General Anesthesia

Had my pre-op appointment this afternoon. Three boring hours in the hospital, if you please, a good 2 hrs and 25 minutes of which were spent just.sitting.there. Grumble, grumble.  The longest prolonged amount of attention came after the half-hour mark when my X-ray tech spent 20 minutes w/ me arranging my shoulder in various poses. Judging from his exclamations, he's either a top-notch arranger and highly pleased w/ himself, or I've got an especially photogenic shoulder joint.

Not much news today. I know what it boils down to: arthroscopic surgery, part of which is fix-it-if-we-find-it. Grrreeaaaat. My rotator cuff is still torn. I still have a bone spur and some sort of cartilage impingement and a possible biceps wadjklfafhkmff and a labral mfioffjflsss. Oh, who the hell can ever understand what they're saying? Plus, I didn't hear anything after the resident said "general anesthesia." Cut to: db and me w/ saucer-sized eyes. General anesthesia?!

Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis? I thought I was going to have a spinal block (sounds fun, no?) and, like, be given some happy juice or something.

I've never been under general anesthesia. I've never been in the hospital. I've never had surgery. The surgery, which I'd before regarded as an in-out-Bob's-your-uncle kind of outpatient thing, suddenly took on a whole new tenor. They're going to tube me and knock me out?? Doesn't that sound like a much bigger deal?

Apparently, it's not. My orthopaedist doesn't find this little boring, workaday, mundane fact about my pending surgery as daunting as I do. He does a million of 'em, and in his experience, a slight knocking out is highly uncomfortable for the patient. Why is that, doc? Well, because the patient is in a neck brace, head strapped to the table, their face draped completely, not to mention their arm pulled down a good 5-inches for 3 hrs so as to open the shoulder socket as much as possible. Altogether now, kids: claustrophobia! Oh, hell no. Knock me out, friends. I'm not sitting there immobile and suffocating and conscious. Heyull naw.

So, there it is. Surgery under general anesthesia. Sounds crappy to me. Let's see, a slew of Class A narcotics, 6 weeks in a sling, 2 months recuperation, 3 months rehabilitation (at least). Should be a breeze!

That's a be-slinged 6 weeks w/ my dominant hand generally out of the picture. I'm fairly ambidextrous, but it's going to be a little awkward, I can tell. db's going to have to cut my food for me! And, more importantly, guest post.

And in cheery news, the nurse suggested we fill out our living wills. Alrighty then.

Comments

[Diane]

I didn't realize you were having surgery, and that you had all that going on with your shoulder. General anesthesia is not a big deal. You wake up and realize you're glad you were knocked out.

I haven't put my arm in a sling since the September r.m. injury because I can't imagine having to use just my left arm. The worst part about having one leg disabled when I broke my foot was handling the constant Louisiana rain: I couldn't hold crutches and an umbrella, so I walked around in a big rain hat.

So when is the surgery?

[Sour Duck]

I second Diane's "general anesthesia is not a big deal" sentiment; happens so quickly and next thing you know you wake up.

I, too, had no idea it was hospital time for ae. I'm sure it'll all go well and you'll then feel like a brave soldier at the end of it. (I know I did when I got my wisdom teeth removed. Bit of a different op but you get the gist.)

And you know, traditionally, patients get ice cream afterwards. ;)

Really, everthing will be fine. I'll be thinking of you.

(Is your boyfriend really going to blog for you? He's going to take dictation or something? This will be interesting! :))

[ae]

Diane, I tried to avoid surgery w/ rest, ice/heat, PT, massage, kvetching, you name it. No such luck. Thanks for your assurances re: general anesthesia. It just sounded so much more serious than I expected. My surgery is on Jan. 5, but it is outpatient, so I'm hoping I'll bounce back quickly.

Sour Duck, thanks for your comments re: anesthesia, too. I've talked to a few folks and everyone's of the same mind. I guess I thought they didn't put you fully under unless it was a major surgery, and I considered mine minor. But now that you mention ice cream, I'll just keep my eyes on the prize! Thanks for your good thoughts. I'll need them!

I've made db promise he'll post in my absence. I hadn't thought of dictation -- maybe I'll be inspired, though the drug haze may make for some interesting psychedelia! db's a heck of a funny guy so I may just leave him to it.

[helmut]

It really is relatively simple surgery. The experience is counting backwards from ten, making it to eight, then waking up and getting new fun drugs and attention. Then you milk it for three months. All the best.

[Cairo]

Woof Woof Woof

[The Fat Lady Sings]

Hey sweetie - I didn't know you had surgery planned as a way to welcome in the New Year - but what the heck - at least it's different. I'm kind of an old hand at all this - had a couple of really bad accidents that required re-constructive surgeries on my ankles and arm. I have so much metal holding parts of me together, I set off airport alarms! So - first off - make sure you talk to your anesthesiologist. Don't let it go. You want to make sure he or she knows exactly how much you weigh, and do ask what kind of monitoring you will have. If it’s an option, ask the technician to monitor your brain activity as opposed to just breathing. That way, they will know exactly how deep you are at all times – and you won’t get too little or too much. Don’t worry about being out – you won’t remember a thing. It will soon be over, and you will be home, in your own bed, being taken care of by people who’ll see to your every comfort. Me – I’ll always opt for home healing. I’m not a huge hospital fan.

So – hang in there honey – everything will work out just fine. The more you get into the rehab, the quicker you will have use of your shoulder back. Lots of positive thoughts and prayers are heading your way. Look – even Cairo sent her love!

[Twisty]

Best of luck. I managed to physical-therapy my way out of shoulder surgery just a few months ago. Only to find myself under the knife 2 weeks later when they chopped off my boob. You'll wake up dopey and be fine. I promise.

[schoolsmelt]

I know a couple of surgeons, and they say that general anesthesia is nowhere near as scary as it used to be. If you're nervous, I'd recommend bringing an earphone+music or book on tape device into the OR w/you so you can control at least part of the experience.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and a fantastic 2006! ss

[The Chemist]

I've had three surgeries that required general anesthesia (OK, four, but two of them were at the same time), and I second everyone here who's said the anesthesia is not the bad part. You wake up a little groggy and saying funny things, but other than that it's no big deal. Apparently after my last knee surgery, I was asking somebody to get the gas mask off me because "this shit smells like ass". Really loudly.

Anyway, good luck with your recovery and all that stuff. You'll do great.

[ae]

Hi, helmut. Thanks for dropping in and for the good wishes. I'm intrigued by this 'milking it' concept of which you speak and fear we may have to open up a whole new "Bad Patient" category so db will have a place to grouse. ;->

Cairo! Who's a sweet girl for sending me some love? Here's some bones for the good girl. @==@ @==@ @==@ @==@ I'll send Finn and Kate over to visit. Woof!

TFLS, sorry to hear about the major reconstruction, but better to set off that sort of alarm w/ TSA than the blogular attitude sort w/ DHS/NSA! Thank you for your kind words and the good advice re: the anesthesiologist. I haven't met her yet, but I'll have the opportunity to talk w/ her before surgery on the 5th. I'll bring up the brain monitor then. No fan of hospitals am I, but I won't be there long. And when I'm back home w/ my beasts, db will take good care of me. He always does. Thank you for the good thoughts!

Hi, Twisty! Thanks for dropping by! I just can't believe that leap from PT to boobless. So sorry. I tried to PT my way out, but this damage can't be undone. Over 25 years of wear and tear on this poor shoulder and, of course, everything is really wearing: volleyball, softball, basketball, fencing. I can't believe I didn't throw in alligator wrestling for good measure. It's a wonder the dang thing is still attached. As for dopey, good. No one will be able to tell the difference.

SS, thanks for the good advice and good wishes! My sense of "general anesthesia" is based on M*A*S*H* reruns so I can guess that we've made some strides since the 50s! All the best in the New Year to you.

Chemist, I was given a little happy juice when I had my wisdom teeth out and the shot they gave me to relax me knocked me out in like 2 seconds. The last thing I remember saying was, "This feels great! Can I have this for the next four years?" It was early days yet in the Shrub madministration. I was right to want it. Damn.

Thanks, friends! You really made me feel better. Not worried at all now. Funny how much is just a matter of perception. I wasn't kidding about those M*A*S*H* reruns! I'm hoping they'll email me some pix of my surgery so I can post the (not so) gory details. Aren't the internets great?

[David]

ae, I'm a surgery veteran. It's no big deal. Looking forward to db's posts. Perhaps he can smuggle in extra ice cream! Happy New Year!

[ae]

Happy New Year, David, and thanks for the reassurance! I'm looking forward to db's posts, too. More ice cream all around!