Sameday Surgury :(

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Pshwoo ... just checked there really is no surgery.com *Sigh*  Double shoot ... I mispelled surgery the first time and now I find there is a site, but it is too busy or broken *rocking nervously*

We went to the surgeon appointment yesterday.  We left early enough to get some blood tests drawn and reschedule the other follow-up visit with the family practice.  We'd gotten confused with the dates and had missed the appointment last week.      

They didn't keep us waiting too long.  The vitals were taken and then we were shown a room.  The resident came in talked for a few moments and then checked us out.  He confirmed that we have a hernia.  He didn't say too much though.       

He said that the umm, forget the other guys position.  He is the "real" surgeon.  Anyway ... that wait took a while because there'd been some emotional crisis with one of the other patients.       

So in the meantime a medical student (one step below a resident?) came in.  She was like a real chatty Cathy.  So, we asked more questions.  Just we can't remember what we asked her or what she said.       

After a while of that the real doctor came in with the resident.  The resident who had been secure was now a bit shaky and under pressure.  The real doctor was introduced, but we couldn't remember his name.  He didn't use much words to talk and most the talking was to the resident.  The poor guy was gun shy.       

I think he might have told me it was a different kind of hernia than the other doctor said, but I'm not sure, cuz we weren't processing all to much proper.  Then it was like the real doctor was looking directly at me.       

We were still laying down.  By now he'd checked us too.  We just remember the part that his eyes were like dracula ... mesmerizing and all.  He had already said I guess that we were having surgury and that it would be as soon as possible, because then he asked if there were any questions.       

We managed to ask ... "Is there anything we should be worried about?"  He said, "No."  So, then we said,"Ok."  And, that was that.         

There was a bustle of everyone doing something with paperwork.  The Chatty medical student stayed and talked and talked about something to do, I think, with hernia's.  Just we couldn't remember what she was saying.       

We just kept repeating until somone listened that Dr. M. should be called because we wouldn't remember.  There was a nurse in her somewhere too.  We're thinking that she wrote an email or something, not sure.  Just that it had been "taken care of." 

The medical student was like asking questions, but she was terribly slow and took a long time to write things down.  I think the resident and nurse were trying to rush her along.       

The nurse came in and said that the surgury would be scheduled for May 19 and that I'd have to be there by 7:30 am.  She said it would be like sameday surgury and someone else said if everything else was as they had thought I'd go home the same day.       

They said the recovery was like 2 weeks, but I'd be feeling much better in maybe 5-6 days.  The nurse person also said that there would be an appointment with the anethesia person on a week prior on May 12.  It took some figuring, but we're thinking that's not next week, but the week after.       

We're thinking that Dr. M. is going to be gone this coming up Thursday and the following Monday ... the same couple of days before the first appointment, but maybe he would be back the day after that appointment?       

We've got to refigure the days a couple of times at least before it sets with us.  We're thinking that he'll be here though on Monday morning.  We left him a phone message and email after we'd gotten back this afternoon/evening.  We didn't know if there would be enough time for the report from the doctor or the blood tests would be in the computer.  He usually helps us understand them.       

Our oldest son is somewhere on a beach and won't be back until next Saturday.  I don't remember what country he went to.  The middle son, stays out of touch.  We left him a phone message.  The youngest son was over at the middle son's.      

The conversationwent like this.  "Umm, I saw a surgeon today.  I have to have an operation.  It's cuz of a hernia.  This is like baby surgury.  I'll be ok, just wanted you to know."  He asked, "You'll be ok?"  I said, "Yes."  He said, "Ok, I'm with Thom and Alex now, gotta go."  So, I said, "Ok, bye."  He said, "Bye Mom."  Not too much support from this direction.       

I left a message with our friend.  He said, he'd stop by after his game.  He let me talk about it for awhile.  But, he was in pretty achy condition and had just gotten done with his second CARF survey in two weeks.  He said though that he would try to work out his schedule so he could go with me that day.  We appreciated that.      

I don't think its something my oldest son would want to put himself through.  Certainly not the other two.  Maybe the oldest son will come to visit while recovering?      

The last person we needed to contact was Sr. Tess.  We thought she'd be angry because it had been scheduled for her vacation.  But, it turned out her vacation was the following month of June.  So, that worked out.       

She was the most supportive so far and even asked a couple of questions.  That made me feel better.  We told her it might be two weeks after before we'd get a doctor's ok to come back to work.  She said that it was ok and that we'd take things one day at a time.  So, we said, "Ok."      

So, that's about it as far as what's happened.  We did get a chance to IM with Vince, cuz we were kind of confused when we got back.  He said to get a second opinion, or ask Dr. M. about getting one.      

But, we'd forgotten this was actually a second opinion.  We were referred by the family practice.  We'll still ask Dr. M. when we see him on Monday morning.  I don't think though that Dr. M. thinks hernias are much a big deal and from what we remember reading before, they are not supposed to be.       

It's supposed to be one of those things with mesh something and a camera, I think.  We also remember someone saying, not sure which, but that if there were other things they saw while they were in there that they'd take care of them too.       

I think though if it were real big like a heart problem, they'd have to wake me up and reschedule.  I'm kinda wondering now, because I think we had stones somewhere.  Don't remember where though.      

Do you think they'll look up my record before surgury?  Is that something that can be taken care of by surgury?  Not sure...  Seems kind of snoopy to be lookin at all our inside stuff...      

Oh, one more thing, we remember ... we had to sign something that if there were problems with the camera that they could make a big cut to fix stuff.      

Bill, Libby and the pooches got this entry plus a little more in an email first off.  They seem like our voices of reason.  I think their  points back were like ...     

I should understand more what will happen.  As Vince said, we should check on a second opinion and that I can ask more questions directly of the Surgeon.  I shouldn't do this alone.       

Most people would agree including Dr. M. that this isn't a very big deal.  Bill gave me a little better sense what would be happening.  We have to keep these thoughts together or we will forget them.  It's like us taking notes at the convention and in the journal later.      

Bill and Libby also talked of having confidence in the doctor and that we could reschedule if necessary.  We're thinking that we've already sort of rescheduled in that we waited until after our CARF to progress this.  We were very grateful to get the convention in too.       

I also think the one other Expo thing would be like a day before surgury.  So, the timing is really pretty good except having to do something with a couple of intake appointments.  Works well with needing to use up vacation before July.  Plenty of rest time here, right Vince?      

I'm not sure what else to be thinking now this morning.  We'll have to budget ahead of time getting some necessities in the house.  Like food!  And, there will be a little preparation with staff and clients to make sure their needs are met before we go.  Think it will be a two week process before the doc lets us go back to work.      

Maybe we'll post again later.  Having trouble concentrating. We woke up late and haven't had our medicine yet.  Figure we should do that next, right?  It'll be ok, it'll be ok...  We'll talk to Dr. M. on Monday ... he's already been left a message by phone and email. 

Think we'll take a nap. 

Picture - http://www.ahajokes.com/crt617.html