My daughter came to pick me up on surgery day, and took me to Roseberry Surgery Center in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. They had told me to leave all jewelry, watches, money, etc., at home and only bring my photo ID, medical insurance card, and however I was going to pay for the part of my deductible. Also, they said to wear a button down shirt, so I didn't have to put anything over my head, and shoes that I could get on and off easy without having to bend down.
We got there at about 7:00 AM and checked in. The nurse came down to get us right around 7:15 and showed me where to change into one of those lovely hospital gowns that is open in the back. No problem, had to take my shirt off, and I could leave everything else on. The nurse waited outside the dressing room until I was changed, and then she led me over to a recliner, where I could sit and watch TV. She asked me my name, birthday, and which eye was being operated on, and she made a magic marker mark above my right eye. Before that she had started and IV, and told me they would give me some sleepy juice to put me in "La-La Land" through the IV when I got into surgery. The she put some drops in my eyes to dilate my pupils and an anti-bacterial eye drop. The worst part of that was the needle stick for the IV, but that wasn't so bad. Just a little pinch.
After awhile one of the Operating Room nurses came out and asked me a few questions about my health, allergies, any previous reactions to anesthesia, etc., and told me the anesthesiologist would be out to talk to me before they took me into the room. The anesthesiologist then came out shortly after and asked me a few questions, and said they would be ready for me soon. It wasn't like the colonoscopy I had done two week earlier, because they didn't put me on one of those stretcher beds and wheel me into the OR, they just walked me to the OR carrying the IV bag, and had me lay down on the table.
On the table they made sure my head was in the right position for the surgeon, and they put a pillow under my knees, and a blanket over me to make sure I was warm enough. Then they did something to tape my eyelids open, and they covered the other side of my face so only my right eye was exposed. After that the anesthesiologist said I'm going to give you some medicine to make you sleepy now, and I think I yawned once. The next thing I remember was feeling something like water running over my eye, and I said "I'm not asleep yet!!" They said, "That's because you're waking up now, we're almost finished." The surgeon shined a bright light into my right eye and asked if I could see it, which I could. It was very bright.
The took of the things that were holding my eyelids open and they put some stuff (I guess more anti-bacterial stuff in my eye), and then bandaged over my eye, and they also taped a clear plastic lens over the bandage. They then walked me out to the recovery room where my daughter was waiting and gave me some orange juice to drink. Shortly after the surgeon came in and asked me if I knew what time my post-op appointment was for the next day. When I told him correctly, I guess he figured I was "with-it" enough to get ready to leave, so he gave me some post-op eye care instructions (basically don't touch anything, was only from the chest down, don't rub my eye, and don't get my eye wet, and to call him if I experienced any pain). He said I might have some achey feeling, and if I did, I could take some non-aspirin OTC pain relief medicine. Then I signed some papers and we headed home.
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