Surgery, Take 2

A week ago today I had the unenviable task of calling my boss (who's last words to me on the Friday before the bout were, "Don't overdo it on Saturday") and informing her that I was in the hospital with a leg broken in two places waiting for an operating room to free up. She was very sweet and understanding about the whole thing, but I still felt like an a-hole. It's getting to be near the end of the year, there is work to be done, and my clients are demanding. Their needs do not go on hold when I am sick. People (busy with their own work) have to cover for me. It's not cool.

But obviously, I wasn't much good to anyone in my state and I would have much rather have been at my desk than in a hospital bed. I had to let it go.

I was whisked away to surgery much earlier than expected which was a nice surprise. I called my mom and Warren to let them know. I was happy to be getting the show on the road, although I have to admit that there's nothing quite like waking up from surgery in immense pain. Plus I had just read an essay in The Sun about a man who suddenly remembered everything that happened while he was under anesthesia and I certainly didn't want to experience that for myself.

"I usually keep people awake for this surgery," the anesthesiologist informed me, "but I'm going to let you sleep."

"Why?" I asked.

"Well, it's a pretty bad break," he said. "I'm also going to give you a nerve block so that you don't feel anything in that leg for 24-48 hours."

"Awesome, you'll love that!" piped in Dr. Palmieri.

Next a resident came over to see what happened to me.

"Roller Derby," I said.

"Oh my god," she said. "My dream is to be in the roller derby."

I laughed a little and said, "Well, try-outs start tomorrow."

She thought it over for a minute and said, "I'm not sure I'd have enough time."

"Yeah, it is pretty time-consuming," I admitted.

Then we played the "you look familiar" game in which we discovered that we both went to Rhodes. Admittedly I remembered who she was right away since my roommate and later another friend had their boyfriends "wander" into her open arms back in the day. Seeing that I was about to be at her mercy, I astutely decided not to bring that up.

Somewhere along the way I fell asleep, got operated on, and then woke up with a start. "OW!" I screamed as my leg burst into flames. The anesthesiologist rushed over, activated the nerve block, and then I was thankfully mostly pain free.

I was wheeled back to my room where Warren and my mom were waiting for me. They checked out my leg and discovered that it was wrapped in a splint, much like it was before surgery. The nurses set me up on a Dilauded drip, Dr. Palmieri informed everyone that the surgery went great, and I immediately went back to sleep.

The rest of the day is a blur. I remember trying to stay awake long enough to read my magazine or watch TV, but had little success. Friends called to check on me and most of them reminded me of similar conversations we had had the day before that I had forgotten, which led me to believe that I was pretty out of it. I do remember that Angelina Rolie suggested I take notes on the hospital food to do a Recommended Dish for the Flyer. "I wish I could," I said, "but it's pretty slim pickings." I ended up eating a plain turkey sandwich with baked Lays both for lunch and dinner. Things were getting rather grim.

Warren had the boys call after school. "Are you still in that bed?" Satchel asked.

"Yep, still here."