Last Thursday morning May 22, came very early and we were at the hospital by 6:00. We got signed in and soon he was called to go back to start the prep. Not too long after that they called me to come back with him.
That was when I realized just how serious the surgery was. There was a woman putting leads all over John's head. They were all different colors and she made sure they were placed just so and placed tight. To do that she parted his hair, cleaned the area, and then scratched it with the wooden end of a swab. She used some type of adhesive and covered the head of the lead with tape. She gathered the wires together like a pony tail and secured them together. Then she wrapped his head in surgical gauze and covered all of that with at least two layers of tape. She took her time and did everything just so. She said she would be in the operating room and would be monitoring his brain throughout the surgery. This would tell if he was having a stroke or any other problem with the brain during the procedure.
The anesthetist came in and they discussed the medication. John asked questions about the recovery room and what would happen after that. They explained he would be moved to ICU after the recovery room and would stay there at least 12 hours and that it was what they did with all their patients not because they thought John would have any problems. He then told John they were going to give him something to calm him down and that it would help with the anesthesia later on.
During this conversation there was a nurse who was trying to remove John's ring. She had tried a couple of things already with no success but this time she brought in some dental tape and wrapped his finger below the ring and was able to get it off. John seemed very surprised. He said he didn't think she would be able to get it off since he had not been able to remove it for over 20 years. (The ring was a size 8 and had to be re-sized to 10 1/2.)
The anathesiologist asked John if he was feeling more relaxed. Slightly slurring and almost mumbling John said, "I don't know." The nurse looked at me and smiled. We could tell he was being affected by the medication even if he couldn't.
Then I kissed him and told him I'd see him later and they took him off to surgery!
The wait seemed long but it was only about an hour and a half. Rob Espisito had come to pray with me for John. I'd worked on edging some bibs for Case and did some crossword puzzles. I decided to take John's clothes to the car. Naturally, the surgeon came out while I was gone and I missed seeing him. He did call my cell phone and told me everything went well and that John was just fine. "Where are you girl?" "John did fine and we got it cleaned out." That was about all he said. Not a big talker. I told the receptionist once I was back that I felt bad missing the surgeon. She said at least I didn't have to look him in the face. I've wondered since then what she meant by that comment.
A little longer wait and then I was called to the desk and given his room number in ICU. When I got there they were just getting him settled in. His neck was swollen and had a 2 by 4 inch bandage. He looked tired but didn't seem to be in any pain. Amy and Elizabeth came by to see him. They stayed for a little while and Elizabeth said she would go let Mattie out. Amy had taken the day off to be available to come after the surgery. He was very happy to see them even if he was quite drugged up.
I stayed with him until 6, went home to let Mattie out and feed her, and came back and sat with him from 8 to 10. Dr.Gross (for Dr. Hood) came by to see John. We were surprised because we had no idea their office would also follow John during this time. It made us both feel better. The night nurse was a male nurse and he was very helpful to John that night.
The next morning (Friday) I got there about 8:30 and stayed, except for lunch and dinner, until about 8. He was having trouble with his BP and it was really becoming confusing and upsetting. He began to panic and the nurse called to see if the doctor would prescribe something for anxiety. They had not returned but just by chance Dr. Gross showed up and was able to prescribe some Xanax. It helped some but I think the worry was still there. He felt that if he'd had that much blockage in the carotid artery, did he have blockages in other arteries? Dr. Gross said that was not an unreasonable fear and he thought the Xanax was a good idea.
Apparently Dr. Rogers (surgeon) came by every morning before I arrived. I never did get to meet him.
On Saturday morning when I got there they said John had had a good night and his BP went back to normal while he slept. Well, it sure didn't stay that way. It would go down with medication and then come right back up....way up! The nurse tried pain medication, BP medications, more Xanax.....nothing would keep it down for very long. This went on all day and made for a very unsettling time. She assured me they would not move him to a room until they got the BP stabilized. The nurse (Jackie) told John she had given him so much medication that day. Nothing seemed to help for long.
That evening Dr. McGuire (also from Dr. Hood) came in to see John. He talked with him about the Xanax and if he thought it helped. John told him it helped some. Dr. McGuire told him he thought John would do better if they moved him to a quieter part of the hospital (where there were also better, more comfortable beds). He prescribed a different BP medication and it seemed to really work. They were finally able to move him around 6 pm.
It was much more peaceful in the new area and he had a tempera pedic bed. The nurses and aides were all very friendly and helpful.
Note: That is not to say the ICU staff were not friendly and helpful. They were! We didn't have anyone who wasn't wonderful, caring, friendly, and helpful. Central Baptist seems to be full of that kind of people. I guess I mentioned it because you don't often hear people rave about the people they meet in a hospital setting...usually the opposite.
John slept well that night and was hoping to go home that day. Dr. McGuire came in and said he thought he would send him home. Then Dr. Amahal (from Dr. Rogers) came in, checked the incision and said he thought he could go home. Then we waited and waited. Finally I asked the nurse. I said both doctors had said we were going home but that we'd not heard anything official and didn't want them to leave without giving those orders. She smiled and said they were both working on it and that is shouldn't be long. So...back to the car to get John's clothes. I helped him get dressed and ready.
I had taken my bag to the car when I went to get his clothes. I assumed they would pack up all the toiletries, etc. because they told me to go get the car and where to meet them. No toiletries, no breathing exercise tube, and....I lost one of my knitting needles. I think I had laid it on the window sill. No great loss since they were too long for me anyway.
John was thrilled to get home. Tired but thrilled. He slept in his recliner most of the day and went to bed that night a happy man. Being home seemed to make him feel much better!
The next couple of days he was needing a little extra help but after that he was on his own.
One of his friends from work came and mowed the lawn for him. We are going to take him and his wife out to dinner the next time I'm home.
He returned to work the following Monday. I had planned to leave when he did but because MS had a doctor's appointment that afternoon, I left around 7:30 am. John said he was tired after work but that it wasn't too bad. He sounded better every day. Now here it is, May 6, 2010 and he told me last night that he had MOWED the lawn. I was not very happy with him. He wasn't supposed to do any physical labor and wasn't supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds for two weeks. I'd have to say he's not a very compliant patient. He said it didn't hurt him because he did it over two day, half of the front, then rest, then the other half the first day....then half of the back, then rest, then the other half on the second day. I don't think that was any better but he said he's fine and that it didn't hurt him....also the yard really needed it after all that rain.
Visitors:
- Amy and Tim
- Elizabeth
- Ron Dick
- Cameron McDonald
Calls were made to Ryan, John's office, Mama and Mary Sue (who called others). If after reading this you can think of something I missed or left out, please let me know and I'll correct or add to it.
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