At 5:00 AM this morning, I left my house and crunched through the snow to the “T,” Boston’s subway, on my way to Massachusetts General Hospital. The temperature was a brisk 20°F and there was no one else around on the cold, dark streets. I had to catch the first subway train as my surgery was scheduled for 7:30 AM, and I was scheduled to arrive at 5:30.
I’ve never taken the T that early, and I was surprised at how many people are riding at that hour. The train wasn’t completely full, but if you wanted a seat, there were few if any to choose from.
I got to the hospital, checked in, and the process began. Lots of people asked me the same questions that I had answered many times in the past week — allergies, reason for my visit, had I eaten, etc, etc. After I dressed in what passes for clothing in a hospital, they wanted to wheel me to the pre-surgery area in a wheelchair, but I decided to walk since I don’t like feeling like an invalid, and there’s nothing wrong with my legs. There, more questions, and then the anesthesiologist gave me a sedative. Then they wheeled me to the operating room, which looked like something out of Star Trek with lots of impressive white equipment. After that, I blanked out.
Later I awoke in the recovery room, groggy from the anesthesia, and with a raspy voice due to the tube they put down my throat. About an hour and a half later, my friend, “C” arrived to take me home (in his brand new car!).
By 1:30, I was happily settled in back home. I’m in good shape, with a little minor pain, but nothing worth talking about. The dominant feeling is just fatigue. As a good friend who had her heart valves replaced two years ago said, “After surgery, you just feel like you’ve been ‘through something.'” Well, I have that feeling, though I wasn’t through anything NEARLY as intense as she was. So I’m fine, and feel confident in a speedy recovery. Then hopefully the weather will let me escape Boston and go to Mexico!
I’d like to thank my doctors, Dr. Denise Gee, surgeon, and Dr. Xiaodong Bao, anesthesiologist, Melissa, Debbie, and my other nurses. They all provided wonderful care at the highest professional standard. Everyone was terrific, supportive, and professional. And thanks to the readers who’ve sent good wishes.
I’m grateful to all.
garydenness said:
Glad to hear you’re getting back on your feet amigo!
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Kim G said:
Thanks, Gary. I’m feeling better day by day. Now if only the snow would melt some more. Saludos!
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laurie said:
I join with others in wishing you a speedy recovery. I have been in Boston a few times. My most enjoyable trip featured numerous trips on the T. I had a friend who was working in the same hospital as you had the surgery when I visited there. I love your city, but I don’t love the cold you are now enduring.
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Kim G said:
The cold indeed has been tiresome for everyone involved. There’s not a soul here that isn’t sick of the snow. Yesterday, the weather shifted to rain, and today the city was enveloped in a thick, wet fog with rain. The T is a great way to get around, provided you are going somewhere near a station. Thanks for the good wishes, and saludos!
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Florentino said:
Hey, Kim, I’m very glad to read everything went smoothly and now you’re home for some good rest. Please rest all you can… it’s the key for a fast recovery. I got a surgery in 2012 myself, and your narration made me remember that moment when I was talking with the anesthesiologist and then I blanked out in the middle of a sentence. I woke up a couple of hours later, alone, on a gurney and surrounded by several empty wheelchairs and gurneys in a darkened room (and it was one of the best hospitals in town, huh?). Confused, I called a nurse and asked when the operation was going to begin. She laughed and drove me to my room. Hugs, my friend.
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Kim G said:
Thanks, Tino. Your story made me chuckle. Fortunately when I awoke, there were people around. Saludos.
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William said:
Glad to hear that the operation went well, and that you are on the mend. While you recuperate, you can start planning the next trip to Mexico!!
Take care.
Saludos,
Bill
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Kim G said:
Thanks Bill! I do need to do some more serious planning now. Want to come with me? LOL… Saludos and thanks for stopping by.
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William said:
Thanks for the offer, LOL, but my next trip is to Spain, France and England.
Saludos.
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Steve Cotton said:
When you “go through something,” it’s nice to have a group of friends to keep you going to the next something. Here we are.
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Kim G said:
Thanks Steve, I appreciate your support.
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redshoesarebetterthanbacon said:
Ouch! But it sounds like you’re on your way to getting better. And a pre-dawn trip on public transportation, well, you’re one tough guy. Now you’ve got one less reason not to return to Mexico.
Get better soon, and don’t break a leg.
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Kim G said:
The T stops near my house and also has a stop right at MGH, so it’s really the easiest option by far for getting there. I’ve just got to get past my follow-up appointment on the 3rd, and I should be good to go. Thanks for stopping by. Saludos!
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Theresa Diaz Gray said:
I am glad you are home already. Like Dorothy says in the Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.”
Remember to keep coughing out that anesthesia out of your lungs!The hardest part, for me, of having surgery is that you truly don’t feel normal for a least 10 weeks. I am not used to that part and always want to be up and doing everything like before asap.
Take care, and rest. Another hard lesson for me was learning to accept offers of assistance from my friends. I have two traits that are considered exclusively masculine, I refuse to ask directions and I hate to ask for help. I am getting better about the latter. Still not good about the former, probably because here the answer always seems to be “todo derecho”, which I translate as “It’s not here, maybe you will have better luck down the street”.
regards,
Theresa
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Kim G said:
Hi Theresa, Thanks for the kind words. My friend wanted to drive me to MGH in the morning, but I was originally envisioning something that would happen at rush hour which is a nightmare in downtown Boston. So that’s why I ended up taking the T. When it turned out the appointment would be so early, I didn’t want to bother my friend twice in a day. But he was very good about taking me home, and another friend has made me chicken soup, so I’m in good hands. I think I’m pretty much over the anesthesia, but still feel like I was punched in the stomach. Of course I don’t want to complain, least of all to you who have gone through so much worse. (And are still doing so.) And I had to laugh at the “todo derecho” comment. I’m not great about asking for directions, and unless the person gives them with assurance, I’m always skeptical anyway. By the way, masculine or feminine, I’ve always considered self-reliance to be highly admirable. Thanks for stopping by. Saludos.
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Joanne said:
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. It sounds like you were in good hands and already doing much better.
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Kim G said:
Thanks Joanne, Yes I’m already feeling better, though I’ve still got a ways to go. Thanks for stopping by.
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Debi in Merida said:
I too have a hernia in need of repair, I ‘ve had it 25+ years. It has recently grown, so I will need to deal with it sooner than later. I hope to just feel like I’ve been through something afterwards. Great way to describe it by the way! Glad you are well and recovering!
It will be interesting to compare MX to USofA cost.
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Kim G said:
Thanks Debi. I think the cost (mostly borne by my insurance co) will be about $10K.
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NORM said:
I hate it when the bucket list springs a leak, it sounds like all when well-get well soon, adventure calls.
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Kim G said:
Yeah, the last post had this string of issues. I’ve addressed the last one, now I just need to heal up a bit and do my follow-up appointment and I should be a free man again. Thanks for stopping by.
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Croft said:
It is good to hear that you have come through this little episode and will soon have your feet back on the road! Speedy Recovery, Kim, you now have another story to tell!
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Kim G said:
Thanks, I’m feeling better already this morning. I’m sure in a week or so I’ll be better than ever.
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Felipe Zapata said:
A speedy recovery, señor.
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Kim G said:
Thank you. It’s looking good so far.
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John Calypso said:
Glad to read you are patched up amigo (literally I think?). Very high tech O.R. amazing really.
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Kim G said:
Thanks, John. Yes, I was amazed at the level of equipment, including a special air-activated massager they put on my calves to prevent blood clots. Wish I had one of those on airplanes! Saludos.
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Babs said:
They used that on me too! I was duly impressed.
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Kim G said:
I want one of those things when I’m on long flights!
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Francisco said:
Averse as I am to any medical procedure, that operating room would give me confidence to endure the ordeal. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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Kim G said:
Thanks, Francisco. They were a pretty impressive team, and the operating room was amazing too, at least for the two seconds I could see it.
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Lee said:
You’re reminding me of minor surgery I had last year, and I felt the same. Our little hospital here had the most pleasant and professional staff. I don’t know why I expected less, but I did. When I woke up in the recovery room, I didn’t even realize the surgery had happened.
The only thing I don’t like, and wish they’d rethink, is those #$*@@ hospital gowns. Can’t they do better than that??
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Kim G said:
Yeah, the hospital gowns are awful. I don’t know why they just don’t give you bathrobes. Most surgery is done from the front anyway, and the typical “johnny” opens in the back. Thanks for stopping by.
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Barbara said:
Isn’t it a great feeling to cross this kind of thing off your list? Also that anesthesia makes for a good nap, no?
Glad to hear all went well, though didn’t like the thought of you having to get there alone at that hour of the morning.
Onward to Mexico! (Hopefully soon.)
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Kim G said:
Thanks Barbara. I didn’t want my friend to have to wake up so soon, and it’s a pain driving in downtown Boston anyway, though perhaps not so much at that hour. I am looking forward to my Mexican trip. Finally! Thanks for stopping by.
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ladyofthecakes said:
Sounds like it all went as well one would have hoped! Another obstacle surmounted for your return to Mexico 🙂
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Kim G said:
Thanks for the kind thoughts. In a few weeks, I should be ready to go. Saludos!
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ladyofthecakes said:
Hurrraaah! Fingers crossed… 🙂
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Andean said:
Wonderful…
And soon, after some rest and healing time, a strategy to execute the best escape will come – at this time hovercraft comes to mind. 🙂
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Kim G said:
A hovercraft would be a cool way to go, though I can just see the cloud of snow blowing up around me. Thanks for the support and the kind note. Saludos.
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