Possibly the last song I hear: Royals by Lorde
That was my thought as I was wheeled into the operating room and the Top 40 station was playing. It took me by surprise. Anyway, as I slid over to the operating room, I thought - If I die during this, Royals is the last song I would have heard. Not bad, but would not be my choice.
Anyway, the day had come. We arrived at the Unity Healthcare Surgical Center at 7:30 a.m. - an hour before the scheduled surgery. I got checked in and answered the questions, gave my health insurance card for scanning and the medical wristband was put on me. Shortly after that, a nurse came to get me. I changed into a hospital gown and put my possessions in a locker. In the pre-op room, they took my blood pressure, put in an I.V. line on the back of my left hand. The nurse who would be part of the surgery came in and put the cuffs around my calves so that I don't get blood clots being motionless for two or more hours.
The anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. He briefly told me about how things would go. Basically, a general anesthetic and I'd knocked out. Afterward, I'd go to recovery with a nurse and, eventually, reunited with my family. The ENT was next in. He met my wife and asked if we had any last questions. He also gave rundown of how things will go. After he left, the surgical nurse returned and wheeled my back to the operating room.
It all happened pretty fast. I got into the O.R. and onto the table. They put my arms straight out from my sides - like I was on a cross (creepy). Next, the anesthesiologist told me he was giving me a little something to relax. The nurse anesthetist put an oxygen mask over my mouth and nose and told me it was a little oxygen. A few seconds later, I was out.
Next, I looked like this:
My eyes were closed. I could hear a nurse talking to my family and then the sound of the curtain opening and closing. My nose was stinging - not hurting or throbbing - but stinging, like when you get chlorine water from a pool up your nose. It was making my eyes water and when I tried to open my eyes, the light was too bright.
Then, I noticed was my throat was sore. I couldn't even swallow saliva. This was because of the air tube I had down my throat during surgery. The nurse wanted me to take a pain pill and I was kind of cranky with her, saying I couldn't swallow anything, how could I take a pill!?! She gave me some ice chips and then brought in some water. I sipped two cups of ice water until my throat felt a little better. The nurse came back a while later with the pain pill broken into four pieces. Those I could swallow.
The next thing I remember is my family getting me dressed. I was able to stand up and get into a wheelchair. I don't remember being wheeled out or the elevator ride. I do remember it was cold outside and getting into the car. The car ride home is a bit of a blur.