A week after my brain surgery I went back to the
operating room for implanting of the battery packs in my chest and connection
to the electrodes in my brain. Unlike the first procedure, this one was
performed while I was anesthetized (so I have less to report).
My surgery was scheduled for noon and I was asked to be
at the hospital by 10:00 AM. I checked in at the Surgical Desk in the hospital
lobby with my husband and we were then taken to the Pre-surgical unit where all
patients go prior to surgery. I put on the hospital gown and waited. Two and a
half hours after my surgery was supposed to begin the surgeon finally showed up
and let us know that things were running late. A bit later the anesthesiologist
came and interviewed me (she asked for my name, birthday, height, weight, any
history of trouble with anesthesia, any drug allergies). She put an orange
paper bracelet on me to indicate that I had a drug allergy (to sulfa) and put
on an IV into my hand. Then the resident anesthesiologist came (she had been
the anesthesiologist for my previous surgery) and we had nice chat about why
she chose anesthesiology as a specialty (her mom was an anesthesiologist). And
several other nurses from my previous surgery dropped by to say hi. I felt like
the celebrity patient.
Finally it was time to go to the Operating Room. I said
“ciao” to my husband and was wheeled away. From that point on I remember only having a gas mask placed on my face.
I awoke several hours later in the recovery room. It took
a few minutes to completely come out of my asleep state. My surgeon came by and informed me that they had shaved more of my head! Now I looked less like Ben Franklin and more like a samurai warrior. I was going to have a wicked mullet! My chest hurt as did the sides of my head. I had a bit of ginger ale and after about an hour I was ready to get dressed and go home. I had eight stitches on both sides of my head and on both sides of my chest just above the breasts. I
could feel the bulge of the batteries too. The incisions in my chest looked like two prime roasts trussed in string. I hoped they settle down over time since they are very ugly.
Going home was uneventful. We ordered Chinese food which
I gobbled up only to then vomit everything up violently. After that I could keep
nothing down for two days so I lived on ginger ale and lost 5 and ½ pounds.
My chest bruised badly and the bruising began to travel
downwards turning purple and yellow as it went. The swelling in my face from
the first surgery eventually went away but until it did I was one sight to
behold indeed! My hair began to grow and it felt like a hedgehog when I would
tough my scalp.
A week later I went back to the doctor’s office this time
to have a follow-up exam and my stitches taken out. I had worked myself up
unnecessarily thinking that would be painful but it did not hurt at all. It was
a quick trip – I was seen by the surgical nurse who told me everything looked
in good order. Over the next few days the chest incisions began to look less
red and swollen and I am betting that by this time next year they will be
barely noticeable.
I received a letter from the DBS coordinator informing me
that my programming would be on April 6th and I should expect to be
there all day. Can’t wait!
