Surgery Day felt like Dooms Day…on one hand, I was anxious
to have it over with, on the other hand, scared “shitless.” Woke up early as
everyone else slept-in. I took a shower and trembled inside with reservation.
Impossible to get a second opinion now. My friends wanted me to transfer to
another hospital and start the process over, no way! I just had to be confident
that my initial response to the McWonderful is on-target. Much later, I
discovered several different reactions to the Dr. My friend, Lava Pe had a bad
experience. He went in with a swollen knee and the Dr told him just to go home,
it wasn’t serious. Lava Pe went to another Dr since the knee didn’t get any
better and he performed a surgery to correct the symptoms. His wife, on the
other hand, has a friend who went to him with a complicated break in her leg
and he repaired it beautifully. The Dr at the health clinic nearby also
affirmed his good reputation. Consuella doesn’t like McWonderful either, she
was reluctant to tell me in the hospital. So, unbeknownst to me, I was heading
into the operating room with a controversial Dr. My sense was that he is very
proud and wants to impress the Drs in the US with his skills. Of course, there
would be a point in time when someone would ask me who performed the surgery.
Would it have turned out differently had I been a man or from S
America, Brasil, etc? Who knows.
Decided to ask McWonderful before the cast was put on, could
I take a look at my foot? I just couldn’t bear the thought of worrying about
the appearance of it for an entire month. Since I only have gauze and bandage
wrapping, it isn’t an issue. Although very swollen (toes like sausages) and
tender, it appears to be alright.
As the nurses and I waited in the doorway, I looked up to
see a lizard hovered over my head. I took it as a sign of luck. I didn’t
mention it to anyone, it was my secret message.
Knowing I was going into surgery, I didn’t eat much since
the afternoon before. Had to put on the hospital gown the correct way (open in
the back) and hop onto the cart. Whisked down the hall as the nurse tisked at
me about not having my family there. Parked in the hallway next to the surgical
board. There is my name, fracture something or other and Dr Gerbin’s name. I
stared and began to tear-up. Green gowns whirred by. McWonderful stopped at my
head and smiled under his mask, touched my shoulder and told me he was ready.
Finally the room was cleaned and ready for me. The young man
behind his mask kept asking me questions, some of which I had no idea what he
was getting at. So I told him I am a North American, had to repeat it several
times before he understood. This happens frequently. Just so far from their
realm of reality.
The anesthesiologist arrived. Aside from McWonderful, he was
THE most sympathetic and attentive. He stroked my hair and stood behind me
several times to reassure me. I got an epidural and in minutes my left leg felt
like a tree trunk. McWonderful scrubbed my foot, what a strange sensation. They
had to switch my access line since it wasn’t working, by the time I left, I had
to be pricked seven times since the needles either fell out or got bumped and
stopped flowing. I squirmed in discomfort due to the sounds of the surgery;
drilling, clipping off the ends of the screws, pounding my bones into place,
sewing sutures, adjusting muscles and pulling my skin. I closed my eyes drawing
on the music I listened to last night. Asked my mom to come in and comfort me.
She has been gone a long time and I knew, if there was a way for her to be there,
she would. No one could take these steps forward but me.
The X-ray technician was there, taking images throughout. McWonderful
asked him to turn the monitor so I could view them also. I could see the
technician’s face and our eyes met. I shook uncontrollably from the anesthetic
or trauma or…? The images flashed and McWonderful added more screws..in the
end, I have seven of them and a plate. At one point, McWonderful seemed to be
looking for something and it wasn’t available. He screamed in frustration
saying “This must be a joke, what a joke, impossible!” Soon after, he came
around the curtain separating us and told me “Everything is OK.” Much later, “I
am finished, it is perfect…was very complicated and serious but is alright
now.”
One of the attendants finished up the sutures as McWonderful
ran out of the room saying he was three hours behind his schedule. He also told
me that I have the beginning signs of osteoporosis. When I got my medications
list, it included a preventative for these symptoms. Unfortunately the health
clinic doesn’t carry it so I will research alternatives or pay the R$90 per
month to purchase them. All of the medical care, including the ambulance ride,
crutches and medications are free!
Wheeled into the recovery room. Cried and cried in isolation
and probably relief. The slightest touch or look of sympathy caused me to
tear-up. They brought in a four year old boy who had umbilical hernia surgery.
He was animated and cheered me up with his antics. Two attendants came by to talk
with me. One asked if I spoke ANY Portuguese, I responded “Fala” He was a bit
irritated but I understood when he told me I could not lift my head for six
hours. I would get a terrible headache from the anesthesia.
Rolled back into Room 1 and realized Granny and her family
as well as the Italian woman were released. Tatiana remained. She seemed glad
to see me.
I laid in bed sending telepathic messages to Taelor that I
was ok. Called Ana to tell her I returned to the room and the surgery was a
success. She wanted to come and see me immediately but I thought if she did I
would burst into tears. Told her I couldn’t sit up for six hours and I would
probably sleep. She insisted she and Ian would come. If I were asleep, so be
it.
They arrived bearing gifts of clean clothes and fruit. I so
wanted to speak to Ian in English but didn’t want to be rude. Felt the urge to
share the agony and suffering but perhaps it was best that he didn’t hear it,
what could he do with that information? It would only be a burden for him.
That afternoon Jeniffer checked-in. She is 17 and both of
her parents came and went throughout her stay. She had some sort of gynelogical
issue yet they wanted to observe her before deciding about surgery.
During our novella, Luzia arrived screaming and moaning in
pain. She had a tubal ligation. “Meu Dios Do Ceu!” she repeated over and over,
“Me-ajudar!” “Dor, dor!” It went on like that all night. Of course, since I had
access to the ringer, I hit the button often. Luzia was told she could not have
any more meds, she couldn’t get up until the morning and no, nothing to drink
either. Jeniffer’s dad was perched on the guest chair nearby, having to absorb
Luzia’s cries, the brilliant lights turning off and on for blood pressure and
temp checks, and my getting up and down to use the restroom.
Obviously I had a lot of pain and asked for extra injections
throughout the night. They reduced the meds the next day and McWonderful showed
up to say I needed to remain in the hospital one more day. Per usual, I had a
list of questions for him.
Finally a nutritionist was summoned. I think the kitchen
help was tired of hearing me tell him that I don’t eat meat, that I hate to
have them throw it out. A pretty delicate Japanese/Brasilian woman asked me
what I DO eat. Eggs? From then on, I was served beans and rice, some sort of
egg dish and, invariably something with a tinge of meat (soup, cooked potatoes,
steamed veggies.)
The day dragged. Finally ate a big bowl of soup and
found…meat! Ugh. Watched our soaps and chatted about scar prevention, raising
children (Luzia has five, Tatiana one, Jeniffer is an only child,) who killed
whom in the final episode of the famous novella, futebol standings, Tatiana’s
mattress has a huge hole in the middle where her bottom rests so she was quite
uncomfortable, Luzia had forgotten all about her night of excruciating pain and
tv show after tv show.
Had another X-ray taken when Ana and Dario arrived. The
wheelchair had a dangerous wobble to it and the nurse struggled to maintain a
direct path. I was whisked to the front of the line amongst patients securing
their wrists, elbows and knees. They all bore the tortured look of pain and
anguish.
Thank goodness for Ana’s insistence that someone come every
day to visit me. I would have felt very isolated and lonely seeing family
members and friends of my dorm mates. Even though I felt badly that they made
the long drive (1.5 hours per round trip) I was greatly relieved. Couldn’t have
asked for better hosts. So difficult for me to be in the position of needing
help. I always felt uplifted after Ana, Dario and Ian’s drop-ins.
Awoke anxious to be released. Took a shower, ate my bread
and slurped sweet coffee. Had to wait for McWonderful. Luzia was visited by her
Japanese/Brasilian female Dr and let go. Her mom and eldest daughter (22)
visited her the day before but must have taken the bus since an ambulance was
called. It arrived before she could even take a shower and she promptly kissed
everyone goodbye and left. Her sheets were stripped and name whipped off the
board and the bed sat vacant, awaiting the next patient. Tatiana was reminded
of how many have come and gone since she was admitted. She seemed stressed and
unhappy. Her mom and (if he should pass the test) boyfriend visited her
individually as well as her daughter. Soon after they left however, she took a
nap or fussed in her bed. At least her mattress was turned at my suggestion-why
she didn’t complain I don’t know. Ana tells me that is one of the biggest
issues, when conditions are bad for the poor, they never open their mouths,
perhaps feeling insecure or inept. If no one objects, things remain the same. A
woman had come by the day before with a survey. I filled-in the boxes (they had
facial expressions alongside the words BOM, MAL, OK,
etc) On the back I had the ability to write something. Instead I chose to tell
the woman who I am and my complaints-the gravest being the handicap bars in the
bathroom and inadequate equipment (crutches or walkers in my case) for the
patients, never mind the lights not functioning properly, no id checks, meds
mixed together in the nurses tray, nurse call button not functioning at each
bedside, etc. I told her to look in the bathroom to see the lack of a toilet
seat. If I fell, I suggested, I would hit my head directly on the ceramic. I
think I startled her but she seemed to take my word for it and didn’t peek in
the bathroom nor test the call buttons, etc.
Had a bit of lunch (omelet of sorts and left the beans and
rice untouched and gobbled the lettuce strips) and watched tv while writing
letters. I am sure they were scattered and incomprehensible since I was anxious
to depart. McWonderful showed up at 11:45 and gave me my list of meds,
described each one (anti-inflammatory, osteoperosis preventative and an
antibiotic.) Didn’t realize at the time that there was nothing prescribed for
pain. Luckily I still have a good amount of Hydrocodone from the dentist as
well as some Advil for back-up. I asked if I needed to clean the wound or worry
about the bandage but he told me to leave it alone, the exact opposite of what
the nurse told me. This morning as she cleaned, scrubbed and sanitized the
wounds before re-wrapping it. McWonderful gave me my final X-ray and told me he
would see me on Monday to remove the stitches. I got a kiss on the cheek and a
wave goodbye.
The nurse organized the ambulance, thought it best that my
leg remain straight-difficult in a small Fiat. I asked if I could borrow the
crutches, at least until my appointment on Monday and the nurse thought there
would not be a problem. The nurse cleaned, scrubbed, sanitized and re-wrapped
my ankle. It is still quite swollen and misshapen but the nurse seemed happy
with the appearance of the wounds on either side of my ankle.
By 1:30pm I was frustrated, distracting myself with a book
by Mark Twain.
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