I arrived at the hospital, Presence St. Joseph, at 8:00 a.m. Upon arriving I was almost immediately busy filling out paperwork, meeting with my surgeon and the anesthesiologists and getting "hooked up" to various machines. Collectively, it was a welcomed distraction so I did not get myself worked up about what was ahead.
I was originally informed that I would have a 23-hour admission and basically stay over night for observation. However, when I arrived my surgeon explained that I could go home that afternoon so long as I felt OK and assured me that I would not have to leave if I was not feeling well. I sent a few text messages to my good friend who was able to come pick me up that afternoon.
Prior to entering the operating room, I was given some sedatives to relax and at least one administration of fentanyl. They also gave me a femoral nerve block and it did not work. They tried again a second time, like right before I entered the operating room, but I do not know if it ultimately ever worked. I told the anesthesiologist that it did not work because "I have nerves of steel." That joke was likely a product of the fentanyl they gave me.
I believe I entered the operating room around 10:00 a.m. (ish) and the procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes. When I woke up, I was in a recovery room and boy, oh boy, was I woozy. I'm not sure if woozy is a technical term but it is accurate. I quickly got my bearings and realized where I was, what had happened, etc. I have never been anesthetized that deeply before as my prior arthroscopy was much shorter. While I felt like I was a belligerent fool, multiple nurses commented on how communicative and articulate I was under the circumstances which was comical to me because I felt anything but that.
After getting acclimated to my surroundings and feeling like I could communicate, the nurses were really helpful in getting me everything I needed. I am a cherry coke zero addict so I packed one with me and began eating graham crackers. Around 2:00 p.m., I decided that I would target my discharge for 3:30 p.m. As such, we began the discharge process and I received discharge instructions, pain medications, got changed, etc. They force you to urinate before you leave too.
I was wheel-chaired to the front entrance and my friend drove me home. I really did not have too much pain until about 8-9 p.m. Ultimately, I was glad that I went home. My friend stayed with me until my mom arrived around 5:30 p.m. That evening my mom and I just caught up and watched a movie. Another friend of mine had Cold Stone ice cream delivered to my door! Fortunately, I do not have adverse reactions to anesthesia and did not feel nauseous but I did not have much of an appetite. I did have a small dinner and the ice cream because my general philosophy is that calories do not count on surgery day.
That first night, sleep was a little rough. I woke up about once per hour as I was just uncomfortable. I had my leg elevated on a couch cushion but removed the cushion around 5:00 a.m. when I took some pain pills. While I was exhausted, sleep was just not that easy. My knee was quite tender and even the smallest movements caused pain and discomfort.
I was originally informed that I would have a 23-hour admission and basically stay over night for observation. However, when I arrived my surgeon explained that I could go home that afternoon so long as I felt OK and assured me that I would not have to leave if I was not feeling well. I sent a few text messages to my good friend who was able to come pick me up that afternoon.
Prior to entering the operating room, I was given some sedatives to relax and at least one administration of fentanyl. They also gave me a femoral nerve block and it did not work. They tried again a second time, like right before I entered the operating room, but I do not know if it ultimately ever worked. I told the anesthesiologist that it did not work because "I have nerves of steel." That joke was likely a product of the fentanyl they gave me.
I believe I entered the operating room around 10:00 a.m. (ish) and the procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes. When I woke up, I was in a recovery room and boy, oh boy, was I woozy. I'm not sure if woozy is a technical term but it is accurate. I quickly got my bearings and realized where I was, what had happened, etc. I have never been anesthetized that deeply before as my prior arthroscopy was much shorter. While I felt like I was a belligerent fool, multiple nurses commented on how communicative and articulate I was under the circumstances which was comical to me because I felt anything but that.
After getting acclimated to my surroundings and feeling like I could communicate, the nurses were really helpful in getting me everything I needed. I am a cherry coke zero addict so I packed one with me and began eating graham crackers. Around 2:00 p.m., I decided that I would target my discharge for 3:30 p.m. As such, we began the discharge process and I received discharge instructions, pain medications, got changed, etc. They force you to urinate before you leave too.
I was wheel-chaired to the front entrance and my friend drove me home. I really did not have too much pain until about 8-9 p.m. Ultimately, I was glad that I went home. My friend stayed with me until my mom arrived around 5:30 p.m. That evening my mom and I just caught up and watched a movie. Another friend of mine had Cold Stone ice cream delivered to my door! Fortunately, I do not have adverse reactions to anesthesia and did not feel nauseous but I did not have much of an appetite. I did have a small dinner and the ice cream because my general philosophy is that calories do not count on surgery day.
That first night, sleep was a little rough. I woke up about once per hour as I was just uncomfortable. I had my leg elevated on a couch cushion but removed the cushion around 5:00 a.m. when I took some pain pills. While I was exhausted, sleep was just not that easy. My knee was quite tender and even the smallest movements caused pain and discomfort.
In general, I was pleasantly surprised with how I felt. I had pictured myself being in profound agony but I was predominately just really uncomfortable with manageable pain so long as I took pain pills every 4-6 hours. I knew what I had signed up for so all things considered I was pleased without the procedure went and my general physical condition.
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