutes until RJ and Josh walked into the room. They said John was finishing up his lunch and would be there soon.

John came in and Dave and the boys went back out to the family waiting area. John and I sat there for a little while longer and at about 12:20 they came in and said they were ready to take me up to the surgery holding area. YAY!! It's finally here. After all the waiting and worrying...it's finally here! We walked up to the surgery area and they put me on a gurney. The paper-type gown they put me in is actually a warming gown. It hooks up to a hose that blows warm air into the gown and surrounds you with heat. I AM IN HEAVEN!! The anesthesiologist came in and was talking with us. She said that after she asked me some questions she would give me a shot to "relax" me and then they would take me to the OR as soon as they were ready. About 10 minutes later she told me she was going to give me the relaxation shot...and I drifted off to sleep.

John said he had to keep checking on me to make sure I was breathing. He said I was so quiet and still that he couldn't see my chest rise and fall. Of course he had to make fun of me and tell me that I was doing some weird thing with my mouth...but I don't believe him. :)

I remember bits and pieces of things up to the point of being wheeled into the OR and then nothing until the nurse said, "Flora, we need to get you sitting up in the recliner so you can go home." I climbed off the gurney and sat in the recliner. Things are still fuzzy at this point and I am feeling a bit nauseated...but I know I want to go home. I want to sleep. Not really feeling much pain right now...must be some REALLY GOOD DRUGS.

John went to the parking garage to get the truck while Dave waited with me. Tammy took the kids home for me. John said they came in to tell me good bye but I don't remember. Like I said REALLY GOOD DRUGS. John pulled up out front, I climed into the back seat of the truck and don't really remember much until they told me we were home. Went into the house, straight to the bedroom and knocked back out.