Tuck me in

On Friday I am having some female surgery done. This is not something serious or particularly dangerous, but it will probably be quite painful for a few days. Apparently I not only have a Pretravel Freak Dance but also a Surgical Freak Dance.

Maybe this comes from living alone, but I want to be sure that my house is clean, my laundry is done, and I have enough food here that I don't need to do much preparation or leave the house for a week if necessary. My general theory is if I cover everything that could go wrong, nothing will. My bills will be paid; I will have plenty of dog and cat food. Phone numbers will be on a paper near the phone. I have a large stack of new best sellers waiting to be read. Several friends will be calling to check on me and will come if I need help. I will call the doctor's office today to see if I need any supplies or prescriptions to be filled ahead of time. There is nothing worse than coming out of a hospital, emergency or planned, and having to sit in a pharmacy and wait.

When I had my hysterectomy I did not have general anesthesia. I insisted that I would not remove my contacts, and the anesthesiologist said I could not have general if I did that. I was unsure how long I would be unable to walk and was terrified of not seeing anything, since I didn't have any glasses. Finally I asked him what he would do. He told me that he would never have general anesthesia. I had a spinal with a cocktail in the IV. I was awake and I remember most of the surgery. I also learned that you can watch a lot in the lights, as the fixtures are somewhat reflective. I also remember being wheeled out, and thinking on the way to the recovery room, "I will start healing now." I don't remember the next 3 hours. Within 8 hours of surgery I walked across the room. The next day I was up and down the halls. I went home in 5 days because they wouldn't send me home with a staple remover. A friend picked me up and I made him go for a walk with me. We walked a mile, and he was tired. He complained that I walked too fast. The next day I took my dog and walked 2 miles. The dog didn't complain.

So I am not worrying about healing fast. I guess I just don't like going without food and liquids and then lying around in the hospital with no panties on, waiting for the doctor. I never understood why they make us lie there with no panties on. Why can't we sit and then remove our underwear just before going into the operating room? Why did I have to go without panties for my foot surgery a few years ago? At least this hospital gives us little private waiting rooms where we can wait with friends/family. They also allow us to walk with as much dignity as possible to the operating room with an open gown and no panties rather than being wheeled in.

Hm. This entry went in a different direction than I planned. Funny how that happens sometimes. Anyway, I will be online Friday afternoon and will be happy to chat with anyone who feels sorry for me being stuck in and missing my Friday night walk. I assume I won't be able to do the usual walk, but if I can, I will!