Things I Learned Today

Mission Control, this is Launch Command.  All systems are go.  We have launch in T minus 11 days.

I had my pre-op appointments today.  I almost wish we got as much briefing time as maybe astronauts or maybe scientists who volunteer to test a machine (based on alien-sent blueprints) that will open a doorway to a black hole in which one might travel millions of light years through the universe.  That would be helpful to me.  The briefing I mean, not the black hole.  Though that might be really cool.  I'm sure Jody Foster enjoyed it.

Although I did get a lot of good information today, there's still so much I wish I could anticipate.  But maybe some ignorance is bliss.  I can't tell 'cause I don't know!  Here's what I do know:

On February 7, I will go to the hospital and be admitted.  I'll get IVs and then a sedative which will make me extremely sleepy.

I will most likely receive a femoral nerve block, where they'll put a small catheter (about the size of angel hair spaghetti or thick fishing line) into a nerve above my hip area, which will administer a numbing agent (like Novocaine).  Then they'll prep me for surgery, anesthetize me, intubate and provide gas.

I'll spare you the surgical details.  You're welcome.

I'll wake up and later that day (or within 24 hours), I'll be visited by a physical and occupational therapist, who will show me how to get around, what I can and cannot do, etc.  Because of the "approach" for this surgery (which will be posterior or through a 6" incision behind my hip), some very small internal muscles that hold my hip together will be cut and sutured.  It takes 6 to 8 weeks for muscles to fully heal, so I don't want to stress these little guys.  That means no bending at the waist past 90 degrees, no turning my toe in or twisting (or limbo, swing or line dancing), no crossing my legs, even if I really need to pee.

I will need to walk every day for a few minutes.  I probably won't be jogging right away (or ever but not because I can't).  I am allowed to drive once I'm off the narcotics (no you can't have any) and am able to push the clutch without breaking the rules.

So that's the plan in a nutshell. I'm looking forward to having my first sincerely cool scar.  I have one on my head but it's covered by hair.  Come to think of it, I guess I won't be able to show this scar off either, though hopefully it will not be covered by hair.