Today was my surgery. Originally I was supposed to arrive at the hospital @ 11:45 to check in with admissions and such but my surgeon had some openings so we were able to get in earlier today. I checked in with admissions, filled out a few forms, gave my consent for the anesthesia and a few other things and was ready and prepped for surgery @ 12:30.

Getting into the car from home, I was feeling generally normal. I was a little irritated because I woke up with a headache and I didn't sleep very well last night. I was also nervous because of the surgery however the headache overwhelmed me so much that I forgot that I was nervous. We arrived to the hospital and walked down from the parking into my main entrance.  Looking to my left and to my right, in every passage and hallway that surrounded me, were doctors, nurses, faculty, visitors and patients of all kinds. Some looked like they were battling with serious sicknesses and others looked just as normal as I did. There is a different aroma that a hospital has that is different than the aroma of a doctors office, a dentist office, etc... Obviously they all feel clean and safe, but the aroma itself was something that kicked up my nerves a bit. I'd like to consider myself a pretty tough chick in the sense that I am fairly independent and I can endure large amounts of pain. My nervousness and fears that idly moved with my shadow were always on my mind however I feel like I didn't let that fear or nervousness overcome me.

I was immediately greeted by several nurses who were all very gracious and friendly. There's something comforting in that rapport between you and those who are working with you. It was then time for the nurse to set up my IV. Unfortunately, when she slipped the needle in, she got my valve and my hand started to swell up like a balloon. So she had to get my IV in another area and that time it was successful. I have a ghostly blue bruise from the valve incident but it's not a big deal.

At 12:30pm or so I was prepped for surgery and was wheeled into a large operation room. It was much larger than any room you'd see on a hospital tv show. There were dozens of drawers and cabinets full with utensils, knives, gauze and other things. There were many machines, computers, lights and tv screens. I was greeted by two nurses. Kelly and Ann. Both seemed very young, very energetic and happy. I felt extremely safe and comfortable with them. The nurse Kelly was setting up some medication that would lessen the nerves for me through my IV and then she put a mask over my face. She had me take deep breaths. I recall taking two deep breathes while she mentioned something about starting the anesthesia and blank, I was gone.

I was very groggy and tired when I came back to consciousness. I opened my eyes and was alone in this room that was part of a hallway. Adjacent to me was a small cubicle with some refrigerators and documents. A nurse was at my side checking this and that and unhooking something then hooking something else up. She asked me if I was doing okay and I nodded and asked her if the surgery was over. She said yes and told me that everything went well and that I should take my time resting and relaxing. Eventually a guy came over and offered me some drinks and snacks. He asked me if I wanted ginger ale, sprite, coke, rootbeer, crackers or graham crackers. I paused for a second because I found it rather humorous that a hospital is offering soda to their patients. I can make sense of the ginger ale because some people get stomach aches from the anesthesia but coke? Haha, I don't get it. I asked for water and graham crackers. I think the guy who was assisting me was impressed with my drinking choice. I guess the other patients they had earlier were all soda fans. Sowwy.

So I'm just chillin there, trying to keep my eyes open, just looking around and doing my own thing. I'm slowly munching on my graham crackers and water and my boyfriend greets me and hangs out with me. We're small chatting and then the guy comes back in and gives me a pair of granny panties. Now when I say granny panties, I mean full blown granny panties. He stretched them out and said all 3 of us could fit in them and holy hell, he was not joking. So he helped me slide those on. Now you might be thinking, why was a guy helping instead of a girl. I'm 99% sure he was gay, and that's why I was totally cool with it. This guy was so awesome, I want him to be my best friend. I wish I could stay at the hospital for a week and just hang out with the nurses and staff. For 10 minutes I was seriously considering going to college again to become something in the medical field. But not reason enough to actually go through with it. But hey, the thought was fun. :P

So I get these granny panties on and I guess after my surgery they put a big pad on me. I mean this thing went from my belly button all the way to the end of my buttcrack. After about 20 minutes of just coming back to reality and hanging out, I noticed a little pain. So he puts some painkiller in my IV and ups the drip rate of the solution so that I can get more fluids in me to go to the bathroom. Eventually I was feeling the sensation to pee, so I go to the bathroom and noticed that I'm bleeding. The nurses told me that I can expect to have period-like symptoms for the next 4 days and then it will go away.

Originally they weren't going to prescribe me any medication but my doctor ended up prescribing me some oxycodine to help with the pain because I felt some pain in my left ovary. I took the first pill right before I started writing this blog and now I can feel it kicking in. I might have to end this soon and go sleep. So all in all, the surgery went really well. The doctors and nurses at the Penn State Hershey Hospital were fantastic. They made my nerves and fears completely disappear. Now that I've experienced a hospital visit and surgery, if I should ever need to go do it again, I would have no fears unless it were an extreme surgery.

But alas, I am going to rest. So thank you to everyone at home, work and online who spoke kind words to me before and after my surgery. I will see you all soon. I love you all.