Surgery Day Yikes!! Wednesday June 1st

My surgery was Wednesday June 1st, 2011. Originally it had been scheduled for 7:30am but there ended up being some sort of clerical error and it was postponed until 3pm. That created a bit of anxiety and a lot of waiting for my mom and Brad. I was also super hungry and thirsty as I couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight the night before. Eventually I got back to the pre op room where they gave me my gorgeous blue gown, hat and booties. (picture to follow). They ran some blood work, vitals etc. and then I was off to the operating room.

Walking into the operating room was a bit frightening. Tons of machines, Doctors, Nurses.......I had the thought of turning around and running out, but I held strong. They had some trouble starting the IV but no big deal and I was out. The surgery took 7 hours, yes 7 to complete!! I had my upper jaw moved in three pieces and my lower jaw. I also had a genioplasty (chin moved forward). Everything was held together with plates/screws and rubber bands. My doctor said everything was very successful! Phew! Thank you Dr.!

I woke up in the recovery room where I was kept for about three hours for close monitoring. I remember bits and pieces mostly unpleasant. I felt super hot and apparently I kept on trying to strip off my gown as the nurse kept pulling it down. I guess modesty is lost after seven hours of anesthesia. I was also coughing up blood (which is normal) but not pleasant. After I was considered stable they moved me to my room for my first night in the hospital. .

My mom and Brad were super troopers that day!! They had some very interesting experiences in the waiting room that did keep them busy for awhile. Let's just say there was a lot of yelling, and a security guard had to be called in. My mom got a bit feisty that night! She'll have to share that story at a later date :)