Surgery time was scheduled for 12:15, but the wonderful MaryKay at Dr. Shohet's office pulled some strings and got it bumped up to 10:00, so Mom, Daddy and I drove to LA the night before. We got to the hotel at midnight and headed to the surgery center early. I was very very thankful to have the same pre-op nurse as the last two times and the same anesthesiologist. This was BY FAR my best experience with the surgery center. They did all the pre-op stuff ad we sat around joking until Dr. Shohet arrived. When he got there, he asked to see it and was pretty surprised at how awful it looked. He confirmed that the device was mobile and that it would have come through the skin soon had we not done surgery. Seriously. As soon as he saw it, he wrote a script for pain meds. It was bad. I simply adore Dr. Shohet!
Surgery went great. The picture is from Dr. Shohet's phone. Basically, they opened up the incision from the implant surgery and moved the device back in place. Then, he sewed a stitch around it and to my skull. Pleasant, right?:) He never disconnected the device or even turned it off. My fear was that he would have to remove the implant. I was very relieved that he did not!:)
I woke up super easily this time (Thanks, Dr. Vigil, for light anesthesia!) and felt good. My post-op nurse was wonderful and gave me all the juice I wanted. We left be surgery center, went to Starbucks and drove home. I felt good!
The first week was rough. I really did not feel well and I had not expected that. On Sunday night, my incision started bleeding. I was scared and called my mom and Dr. Shohet right away. Turns out, the space where the implant had been filled with blood that had to get out somehow. It "leaked" for 2 weeks. Yuck. Dr. Shohet and MaryKay called every day to check on me. They are so sweet!!!
Thirteen days after surgery, I headed to OK to see my sweet babies. I was pretty tired but had little pain. Right now, I'm in NC. I know a few people here and have met lots. One of my very favorite people on this planet lives here and we've been hanging out with his (fantastic!) friends. That might not seem like a big deal but I am meeting new people constantly and loving it!!!!!!! I never thought that would be possible for me. Instead of clinging to the one person I know, I'm actually talking to people and enjoying it. Our God is so good and gracious!!! His gift of healing is incredible.
Before:
Surgery:
Right after surgery:
After surgery necessity:
