Well, it went well.
Talking about my Same Day Surgery yesterday (July 17) at Queen’s Medical Center.
The visit was to replace an outdated Abbott neuromodulation device and replace it with a new, compatible Boston Scientific version. It’s part of the therapy to control chronic lower back pain and soreness in my sciatic right leg.
Some things haven’t changed, when I last underwent this procedure:
- I’m still a risk for falling. Soon as I checked in, I received the customary wrist band, which boasts your name and birthdate. But because of my mobility issues and could fall, I must wear a yellow band with a “Fall Risk” declaration. For safety’s sake.
- Those silly hairnets still are issued. Necessary, I suppose, but no one looks great with this bonnet.
However, some things have changed:
- Socks for the fall prospects are bright yellow like corn on the cobb. Yep, had to put them on, but they were comfy!
- Those horrid open-back gowns are still donned openly but now there’s a bunch of snaps at both shoulders, to enable easier access for aides to paste body switches on your chest. Or check your heartbeat.
There’s quite a village to get patients “fixed,” so it’s not a surprise to get a pre-op visit by your doctor (mine is Dr. Jeffrey Loh), plus a retinue of staff/nurses, like nurses, anesthesiologists, and others who buzz in to take blood pressure, temperature checks, and more.
I also had a pre-op visit, as well as a post-op visit, from Michael Chrysler, the Hawaii rep of Boston Scientific, who donned what looked like scrubs – but he wore a very special red head net. He regularly visits the hospital when a client/patient has a device implanted. I’ll have learned how to properly utilize the new acquisition. And medical insurance should cover the cost of $20,000.
So: I have a new device installed, and that means a wound on the mend. Dr. Loh had to oversee the removal of the old one and the installation of the new one. This involves a magnet that transmits signals to wires attached to the spine.
I’m on antibiotics for a week – pills must be taken once every six hours – and I have a follow-up office visit with Dr. Loh next Friday, where Chrysler will meet me and run through the how’s of operating a controller that will help me navigate the Boston model.
The downside of the surgery? I cannot shower for a week, nor can I wet and/or remove the bandage protecting the zone where the magnet was installed – on the left cheek of my butt. I had a request to Dr. Loh to be sure the magnet was attached deep enough to avoid the fate of the Abbott magnet, which was inserted with a bit of a tilt, which was awkward and a bit painful when I moved around when asleep.
Of course, my wife Vi continues to be an angel in these medical quests. She was bedside before and after the procedure. Thanks, hon; that’s dedication.
A postscript: I didn’t miss it earlier but thought about it now. For some reason, I wasn’t moved to a recovery room like in past procedures. I recall recovering patients were asked and served juice and a cracker when asked “are you thirsty” or “are you hungry?” Must be an inflationary issue to cut back. —