I Made It!

Hey! I made it through surgery, but it was scary for me! Let me tell you about my experience.
We arrived at the surgery check-in at 10:00 just as I was told. I was then informed I didn't have to check in until 11:00. Ok, so there must have been some sort of miscommunication by the surgery scheduler. That was alright, we just sat down and waited awhile. As I was looking around, I noticed a TV screen mounted on the wall with first names and last initials scrolling on it. I looked closer and found that this was their way of keeping families updated about surgeries. It showed three people "getting ready for surgery", and four people "in the operating room" with progress notes written in red, such as "doing well" or "surgery progressing". Then, when the patient is moved to recovery, it changes to say "in recovery room". I was somewhat comforted by this way of letting families know what was happening during surgery. It wasn't long before before they called my name and my husband and I were taken to a holding room. It was like a very small private room. That's where I put on the gown, got my IV started and was visited by the anesthesiologist, a nurse anesthetist, my surgeon, and my OR nurse. They were all very nice, and I felt very much at ease with them.
When the nurse anesthetist came in, she announced she was my bartender and had something really good for me! As soon as she got the all clear that the OR was ready, she began pushing Versed in my IV. Keep in mind, I have an EXTREMELY low tolerance for any kind of narcotic. I don't even remember her pushing my stretcher out the door into the hallway. I only remember telling my hubby I loved him and giving him a kiss while she was giving me the
drugs.
I don't remember being intubated or extubated, but when I woke up in recovery I was right in front of a clock and the first words I could manage were "is it really six o'clock?" I heard a familiar voice next to my stretcher say, "yes, you've been out for awhile". I turned my head to see who this voice was attached to and all I saw was a name badge. The name was familiar. It was a nurse I had worked with in radiology recovery. I knew then I was in good hands. I looked up at his face and said "I know you". He said "yeah, I thought it was you". He then asked if I wanted him to let my family know I was alright. I said yes, so off he went to let them know I was waking up. My only complaint was that it was eight o'clock at night before they took me to a room. Bed management knew, all that time, that I would be admitted, but they dragged their feet giving out a room number to the recovery room nurse. It was almost nine o'clock before I saw my family in my room. That was my only complaint though. The doctors were excellent and the nursing care was too. I really didn't want for anything. Except to go home!
I was discharged around noon yesterday with a drain in my neck and a line of stitches in front of my right ear extending down under my jawline. My right ear is completely numb, but I knew it would be. The facial nerve ran right through my tumor, so they had to cut it and reattach it with a microscope. I do have some slight facial weakness on the right side that will improve with time. I can't pucker my lips, and I noticed that while swishing water around in my mouth, it falls out the right side! And I can only manage a half smile! I know these things will resolve in time, but he said it could take up to a year to get feeling back in my ear. OK, so I can deal with that. And did I mention the really good news yet? It was a BENIGN tumor! But it had to come out before it interfered with my swallowing or anything else. It was a fast growing benign Warthin's tumor that can become malignant if left untreated.
So this morning I'm enjoying my first decent cup of coffee in a few days along with the peace and quiet of the house. I made Rob go back to work today. I feel OK, just a little stiff............and I desperately need a shower.