January 26th, 2011

I wake up at 4:15 am. The good news is that I’ve slept for five straight hours. The bad news is that I’m sore, pain is shooting through the base of my hip and my calf is stiff. I realize when I stand up that biking yesterday was cool but has definitely worked up loose muscles.
I’m disappointed since I was hoping to be as supple as yesterday to show off my mobility to the surgeon.
After a quick but nice Starbucks breakfast with my husband, I go to my 8:45 am appointment. The PA who sees me gives me the pre surgery talk including the procedure and the risks.
The surgery is expected to last one hour but based on Dr. Simonian’s expertise; the PA said it will be more like half an hour/forty five minutes. Then I will recover for a few hours before going home. Did I mention it’s under general anesthesia?
Also, since I have no previous history of allergies, illness or surgeries, I fill out the questionnaire in a blink. The PA listens to my heart and lungs which are in better shape than my knee. Then he wants to see the bending of my knee and I’m once more disappointed to be so sore. He said 120%. My husband says he was nice. It looks closer to a 110.
Still, I started at 70% so I guess there is room for gratitude. The other one being 150%, there is also room for improvement.
The PA gives me a prescription for a collection of medicine that beats my lifelong consumption. There is a bottle for everything. Vicodin, vitamin C, laxative (don’t laugh, they say it can come handy), antibiotics to fight the possible infection (don’t forget the cadaver tissue), and some Iboprufen to combat the inflammation (swelling).
I go home and do my exercises. I am a pro at dangling my knees on the high bar stool. I’m glad we kept it although we don’t have a kitchen high counter anymore. I pretend that I sit at the edge of a pool and that warm yet fresh water tickles my feet. I can’t wait for the real pool or even better the lake in Maine. But the therapists are right to use visuals. It helps the body when a specific picture is set in the mind. As a writer, I can’t disagree.
If one day I’m rich, I know what I’ll do. I’ll hire a special trainer. I don’t care about cars, boats, and designer clothing. But someone who can lead you to maintain or reclaim a better health sounds like a luxury I would appreciate.
After the PA’s visit, the scheduling nurse comes in. She is like him, friendly and professional at the same time. She tells me to arrive at the hospital at 5:15 am. My husband and I glance at each other. Alarm clocks flash to our minds. It means leaving home at 4 o’clock. Although home is in the sun for the last days, the valley bathes in thick fog. So we will leave early enough to allow a margin if we are delayed by the poor visibility.
My daughter is staying at her friend’s tonight and my son will miss school tomorrow. It is too early to take him with us. I hope he won’t be too lonely or too worried. I’ll ask his dad to call him.
I mail my manuscript to Australia today. I will submit my short story for the Children’s Writer Contest and work on my new picture book after surgery. I’m impatient and a little anxious too. My parents have called from France to wish me luck so I suppose I really have to go and hope for the best.
Two calls from the hospital in the afternoon. Many questions and recommendations for tomorrow morning:
No hair product.
No deodorant.
No perfume.
No body lotion.
No moisturizer.
No jewelry.
Take a shower with an antibacterial soap. Do I have one? No.
Very loose and comfortable pants. I’m thinking I don’t have any! I’ll check the scrubs my college daughter brought home after her externship.
Insurance card and ID.
I get my stuff ready for tomorrow and manage to find a light summer pair of pants with very wide legs. Glad I kept them!
If I consider the frames that decorate Dr. Simonian’s office and patients’ rooms, I am in good hands. The man has fixed as many knees as I have read books.
Wish me luck!