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.