[NPInfo] Linda's Personal Update--Her Humor and Grace are Back!!!!

[GRETAOB at aol.com]

15 - October 21, 2007 at 02:36 PM  PDT
Good Morning Everyone 

It was one week ago when we last left off; I  wrote my preoperative stories 
and checked my message board one last time. Yes,  Doug, I did see your message 
just as I was walking out the hotel door. It was  the perfect imagery for 
surgery. 

We were the first ones to arrive in  holding. I was placed in a gown, 
booties, and cap. A RN started my IV and  completed my paperwork. I was so nervous 
that I walked my IV pole to the  bathroom multiple times. Chaplain Tom visited 
and spoke with us regarding  Arizona and Advanced Directives and Living Wills. 
Next was Dr. Washington, the  neuro-anesthesiologist. He was incredibly 
awesome. The knowledge that man  possesses is immense. He explained that 
neuro-anesthesiology differs from  general anesthesiology b/c he focuses on anesthetizing 
the brain in addition to  the body. He explains during anesthesia, I would 
become poikillothermic, meaning  that my body would assume room temperature, 
thus propagating a hypothermic  state. I was greatly comforted by his presence 
and jovial nature. ILARIA – have  your mother call him. Next into the room was 
the OR circulating RN to confirm my  name, procedure, etc. Chaplain Tom then 
returned for prayer. Next was a short  visit by one of Dr. Spetzler’s 
3rd-year-residents. Dr. Washington then returned  with two “Margaritas”. We took 
pictures (posted), hugged, and said “see you  later”. Although that’s the last 
thing I remember, I apparently LOUDLY promised  my husband oral gratification We 
were the first ones to arrive in  holding. I was placed in a gown, booties, and 
cap. A RN started my IV and  com

The  next 24 hours are a complete blur. I was either unconscious, 
vomiting/dry  heaving, or trying to correctly answer questions while someone shone a 
light  into my eyes. I frequently got 1997 and 2007 confused. When they asked me 
what  hospital I was in I would either say Holy Cross, Boca Raton, or Barrows. 
I would  try and tell them which floor I was on; in retrospect I really had no 
idea. For  some reason I was convinced I was on either the 4th or 6th (4th 
was correct). On  Wednesday morning (POD #1) around 1 AM was my first 
post-operative CT scan. It  seems more like a dream than an actual memory. At around 5 
or 6 AM was my  post-operative MRI. It was a whirlwind experience because it 
felt like there was  no gravity in my world. I trusted that the staff would not 
drop me (I was  comforted in knowing that I had never dropped a patient). 
Later in the day I  convinced myself to have my foley removed because I knew it 
would force me out  of bed more frequently. This was true b/c after every trip 
to the toilet was a  walk down the hall. My RNs were incredible and kept me on 
high doses of  anti-nausea drugs (Reglan, Zofran, and Phenergan) throughout my 
stay. I also  added sherbet to my diet of ice chips. POD #1 was a good day. 
On Thursday (POD  #2) I would have been discharged but developed a fever 
ranging between 101.5-102  F. I was pan-cultured, x-rayed, and started on 
antibiotics. A lot of that day  seems to be a blur as well. I didn’t walk as frequently 
as previously. I  declined the Percocet and opted for Morphine b/c I was 
afraid of getting  nauseated again. The docs kept me an additional day because of 
the fever and my  IgA-deficiency. I must have turned the proverbial corner 
during that night b/c I  felt good the next day (Friday, POD #3). I ate, went for 
a couple of walks, and  then was discharged back to the care of Rob and Dave. 


...Need to  rest...More to follow. 

Love - Linda




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