Just to let everyone know I survived today's procedure. And what a day it was! We arrived at the hospital 1 hr before my check in time because the traffic was amazingly light. They were very happy to see me at the reception desk since they just called my 10 min earlier to see if I could come in ASAP because the person scheduled for the first surgery of the day did not show up.
I'm changed, banded and in my bed waiting. The nurse is asking me all of the routine questions, than the anesthetist comes over with an IV pole and IV and proceeds to tell me he is starting my IV for the anesthetic. Wait a minute anesthetic....this is a local procedure! NO,NO they all inform me I'm being put under. Well I tell them I ate breakfast at 5:15 am, cappuccino and raisin toast. Dr Rutka told me I can have breakfast. The head anesthetist came over and told me my surgery will now be delayed by 6 hrs or cancelled. She was very nice but not happy.
My nurse is reading my file and as she turns over another page she sees Dr Rutka printed in bold capital letters LOCAL anesthetic. I have two nurses, and two anesthetist with their mouths hanging open, scratching their heads and couldn't understand why Dr Rutka would request this since he is using a drill. The nurse walked over to her desk and paged Dr Rutka, he assured them he knew what his was doing and it will be done with a local.
I'm in the OR at 8:00 am he comes in chuckling knowing I'm slightly freaked out. I say slightly because the Ativan has started to its thing. The operating team introduce themselves to me, all the probes for the monitors are in place, the Drs scrub and the local anesthetic begins. A few areas were a little hard to handle, but remember I'm strong like bull!! An incision is made I felt some of it at the bottom of my neck so they give me more freezing. At this point my legs are shaken a mile a minute. One of the nurses rubs my legs, another one rubs my shoulder. The operation continues and few more times I needed more freezing and a bit of oxygen.
So they removed several small nodules, scrapped down the mastoid bone because of calcification and the old scar. They stitched me up, wheeled me back into recovery, called my husband. A nurse escorted me to the ladies room and 30 minutes later I was on my way home. The nurses in OR nand recovery nurses all congratulated me and said I did very well. Hearing the drill wasn't a highlight that's for sure. Dr Rutka said that he doesn't preform this surgery very oftern so that's why everyone was in a tehter.
Louie and I drove made the 1 hr trip back to our city, stopped to get the Tylenol 3 and more toradol. I came into the house relaxed on the couch, drifted off, woke up took some pain meds and went to bed. I had a light dinner and here I am. It really wasn't bad. The pain is manageable with the meds. I hope I sleep tonight! Tomorrow I have to make an appointment for next week for a follow up.
See I told you all I STRONG LIKE BULL!
Anne Marie
