First time surgery

[Brooklyn Bridge]

I had an appendectomy a while back and after passing out at home, I don't remember a thing. Woke up in the hospital to the doc saying the appendix has to come out and then again several hours later in the recovery room.

The colonoscopy wasn't a big deal, but since my appendix was out, I had to get it done at the hospital, rather than an outpatient clinic.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

No pun intended, but my colonoscopy went a lot smoother than my three wisdom teeth coming out,

I was out cold for my colonoscopy. Not so for my wisdom teeth. There weren't many oral surgeons who were in-network with my insurance. The surgeon I found said he didn't do nitrous oxide and he would only be using Novocain. Not thrilled, but he did have excellent reviews on the usual online ratings sites. His waiting room was spotless, with some nice exotic fish in this huge tank.

When he started , he was struggling to shoot the Novocain in and when he did, it hurt like heck. Then he was yanking me all over the dentist chair. At several points, he was, "I think we'll have to do this in the hospital." Now you forking tell me, Doc? When my wisdom teeth are half-in, half-out?

Finally got the teeth out as I had just started my new job and didn't have many sick days to burn, didn't want to have to finish the extractions in the hospital and told the guy to just get the forking teeth out already.

Later, I had a bad molar removed, but went to a different surgeon that was further away from home, but still in-network with insurance. Their waiting room looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. I was nervous as heck, but they put me out and I woke up with gauze in my mouth and feeling a lot better than I did with that other guy.

 

[I Should Coco]

Fly To The Angels.

A classic late-1980s power ballad!

Also a textbook "do not attempt" on karaoke night.

 

[Dog8Cats]

Two colonscopies. Will echo everyone who says the prep is rugged, the procedure serene.

My mistake after the first one was not getting my blood sugar back up AS SOON AS I COULD after coming to. If you're ever looking for an excuse to drink the "hard stuff" when it comes to soda (you know, the good-tasting soda that doesn't have Diet in its name), this is it.

 

[outofplace]

I woke up about halfway through my last colonoscopy. I thought it was bad, and didn't like opening my eyes to an internal view of my nether regions.

I clearly remember asking if I was supposed to be awake for this, and the doc's reply was absolutely dropping with condescention: "(Sigh) ... You're fine."

That sounds like a screwup on their part, but I think part of it is just not wanting to deal with the patient at all during those procedures.

 

[Chef2]

T-minus 5 hours til the surgery.
"And now, we incise."

 

[outofplace]

T-minus 5 hours til the surgery.
"And now, we incise."

I doubt you are still checking the site at this hour, but good luck.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

In the late '70s I had a predecessor procedure to a colonoscopy called a barium enema. Prep was a 48-hour clear-liquid diet followed by a 4-ounce dose of cod liver oil and application of a Fleets enema to complete the purge. Prep for colon exams has come a long way.
The procedure itself is self-explanatory. The barium was traceable by X-ray.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

How did the meniscus tear surgery go? Wife took a fall on the ice at work a few weeks back and has a torn meniscus, plus a partial tear in her PCL. They said the PCL can be fixed with a brace/PT, but the meniscus has to be surgically repaired.

She's freaking out a bit, though being distracted by the worker's comp headaches of it all.

Sorry for the delay in responding Burns. Anyway, the surgery was not too onerous. It didn't take long and I was only on crutches afterwards for a couple of days. Of course, that was like 15 years ago and my body was, well, better than it is now. Surgery was done by Celtics team physician, so I figured I was in good hands, as he did knees worth a lot of money.

 

[Chef2]

I doubt you are still checking the site at this hour, but good luck.

I doubt you are still checking the site at this hour, but good luck.

All done. They took a chunk of cartilage out that was causing my knee to lock up. Whole procedure took 25 minutes. Crutches 2-3 days. Will be good as new.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Remaining toes intact?

 

[outofplace]

All done. They twill k a chunk of cartilage out that was causing my knee to lock up. Whole procedure took 25 minutes. Crutches 2-3 days. Will be good as new.

Sounds similar to my experience. Glad it went smoothly.