Tuesday 15 June 2010

The surgery experience

After being admitted, I “checked-in” to my room and took a nap. A nurse came and took some blood, my temperature and checked my blood-pressure.

The anaesthetist then came to ask me how I want to be sedated, on which I decided on spinal anaesthesia. I found out on the day I checked out that he charged me MYR120 as consultation for that 2-3 minutes conversation and another MYR2,000 for that anaesthetic injection.

Lunch was then served. I was only given lunch because I didn’t opt for general anaesthetic. I was then asked to change into the operating gown. Felt exposed.

At about 2 p.m., 2 nurses came to take me. After climbing onto the bed, I was asked to confirm that it was my signature on a couple of documents. They then asked me what my name is where I must answer in full. They then fetched me to the operating theatre.

It was very cold. The nurse told me that the winter-like condition is to control bacteria population. Trust me, it was freezing. When I climbed onto the operating table, I felt as though I was lying on ice.

The surgeon, Dr Gan, came in and said hello to me. The next thing I knew, he was on his way already.

The procedure involved harvesting of a hamstring tendon from my right leg and another small fraction of tendon from my injured left thigh to replace the torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (“ACL”) of my left knee.

This involved drilling into my knee to implant the harvested tendon and securing them to the drilled holes via titanium screws. As the MRI showed damages to the meniscus and knee cap, Dr. Gan also performed some repair work.

I was awake the whole time and watched the entire surgery that lasted almost 2 hours.

Have to honest, I felt a bit dazed coming out from the operating theatre. After dinner, the anaesthetic started to wear off and the pain announced its arrival. I can't really take pain killers due to my kidney condition so it was hell for me.

I was literally screaming in pain and asked for 2 sleeping pills to knock me off in order to bring me some peace…


1 year ago…
Disparities, Insanities, InhumanitiesA different type of pageant

2 years ago… Walk the talk

26 comments:

goingkookies said...

Gosh. It sounds interesting to be awake during the operation. Was it?

But the impending pain leaves much to be desired. Hopefully the pain goes away soon. Or you're no longer in pain.

TzeThon said...

i think you're really brave to watch the whole operation.

anyway take care and get well soon.

day-dreamer said...

I couldn't help but to LOL at the "he charged me MYR120 as consultation for that 2-3 minutes conversation". Daylight robbery. Hahaha~

The surgery sounds pain. If I were you, I would have chosen to be knocked out. Haha.

Wei Jiet said...

Thumbs up for having the courage to watch your own operation going on..ohmigosh, hope u get well soon! Pain pain go away...

Wei Jiet said...

Thumbs up for having the courage to watch your own operation going on..ohmigosh, hope u get well soon! Pain pain go away...

Starmandala said...

Glad it's all over and you're on your way to full recovery.

Fi-sha said...

Good morning Zewt

Though I love doctors, I hate being hospitalised though I reckon it would be a great idea to get a great rest and sleep in the hospital, no (wishful thinking me)?

Since you are already in the Little Red Dot, I hope you will recuperate faster. So, don't get homesick (err, dont know whether we still have this feeling at this age), get a good rest, eat healthy food from many great places there and read many more great books (so cheap the books there).

Zewt, I'm happy if you're happy..so be happy ok?

Take care mate!

Anonymous said...

why you so lucky one ...always handled by pretty nurses ! I was 'taken care' by a hairy Singh BUT not like the one from malim nawar !

Anonymous said...

A pretty lady doc told me to cough to check if 'mine' could raise or not ! ( sing : you raise me up ).

"omamee" said...

wishing you a speedy recovery! take care and rest heaps! cheers.

LionGirl said...

Wish you bouncing back soon! Or your med bill will! Better check your bill properly! My friend got charged for some doctors' visits when she did not even smell their presence!
Get well soon!

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

my friend went through the same crap last year. must say i saw him in alot of pain..

don't worry, if theres anything positive, hes playing futsal after a year!

Pinknpurplelizard said...

If you feel pain, it means ur alive! It is a good sign. :)

U could have asked Juls to bonk u on the head with the bedpan to knock u out. Then you'll save quite a few bucks in not having to eat sleeping pills. LOL

Jack said...

Why did u not opt for general anesthetic?

TG said...

Oh boy, kudos to you, bro. Brave man!

Anonymous said...

Get well soon , Zewt ;)

oz . .

missironic said...

Omg! U really saw the whole operation? Can't imagine... I'm one who rather close my eyes than seeing my leg being drilled in! Gosh!

zewt said...

goingkookies - i am no longer in pain, at least not from the surgery. now, it's more muscle stiffness.

zthon - well, at that time, it seemed fun.

day-dreamer - and 2000 for 1 injection. but i think his skills are pretty good lah.

Sapphire Dragon - pain pain gone... now just muscle stiffness... but it's ok

Antares - thanks bro... long road still though.

zewt said...

F-sha - haha... not much homesickness yet, perhaps it might sink in after a while, when i get better. thanks for the well wishes, i will certainly keep blogging about malaysia

anon @ 16/6 8.41am - haha... did i say the nurses were pretty?

anon @ 16/6 9.01am - hahahaha... ask for help mah.

maemee - thanks... rest is always good.

LION GIRL - med bill taken care by company :P...

constantly craving joe - yeah, i am looking forward to sports... but probably only badminton.

zewt said...

pinknpurplelizard - you said the same thing as my surgeon haha...

Jack - for this type of surgery, they usually only do spinal. besides, GA has got its risk.

MKL - ok only bro.

anon aka oz - will do mate.

missironic - then you can choose GA.... but better still, no surgery.

Huei said...

i feel like an idiot now for saying my knee felt painful when looking at the pic of ur knee..this is killing me >.<

my gawd..glad u're finally recovering...n rm2k on ANAESTHETIC INJECTION!?!?!? CRAZYYY!!!!

me said...

fun?! u think staring at ppl cutting u up is fun?? *shakes head* i can arrange for more fun for you if that's your cake. which part next? *brandishing surgeon knife*

zewt said...

huei - when you have a son... ask him to become an anaesthetist...

me - dont be a saddist lah u.

jacss said...

poor zewt, no pain killer better kill me :(
hope u will get well very soon.
what a good news that u finally moved on...hope it's a good one :D

aiting said...

Hope you recover soon enough to run again!

I did want to register for the SCMS (since i think i will be in sg that time) but 10km is full :( Not prepared for a half marathon yet.

zewt said...

jacss - thanks... this is going to be a significant move for me.

aiting - well, keep an early lookout next year. dont miss it.