Smoke needed

Been worried about the pre-op where the Surgeon goes into high "Cover-His-Ass" mode. I have had to get letters of clearance from my

Dentist
Periodontist
Cardioligist
General Practitioner

Mother-in-law <kidding>

Chest x-rays
Blood analysis - three separate times yesterday
Urine analysis
anal analysis <kidding again> Procto-anal-ysis?
Blood pressure -- elevated, they think it is stress. Wonder why they think that?
EKG
Complete physical exam.

Meetings with rehab and recovery therapists. Questions like "How many steps from the bed to the bathroom?" "From the bathroom to the couch?" They want to be sure I can navigate these distances before they send me home.

Put together a "Living Will" (Pull the plug if I don't mentally come out of this)

Well, I passed on all accounts! Still very nervous. But I do like the doctors, staff, hospital and a couple of the nurses. Seems like a good team.

Also getting a list of symptoms to watch out for -- after the operation -- infection and (shudder) blood clots top the list. Of course after reading the list, I developed every one of the symptoms!

Anne had a hysterectomy from the same team. Different surgeon. I really liked her surgeon. Though he is Jewish, he came to the pre-op right before the surgery and said a Christian prayer for us before her operation. Really touched us.


Still, this is my first time ever with major surgery. Anne will stay with me 3-5 days I am in the hospital. I can take a laptop if I want. May not feel like emailng, but will try.

I am getting an epidural, (spinal block) but they say they may need to use a general anesthetic if "needed." I am very nervous about a general anesthetic because

1. I had one in 1987 and the coming back is Hell. Shakes (tremblors), nausea, very sore throat.

2. My father had the very same knee replacement operation. Same hospital, different surgical team. They were supposed to only give him an epidural. They gave him a general and his mind was gone when he came out of the anesthetic. Vivid visual and auditory hallucinations. He had to be placed in an Alzheimer's Home where we watched him slowly die over a three year period. It was so bad that my sister said, "I wish we could take him out behind the barn (on his farm) and put him out of his misery."

Dad was 20 years older than me and I am in better health, so.......

But still I had to sign all these releases. Wish that I had not read them The spell out, in gory detail, all the ugly possibilities of what might happen

Sorry for the ramble. I am not sleeping very well. Add "bored" and "cranky" to the list! Anne is being a Saint. Saint Anne, hmm, have heard of her.

Anyway April 28th at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, they begin cutting. I will probably be more nervous the night before. Right before the operation they will give me an "I-don't-care drug."

Wish I had one now.

Prayers and smoke requested.

 

Thank you Andy, I think that I am covered, but will keep your kind offer in mind.