Happy Times in the OR

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

They're back! The kidney stones that is. Ultra runner Roger Welch drove me to South Shore Hospital for my surgery this morning. It is raining but he leaves me at the door for the trapping he has to tend to today, even in the rain. Sandy will pick me up at the end of the day. This is the second time in eight months for the dreaded operating room. Am I out of time yet? In our Ultra Running Club at meetings you can only talk about your health for a minute and a half.

So the nurses dress me up in those silly hospital clothes then wheel me down for an x- ray. Now I am in the bed waiting for the doctor. First the anesthesiologist talks to me, followed by two nurses who will assist at the operation. One hooks me up to an I.V. for whatever reason. We discuss the stones and what is about to happen. Not the Rolling Stones. At the end of our talk, Doctor Luke tells me that I should drink water laced with lemon juice from now on. I regale everyone with my discovery last year of the Mexican drink "The Michilada," which contains a lot of lemon juice as well as Goya sauce, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a bottle of cerveza all served together in a large glass filled with ice and rimmed with salt and black pepper. Hmmm. They laugh then they all walk away.

The operating room is next. I wait for their return. I am starting to get cold and a little antsy. Another warm blanket from the dryer would be nice. My feet are getting cold. Why are they not coming back?

Every once in a while a nurse walks by and checks the machines that I am hooked into. She says nothing. Where are they? Finally I look over at the clock. It reads 1:30 pm. The nurse then says, "Would you like something to drink?" Then it dawns on me. The operation has been over for an hour.