Day 1
I arrived at the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center at 5 am, and sat in the waiting area until the general admission office opened at 5:30. I was feeling a little nervous, but more so about the loss of independence for several months rather than the surgery itself. Like others have said, I knew that I would regret not taking this chance later on in life, knowing that I had the opportunity to achieve the height that I've always wanted. I was quickly admitted and shown the way to the pre-op staging area. After being assigned a room, I had to undress and out on a hospital gown. Next, several different nurses came in to ask me a few questions, put my IV in, etc. Before I knew it, I was being wheeled down the hall to the operating room. The anesthesiologist told me what she was going to do and then it was lights out.
I woke up around 1 pm. I was hooked up to a pain pump and a catheter. I felt very little pain, but could not move my legs. Nurses were checking on me every few minutes, and said that I looked like I was doing well. Then Dr. Mahboubian came in and said the surgery went extremely well, my bones were very dense, and he was able to use the largest size precise nail (he didn't specify the actual diameter). He even told me I could fully weight bear as long as i was standing with even pressure on both legs. No walking without a walker of course. Next a hospital worker came in and took my lunch and dinner order. I was pretty hungry, and ate my whole lunch but then threw it right back up due to nausea from the anesthesia. Next, the hospital PT came in and helped me do some simple leg lifts and knee bends. After that she had me stand up with the walker and take a few steps forward, backward, and side to side. I was really nervous right before standing up, because I have read where many vets have felt extreme pain during this part. Surprisingly I felt very little pain and was able to walk ok, mostly using arm strength. After PT, I attempted to eat dinner but threw it up again. The nurses called Dr. M to ask for a nausea medication that I could take. Later that evening, the nausea meds arrived, and I did feel better after that. However, that feeling was short lived, because then the nurse informed me that she was going to have to take the catheter out. Again, from reading other diaries, I was very nervous about this part. First they deflate a balloon that was pressing against your bladder, and then they just yank the tube out. It hurt like a B%$#@!!!! Then the nurse informs you that you have to be able to pee into a plastic urinal in the next few hours or they will have to reinsert the catheter. I was not about to let that happen!! It was difficult, especially with my urethra still in pain from that tube being yanked out, but I forced it, and within an hour or two I had filled that plastic bottle. The rest of the night went ok, but I got very little sleep due to the dull but consistent pain.
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Topic: Short2tall internal femurs with Dr. Mahboubian (Read 23180 times)