Me 2 - Hal 0

Post-op follow up appointment with my doctor.  Good news all around.  She said she looked at the slides of the various parts she took out of me and they were all “clean”, meaning no cancer cells.  She said that this was a first for her.  She had never had a patient thus far that did not need treatment after surgery.  I am an anomaly, yet again.  This does not mean that she still won’t be following me for the next few years, but right now I am all good.

Next up, when can I do stuff again?  I am getting bored sitting around especially during summertime (playtime).  She said six weeks after my surgery date I can begin more rigorous activities (that would be August 18^th for those counting).  Of course, I need to take it slow, my body will still be healing.  I am to continue walking and can do light activity.  So, I asked and did get the okay to do a little golfing, short swing stuff, so pitch and putt here I come (I can’t carry my bag though – 5lb weight restriction until six week mark).

Vanquishing the Spawn of Hal

Surgery day.  I have to be at the hospital around 10:30am.  This is a long time to go without food or water after waking up.  Good thing I loaded up on food last night.

Even Southpaw can't handle deadly wipes.

Pre-op time.  First they inform me that my surgery time was running behind a little, about an hour.  Next, the nurse had me use these pre-op antibacterial skin wipes all over my body.  About 10 minutes later, my entire body started to itch from the wipes.  Oh, the fun.  Now she has to give me a sponge bath.  

Southpaw does his IV check

Next, the anesthesiologist comes in to set the IV line in my arm.  A delightful fellow who tells me that it will just be like a little bee sting as he sticks my arm.  Bee sting my ass is what I tell him.  

ID bands so they don't hurt me any more than needed.

And, now we wait.  Family gets to come back for a little visit, mom even sneaks in a friend.  The doctor stops by for one final chat.  Finally, the wheel me to the operating room around 1:45pm.  They get me situated on the operating table and begin to put me under.  This is pretty much the last thing I remember until after 10pm that night.  The surgery lasted until about 4:50pm.  After the surgery I was apparently in a lot of pain, thrashing about.  They sedated me with a nerve block and eventually moved me to my room around 8pm.  The nurse checked on me around 10:30pm.  I remembered being very thirsty and in pain.  She gave me a pain pill and some apple juice.  I also had a little jello.  About 2:30pm, I woke up in a lot of pain.  The nurse called the doctor to get authorization to give me a Dilaudid push and off to sleep I go again.

While I Can

Couple of buddies enjoying some libations

In true stride, I have managed to fit a whole lot of summer fun into my shortened two week summer break.  A bunch of time on the golf course, in the water, and a softball game filled a majority of my time as well as catching up with friends.

Pinky on caddy duty.

Guess we will move to another beach.

And, today, the day before my surgery was jammed packed.

Started the morning off with a round of golf and a short lesson.  Next, lunch at the new ramen noodle place by house.  






Then, a little going away party for the Spawn of Hal at the Dodgers/Phillies game.  Nothing like Dodger dogs, peanuts, and whiskey for my pre-op meal.  

Quite Fortuitous

And, if that wasn’t enough, a stop at Hop Woo’s in Chinatown after the game for noodles, eggrolls and potstickers.