My skating friend Alyssa's mom Kristin took me to the hospital yesterday morning and stayed with me until they kicked her out of the pre op room. I may not have admitted I was a bit nervous going in but I was. The surgical staff were absolutely incredbile. My nurse Jane had to be the best RN in the building. She quickly had me set up in a bed, IV line started, fluids and antibiotics running and oxygen on. I didn't find out until I was in pre op that they would be doing a nerve block in my hip. Dr. Huang, my surgeon came in and chatted with Kristin and I for a bit and answered my questions. Anesthesiology came in shorly after him. They gave me some Versed so that I wouldn't really be awake for the nerve block and the next thing I knew, Jane was telling me I was in post op and it was all over. They did a great job with pain control and just gave IV Torodol and then oxycodone by mouth--the only two drugs I can actually handle. As soon as I said I felt slighly sick to my stomach, they loaded me up with Zofran, Phenergan and a Scopalamine patch. Dr. Huang was very thoughtful and had left orders for every drug they had so there was no waiting around for the nurses to call and get orders from him.
Dianne and Jerry my 'adopted grandparets' (very good family friends) spoke with Dr. Huang after the surgery and were very impressed with how he took the time to explain everything he did, how I would be feeling and answered all of their questions. They then were able to come back and be with me while Jane gave them my discharge instructions. Without question, this was the easiest surgical experience I've ever had. I had no problems maintaining good oxygenation like I have in the past, never threw up and was so coherent I gave Di and Jerry directions to my house. I even was able to get upstairs to my room easily and they picked up my medications. I'm so grateful they were there for me!
I'm equally thankful for Kristin and Alyssa without whom I would not have made it through the last 24 hours. They've heated up food, brought up drinks, made ice packs and made sure I'm comfortable and drinking plenty of fluids. I've decided that having your gallbladdder or appendix out is MUCH easier than this surgery...just getting up to go to the ladies's room is a 20 minute undertaking!
Dr. Huang had said that there was no indication on the MRI that I would need the more extensive microfracture repair done, so we had planned on the simple labrum reattachmet and shave down of the head of my femur bone since it's not completely round (which is fairly common in labrum tears). Unfortunately, when he started working on my hip, he found the damage to be more severe than the MRI indicated. He did have to do the micofracture as well as remove a bone spur that he found. This means that instead of the 2 weeks on crutches, I'll be on them for 4-6 weeks. It also means that the pain will be more intense than if he had only done the simple reattachment.
So for now it's lots of pain meds, muscle spasm meds and ice packs. And full week of taking it very, very easy. I have a follow up appointment on Monday and my hope is that I'll be over the worst of it by then. I have a little shower stool and a rolling walker with seat in it so that I can roll around the house and work instead of hopping aroud which should be very helpful. That's about all for now; I'll keep you posted. And for my Kansas friends, I should be coming for a visit in 2-3 weeks.
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