Tear Meniscus surgery report

Yesterday was it day!! (MAY 30, 2012)

All that pre operation check-up and check-in had payed off. 

A week before the surgery, had a doctors' visit for pre-op checked-up. EKG was done at his office which was great. He then sent me down for the chest X-ray which wasn't that long of a wait, (30 min.) for a walk-in, not bad. And the second and last was blood work which was across the hall..walk-in and got the blood work done in 10 minutes...extremely happy about that since hubby was with me.. we had our lunch date at the mall nearby.. great day for both..

So back to the surgery story. The pre-check-in to hospital was also last week. Did all that paper work which drove hubby nuts. didn't have to wait in line to be entertained but waited for the attendant doing slow work. husband asked me later at night " how did she get that job" I said, she may have known someone in the work area..We were finished with her and into another room to sign in and waited for another person to call my name. The RN came in and got us follow him in his room located along the hallway. His name is Chet!! awesome RN with so much positive attitude. Husband and I liked him a lot doing his work..so I was all checked in. 

Nothing to eat after midnight before the surgery... 

On the day of surgery.. 

• 6:20 am got up, made hubby fresh coffee, got shower and out the door by 6:50am
• arrived at the hospital 7:10 am 20 mins early isn't bad. Husband dropped me by the door. Carried my brand new crutches with me and he said " i will be in a few" he's parking the jeep. 
• As I sat down in the waiting room an attendant came and said you can come in and get name tags check and put them on. all done and went out to the waiting room again where hubby found me.
• 7:30 rolled an RN came in to tell me to follow her. Husband wasn't allowed to follow us this time. She told him " i will get you in 20 minutes". She asked me all sorts of questions pertaining to my issues.. Another RN came to put the needle in on my left top hand..and ouchhhhhhh...me don't like needles...but I got through the pain with the help of another RN destructing me...how sad. I feel like a child.. but hey, I can say it hurts and ouchhh as much as I want as long as I'm not yelling or squirming, right?/....that was done so quick ..
• Laid there on my bed. beside me was hubby checking into his work. yup, he can work from anywhere..that is a privileged that he doesn't take advantage of..
• 9:20 am ..a Physical Therapist came to check in with me. She showed me how to use them properly..that didn't take long..
• 9:30 am.. an attendant came me to wheel my bed to another room..husband followed the yellow brick road... It was warm room. An anesthesiologist came in and introduced herself. She'd be the one to make me go to "Tahiti" in a flash. Fine with me because I want a female in my operating room besides the doctor and other guys. She confirmed that she will be in the operating room the whole time of the surgery.. wheeww..
• Dr Loren Geller whom my blue cross appointed to take care of the business. Awesome dude.!! very caring and thorough with patients. no wonder he had lots of great reviews on the net. he answered all the worried I had and husbands'. 
• 10 am rolled in.. a guy came in the room and yells my name..and of course I yell back.. it's the right thing to do..yeah..
• He then  rolled my bed and I kissed my husband and said " see yah in a bit"...

In the operating room. 

• saw my doctor with mask on and on the phone. I saw another guy with a mask on, waved at me and of course had to do the right thing, waved back.. the guy that wheeled me into the room told me to hopped over to the next bed and I did just that..that same guy told me he is going to put on the EKG.. to monitor my heart..thank goodness they want to make sure and see that I am breathing..
• my anesthesiologist was there..she's telling me her hands were cold and that she's attaching hoses into the needle thing that the girl had poked in earlier. And I bravely said "sure" knowingly she will make me go to sleep very soon.. very very soon. after a few seconds I remember saying to them.. am off now...

and I woke up!!. me alive again.. yeah.. !!  I tried to open my eyes and I just barely can. I moved my head side to side and I saw a man sitting next to my bed. It's a big recovery room that has lots of rooms for individuals recovering. I asked him ..what time is it.."11:30 am." he replied..!! I remember saying to him that " oh good we are on time".. he cordially said..yes we are.. every now and then I would feel his hands touching my toes.,,that belongs to left knees..


And finally another girl RN came to touch my toes and actually made me say..this little piglet went to market while she's hanging on to my big toe...and so on..until the piglet said..weeee all the way home..and that was my last little toe on my left knee..

As the anesthesia slowly wears off, I was able to conversed with the RN coherently.. he then told me he was going to wheel me back to my first waiting room where I stored my belongings. And there husband came in.. kissed me and hugged me..just a sweet man. He helped me dressed and shortly after I was done we're discharged!!.. and my wheelchair came in. A nice lady volunteer her pass time to help out at the hospital. I told her I hope to do same when time comes. It's a good thing to do.. 

Husband got the jeep and off the wheelchair I was. Got on the jeep by myself with no problem. 

We got home before our son got home from school. 

I guess we are prepared for the old days. We got recliner in living room . nothing wrong with that right..?? I sat there and iced my leg while watching tv and eating dinner. 

Life is good!! me and my left knee were chillin' in living room watching Tele.

So, it was another success story I have. I will be seeing the PT on Tuesday. I know I can't wait for the assesment from them. I know I will have good recovery in my home. I know my limit and that I will aim to get better soon. 


I see myself swimming in LA fitness in no time. As long as hubby drives me there until I'm able to bike myself.