Down The Hatch

In May we were told the date of our Scopes were going to be February 4, 2014 and that we were on the next day cancellation list. On June 26^th I got a call telling me that my scope was going to be in the morning on June 28^th. I was so excited. This was the last step needed to get my surgery.

I went in that morning and checked in. They took me to a room with a chair where they asked me to get undressed and into a hospital gown and robe (which by the way were really small). After they asked me some questions and took my blood pressure…or at least they tried. It took them nine tries, two cuffs and three different positions to finally get the number. Then they tried to get my IV line in (just some fluids to begin with), turned out to also be a non-starter. They finally warmed up some blankets and took me over to the area where they get you to lie down and wait before going in for your scope and they tried to get it there. Two tries latter it was in, they ended up having to go in my wrist because they couldn’t get it anywhere else. Although worried because I heard that it hurt worse than anywhere else, I was pleasantly surprised to find that not the case.  

After 2 hours of waiting (they said the surgeon had an emergency), I was wheeled into the procedure room. The surgeon was there and asked when I was seeing him next and when I told him I have a Nutritionist appointment next month he said that he wants me to call and make an appointment to see him as soon as possible. The anesthesiologist told me about the drugs that they are going to be using, and they had be sign something. Telling me to roll over onto my side they gave me two sprays of something into the back of my throat to numb the area and then that was all she wrote. Next thing I know I am waking up alone back in the waiting area.

I think I have a vague memory of maybe struggling a bit but I am not really sure. I waited alone for about an hour until I got it in my head that it was time to go. My pulse monitor had already fallen off so I decided to take the tape off of the IV to make it easier (and faster) for them to take out the line. Cue my mother (be prepared with someone to drive you home after the procedure) to come in and just about have a heart attack thinking I am taking out the line by myself, which she then goes and tells the nurse who was not a happy camper. Half an hour later we were on our way back home no worse for the wear. On the way home I did notice a bit of a sore throat so we stopped for something cold.

Ally got her call on July 9^th saying that her scope would be on the 12^th. Her scope was more routine than mine. They didn’t have a problem with her blood pressure or IV, although the surgeon was late again. He told her he wanted her next appointment to be with him and then after the throat spray she doesn’t remember anything. Considering whenever she had gone in the past she is always resistant to the anesthetic this went really well. She doesn’t remember anything, there was no negative reaction and they didn’t report any problems.

When we called to schedule an appointment with the surgeon we were told that we had to see a nurse first and she would say whether we were ready to see the surgeon on not. We didn’t understand this as the surgeon told us to call and make an appointment to see him right away but there didn’t seem to be anything we could do about it. Right now we both have Nurse and Dietitian appointments scheduled for later in the month.

XOXO, Evie & Ally