I made it – alive on the 6th floor at Hospital for Special surgery and beginning what will likely be a sloooooowwwww recovery.

Yesterday was a little wacky and pretty exhausting. I arrived at the hospital by 10am as instructed. Once I was admitted I waited about an hour (until 11am) before being taken back to pre-op/holding. I was told that I could expect to be in holding until 1230 as my surgery was scheduled to begin at 1 PM. Unfortunately, my surgery was delayed and I was not taken back to the operating room until around 4 PM. Since I had not eaten since the night before and was sitting in a room lit solely by fluorescent lightbulbs, I had developed a blazing headache/migraine. I was relieved when the anesthesiologist gave me “a little something take the edge off” on my way to the OR.

Unlike with the PAO, this time I was not under general anesthesia but rather had an epidural and regional anesthesia. As a result, I have a vague recollection of them inserting the epidural and leaning against one at the doctors, chatting while they did so. It was very strange. My doctor’s portion of the surgery lasted 2.5 hours but I was in the OR getting prepped and eventually having the incision closed for a total of about 4.5 hours.

When I finally woke up I was in the PACU (think ICU). The pain was well-managed and never reached beyond a 5 out of 10 on the pain scale. Just like last time, I had no feeling in my operated (left) leg but unlike last time, I also no feeling in my unoperated leg. They were both totally numb and as unwieldy as dead fish. The recovery room dr. turned off and eventually repositioned the epidural and I eventually regained about 80% sensation in my legs. I was released from the PACU and taken to my room at 4am.

This recovery already feels a little different from the last. For one thing, I can actually move the leg that was operated on. I can lift it and stretch it and while it hurts, it goes (with the PAO I couldn’t move the operated leg for weeks). Also, this time I feel less groggy – at least right now but that can certainly change. Then there’s the fact that my right leg does not move – I didn’t realize it until just this moment but I can’t move my non-operated leg. I’m assuming that’s just the epidural…hopefully.

Physical Therapist is coming by today, as is my surgeon, my husband and mom. I’m gonna take a nap, but will update tomorrow. Signing off for now, overlooking the East River from the 6th floor at HSS.