I had blood tests and that test where they attached all those diodes to areas for the chest done before going to the hospital for my hernia surgery. When in the pre-op area I sketched this nurse who was very helpful. She shaved my chest and pubic hair so that there was no hair anywhere near where the robot would be operating. Another nurse came in and started to do the same test that I had done the week before. She had not checked the chart and was happy to double bill me for the procedure. The nurse I sketched checked and saw that the tests had already been done. She managed to get the charge removed for the redundant testing that was done. When the bill is over $11,000 that savings was lost in the insane expense for the day.
There was infantile beach scene wallpaper trim at the top of the wall in the pre-op room. Somehow that beach scene was not reassuring.
I could not sketch in the operating room. I was knocked out in minutes with anesthesia. I met the anesthesiologist, and my doctor and several other people who were in the room to watch the robot dig into my innards.
When I woke up my sister Pat was in the room and she and Mike drove me back to their place south of Sarasota. I had purchased pain meds and felt some nausea, but I quickly recovered. It was kind of nice to vegetate for a few days and watch British antiques road show programing. After two days, I decided I was strong enough to drive myself back to Orlando.
Now that my chest has grown back all it’s hair, the three bullet hole scars are no longer visible from the operation. The center scar was for a miniature camera and the other two scars were for probing mechanical hands that placed a mesh inside my abdomen at my pelvis and secured it in place. There were not stitches, but rather the holes were super glues shut.