December 10, 2007
Am I Allowed to Wear Underwear and Other Stupid Stuff
I’m sitting here today waiting for the hospital to call me so I can get my surgery officially scheduled. Then I can start the arrangements and start lining up family members to take care of the girls, and most importantly, make me food and bring me my pain meds.
I felt great all weekend long and actually slept. I felt relieved that I’ll be having the surgery. I honestly think the surgeon broke scar tissue loose or something on Friday because all the progress I made at PT over the past few weeks seems to be gone. My knee is wobblier than ever. Last night the insomnia started again. It usually goes something like this:
I climb into bed and get all my pillows situated around my knee and say my nightly prayers. I always start out praying for other people, before I get around to myself. Last night I finished up my prayers by asking for the surgery to go well and have no complications and that it gets me back to normal, that I’ll be able to make it through the first week of bad pain. . .
And then my mind starts to wander. . .
I really want a femoral nerve block, but they have to do it right at the bikini line. I don’t want a bunch of people staring at my bikini line. That’s too close to my "business." Maybe I should just not get a nerve block. I wonder if they’ll let me keep my underwear on. I really hope they do. If they don’t, that’s going to really suck. I’ll be unconscious, practically naked, with all these people around. What if the surgeon lifts my knee up and sees my butt? I don’t want anyone to see my butt. Why wouldn’t they let me keep underwear on? I mean, it’s not like they’re operating on my private parts. What if they put a urinary catheter in though? If they do that I can’t wear underwear. Oh my God, what if they put a catheter in! Wait, I’m not allowed to eat or drink anything, so that’s probably not an issue, me having to pee while in surgery right? I won’t need a catheter. . . but what if I do?
What if I wake up and I still have a drain in my knee? He said he might send me home with a drain in my knee if there’s lots of blood. How is there NOT going to be lots of blood? I mean, it’s knee surgery. If there’s a drain in my knee, there’s no way I’m going home like that only to have to go the next day to the doctor’s office to get it taken out. I’ll just stay overnight.
What if I do stay overnight and I have a horrible roommate? What if my roommate listens to CNN all night long and coughs a lot or poops his pants or something and it smells and I throw up? That will be awful. What if I throw up from seeing a drain in my knee? Oh my God, that would be AWFUL! Maybe I don’t want to stay overnight, but maybe I should stay overnight. Maybe they’ll give me my own room. I doubt it though because when my dad had his surgery, he had roommates once he got moved out of ICU.
This is stupid. You need to calm yourself down and just go to sleep. Nothing bad is going to happen. If your dad can have a craniotomy and be o.k., you can have knee surgery and be o.k. And who cares about the underwear thing. . . I mean, really. They’ve seen it all right? Ok, count or something. Yes, let’s count sheep. One, two, three, four, five. . .
I wonder if I’ll ever be able to jump again like those sheep?
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Ten is probably the number they’ll tell me to start counting at when they’re putting me to sleep.
Oh God. I hope I don’t get sick from the anesthesia. I hope I have a very experienced person who is on top of his/her game. I hope the people don’t talk about me while they’re operating on me. What if I can still hear them? What if I can feel what they’re doing but can’t move and tell them? I’m definitely getting the nerve block for that very reason. . .
Ok, better start over with the sheep. Relax, relax, relax, go to sleep.
One, two, three. . .
See what I mean? It is EXHAUSTING having the brain that I have.
Edited to add: It’s official. The 17th it is. Now I just have to wait for a report time.
Comments
Copyright
© Copyright 2006-2019 blackbeltmama dot com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Follow Me
Blog Designed By
My Creations
Things You Could Care Less About
With the few surgeries I’ve had those same thoughts race through my mind as well. Especially regarding the underwear, or lack thereof. With my wrist surgery I got to leave my undies on but with my tonsillectomy (at age 19) no undies allowed. I can’t imagine why…And if I try to imagine why, my mind only fills with “sicko” ideas.
having surgery is a scary thing so all of that seems very natural to me. which does not make it any less sucky! i hope you can get some rest because soon it will all be much better!
I do the same thing. I often compare my mind to the internet. I think of one thing, that links to another, and that yet another. It’s a real curse to be intelligent, don’t you agree? LOL Although this kind of insomnia is not limited to surgery in my case. I’m like that about anything and everything. So, I really can’t give you any advice on how to curb yourself…other than some meds from the doctor to calm you enough to sleep. I haven’t tried that because I’m just so used to not sleeping, I would probably be more tired if I did get a decent night’s sleep. Let us know when your date is scheduled. Good vibes being sent your way as always!
I hate to tell you, but if you are going to be put under, you’ll probably have to take your undies off.
My husband just had nose and throat surgery (septoplasty for deviant septum and a UPPP to remove his uvula!) He had to remove all his clothing. We had been making jokes about them removing his “hangy down thing” so when they told him he had to take his underwear off…well….we had a good laugh over that. Especially since the insurance company seemed to thing he was having knee surgery ???
I remember reading a piece on the BBC site (I think) and there were a few good techniques for better sleep there. The one which works best for me – as a chronic ‘thinker’ – is “The”. Whenever your mind starts racing, simply concentrate and saying “The” over in your head, use it to interrupt your thoughts. Just use it at regular intervals. It works.
The other ones I like are listening to an old favourite cd (maybe not that easy in your house though), and the thing where you tense each group of muscles one by one. Hold for about a count of twenty, then relax. After you work through your whole body you get totally relaxed 🙂
Hang in there! I can so relate to the underwear thing. Lucky for you, you have no trouble asserting yourself in an appropriate way. Tell them what you want, tell them what would make you comfortable. Start now. Call the office nurse, arrange things with the anesthetist, get in there and fight. You had two deliveries so you’ve had to face clothes issues and the hospital issue; draw on those experiences. Hospitals are very consumer-oriented to women because we make the health care decisions for the family so they be interested in making you happy. (I’m an RN publisher) They give you IVs in surgery, so depending on the length…I had to have one when I had a baby so I know you’ll get through it. Just put it out of your mind. If you start to think about it, STOP. I used to be the most modest person on the planet, but it will be over and done and you’ll forget all about it. I don’t think the major blood vessels run close to the front of the knee. I know it’s easy for me to say, but you are young, healthy, you are having the surgery to get you back to something you adore (not to mention everyday life). You’ve got family and friends. You’ve got everything going for you. I know it’s not going to be anywhere near as bad as it seems. I know that. Sorry to go on and on.
When I can’t sleep, I make constructive use of the time and do forms in my head.
Like meditation, Kata helps you focus. You know how it is; you go through the motions and the world around you disappears as you focus on planting that kick, snapping that block or punch with your hands, strike and hook your imaginary opponent with a staff.
Find that same focus. Use it to block the negative circular thoughts.
Lather, rinse, repeat, and you may find the rhythm of Kata lulling you off to sleep.
Just watch out for involuntary kicks or punches with your hubby in bed! (Believe me, they happen…)
When I went in for surgery last time, I remember asking the nurse to just make sure that nothing hits the internet.
When I “woke up,” the doctor and a different (but still pretty) nurse were sitting by my bed… chuckling. I have no idea what I said or did. The first thing I remember is the nurse asking me, “Do you remember anything at all?”
Me: “No… why?”
Doctor: “No reason. How are you feeling?”
To this day, I don’t know what I said or did, but it must have been funny. At least I haven’t been able to find it on YouTube. 😀
Well, after the tranquilizer I declined removing my underwear. After my neck surgery I woke up without it.
So, I’d find out what the rules are and just follow them.
When you wake up you won’t care about your underwear. (or lack thereof)
🙂
~BCP
One thing I forgot…tell the anesthesiologist that you are worried about getting sick. Even if you have to embelish a prior surgery or suggest that you have motion sickness, which is often considered a risk factor. I did when I had a laparoscopy about five years ago. The results of whatever they ‘put in the bag’ were so dramatic that I can still cry when I think about how good I felt postop. A miracle! Things really are much better these days!
Miss Chris: Yeah, that is really not cool. I wouldn’t go there with my mind either.
Sizzle: That’s what I’m trying to think.
Lisa: I do this with everything too. I call them “action plans” as in needing to know and freak out about every possibility so that I can be prepared for any possibility.
?: No, no, no, fingers in my ears. La, la, la, la I can’t hear you.
Adam: I’ll try it. Cool.
CombatGirl: Very true. I plan on asserting away.
HackShaft: Another fabulous idea. I’ll try IT too.
Steve: Oh man, I am nothing if not entertaining on pain meds so I imagine they’ll have plenty to laugh about with me too.
BP: That is NOT at ALL COOL! If I wake up without undies on when I had them on to start, there’s going to be hell to pay, just as soon as I can walk again.
CG: Will do. And I do get motion sickness so it’s a valid concern.
I know it’s unnerving…and not being allowed to wear undies will add on to the discomfort. But just focus on getting well…and you will!
😀
My brother has had surgery and he’d need to go back. For the life of him, he won’t.
We’re talking about a 6’2” 210lbs man. A guy in the army that’s use to putting abuse on his body.
Must have been VERY painful.
I wish you a painfree surgery and recovery.
Hey, i have to go for foot surgery tomorrow and i’m wondering why you can’t wear underwear… Why would i want to take it off?!? when they are supposed to be looking at my cut-open foot? What are they gonna do, rape me while im sleeping? because that’s what i feel will happen.