The Surgery - Part One

The night before, I was already briefed by the nurse on duty that she will wake me early, at around 4am. I can take a bath then, brush my teeth and dress myself in the O.R. gown they have prepared for me. (There was one thing that I forgot to mention in yesterday's post, how painful it was for me to wipe off my 3-day old pedicure which I got in the first place because I want to have clean beautifully painted toenails when I get operated on. Heck, I didn't know that manicures, pedicures, make-up and jewelries are prohibited in the Operating Room. I saw my husband's face as I wipe off my super red pedicure, I think he was thinking, "there goes my 100 bucks...")

Anyway, at exactly 4 am, the nurse woke me up. I immediately went to the bathroom, took a bath, brushed my teeth and clothed myself with the OR gown. I was excited and nervous at the same time. Then the nurse came in again and told me that they will now insert an IV or intravenous on my left hand.

Then my heart starts thumping. Way too loudly this time. No more excitement. I am plain nervous, scared and very very scared. "Oh God, why am I here?" In my mind, I was praying, praying like the way I prayed whenever I go on a plane and just when its about to take off, my litany of all the saints in heaven have already taken off as well.

When the IV nurse started inspecting my hand, with my faked courage, I pointed to her where I usually have my IVs inserted. She informed me that she cannot insert the IV on that same spot because the vein is too small, she needs a bigger vein for my IV. She turned my hand on the side, I grew more scared, I know how painful it will be if she will insert the IV on that side plus it will be uncomfortable to move as well. Good thing that she has found another vein just below my usual spot for IV. As she inserted the IV, I guess she pushed the needle too hard because it was very painful, far painful from my other IV experiences.

Just the beginning.



My second bout of pain came in the form of the terrifying skin test.

I know for a fact that skin tests are painful plainly because the needle will be inserted in the skin. As soon as my nurse told me that she will be doing the skin test, I was frantic with fear. That was when Jake woke up and stand by the side of my bed and held me. I was trying to argue my case with the nurse, how I don't need a skin test because I am not allergic to antibiotics. At the back of my mind, I was blaming myself for ever mentioning that I am allergic to shrimps. But that was ages ago! Now I can eat a plateful of them without any signs of allergy attack. God I was scared!

And the pain bit me.

As soon as the needle was inserted on my skin, and the nurse poke the needle on that spot, I felt unimaginable pain. I couldn't help but shout. Hey, I didn't look at all. I was hiding my face on my husband's chest. I cried. Tears flowed freely on my cheeks. Then it was over. But the pain lingered a bit. The nurse draw a circle around where she performed the skin test. The area has to be observed for any allergic reactions. Luckily, and I am right, I am not allergic to antibiotics at all.

Then my mom came. She promised to accompany Jake while I am in the operating room. I felt emotional at that time. I am scared. I wanted to go home already.

But there's no turning back - especially when my O.R. nurse came into the room, with all smiles and with pride in his eyes, told me that he has come to pick me and bring me to the Operating Room. Immediately I was transferred to a stretcher, and wheeled off to the Operating Room. My mom and my husband went with me to the waiting room area of the O.R.

As the nurses prepared the Operating Room, I was waiting in the holding area. I was already given a cap, I guess to keep my hair from messing up the place. Hehehe. I felt cold. My feet were ice cold. Although I was already wrapped in a blanket, I still felt cold.

When my designated O.R. nurse came to me and told me the show is about to begin, other than being scared and nervous, I was actually curious.

And boy, my curiosity got the better of me.

On my next post, I will share with you my experience while I was in the Operating Room, then to the Recovery Room and back to my own private room.