Yesterday at 12 noon, we arrived at the hospital. Susan (Mike's mom) had just arrived from Pinehurst. Mike checked in and they called him back around 12:20. Scott, the campus pastor from our church stopped by to see him. Mike came out for a brief moment and said he was going back for prep (it was about 12:30). I started to follow him back and he said they told him I couldn't come because of patient privacy issues. This concerned me so I asked the admission nurse about it. She explained that it was just a space issue, that there was no room in the back for me. About ten minutes later, one of the nurses from the back called me over and explained the same thing. I assured her I understood their policy completely and wasn't upset or angry. She said that was ok, but they were going to let me go back and see him right before he went under.
He was really concerned...less about the surgery, more about the anesthesia itself. He's never been completely knocked out before, so I can understand that anxiety. Around 12:45 they let me go back and talk with him. This time, he was smiling. Not just calm and more relaxed, but actually smiling. I asked if they had given him anything yet...he claims they didn't, that the anesthesiologist just put him at ease because he "really seems like he knows what he's doing". Heh, I think he was high.
That was the last time I saw him until much much later. My Mom and Alan arrived a little after two. My grandmother and the worship leader from our church stopped by as well. The pastor came back again later in the afternoon. We are really blessed to have such a supportive caring group at that church. The doctor rang the waiting room to speak with me around 4:30. I really can't remember what time it was...that seems about right. He reported that everything had gone as planned and as well as it could.
The entire distal end of the ulna was removed and the SBI U-Head prosthesis was implanted. Here's the website of the manufacturer.
Just before five, the super nice addmissions nurse let us know which floor he'd be assigned and said we could go on up. So up to the fifth floor we went. It was a smaller waiting room and looked about as typical as a hospital can look. I walked down to the nurses station just to let her know we were there. Good thing, because about five minutes later, she came back and told us he'd being going to the third floor instead. Down we go. Getting off the elevator, it was as if we'd been transported to a different building altogether. Mike was *still* asleep at this point (5:30ish). This waiting room was huge. The floors are decorated and
nice hardwood. There was a small but fully stocked dining room. Again, I walked down to the nurses station to tell her who and where I was. She said it would still be a while before he made it to the floor and to help ourselves to dinner. The four of us had turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, chocolate mousse and apple pie! This place is like a hotel.
Mike arrived in his room around 6:30. He was awake and alert. It was sooooo good to see him, even though he has this massive thing attached to him...
Yep, he's smiling! The nurse let him try some jello right away, then some saltines. He was able to keep it all down no problem. He was absolutely starving (hadn't eaten since 11pm Thursday!!) Around 7, the nurse brought him a small cup of chicken noodle water (it did not have any flavor and could not actually be called soup). She said if he could keep that down, he could eat anything he wanted. He asked for wings. I talked him out of it and he settled for Chick Fil A nuggets and waffle fries. Our parents stayed for about an hour. He also had a piece of chocolate mousse pie and apple pie. Our moms had brought all kinds of snacks, he had a bag of welch's fruit snacks too. I'd be that hungry too. I was just glad he wasn't nauseous.
I was drinking full strength coffee because everyone kept saying he wouldn't sleep or be able to rest tonight. I wanted to make sure I could stay up with him. Before the surgery, he received a nerve block (apparently similar to an epidural). Its a direct drip onto a nerve that numbs everything below his shoulder. Who knew that the arm and shoulder are the most painful in recovery (per third floor nurse). This block, on top of the additional portable block was keeping him feeling pretty good.
The nurse said those nerve blocks would be wearing off soon(ish) so she gave him two pain pills...we definitely both appreciate the proactive-ness on her part. She said he could have two more at 1:30. We started to watch a movie, but about thirty minutes after he took the pills he said the drowsiness hit him hard and he slept. I didn't think he'd actually sleep well, so I stayed up for a bit. When he seemed really out and his heart rate slowed and steadied, I laid down as well. The nurse came in to give him more pain pills at 1:30...we both went back to sleep and didn't wake up until 5:30 when she was back with more pain pills and the last of his antibiotics.
Oh, the antibiotics are the only reason he's here overnight.
It's 7:15 and he says the pain has "leveled off". When the nurse first asked him what his pain was, he said 3 or 4. Later in the night, he said 5 or 6. This morning, he's says its still about the same. It's a dull ache down the whole length of his arm. Other than that, it is numb. He can't straighten his fingers out, but can wiggle them down and around a little bit. He's supposed to do that from time to time. Every few hours he says that it feels like his arm is in a different position. Once he said it felt like it was stretched out down the side of his body towards his feet...just now he said it felt like he had it lifted up in the air.
The doctor is supposed to come by this morning and just check in, and if Mike isn't feeling nauseous, then he can go home. So what time we leave all depends on when the doctor comes. Mike had a blueberry muffin earlier and is drinking some coffee now. He thinks I've already pre-ordered his BWW wings for tonight ;)
We can't thank everyone enough for all the prayers and good thoughts and support and care you've shown us. It means the absolute world to him and I believe it helped him be at ease through the whole experience. I know it helped me. We are so blessed. Also for the nurses here at Parham Doctors' Hospital third floor. We do ask for your continued prayers. He can't drive for two weeks. His cast is SO big, it will take a while for him to get used to maneuvering it, even with the sling. He'll be sitting around, not doing much for two solid weeks. If you know Mike, then you know this is likely to drive him absolutely nuts. So send him emails and play online games with him...any entertainment will be welcome :)
