The Pre-Op process

I had my pre-op appointment today for tomorrow's surgery.  First, it gave me a chance to find the hospital here in downtown Honolulu.  It was a rainy morning and there were several traffic issues, so the 15 miles took 80 minutes to get there.  The irony is that driving in heavy traffic is one of the things that really makes my knee feel like it's getting pulled apart...

When  I got there, they gave me a 2-page questionnaire that no one showed any interest again, at least not until I asked several people, "do you want this?"  I discovered my pre-op appointment was actually a series of appointments.

First, the nurse took me back to an examining room so I could sit for a bit.  Never sure why they do that...  I told her I needed a snack after that trip, and she just laughed...  Anyway, I took the time to relax from the drive and then play with the rubber joints all orthopedic surgeons seems to have around. 

Then she had me change into a pair of big baggy shorts, and the knee brace guy came in.  My nifty Robo-Cop brace has a hinge in it, and a lock on the hinge to really keep that leg straight.  He showed me how to adjust all the straps and how to put it on properly.  He said I'll be wearing that thing pretty much 24 hours a day.  "How long?"  I asked.  "It depends," he says.

They say that a lot around here.  "It depends."  

The doctor came in and we discussed the procedure a bit.  Of course, I have a good dozen questions swirling in my head now and none then.  It will be 3 months before I can start jogging.  Not that I ever did a lot of jogging before.  But definitely none for 3 months.  Nine months before I can do any cutting actions with the knee, like an NFL running back or basketball player.  Well, never did those either...  I can swim after about a month.  The first 4-6 weeks are the crucial part, where the risk is greatest that the new ligament might be stretched.  

He's going to use an allograft, a graft from a cadaver.  This is less painful than shaving part of my patellar tendon.  Less pain sounds good to me.  He gives me a pain medication, Percocet, and recommends I fill it today so I'll have it when I need it.  He talks some more about pain and how they manage it.  I haven't really thought much about the pain.  I'm hoping it's a good thing that I'm not dwelling on that topic much.  

We discuss the physical therapy a bit.  I know that is critical to my recovery.  He recommends renting a passive motion machine for the first two weeks to help me regain my full range of motion.  Happy to do that.  There is a good PT place near where I live, and he already has me signed up there.

Then a nurse comes in and goes through a lot of paperwork.  I sign it all.  She gives me some body wipes I'm supposed to use (right after I finish writing this).  She finally tells me what time to show up on Friday - 6:45am.  Yikes!  I will be spending one night, and she gives me a pamphlet on what to bring with me.  The answer - not much...  (They recommend you leave all jewelry at home and I've already taken off my rings.  My left hand looks funny without them.)

Then she sends me to a basement to have an interview with nurse who finally shows interest, excitement even, in that 2-page questionnaire.  She seems surprised to see that I don't have any daily prescriptions yet.  After going through my health history, which makes me feel pretty healthy, she describes the next day and warns me that a lot of people will ask me questions before the surgery, and that is by design.  "To make sure you don't take out a kidney?"  She sort of laughs at that as she says, "right."

Next I go to the Physical Therapy department where I get fitted for crutches.  Brace!  Crutches!  No, no, I'm going to be one of those people who rises, takes up my bed and walks.  But I don't tell her that.  I practice with the crutches.  

Before leaving the hospital, I check out the gift shop, coffee shop and cafeteria.  Not too exciting.   The hospital is near Honolulu's big fancy Ala Moana Mall, so I go there for lunch and treat myself to a little retail therapy at the Vera Bradley store.  Buying a couple of small items for my brief hospital stay somehow makes me feel better, a little more settled.

I've packed a little backpack with my few belongings they recommend.  The one place I'm going off script is by bringing my iPod.  I'm downloading a couple of movies to it now.  I'll have a private room (all rooms are private in this hospital), and I'm sure there will be a TV, but I want more entertainment options.  I'm anticipating a long night...

Well, time for those body wipes.  It's almost 9pm, and in abt 8 hours, I'll be up and body wiping again...  But it's the first step to getting my life back.  I keep telling myself that...