Well, it is OVER! I finally had my knee surgery this morning! It went smoothly! It was a completely enjoyable experience, well as enjoyable as surgery can be. 
I woke up this morning at 4:20 AM, showered, brushed my teeth (careful not to swallow any water), and dried my hair completely. My husband took care of our dogs as he always does super early in the AM. We left the house right on time (5:15AM) and got some gasoline at Shell before heading to I-75 for the 35 mile journey north. We arrived at the surgery center about 10 minutes to 6AM. We sat in the car for a few moments and filmed some more footage for Bodybuilding.com. Then I went inside and filled out the paper work, etc. The nurse brought me back to the Pre-Op area and we started the pre-op questioner pertaining to my medical history, allergies, etc. This was done on the phone the week before. They go over it again just to make sure that nothing pertinent is missing. Basically I told them that I am allergic to penicillen, percocet, and arythromyiacin type antibiotics. I also informed them about my Celiac disease.
Normally I am very vascular and veiny…but today I was COLD, nervous, and my veins disappeared completely, almost leaving an indentation in their wake. The nurse made me pump my fist a million times to get the vein to pop out enough to NUMB it and STICK it with the IV drip! It was actually the worst part of my experience. Then I had to go to the BATHROOM…again! I was embarrassed…I had already gone 2 times and was working on my 3rd! LOL So I came back, laid back down, and they rolled me into the operating room. It was SO clean and sterile in there. Brought back the dreams I had of becoming a Dr. I wanted to be a plastic surgeon so badly when I was in college. Anyway, I told them that and they commented….then told me to breathe really deep through this mask. As I did so I was thinking to myself that it was not working and then all of a sudden I wake up and I am laughing my ASS off in the recovery room! LOL I was almost hysterical when I woke up. I asked the nurse what time it was and it was only like 7:30AM Surgery was scheduled for 7AM. I was like..WOW…that was FAST!
So….they do the post op instructions and I am released. My husband drives me home and I am DYING for some coffee! LOL I had been so dehyrated from not eating and drinking anything the night prior. I stopped eating at 7PM Monday night and stopped drinking anything at 9PM. So…I needed caffeine and something to drink. They did give me liquids at the out patient center, but I needed caffeine!!!
OK, so I get home and I get the crutches outta the car and start walking up to my house. I could not figure out how to get up the steps, so I walked to the side and went up the little side patio thingy. Anyway…..I get in the house (the dogs were up) and I lay down on the couch. I then have to go to the bathroom and take the crutches with me. Did not really need them. I am like putting 90% pressure on my right leg. It is amazing….granted….I have had a shot of morphine jammed up in my knee, but it is doing the job for now. All day long everytime I get up to go to the potty, I go without the crutches! And……my husband is using bagged PEAS as the cold compress under and on top of my knee! LOL Peas work great! They stay cold a long time, they do not melt, and the bag conforms to the body beautifully. When I am done with the peas, he puts them back in the freezer and then we re-use them….on my knee! I will make sure I throw them away when I am done using them. LOL Do not want to get food poisoning from defrausted peas! LOL
Well, that is my adventure in Knees and Peas thus far. Will keep you posted! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! xoxo Tamar
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