"That" time is fast approaching, and I had questions I wanted the surgeon to answer for me. I'm talking about the surgery to reconnect the ends of the colon that were separated in order to repair the perforation of the bowel.
I described what I thought the procedure would be, and he told me that was exactly right. We discussed the sigmoidoscopic exam that would precede the surgery, and what it would tell him about the condition of the lower extremity.
Doctor's earlier instruction said that I should expect to be in the hospital for a week. I suggested that was to make sure that the connection was secure--no leaks. Correct. And he added that I should be eating, pooping, and have no fever. When all four of those criteria were met, then I'd go home.
I asked when I could drive and when I could start abdominal exercises to get rid of this Santa Claus belly. He said that was pretty much up to me. But he did suggest that the first time out driving I should have a passenger who would critique my driving and help me decide if I was up to it. He said I must be ready for a panic stop: the little boy runs in front of the car, and I have to slam on the brakes. Do I worry about the sudden pressure of the seat belt on my sore tummy? If yes, then I'm not ready. If I don't even think about it, then I'm ready.
Same thing with the exercise. If I feel ready, then I am.
I expressed some nerves about the coming surgery, and he said that if I didn't have some anxiety, he'd worry about me. He said that since I am feeling some anxiety, that means my brain is connected. He said I should be nervous. This is major abdominal surgery, then he described the incisions he would make. Three of them.
Isn't it odd that the description of the incisions didn't bother me, but the opening of the abdomen is causing me considerable concern. I didn't have time to worry about it when the emergency surgery was done. It was too fast, and I was too sick. But now I can think about it, and think about and think about it some more.
How soon will I go home? How soon will I mend? How soon will I get my strength back? When will I be able to drive over to Santa Rosa again and see My Baby?
And then I have this uneasy feeling that I don't have a whole lot of time left. I still have a lot of living to do., but how much time do I have to do it? I will fight to live, of course. But when you've already lived fourscore and a little more, time does seem to accelerate. Alarmingly.
I asked him directly and he answered affirmatively: Are you a God-fearing man? So I concluded the interview by saying that we would put his surgical skill and my life in God's hands.
Wish me well on 14 May.
Bless
I described what I thought the procedure would be, and he told me that was exactly right. We discussed the sigmoidoscopic exam that would precede the surgery, and what it would tell him about the condition of the lower extremity.
Doctor's earlier instruction said that I should expect to be in the hospital for a week. I suggested that was to make sure that the connection was secure--no leaks. Correct. And he added that I should be eating, pooping, and have no fever. When all four of those criteria were met, then I'd go home.
I asked when I could drive and when I could start abdominal exercises to get rid of this Santa Claus belly. He said that was pretty much up to me. But he did suggest that the first time out driving I should have a passenger who would critique my driving and help me decide if I was up to it. He said I must be ready for a panic stop: the little boy runs in front of the car, and I have to slam on the brakes. Do I worry about the sudden pressure of the seat belt on my sore tummy? If yes, then I'm not ready. If I don't even think about it, then I'm ready.
Same thing with the exercise. If I feel ready, then I am.
I expressed some nerves about the coming surgery, and he said that if I didn't have some anxiety, he'd worry about me. He said that since I am feeling some anxiety, that means my brain is connected. He said I should be nervous. This is major abdominal surgery, then he described the incisions he would make. Three of them.
Isn't it odd that the description of the incisions didn't bother me, but the opening of the abdomen is causing me considerable concern. I didn't have time to worry about it when the emergency surgery was done. It was too fast, and I was too sick. But now I can think about it, and think about and think about it some more.
How soon will I go home? How soon will I mend? How soon will I get my strength back? When will I be able to drive over to Santa Rosa again and see My Baby?
And then I have this uneasy feeling that I don't have a whole lot of time left. I still have a lot of living to do., but how much time do I have to do it? I will fight to live, of course. But when you've already lived fourscore and a little more, time does seem to accelerate. Alarmingly.
I asked him directly and he answered affirmatively: Are you a God-fearing man? So I concluded the interview by saying that we would put his surgical skill and my life in God's hands.
Wish me well on 14 May.
Bless