About 24 hours after I went under they began to bring me around.
I, of course, had remained blissfully ignorant of all that had transpired over the past 24 hours.
But now, as perception began to dawn, I began to hear various electronic bells or alarms. I think I heard voices.
The last thing I had worried about before going into surgery was getting to the hospital on time. As consciousness slowly returned I was convinced that I needed to get up so that we could get to the hospital. I had a surgery to get to!
The alarm was going off. I could hear it. I was covered up. I had to throw off the covers. I needed to get up. It was time to go!
In my efforts to throw off the covers, apparently, I turned into a bit of a flasher. I doubt anyone was impressed. F says it was quite funny.
After struggling for a while, F pointing out that all I wanted to do was get up. The the nurse in charge said, fine, if he wants to get up, let's get him up. A physiotherapist was called for this delicate operation.
She got me to my feet. I was having a heck of a time focusing my eyes properly so I don't much remember what she looked like. She was very cheerful and positive though.
Then she passed me off to F for a few steps. Shuffle to the right, shuffle to the left, bend your knees, lift your feet. Oh, it was fun.
And the dancing helped. It gradually began to dawn on me that, if I was dancing in heaven then why was F there? I didn't think dancing was part of the pre-operative plan, so then this must be post-operative. And, hey, if I was up dancing, then the operation must have gone well.
I asked F, "Am I done?" I was still pretty stoned. It hadn't really sunk in. F assured me, yes, I was finished with surgery. "Whoo Hoo" I said. Party animal.
The nurse asked about pain: "Does it hurt." "Only when I breathe," I said. I was trying to be funny.
It gradually became easier to focus, though the world was pretty fuzzy. The nurse was funny. I remained on supplementary oxygen and various intravenous pain killers and such.
A huge highlight was the popsicle. It was nice and cool and refreshing. And almost real food.
Ahh, good to be alive.
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