I went for my initial appointment for my hand in the public system on the 16th of August. I went for my operation yesterday! I had been graded as a Category 2, but I was obviously offered a cancellation, so I think I was at the top of the Category 2 list.
Lindsey and I arrived at just before 7am. The person who was supposed to be ahead of me hadn't turned up so they put me at the top of the operating list. Every single person who I spoke to greeted me by name, told me their name and what their function was. They told me what they were going to do, how they were going to do it and what the outcome should be. Then after they told me what had happened. They were all cheerful and friendly. By 12:15 I was in the recovery room, arm and hand all bundled up. As well as the general anaesthetic I had had, my hand had had a prodigious local anaesthetic so was completely numb until I got up this morning. It's hurting a tiny bit now which is a useful reminder not to try and do too much with it!! Mostly, though, it has pins and needles.
The worst thing about yesterday was the getting up early in the morning and not being able to have a cup of tea. No water either but it was the cup of tea that I missed. They gave me a cup of tea later and gamely tried to give me the strong cup that I asked for. It wasn't the most exciting cup of tea I have ever had but I definitely appreciated it. I enjoyed my sandwich as well.
Lindsey met me in the discharge room and we had headed out into the sunshine by about 13:45 to the flat. We were back in Mount Helen by a little after 16:00.
I was interested in Rupert's behaviour when we got back. Lindsey had stopped to talk to the builders who were finishing off the fittings for the new folding doors in the lounge room. Jim was in the other end of the house with the dogs. Normally when people come back, particularly if they've been away for more than a few hours, Rupert bounces and bounds and rushes around. When I walked into the kitchen he was asleep on the couch. He sat up, looked at me, then gently walked over, sniffed my arm, licked my chin and leant gently on on me, wagging his tail. I don't know how he knew but he definitely did. He bounded all over Lindsey when she came through. Sam greeted us with his usual, dignified pleasure.
Lindsey had bought steak for dinner. She did it with mashed potato, lots of veg and gravy. I positively scoffed mine. I was surprisingly hungry!
My hand before the operation. This is as flat as it would go:
Back from the hospital:
And today:
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| There are penguin stickers to help the healing, and seal stickers Just Because |
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