Surgery is over!

So all my fears yesterday were unfounded thankfully! I was so so nervous going into the surgery. After I checked in, and it all became real, I started to get weepy. Wondering if I was making the right decision about giving up my hearing aid and the whole 9 yards. Scared of the surgery and the outcome.

I was told to be at the hospital for 7:30 for a 9:30 surgery. When I got there at 7:30, everything happened so fast! I was taken back to meet with the nurse who took my blood pressure and temperature within about 20 minutes, then followed anesthesia. This is when I was told to say good bye to my family. The waterworks began here just because now I went back to the holding area and was alone. Had to change into my gurney and wait. Met an awesome gentleman named Tanye who lightened the mood which was great.

From there they took me to the surgical floor. I saw a former co-op student, now employee at the infirmary, and I mouthed to her "i'm freaking out" which was about all I could say before letting the tears fall (yet again)! She was sweet and offered to call Mike, my supervisor, and he came down to see me. I told him my fears, "am I doing the right thing? what if I miss this hearing aid"? It was just nice to hear him reassure me that I am making the right the decision for myself. Mike and Cara were able to bring my family back, so I got to see them one more time.

I told my anesthesiologist about the movie "Awake" and he explained to me everything that could wrong and how they work to prevent that. They connected me at this point to the IV, and gave me the "happy cocktail." Felt like I was on cloud nine! Dr Smullen, my surgeon, came back and talked to me a bit before we got started. This is when I found out they wouldn't put a catheter in me! YAY!

From this point on, i'm feeling good, and I'm then brought to the surgical unit. And that's when the lights went out. Next thing I know, i'm waking up in the recovery room. Get this... No dizziness, no paint, no vomiting. It was bliss. The only thing that I did experience was the extreme urge to go to the bathroom! They let me do my business and I was feeling good! They brought me back up to the last holding area where I could see my family. This is where they wanted My mom, my partner, and my sister were waiting for me. I had to eat and drink some juice at this point, which I was grateful for. I had a terrible taste in my mouth, of plastic basically from the breathing tube. I was able to see my family, and had a cute little gift/message from Mandy, an audiologist, co-worker and friend! So at this point, i'm starting to feel slightly nauseous... and have to use the bathroom again! Nancy gave me anti-nausea medicine, and liquid percoset. She was very hesitant to let me use the bathroom, as I was "breaking protocol..." but you know me and my charm ;-) I won, was able to to go the bathroom. Nancy told me that if I let myself fall asleep, I would wake up feeling better...

I slept over an hour! I woke up to some gentle rubbing. Mandy and Mike came to visit. I'm so glad they did because when I woke up I felt AWESOME. The rest of my family came back. Mandy showed me my impedances and NRT responses, and they were beautiful. Everything was better than I could have ever expected. Mandy also gave me a card that the staff signed for me. Very touching.

My mother kept saying I received the presidential treatment. From start to finish, everything was wonderful with the infirmary. I am extremely grateful that this is all behind me. They let me go home shortly after. What a difference this car ride home was from the one I did 7 years ago for the first surgery. I felt every bump in the road, and the vertigo was horrific, and thought I would vomit at every stop light. Not at all the case!

My father met us at the condo with dinner and ice cream :) I was able to eat everything a delicious dinner. I have to take small bites as if I take a bigger bite, I do feel minimal/slight discomfort. After that, I took my oxycodone right at my allotted time because I was scared that the pain may come on, and that I was lulled into a false security because of the happy meds. So I took that pill right at 7, and I was able to take a pill every 4 hours. Well, I passed out long before I could take the next pill. I woke up this morning at 6:30ish and haven't needed a pain pill! I did take tylenol and my antibiotics this morning.

All in all, I know this is a long blogging post, but I'm just so so grateful at how great I feel, that the room is standing still, that I haven't been sick, and that I'm able to eat my solids. I can still hear well since I have my other implant, and I can see (as I have had vision correction surgery since my first implant). I'm a like bionic man :)

I will post soon with pictures! I hear there are lots of pictures and videos out there of me!