rargirl
Day before surgery
Feb 23, 2011
My surgery is tomorrow - that's right! Tomorrow!Today I drove up to Glendale from Anaheim. It took about 1.5 hrs due to heavy traffic. I left here around 8:30am and got there at 10am. I5 between here and there could really use some updating. I was in a traffic snarl nearly the whole way.
I first checked in at Dr. K's office. I filled out some paperwork and after a short wait Dr K came out to the waiting room. He said there was no one in the office that day so he sat down with me in the waiting room to chat. He was wearing a funny dinosaur bowtie that he said his son picked out for him. That made me smile. He chatted with me for a long time about personal interests until I steered him back to the topic of my surgery. He asked if I had any questions. I confirmed that my umbillical hernia will be repaired during surgery and my gall blader and appendix removed. He assured me the hernia will be taken care of. He always takes out the galblader and does the appendix usually if he has time.
I then paid for my $3000 program fee and $1000 co-pay using a combination of medical flexible spending and Care Credit. After that, the receptionist put together a packet of my test results and walked me over to admitting. It was a confusing maze of a walk so I am really glad she took me there. I might not have found it.
Next, I worked with admitting lady Cory who helped me fill out a bunch of basic paperwork. Then she called over to nurse Chet who was really nice and really flamboyant to see if he had time to chat with me - he did. Chet has his own office and he walks each surgery patient at the hospital through the neccessary paperwork and goes over expectations. He was very efficient and upbeat and we made it through that paperwork in a breeze.
Finally, I had to have more blood work. Apparently, my PCP's office did not fill out the lab order correctly so I did not get all of the tests I needed. I went down to the lab where they drew about 10 more tubes. They were also upbeat and made the experience comfortable. I noticed that the blood drawing chair was really huge. Two morbidly obese people could easily sit side by side on it. This was a nice change of pase since that chair is usually kind of scary.
I honestly felt like a celebrity in this hospital. Everyone was super nice, personable and welcoming. They did everything they could at every step to make it easier for me. For example, Chet walked me to the lab and gave me directions on how to get back out. I asked Chet if Verdugo Hills is a fancy hospital? He said it is like a botique hospital - smaller, more casual and more comfortable. That was reassuring the day before my big surgery. He also said the big hospital in town is Adventist.
After my blood draw, I left and drove back home. It only took 45 mins on the way back. I ate some miso soup for lunch and rested a bit before I drank my Sodium Citrate bowel prep. It is all becoming quite real since I won't be eating "normally" for quite some time now.
Tonight I think I will go in the hot tub, take a super good shower, double check my packing and maybe watch a movie on Netflix. The Sodium Citrate has not kicked in yet so I may change these plans!
