Monday, June 26, 2017

What She Did #1-Surgical Waiting Room


I waited for almost and hour while they prepped Bob for surgery. I hit the coffee bar, said no to the cookies.. At 8 am they took me to the prep room, and there were SEVEN people working on him. Since he was worried about them shaving his beard of 40 years, I asked and they said no, but it will be ORANGE.  He looked like Frankenstein, there were leads and tubes and both arms were covered with those. FOR THOSE OF YOU who don't have the time to read details, I say now he is fine and doing well with no symptoms of the stroke... All these details are to help my memory in the future.

A wonderful young man, was slowly attaching SIXTEEN leads to each part of his brain, with red and white wires running to a box. I said to him, if one artery is closed, and you are working on the other how will he get oxygen. He pointed to Bob's franken-arm and said those will hook to a shunt that bypasses where they are working. These 16 leads are my job. He pointed to the screen.


I will monitor his brain and warn if there is a problem and now I am taking a snap shot of his normal rhythms to compare what changes as we work.. then he said Don't Talk, his brain will react to you. And pointed at the blip when I said ok. HA HA he doesn't know me. I did not talk. But two nurses did and the screen was crazy, he asked us all to step out.

I really was thrilled to watch everything, since in the past they just whisked him away and I did not see him until surgery was over.

At 9 am, they rolled him across the hall into OR and sent me to the waiting room. She said 2 to 4 hours. I went home and let the dog out, gone 15 minutes and back to waiting room where I discovered HOT CHOCOLATE fat free and sugar free...

The board changed 4 hours later and it said out of OR into recovery at 1:01 pm... it was another long wait of 50 15 minutes and the surgeon popped in the door and said he did fine. When we move him to ICU we will stop for you.... at 3 pm I walked beside him to ICU, he was riding in a bed, silly not walking. But he was talking to me.  He is a rare person that does not go to sleep when they give him the shot, he said he was awake when they were in OR and saw dozens of people doing all kinds of things, she put a mask over his face and his eyes kept watching everything, she pointed that out and boom he was gone. BUT when they rolled him out of OR to recovery he woke up and she looked at the other nurse and said It Had to Happen Sometime. He was awake from 3 until 8 that night. He also never gets sick from the anesthesia. At 5:30 just 4 hours after surgery he ate Roast Beef, gravy and carrots with bread pudding. BUT the throat was numb, by next morning sore throat and pain would not let him swallow anything but soft food...

His day nurse for 12 hours was and Angel named Stacy...his night nurse he can't remember her name and she was the nurse from hell. Stacy went home at 7 and he never saw another person until Nurse Devil came in at 9 pm. 2 hours. 
The photo at the top and the sunny ME were playtime with my tablet and PIP. Since I only took 2 photos in 5 hours you know how upset I was. I actually thought my heart would stop beating when it got to the 3rd week hour.

My two cousins, Shari and Bonnie came by and talked, and a man I worked with for 13 years, John Allen, was waiting on his wife, and he helped pass the time.
Tomorrow is What she did in ICU... and I will quit I promise.

25 comments:

Linda said...

I'm so happy to read this post! You are amazing and Bob is equally so! Oh the blessings of a normal day and I am praying that for you two!
Love and prayers from Texas! We have been following with bated breath! Love you both and are rejoicing with you!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Absolutely fascinating!!! It is like reading a medical novel. That had a perfect ending. Love to both of you, you are both so STRONG! Can't wait to read the rest.

DeniseinVA said...

That was a very interesting post Sandra. Considering all the stress you both came through with flying colors. Well done you dear lady you, and well done Bob. Like Ginny and Linda said before me, much love to you both with a great big hug.

Ohmydearests said...

The way you have recollected your recent experience is so real and vivid. I'm thinking of you and Bob. I hope your day has a lot of joy.

Ann said...

I like stories that end well. Fascinating with how they can read those charts and graphs and monitor things the way they do. That was nice of him to explain it to you.
Too bad about the nurse from hell. Some people really are not meant for the profession. At least he had a good nurse during the day.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Thanks, Sandra, for the detailed post about Bob's surgery and how you spent your time waiting, which is also stressful most times. So glad all turned out well...ice cream is great for sore throats too and 😊

Gayle said...

No need 'to quit'. You are giving us a glimpse of the two brave and wonderful people we know you are with your usual honesty and quick wit.

Anonymous said...

So thankful that Bob is doing well. I enjoyed this post and learning more about this surgery. Amazing isn't it.

Karen said...

It is amazing how the doctors can fix the arteries now. I am thankful that it went so well and praying that he continues to heal. Thanks for sharing this.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Sandra, the procedure is amazing. I am thankful for the doctor and nurses. I hope Bob is recovering well and I assume he has rules to follow that you will be helping with. You are both great, glad it all went so well.

Happy Monday, enjoy your day and new week ahead!

Rose said...

I am so happy for you....I know it was hard to go through but what a good result. So, so glad there is no lasting damage.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

This is what you blog is for. It is important to keep a record of events like these because with time we often forget certain details. So glad that it all went smoothly and that he is back home with you.

Cranberry Morning said...

This is all such good news! And it's hard to believe (but i believe you!) that anyone could eat roast beef etc. so soon! I am so glad also that you pay about this, cuz we've all been praying for you two and the doctors. Never thought to pray about a devil nurse. Lol. 💗💗 Thank you Lord for this good outcome!

Cranberry Morning said...

Not pay, post. Grrr

Anonymous said...

This was interesting read. You are strong to ask questions with all you have gone through.

Now it is all over. How simple days can end up to days of uncertainties to families.

You and Bob enjoy the rest of this week. You have a lot of family and bloggers who love you and prayed with good faith for the surgeon and staff with him and will continue for a healing of success One day at a time for Bob.

photowannabe said...

This is a great post Sandra. I'm loving the details but I am especially loving the wonderful outcome.
God is good.

Breathtaking said...

Hello Sandra!:) Thank you for your kind comment about my son-in-law, who is regaining his speech now, and thank you for taking the time to write this interesting account of all that happened in the hospital. You're a star, a bright star, and I am rooting for the both of you. Take care!:)

Hootin Anni said...

First off, LOVE the "HOME" post below this!! I feel so relieved it all went well, and was successful! And no, I couldn't stop, I had to read it all. I think all those wires would have me in complete nervous breakdown mode. You, dear Sandra, have a heart of gold and a mind of steel to love and cherish your man to be by his side at all times. I admire that strength you show!!!

Well done, both of you And of course the hospital staff.

Pam said...

I am so glad that all went well and Bob is doing okay. I have had surgery several times and it is so strange that they roll you in the operation room, out you go and you wake in recovery but it feels like you just went in the operation room.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Waiting in a hospital is torture. I guess the bottom line here is that Bob is OK now.

Mevely317 said...

That's fascinating about the brain wave activity!
... and through it all, your sense of humor shines. :)

I agree, some nurses are angels and others demons-from-H***. When Tom was last hospitalized I kept a journal, 'grading' them, not on their expertise, but their demeanor. (Unfair, perhaps, but that's the way it goes.)

Soooo happy for the three of you! (Can't forget dear Jake!)

Jo said...

You did amazingly well in the face of this trauma, Sandra. Imagine that you didn't take photos! I'm glad you were there for the prepping. I always tried to push my way into that part when Grant had surgery. I suspect that Bob handles anesthesia so well because he's so fit and healthy. That's my take on it.

Just Mags said...

A very interesting read sweet Sandra. I am so glad you had no problem keeping yourself occupied while Bob was in prep and surgery. And for them to have hot chocolate that you could drink...how nice. You are doing an amazing job on your weight loss. So glad that Bob is doing well and flew right through it all with no issues...what a strong and amazing man. Hugs for you both.

Inger said...

INtereting that they let you in as they prepped him. As you can see, I'm catching up with everything.

Suburban Girl said...

Nurses make such a huge difference! Sorry about the devil.