Cancer Guy

I went in for the procedure on Tuesday 6/10 and it went very smoothly. I was able to leave the same day as planned. The entire thing took about 4.5 hours, in a summary, from meeting up with sister, signing in, get undressed and into hospital gown (I luv the gown, robe, and the socks), getting sticked with IV for sedation, waiting, getting instructions, onto the surgery bed, chatting with surgeon while being worked on, back out to waiting room, eating some food, resting and being monitored, receiving discharge instructions, getting dressed and back out to the world!

Even tho the entire process took 4.5 hours, the actual operation time is approximately 15 minutes. From the time I wave bye to my sister and the operation room door is closed to re-opening is surprisingly quick. I opted out from being sedated, meaning I was conscious while the operation was taking place. They kept the IV on my arm in case I dont’ feel well then they can sedate me immediately. Also they asked me if I want to be lightly, somewhat or completely sedated. So there are options, just keep in mind. The surgeon and nurses were talking to me and I can see the clock on top of the door which started at 11:30am and ended at 11:45am when the doctor said good luck with everything. Originally I was planning to be sedated, but somehow somewhere I heard that I can choose not to. Out of curiosity, and my sister’s encouragement (be a man, tough it out haha) I asked the nurses and doctors if I can opt out from it and they told me I could, it’s my choice to make. I wasn’t sure because I have always been sedated but then I asked around and understand that they will give me local anesthetic on the operating area to numb it, which is my right upper chest so I won’t be feeling any pain (The anesthetic used is Lidocaine, which is the same drug used by dentists to numb your gum when they gonna pull your teeth out). The sedation is just to keep patients “calm” so they won’t interfere with the surgery. I figure I am a pretty calm person so I should give it a shot. haha Little did I know, it’s really different when you are laying there, “feeling” what the surgeon is doing to you (some hard pushing, tucking, etc), and listening to ur heart beats beeping through the monitoring device. I actually hear my own heart beat going a lil bit faster when he said he’s gonna pull the port out and that let him know if I feel any sharp pain. I was thinking waht sharp pain? wasnt I not suppose to feel any pain? and then I feel alot of force pulling and it didnt come out right away, he worked on it and then did some more pull a few time back and forth and finally the port out. I was waiting for the sharp pain the whole time and glad it didnt happen *whew* haha btw, Lidocaine worked pretty instantaneously. After he injected in on my chest, I thought he’s still preping the area for the cut. Maybe 30 seconds later, he told me the catheter is out. I am like what?! haha but it’s all good that’s how I like it! The catheter that was connected between the port and the vein actually came out before the port. The surgeon told me I took it pretty well. A lot of time it’s the nerve that got people all agitated. After that I saw the hook and a thin wire that was used to stitch the chest going up and down and up and down. wooooo, that was exciting! I wish I saw the port and the catheter because they have been with me for 2 years and I really don’t know what they look like beside a bump and a beveled line underneath the chest skin (see this post for pic). After the surgery I was ready to get up and out but I had to wait there for the room upstairs and someone to come get me with a wheelchair. I told them I can walk, but they said it’s hospital policy so they have to wheel me up. The wait was maybe 30 minutes. After I got upstairs, there’s more wait time because they want to monitor me for a little bit. I was a little disappointed because supposingly without being sedated, they told me I can get out “immediately” haha I guess I have expectation! But it’s better be safe then sorry, so I just lay down and chill. They really know how to please the patient cuz they brought me sandwiches, drinks, and a warm blanket haha awesome!! Another good thing to opt out from sedation is that you’ll be “allowed” to eat after the procedure. Sedation makes one nauseous and would most likely to vomit if having food.

Day 2 – Before removing the bandage

Day 2 – After removing the bandage

Day 3 – Tape and shinny Dermabond underneath

The surgeon who operated on me was Dr. Thornton. I remembered him as one of the doctors who did the portal vein embolization on me. To my surprise, he remembered me too after asking me when it took place and what procedure it was. He said he remembered the case because usually it’s very easy to perform the embolisation but for me it was really difficult. They had 3 doctors trying it and still didn’t work. They didn’t want to “hurt” me so they re-scheduled me for a second time. That reminds me I need to write about the embolization experience.

I found out that the doc used Dermabond, which holds the wound together and seals the area. It’ll slowly disintegrate with body heat and shower. The advantage of using it is that there’s no need to go back to remove the stitches if they were used. So ask about Dermabond if you are having small surgery and see if it’s suitable for the wound.

Discharging instruction basically tells me what to look for if there’s infection, severe chest pain, shortness of breath and what to do, who to contact. Need to watch out for fever. The body will be a lil bit more hot than usual after the procedure because the body is regenerating, red/white blood cells. However if the temperature goes over 100.4 then that probably means infection and I will need to contact them immediately or go to ER. And no aspirin as before the procedure and no shower for 24 hours.

Oh I just need to put this somewhere. While sitting in the outside waiting room, I remembered that was where I was sitting at when I was about to have my liver surgery last year. And what’s interesting is that my chemotherapy nurse Siobhan, who normally works in another building was there, for her relative’s procedure. I didn’t see her but my family did briefly. She didn’t know I was there for the surgery that day but somehow she’s there. It’s was very comforting for her presence in the building because she’s an awesome nurse! I believe she’s about to give birth to a baby soon, so I just wanted to say Congrats!!

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 @ 11:50 pm on the category Cancer, Chemotherapy, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.