January 7, 2009

Relief

That's the only word I can think of right now. I am just so relieved it's all over. I last looked at the clock in the OR at 7:50 a.m. and I woke up in recovery at 8:30. They told me it took my surgeon exactly 9 minutes to do the procedure.

I had a great anesthesiologist who served up a "double mojito, minimal ice." He also kept me laughing until I went to sleep. I apparently told one of the nurses when I was still loopy, that I better be able to go out and dance on my birthday (one month from today). She said I also told her that I'll be turning 29. . . again. Good to know I keep consistent with my lies even when I'm groggy from narcotics.

They told me I could keep my undies on during surgery so that really made my day. When I told them they made me take them off at the hospital, they were as puzzled as I was as to why.

My surgeon talked to me after I woke up a bit more (apparently he talked to me right when I woke up and I don't recall any of this), and he said that he checked my ACL and it is solid. He said he cut down the part that was protruding from my tibia and smoothed it all out. He said I should not have any more problems.

I walked in the house without crutches and have spent most of the day in bed with my leg elevated. I have a massive wrap and bandage around my knee that can come off on Friday, so that's made bending a bit difficult. But the discomfort is minimal at this point.

My surgeon gave me a stern warning to take it easy until I get the stitches out. I'm guessing this was prompted by me asking when I can go back to the gym. He said he wants the leg elevated to deal with the swelling that I can tell is already alive and well under all this bandaging.

Overall though, "relief" is the word of the day.

Thank you so much for all your emails and encouraging comments over the past few days. They helped me last year a great deal and they really helped calm my nerves leading up to today. I know I have the best readers ever.

And now this groggy girl is going back to sleep.