This nice young man came to fetch me for the OR. After we went through a few awkward doors and up a floor on an elevator (I think I remember that right). We arrive in pre-op. I'm sorry, but all pre-op, ORs and PACUs smell the same. It has to be the cleaning supplies, the paper products, the supplies or something; but I swear there is a unique odor. It's not unpleasant, it's just different.
Anyway - so here I am getting a bit anxious and still battling the nausea from the morphine. Enter Patty the Pre-op Nurse. I guess Patty was having a busy day - three hips would do that to a person - I honestly didn't see anyone else around to help her. I was the only patient and naturally my nosy self is looking around what's up. I see the far other end of the area I'm in and wonder if that's PACU. There are some doors to my left, to the OR - I think. Meanwhile here I am in my once warm hospital gown, my sports bra still (no one has ventured to take it off). I'm sitting semi-erect on the stretcher. Hello nausea. Patty comes over and swaps out my heart monitor leads, discovers my bra is still there. I said no problem, I can probably get it off now. Gulp, swallow, breathe, breathe - nausea. Yuk.... I get it off easily - I think Patty was babbling about a pregnancy test. I'm like seriously it's not a concern lady, just give me a waiver, I'll sign it. So Patty is over at the desk mumbling about something when I no longer can control the nausea. Mount Saint Jen erupts. As I turn and try to throw up anywhere, but on myself, I'm greeted by the fantastic pain of my broken hip. I failed miserably to miss myself; I might have had one of those barf bags, I don't remember that; but most of it wound up on me. Fantastic. Hey, Nurse, Nurse, I need som... rallllphhhhh, help please. Finally Patty notices I'm puking and comes to my aid. Thanks, I think.
So they swap me to the lovely Bear Hugger gown - you must experience these at least once in your life. I've now had the experience four times now I think... The nice thing about them is you control your own environment. If you're hot, turn the air on, if you're cold, turn the heat on. Here it is modeled by a lovely, obviously not real patient.
Soon I would meet my anethesiologist - these guys are important. They can kill you with a single milliliter. Turns out this guy was super nice - I remember him being super caring and apologetic that he had to do general anesthesia despite my lack of food since about 0600. He also offered to give me an epidural to reduce post-operative pain and was impressed that I declined it. I've been the patient when a nerve block wears off, it is not fun, just give me the pain all along. Plus honestly I wasn't sure how the heck I'd ever tolerate moving to get the epidural. Soon the circulating nurse arrived and I don't remember rolling out of pre-op. I now know I was given Versed in pre-op by my medical record which explains that.
See ya'll post operatively, where new goals await!!!
Anyway - so here I am getting a bit anxious and still battling the nausea from the morphine. Enter Patty the Pre-op Nurse. I guess Patty was having a busy day - three hips would do that to a person - I honestly didn't see anyone else around to help her. I was the only patient and naturally my nosy self is looking around what's up. I see the far other end of the area I'm in and wonder if that's PACU. There are some doors to my left, to the OR - I think. Meanwhile here I am in my once warm hospital gown, my sports bra still (no one has ventured to take it off). I'm sitting semi-erect on the stretcher. Hello nausea. Patty comes over and swaps out my heart monitor leads, discovers my bra is still there. I said no problem, I can probably get it off now. Gulp, swallow, breathe, breathe - nausea. Yuk.... I get it off easily - I think Patty was babbling about a pregnancy test. I'm like seriously it's not a concern lady, just give me a waiver, I'll sign it. So Patty is over at the desk mumbling about something when I no longer can control the nausea. Mount Saint Jen erupts. As I turn and try to throw up anywhere, but on myself, I'm greeted by the fantastic pain of my broken hip. I failed miserably to miss myself; I might have had one of those barf bags, I don't remember that; but most of it wound up on me. Fantastic. Hey, Nurse, Nurse, I need som... rallllphhhhh, help please. Finally Patty notices I'm puking and comes to my aid. Thanks, I think.
So they swap me to the lovely Bear Hugger gown - you must experience these at least once in your life. I've now had the experience four times now I think... The nice thing about them is you control your own environment. If you're hot, turn the air on, if you're cold, turn the heat on. Here it is modeled by a lovely, obviously not real patient.
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| Photo credit: internet search |
Soon I would meet my anethesiologist - these guys are important. They can kill you with a single milliliter. Turns out this guy was super nice - I remember him being super caring and apologetic that he had to do general anesthesia despite my lack of food since about 0600. He also offered to give me an epidural to reduce post-operative pain and was impressed that I declined it. I've been the patient when a nerve block wears off, it is not fun, just give me the pain all along. Plus honestly I wasn't sure how the heck I'd ever tolerate moving to get the epidural. Soon the circulating nurse arrived and I don't remember rolling out of pre-op. I now know I was given Versed in pre-op by my medical record which explains that.
See ya'll post operatively, where new goals await!!!
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