Two weeks have passed, I can still feel a little bit of numbness in my neck area, but I feel a lot better now. I still remember vividly everything that happened that day. I will never forget that day.
I couldn't sleep the night before. I was chatting with my youngest daughter, telling her how scared and nervous I am. I never have had surgery before. She told me to distract my thoughts and not to think about my surgery. We chatted about the new iPhone 6 plus, it's new features, and any topic that we could think of to distract my thoughts. We chatted until 2AM. I said goodnight (but it was morning already) and told her I will try to get a few hours of sleep. I prayed again. I prayed a lot. I did the self help JSJ (Jin Shin Jyutsu) finger holds, then I fell asleep. I woke up early at 5AM. I couldn't sleep anymore. I prayed again, did self help JSJ, while listening to Don Moen's inspirational songs on YouTube.
I was instructed not to eat and drink after 8:30AM (at least 6 hours before my surgery). My surgery was scheduled for 2:30PM and I was instructed to check-in at 11:30AM for all the preparation.
Reason why food and drinks are not allowed at least 6-8 hrs before surgery (I was told longer fasting time is required for major major surgeries) is to avoid complications during and after surgery. If you have food or fluid in your stomach during surgery, you could vomit while under anesthesia and the vomit can go into the lungs and can cause serious complications (scary!).
We arrived at the hospital at 11AM. Waiting time and registration took 45 minutes, then the concierge personnel escorted us to my room (5621). I told my hubby and sis-in-law they can go out for lunch, I'll be fine. A Filipina nurse came in and did the pre-surgery interview. Another Filipina nurse came in, she took my blood pressure. It was high (150/90) because I was so nervous. She told me not to worry because my doctor is an expert, then she told me to wait, because another nurse will come to prepare me for my surgery. Before she left my room, she told me I can use the waiting time to relax and pray. I was left alone so I prayed the holy rosary, then hubby and sis-in-law came back from lunch.
A Singaporean nurse came in after an hour and asked me to change into my hospital gown and get ready for my surgery.
The waiting time was so stressful. I was extremely nervous, my heart was beating so fast. I was scheduled for 2:30PM, still no one has come, maybe they are still waiting for Dr. Hong (very busy doctor). Finally, Doctor Hong's nurse came in at 3:45PM, with the Filipina nurse. Again, she told me not to worry, my doctor is an expert, everything will be fine. I was moved into another bed with the wheel. I made the sign of the cross, then they wheeled me into the OR. I was trying so hard to remain calm and I was praying while I was being wheeled into the OR.
They put me in the waiting area outside the Operating theater. 3 Nurses came, one at a time to double check that I am the right patient. They asked the same questions - name, birthday, and FIN#, asked if I have drug allergies and told me to wait. The never ending wait, I was getting more nervous, I could hear my heart pounding so hard. There's TV (but on mute) inside the cubicle (maybe to distract the patients before moving to the operating theater), but there is no clock. There were other patients for surgery in the other cubicles. The OR waiting area was so busy. All the nurses and assistants were busy doing their own job.
I didn't know how many minutes have passed, maybe 30 minutes, then the Anesthesiologist came in. He introduced himself as Dr. Cheong and he asked "how are you?". I replied "I'm so nervous". He smiled and said don't worry. He has smiling face (the opposite of Dr. Hong who always looks serious). He checked my medical record and asked if I have drug allergies, my weight, and asked if I exercise regularly. He spoke to me about what was going to happen. Then, he asked how old I am. I told him my age and he said I'm very young, much younger than him. He's a funny doctor :). Finally, Dr. Hong arrived. He also explained what was going to happen and asked if I have questions. I was really really nervous, couldn't think of questions to ask. Then, he drew something on my neck (maybe a mark so he would know where to cut). Dr. Cheong came again and put a warm white blanket on top of my blanket. He said it's very cold at the Operating theater.
Another nurse came in and double checked again if I'm the right patient, then they wheeled me into the operating theater, where I had to slide over onto the operating table. I saw all bright lights and the surgery tools, I was so scared. Dr. Cheong was at the left side, he put the IV in my left hand. He said he will put the anesthesia through my IV. Dr. Hong was at my right side, I saw 2 nurses with him. The nurse attached the BP and heart beat monitor to my right hand. I told them I'm so nervous. Dr. Cheong smiled and told me that my heart is beating so fast. My BP was high before the operation. Then he put the mask (he told me it's an oxygen mask), and asked me to hold it. I loved my anesthesiologist :). I don't remember anything that happened after that.
I thought I was dreaming, I heard people calling "Gloria, Gloria!" They were waking me up. I opened my eyes and I saw Dr. Cheong, Dr. Hong, and the nurses. I felt like vomiting, I felt so weak and disoriented. They told me operation is finished. Dr. Cheong asked me to open my mouth and I did. Dr. Hong told me I did well. Thank God, surgery went well. I loved Dr. Hong :).
The nurse wheeled me into the recovery room and told me to sip a small amount of water from the medicine cup. I could feel pain and tightness in my neck, my throat was sore (due to the breathing tube that was placed into my windpipe to assist in breathing during the operation). A drain tube was attached to my neck (left side where my nodule was). I looked at the clock, it was 6:30PM. I stayed at the recovery room for only a few minutes. The nurse asked me again to sip a small amount of water, then I was wheeled back to my room. I tried to talk, my voice was hoarse, but I could talk. Thank God I didn't lose my voice.
I was instructed to keep my head raised (the nurse adjusted my bed to elevate my head), and not to get up until the anesthesia wears off (I was told it will take at least 6 hrs to wear off). The same Filipina nurse came in and asked if it's painful. She told me she will give me food to eat after one hour so I can take the pain meds, as I might vomit due to anesthesia. It was so difficult to drink and shallow, I had to use straw to sip water very slowly. I couldn't eat, but the nurse told me to eat a little before I take my pain meds and antibiotics. I ate 4 spoonfuls of congee, finished slowly the 1/4 cup of milo, I took my pain meds and antibiotics, then took a rest, but I couldn't sleep.
The nurses were regularly monitoring my BP, my temperature, and my drain tube (every hour), the whole night, I hardly slept.
I'm just so happy and thankful to God that everything is over now. I thank God for this miracle. I will be forever thankful.
Found this on YouTube. This is how the doctors administer anesthesia.
Intubation Animation
