#14 Pre Op

After a few minutes another nurse comes in and hands me a pair of pressure stockings.  With my history of blood clots the hope is that these stocking will prevent blood from pooling in my legs and feet. They’re pearly white, and so tight that I struggle to pull them up.  Finally, mission accomplished.  

Yet another nurse comes in and inserts an I.V. tube into the back of my left hand.  Crap that hurts!  Every time I move my wrist the bloody needle pokes me somewhere inside.  I cradle my injured hand and wait.  Where is Mike?  I really can’t imagine going through this alone.  I need his strength and support.  My mind is racing, my heart is pounding.  I'm scared!

When my nurse comes back to check on me I ask if there is any way I can have a little something medicinal to take the edge off.  While I waited for the last major surgery, so many years ago, I shook so hard that I thought I was going to break the bed.  She’ll ask the doctor and see what she can do for me.  I wait.  A few minutes later she comes back with a little plastic medicine cup that contains some pills.  “The 3 large ones are Tylenol and that little white one will help you relax.”  I can’t recall what name she gives it, but as long as it helps, I really don’t care.  I get to choke them all back with the thimble-full of water.  That’s all I’m allowed to have in my stomach before my operation.

As I peek through the edge of the curtain to my left I can see into the front waiting room.  There he is; Mike is back.  A sigh of relief escapes my lips.  He’s ushered in by one of the nurses.  “I had trouble finding parking,” was all he said.

I need some reassurance right now so Mike sits at the end of my stretcher and I literally lean on his back.  This gets some questioning looks from others, but I don’t care.  I’m going to lean on him and just breathe so I can try to slow my pounding heartbeat.