A Long Flight

Surgery waiting rooms are a lot like being trapped on an oversees flight. Hours and hours in uncomfortable chairs, overhearing conversations you don't want to know about, carts banging around and blocking your way and everyone hoping that the next announcement over the loudspeaker let's you know that you are no longer over troubled waters.

We arrived at the hospital a few minutes early and found some premium front row parking. We got Renee checked in at desk P20 at exactly 9:34AM. I was given a beeper with text capabilities and a NaviCare brochure. NaviCare is a system similar to the big boards at airports. They assign a patient code and then the information is put up on screen so you may track the progress through each stage of the process.

They quickly passed us off to the finance office so they could collect our co-pay. This stage does not go on the big board. I don't know why. They then sent us down the hall to the pre-op. After escorting Renee to pre-op room M28 I was asked to leave so that Renee could change to her surgery gown and they could set her up for the IV. About 20 minutes later they called me back in. The luck with the needle was limited to yesterday. Renee was turned into a pin cushion as they searched for a good vein. They finally found one after a few tries by a couple of different nurses.

At 10:44AM an orderly came in and said it was time for transport to the surgery holding room. I quickly took out the camera, got scolded by Renee, and took the picture anyway. I was then told that she better not see the picture on this blog. I guess I don't listen so well. Hugs and kisses and off he took her.

I was sent back to the waiting room at P20. The pre-op nurse said the surgeon had blocked off five hours for the operation so I did what anyone else would do and got some lunch.

Returning to the waiting room I checked the board. According to Navicare Renee was taken to the Main Operating Room at 11:27AM. At 12:06PM the beeper went off - incoming text message - Surgery started. I was settled into a corner by then with a cheap novel. I was ready to not hear anything until 5:00PM.

At 2:00PM I was called to the desk for an incoming call from the doctor. I had a quick chat with the surgeon over the house phone. The surgery was done. Renee was stable and doing well. She was on her way to the post-op holding room, PACU. She would be awakening from the anesthesia in about 20 minutes.

Just as he had warned yesterday the complete operation could not be performed. Inflammation was too sever. He said the colon was like warm butter. This is not a good consistency for an internal organ. The internal J-Pouch surgery will be put off until a later date after the rest of her insides have a chance to recover and adjust to the ileostomy. The ileostomy is the connection of the small intestine to the exterior colostomy bag.

The best news is that Renee came through the surgery well. Now starts the recovery.

Following the doctors call I was instructed to return to the waiting room. I would be called when Renee is moved from recovery. Then they said I could go see her then. Back to the corner I went and waited. I made my phone calls. Yes I know I broke my own rule but Renee begged me so I figured I'd humor her. No need to rile her up in recovery. I'll wait till later for that.

At 2:30PM I was called to the desk for an update. She's doing fine, she is still in recovery but it will be a little while until I can go see her. They'll call me. Back to the corner I went and waited and waited.

The afternoon was dragging on. The waiting room was still very crowded. Where's the call? It's a pretty good book but this room is getting old. My impatience finally got to me at 5:30PM. I went to the desk and asked for an update. The girl there complained that recovery was not updating anyone. Yes, beepers and fancy tote boards still don't cut it. Somebody's got to put something into the system for it to work. She called upstairs, validated my parking and gave me a post it with a room number, H50 Bed 12. I had to give up my beeper.

She directed me to building H and off I went. I found my way to H50 bed 12 and no Renee. What gives. I head to the nurses station and am promptly ignored by the first couple of administrators I approached. I move down the counter and find a nurse who's willing to acknowledge my existence and ask her what's up? Renee is still in recovery. She hasn't made it to her room yet. I am sent to another waiting area and told I'll be notified as soon as she gets to her room.

A little while later I got up to stretch and checked the room again. There's our girl. Thanks for the notification Cleveland!

Renee was awake and looked pretty good for someone who was just split up the middle. She is of course in some serious surgery pain and is leaning heavy on the Jeopardy plunger - I'll have morphine for $500 Alex - but otherwise is fairing pretty well.

I retrieved some of her things from the car - socks, glasses, magazines - and she got a little testy when I couldn't find her chapstick quick enough. She was fading in and out because the anesthesia hadn't completely worn off yet but still was concerned that I hadn't eaten dinner yet. These are good signs that she'll be fine.

At 8:30PM the nurse asked if I was staying the night in the hospital. Renee was pretty much out at that time so I took the hint, said my good nights and headed on back to the hotel.