When are you ready to leave? Questions.

At first

Waiting for surgery is hard!

I’ve noticed that when you get a little older, when gravity takes over things, it changes you. Things you can’t fight! Bits and pieces start hanging lower. No, not those! But you still need help! Not only are you fighting against gravity, but some joints are also breaking and exploding. It’s not a good time. It’s not a good time and there are times when you have to laugh! Or your eyes will sweat and you’ll just be sad. Fallen and explosive things. Don’t let people see your sweaty eyes, fix your face!

I’ve had to regroup myself. I learned early on that I would never let them see those sweaty eyes. Lihat juga pdf view. DON’T whine, keep your head up and look forward. I have kept these things with me many times in my life.

Well, I have some time to get over it, time to fix myself and recover from a new knee. How can it be ‘NEW’ and hurt so much? I have this. SMH. When you have a plan, there can be obstacles. You have to come up with a new plan to get to the old plan.

in the during

Coming to the end of the beginning, you start with the during. My knee replacement surgery included many things. I had to go to my dentist, my gastro and my primary and oh yeah, let’s not forget my hematologist! I had my gastro approval immediately. My dentist was discouraged because they questioned his ability to discharge me so quickly. But he did defend me and himself. The hematologist prescribed intravenous iron and a unit of blood. Then he said goodbye. My primary teacher went through the tests, paperwork, and pictures, and then signed out.

The wait was the worst

When I got everyone on board, I had to wait for a vacancy in the operating room. I waited four weeks. The scheduler called and said we had an opening in 2 weeks and I yelled ‘Hoo Hoo’!!! Come on!.

I visited my orthopedic doctor one more time before surgery. He showed me what he was going to do and how he would do it. It was very real. The surgery date came quickly, once scheduled! We arrived at the hospital early, 6:30 am, that was when we arrived. I put on a robe, my fiancé took all my belongings and put them in a locker. My fiancé returned to the waiting room. He held my hand the entire time. Before the surgery a rabbi and a priest came to my room… yes, I know it sounds like a joke, but it wasn’t! Then my anesthesiologist came in and cleared the room, except for my fiancé. At that moment, I was starting to shake from the depths of my being. It occurs before each surgery. They gave him the IV and then something to relax him.

My fiancé kissed me and said he loved me, which made my eyes sweat. They took me to the operating room and I jokingly asked, ‘Did everyone wash their hands?’ I remember one of the nurses saying ‘oh, that’s what I forgot’. That was funny. The only thing I asked was that the armrest not be removed until it was almost out. Because? Reminds me of the end of ‘Dead Man Walking’! It’s no joke! My anesthesiologist asked me if I was ready. Then I asked him, «Are you?» I was probably more than ready!

The after

Those who say it’s not bad… Well… they lied

I went through surgery. They had blocked my pain before surgery. When I woke up in recovery I felt good. I can tell you exactly what time that block stopped working!!! Oh my god, absolutely the worst pain I have ever felt!!! My nurse gave me a button to press. It was the best button I ever pressed, every 2 minutes! Marvelous.

After a couple of hours I stopped pressing the button and fell asleep. Having survived my knee surgery, I am at home recovering.

I have had many surgeries and all of this has gone wrong. I thought my knee surgery would be a regular recovery. No, it’s the worst. Phew.

This is the beginning of the end. My new beginning is just around the corner!

How do I get on the Camino? Is every step a mental push, once you start? How do you know what you really want? How do you know you are doing it right? What happens if you do it wrong? I know it’s different for everyone. This knee surgery has me a little nervous, I don’t want to start so soon, but I don’t want to use it as an excuse. I wish I could wake up and know it all!!! I don’t think that’s ever going to happen. But I’ll keep my head up and my eyes forward! That never fails. Stay safe everyone! Feel free to answer a question or two!

I will overcome this terrible pain. Every day that passes is another day that I got through. Here is a new day. I have this!!!

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