Surgery Day - November 27

 Update #1

Arrived at surgery center at 7 AM. Registration was fairly quick. Scanned her license  and insurance cards once again.  Took her into surgery prep at 7:40. They called me back to her at 7:20.  She told me she was to be in surgery prep for 1.5 hours then surgery for one hour and then recovery for one hour. They were only using two rooms and four other patients ahead of her today. They said the day after holidays is slower and things don’t always move too fast.

   At 9:25 the anesthesiologist came in to start his process and I was sent back out to the surgery waiting room. Writing this at 10 o’clock, and she still shows status as surgery prep. Just waiting for an operating room to become available.  

Update #2

Pat went into the operating room at 10:50.  

Update # 3

I received a text at 11:19 that the procedure had begun. Dr. had said it would take about 45 minutes. Obviously, nothing moves very fast in the hospital. But I guess that is good, because we certainly don’t want any mistakes.

11:57 got a phone call from Dr. Mehalik.  He said he had just finished and that everything went as he expected. He said she did just fine and the shoulder replacement went smoothly. He indicated that I would be getting a phone call in about an hour from the nurses.

Update # 4

Got home at 2:10.  Pat is very groggy.  They gave her a nerve block which deadens that area.  It will take from 4 to 18 hours to go away.   She is to ice the shoulder 30 minutes then nothing for 30 minutes while awake for the next 72 hours.   Right now has no pain, but the numbness in her right fingers feels "weird".      Stay tuned.

Last Update.

Pat is doing Ok.  She has a sore throat from the tube that was put down her throat during surgery.  She Hates sore throats.   Still has the numbness in her hand.  Probably will be that way until the nerve block wears off.

Pat gets credit for the picture:   When we entered the Surgery Center she immediately noticed the Christmas tree and made sure I added it tonight.  I would have gone the whole time and not noticed it...