MONDAY {Before Surgery}: Preopt with my normal Doctor.
I went to Doctor Usendouski (Doctor U for short) in the...afternoon, I think? He did the usual checkup things, making sure I was healthy enough for surgery. Had me walk and hop, weighed me, measured my height, checked my heartbeat and temperature, etc.. The only really memorable thing is...I had to get a blood draw. Huhww! Anyway, I'm probably going to switch from a pediatrician to a family doctor -probably a woman- because, I'm kind of uncomfortable with Dr. U, now that I'm getting older. All in all, I'm apparently healthy enough for surgery.

WEDNESDAY {Day of Surgery}: Surgery, and more!
Today's the day! How frightening! I hadn't eaten since about 11:30 the night before, so I was hungry, scared out of my wits, and exhausted due to a fitful night. I was a little preoccupied so I don't remember where the surgery was. Just that my surgery is outpatient. C'mon! It's understandable, considering the circumstances! Anyway, we got there, checked in, and sat down to wait. Then, a secretary or something started going around giving people waiting cookies. The smell was torturous. Finally, we were called back and my mom helped me get into one of those horrible hospital gowns, and -you guessed it- nothing underneath. Very unpleasant. Afterward, the nurses -who were very nice- started getting me hooked up to all kinds of machines. I had unpleasant little sticker things on my chest and sides that hooked me up to a heart monitor. There was a blood pressure cuff that took my blood pressure every few minutes. And...and there was an IV! Time for a horror movie scream. I hate needles so much... I also had my first pregnancy test, because the medicine they were going to use is bad for babies. I had a little trouble with it because I hadn't drank anything for twelve hours and I went to the bathroom when I woke up. They were thinking they'd have to draw blood, so I decided to try. Needles, remember? The nurse was kind of embarrassing turning on the facet and telling me to think of mountain springs. Opps. Sorry too much information. So anyway, they gave me some nice warm blankets and water through my IV, which calmed me down some. Next thing I know, Doctor Cullen (And no, he's not a vampire.) came in to talk to me before taking me into surgery. I was on a fairly comfortable gurneey so they just rolled me to the operating room. Mostly from here it's a blur, but I'll tell what I remember. It was a very big room, a lot bigger than I expected. There were about three pairs of gurneys that were pushed together. I remember seeing one or two of those operating curtains but where, I can't remember. All of the pairs of gurneys were aligned and at the very end there was a single gurney by itself. They rolled me right up to that one. From where I was laying I could see a small medical desk or cart in the corner to my left. Doctor Cullen and the nurses (I think there were 3 or 4) had me slide onto the gurney next to me. My first thought was, Wow. This is cold. Actually the whole room is cold for -I think- sanitary reasons. Then, Sara -my anesthesia nurse- gave me the twilight medicine through my IV. The last thing I remember is feeling heavy and one of the nurses start to strap down my legs to the gurney. The next thing I knew, I was coming out of surgery, still very loopy. I don't remember this, but Doctor Cullen said the first thing I said was "Wow, my foot doesn't hurt at all." He showed my mom what my eyes looked like on drugs and I talked to her a little trying to describe the operating room. I was very very loopy. Eventually it wore off (to some extent), but I was still very comfortable and sleepy, because I was wrapped in warm blankets. My foot had an L splint on the bottom of my foot and the back of my calf. There was other, thinner cotton stuff that I couldn't see under extensive Ace bandaging. After a while, they let me have some toast and chocolate pudding. More time passed. I wasn't asleep but not exactly conscious either. Mom helped me redress in my underclothing and a red sundress. Then a nurse came to teach me to use my crutches. At first, I went way too fast. Heh. I'm not a very patient person. When she tried to teach me to go up and down stairs it was just plain aweful. I got tired really fast and I almost fell several times. The nurse had to catch me with this belt thing around my waist. It was sooooo humiliating. When we finally came back to the room, the bed was gone and a chair of some kind was in its place. It was a weird chair but I can't remember what it looked like just that it alowed me to elevate my foot, which was good. Not long after, Mom went to get the car and a nurse took me out in a wheel chair. The car ride home was short but not fun because with my foot down it started to hurt. Upon ariving home, I was able to walk myself in on my crutches. I was to sleep on the lower floor in my mom's room with her. She was sleeping on a mattress on the floor and me in her bed. Previously, I had been very upset about taking her bed from her but now I just wanted to rest and elevate my foot. All through the first day I had all kinds of pains that I can't even describe. I had so many different way to try to feel better. Let blood into foot, elevate, ice, move around, take a pain pill (pain pills didn't fix all pain, how annoying!), etc.. Didn't think I'd live throught the surgery. Unfortunatly, I did. Heh.

THURSDAY {After Surgery}: First day after surgery.
Uh. By far the worst day...EVER! I woke up and had some toast with this Italian Sandwich bread that is soooo good. After that, absolutely nothing I ate or drank would stay down. I got sick moments after trying. About five after five, Mom decided to call the doctor and realized that hours were over. Luckily, Dr. Cullen got back to us pretty fast. He said that all the anesthesia was leaving my system, making me sick, and called in some anti-nausea medicine for me. Unfortunatly, because I couldn't keep anything down, it was a suppository. Ugh. It. Was. So. AWEFUL! I am firmly convinced that it did not work. Dr. Cullen said the anesthesia leaves naturally and it didn't get better for hours after the suppository. So it didn't work. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

FRI., SAT., SUN., MON., TUES., WED. {After Surgery}
Not a whole lot to say for the next several days. Mainly pain and boredom. I read THE HOST, TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY (This one was a repeat), and FAIREST. Mostly it was just sitting around, reading, or playing video games. All through this time my leg was itching like crazy under the bandage.

THURSDAY (Post Opt): Post Opt Appointment

Mom, Dad, and I went to the doctor for a post opt appointment. We came in and they took off my splint and bandages. My leg was yellow from the anesptic and the cut was along the top of my foot with something-or-other tape. I won't go into detail because it made me feel sick just looking at it. Anyway, they cleaned me up and casted me. I had some trouble for a while, I guess I have a pretty weak stomach, but it was kinda gory. Ehuh. This cast is blue and ten times better than the splint!


I guess that's it. ^.^ Leave comments, I love 'em!