Day 2

Hello Austin Texas! where ever you are1

Since my last post a lot has happened!  Here's the rundown:

Got to the hospital yesterday at 5:30 a.m.

Got walked back to the pre-surgical area at 6:00 a.m. It was chilly.  Nurse Rachael grabbed a blanket and we headed to room 13. Let's break this down, we're in a spooky month, starting off in room 13 and my doctors name is Savage.  It seemed like everything was in place for me.  Chuck was allowed to come back and hang out for awhile.

Doctor Hewitt, the anesthesiologist came in,   For those of you keeping score my maiden name is Huitt and pronounced the same as Hewitt.  More signs that all was going to be good!

A note for anyone considering a hospital procedure.  You get asked the same questions over and over.  What's your name, what's your birthday and what are you in for.  When Dr. Hewitt asked what I was in for I replied "A full knee replacement with navigation".  He was impressed but deducted 2 points because I said full instead of total.  :)

I had a nerve block applied to my leg which amounts to 2 shots in my leg.  Chuck was out of there at this point!

I forgot to mention the other nurses that wandered in.  Nurse Randy was the surgical nurse and Nurse Vicky was the anesthesiologist nurse. Their questions were the same as all others.  A note about Dr. Randy.  He looked very strong and more like a mechanic but he made me feel comfortable and more at ease.

After the nerve block I was wheeled into the surgical room and I waved to everyone I passed.  It was much colder in there.  Moving to the surgery table is the last thing I remember...

Surgery stats: started at 8:00 a.m. and ended at 10:20 a.m.  I woke up in recovery around noon.  At least that's the first time I can recall.  I didn't get to a room until 2:30-3:00 p.m.  Pam, the recovery room nurse said I was really out of it.  I wasn't sure what that meant.

I was hungry when I got to my room and at South Austin Hospital there's room service!  I ordered a cheese burger.  It was good but then the PT tech, Evelyn showed up.  I had taken a couple of bites and when I sat up I felt like I was going to be sick.  I didn't yak but I declined the rest of the burger.  Suggestion, eat something lighter than a burger after surgery!

I slept great!  I woke up when anyone came in then passed back out after they left.  Around midnight Nurse Megan offered me some peanut butter crackers and I said sure.  When she came in around 1:00ish I was asleep still holding them.  She laughed and opened them for me. When she came in around 2:30 I was asleep holding the crackers.  She got a good laugh at that and I put them down.  I finally ate those crackers around 4:00 a.m. which was about the time the effects of the anesthesia wore off.

Evelyn, the PT, came in and we commenced doing exercices in the bed but the big excitement today was I walked down the hall!!  Chuck got here just in time to see me go.  It was painful but it was more of a tight achey pain than a sharp pain.  I'm on the road!!  I know that there's much more to go but I'm ready.

Here's a pic of me hauling a%$!

debie@TbedB

PS(all written under the influence!)