The Surgery

So we arrived at the hospital right on time at 9 am. It was a breeze because I had already filled out the paperwork earlier. So we went up to Pre-Op and I got in my hot hospital gown and the nurse came over to start my IV. She was a student nurse and I wanted her to put it in my hand, but I don't think she had ever done a hand IV before!? They had to work really hard to put it in, but it was a good learning experience for her and she obviously needed someone nice to work on.

Then they scrubbed down my entire leg for TEN minutes with betadine. It was so yucky!! I was fine and joking with the nurses until they wheeled me away. Wifey jinxed me. She told me how she gets emotional when they start to put her out and what did I do?! Get emotional when they started to put me out. They pushed some drugs into my IV and it burned and then they wheeled me away from my mom and I started to cry. Then we talked about Disneyland. The last thing I remember was telling them that I had an annual pass and my anesthesiologist asked if it were the one with blackout dates or not and I said, "No, I have premium. That's the only way to roll." and BAM I was OUT.

So they woke me up in recovery, and asked how my pain was. I told them it was about a 2, just mild discomfort. They were all amazed. I could not open my eyes for like five minutes! I could talk and move my arms and legs, just not open my eyes!! When I finally did, I couldn't focus on ANYTHING. I had such bad double vision!! They finally let my mom come into the room and my BP was pretty low. I am usually low to begin with, but it was way low. Around 85/57 I think was the lowest it got. Then I started to feel sick. But they gave me anti-nausea meds and those are seriously wonderful!!

Lazzarini told me that my surgery went flawlessly. Only an hour and thirty-seven minutes. He said he wished all his patients were as easy as me. So here I go, 4 weeks on crutches. I'm seriously counting down the days. I think we're at 25 days? I'm already resenting people who can walk normally! I hate being so slow!! I'll put up pictures later :)

Cut. Me. Open.

I am so ready for this surgery. It would be a lot easier if they had a pain killer on my list that I could actually take. Unfortunately they want me to suffer. :( I'm so over it.

Three and a half days more...

Imma Cut Chyoo!

So I had all my pre-op appointments yesterday. That was interesting. Besides being late, and waiting for an HOUR, it was pretty good. We had a few laughs and got my questions answered. Good stuff.

So my first appointment was with Lazzarini, my surgeon. I was about 15 min late. Their office was SO busy! You had to take a number and they would call you up to register you! They had 4 girls at the front, and one off to the side to make appointments. I don't think I've ever been in an office so busy! And needless to say, it's nothing like my office!

After they took me back I sat in the room for a bit and saw Lazzarini walk by a couple times. Then he stole one of the pillows off the exam table in my room. He told me I could have one but not both! It was actually pretty funny...waited a little bit longer...

Finally he came in and we talked a little bit. Told me about my scripts he was giving me, and how I should probably stop taking my Aleve now, and Friday at the latest. Went over other basic things. Then he was like, "So basically I'm going to get you where ever and however I see fit. Usually a woman your size will take 3-5 tiny incisions." ....Ok well that cleared that up. hahaha Just the way he said it was funny. He said I would leak pink fluid from my wounds for about 12 hrs and not to wear my fav stuff etc. because it would be ruined.

After that I went home and had to go back out to Walnut Creek for another Pre-op appointment at the hospital. Which apparently I didn't need to go to? She checked me in, and that office was MUCH quieter than the ortho office. More like mine. hahaha So she goes over the basic stuff, but she didn't have my paperwork from Lazzarini?! So that was one reason, and I wasn't staying over night. So she was a little perplexed as to why I had come in there, but we had some laughs and I went over to sign all the paperwork about how I would pay etc. etc.

So I'm good to be cut! Part of me wishes it were sooner, while the other doesn't! So as usual, I'll take it one day at a time...which is all anyone can handle!

Insurance companies...SUCK

So we've been dealing a lot with the insurance companies. Since I'm not a full time student anymore, I don't get to be on my parents' insurance...dang it! So I had to start buying COBRA. So we got all the paperwork and filed it etc.

And we were supposed to be getting a packet but we never got it...and we're closing in on my surgery date, and my surgery scheduler is flipping out. They didn't want to see me for my pre-op if I wasn't covered eventhough it would be retroactive! UGH! So of course all of her flipping out on me, makes me flip out to mom...not directed at her, but sharing my frustration with her!

So Mom called our insurance lady who emailed her the paperwork and we faxed it in. But my surgery scheduler is STILL flipping out. So I continue to be all stressed out with Mom about it. So she takes action, this is why I love my mom...lol She calls up Blue Shield, pretending to be me (which I have given her permission to NUMEROUS times re ins companies) and talks to some chick and tells her what's going on and she told Mom to send a letter saying why it needs to be expedited etc. Of course this is perfect for Mom in all her letter writing awesomeness...so she did, and faxed it over. This was Friday.

Today, Mom got a call saying they had my subscriber number! YAY! SO I called up my surgery scheduler and was like what now!? hahaha So everything is still on THANK GOD! I knew that one way or another God would take care of me. I was just glad that His perfect timing matched mine...lol

So tomorrow I get to be x-rayed some more, go over the labs that I got done Friday and talk about what exactly is going to be done, recovery time, drugs (hopefully good ones lol), and yeah. I'm pretty excited!

Scope Confirmed!

So it's confirmed. I'm going in on the 25th of this month for my surgery. I have my pre-op on the 15th, so I'll know more about what exactly he's going to do. He said that he needs to do a couple more x-rays to be sure that I don't have the other type of impingement as well. That would suck if I did!

So that means only a couple more weeks of freedom for me! I have all of my appointments ready to go as far as pre-op and post-op goes. My surgery scheduler said she'd get the authorization so I'll check back on that to see if she got it or not. Because quite honestly I don't trust doctor's offices. I work at one and things slip through the cracks on accident all the time! AND I have to deal with the anesthisiologist not being covered, so this will be fun...

Talk About a Good Birthday Gift...

My surgery scheduler called me back today, FINALLY! I was going to call her tomorrow if she hadn't called me today, but she did :) . She told me the soonest date was April 25th. I was a little bummed I must say. That's my dad's birthday! Oops, sorry Dad...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! She's supposed to call me tomorrow morning to confirm the date and time and schedule pre/post op appointments...So here we go!