We're all set

My surgery is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday. I have to arrive at the hospital by 7:30. The nurse, during the presurgical call, assured me they can access my port to start the meds and if they need a bigger vein, they can access it in the operating room after I am asleep. Yay! No digging around in my arm. I'm very pleased with that news. After they start the IV, they will take me to another area for the epidural. She assured me that I will already be feeling relaxed and sleepy, and that after the shot to numb the area, I will only feel pressure as they insert the catheter. The epidural will remain in place until I leave (which should be Thursday). It will continually provide pain medication to the nerves on the right side of my chest where the surgery will be performed.

The thoracotomy is scheduled to last three to four hours. I will spend the rest of the day and the night in the recovery room (or the fancy new name, PACU) where they can monitor me before sending me up to a room. Once I am in my room, they will immediately put me upright in a chair. After breakfast, they will essentially kick me out with a specialized walker and start me on my first mile. I will have to practice my deep breathing and coughing throughout the day, and continue to walk as much as possible.

I have all my pjs and toiletries laid out so all I have to do is stick them in a bag for Ed to bring me on Tuesday. Yesterday's shopping trip with Sue was a big success, with four pairs of pjs and a new pair of slippers purchased, not to mention a bed tray. I can't believe how expensive pjs have gotten -- the first ones we looked at in Macy's were $54!! I finally found some decent looking ones in JCPenney on sale for $24. I guess I haven't been pajama shopping in a loooong time.

I still have to charge up the cell phone and find out if the hospital has WiFi, but other than that we are ready to go. It's hard to believe that after tomorrow I'll be missing a part of my lung, but I know that I will recover well and won't even miss it after a few weeks. Besides, it's being sacrificed for a good cause -- my greater health.

I'll be back in touch as soon as possible. As soon as I can make it back to a computer, either at the hospital or at home, I'll post a note. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and know that I love you.