Surgery in Mexico

The Operation


The day finally arrived and checking into the hospital was pretty quick, we arrived at 10:30 am and by 11:30 I was in the prep stage of the operation. One by one the surgery team arrived and within 30 minutes or so we were having a good time. I had baked 3 dozen cookies a few days before and brought them along sharing with the staff along the way. I highly recommend this tactic (unless you are a terrible baker) as it certainly built some valuable lines of force.

By 12:30 I was being gradually sedated and by 1:15 I was yawning and dosing off. Being wheeled into the operating room was somewhat surreal along with what followed. My primary sedation was from the hips down with secondary sedation for me to sleep. There was also a shield so I could not see the work being done. In this semi-conscious state I felt nothing, no pain, but there were moments when I heard what was going on as if I was in a room next door. I could hear the pounding of a hammer on the prosthesis as it was being driven into the tibia, but again, I had no feeling of it. At one point I opened my eyes and saw the anesthesiologist and asked him for a drink of water, but again it all took place without full recognition of where I was and what was happening. I write this 2 full days after the operation and I still have felt no pain. Perhaps once I start my rehab this will change.

The hospital staff has been amazing along with the food, and the accommodations are well appointed (although the TV’s could use an upgrade). I am scheduled to be home on Thursday. I have had a good number of visitors both in person and online for which I am so grateful. My partner Ethel has been amazing too and will be “nursing” me back to health over the next few months. Thanks to everyone who has made contact and provided surround for this event.