this got nothing to do with my China trip nor the land of dragons. hmm, i just want to pen down my first operation experience so that many years later, i can still remember. Apologies if the pig trotter lookalike picture is causing some discomfort... That's my feet, after the op! =) Common, not that bad right?
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I was woken up by this lady voice : “ Hello, are you OK? Its over, the operation is over. Are you OK?” I could hear the voice, but I think my body doesn’t belongs to be. I took a while to register that someone is calling me and I forced my eyes open. Then in blurred vision, I saw a nurse in front of me. Immediately, I began to shiver like crazy. It was freaking COLD! I was really shivering as though I am naked in minus 30 degree Antartica. My teeth clattered so much that I hardly talk. Then I told the nurse I am very cold. The nurse assured me and pass me 2 more blankets and I felt hot air gushing on my body. I looked down and saw a pipe with hot air inserted into the midst of the piled blankets on my body.
Arhh…that feels so comfortable. Being groggy, I decided to sleep again. I asked the nurse what time was it and she said it was almost 4pm. she mentioned to me that the operation took longer than expected as my nerves and blood vessels are encompassed together with the debris and scar tissue and they took a long while trying to trace my nerves and sort out my nerves and blood vessels away from the entire ‘big mess’. In the end, the operation was much complicated than it was expected but it when on successfully. I was half awaken to register what she was telling me. I closed my eyes again.
I couldn’t imagine that the time stood still since the time I walked into the operating theatre alone. Monday morning, I woke up at 8plus although my scheduled operation was at 11am. I decided to go for a shower to the surprise of my many colleagues because I do not have a habit of showering in the morning. But because I knew that I will not shower for the rest of the day, and/or maybe week. So I better get myself clean and shinny, just in case.
I took a bus to Paragon Medical Center, which is different from Paragon Shopping Center, in case you were wondering. And I was stuck in a traffic jam over at PIE. I was actually late for the operation! The day finally arrives. I was supposed to go for this op in January. I don’t know if the excuse of being too busy or I just don’t want to give up my active lifestyle. I just cannot imagine I am going to be bed-ridden for weeks. I think God knows this is my weak point. He knows that I am a person who cannot sit still. And every time when I came to realise that God knows my weakness, I am so scared that one day He will just test me and He will just take away the mobility from me… it is just so scary to know that God knows every part of my weakness and stronghold. And everyday , I just thank God for still keeping me mobile and having a pair of feet that can run and jump. I can never take this for granted, especially after this operation, when walking a few step is like hell.
And so, finally the pain becomes so unbearable, that when I play my weekly basketball game with my team mates, I have to limp. I decided that now is the time to get my leg fixed, for God’s sake. (and that’s what they always say, “For God’s sake, go and get it done!”) and by the way, I have stopped running for a while, so as to prolong the operation. However the week before my operation, I decided to give it all out. I exercise almost everyday, went for spin class, went for yoga, went for my core training class, rock climb every other day. I told my friends, since I am going for operation, might as well just whack. Nothing can be worst than now.
I walked passed all the branded boutiques in Paragon, but I have no mood to even look into the windows. Its just kinda weird that I am walking into a shopping center for my feet operation. And anyway, I was half running, as mentioned, I was late for the scheduled operation.
The day surgery room was an interesting place. There were a lot of rooms and a nurse asked me to sign many many forms, indemnity forms I guess. By the way, I also didn’t bother to read. Then I was brought to the changing room and was given a translucent robe some kind of funny clothes where you have to wear it through the front and tie behind. I was told to get rid of ALL things that is on my body, including bras, watches etc etc..and I was given a paper underwear. I scared I will tear it. Luckily its REALLY free size and its humongous! I have my weight taken, which after a while I understand why, they need to give me the correct dose of sedation and anaesthetic according to mg/kg. Wow, I was thinking to myself, then it value for money in my case, since I am so much heavier, ha, at least for what I paid for, I get more. Erm yah, typical Singaporean!
I think I really looked funny with the shower cap. Luckily there is no one familiar there with me. Although I went there alone, I got many SMS from many friends and loved ones telling me that all will be fine and I will be OK. Its like there are so many friends with me for this journey. I am glad and thank God for all the people He has put in my lives. Thank you all for your concern and being there with me when I was walking through the aisle to the operating theatre alone.
I lay down on the foldable bed and the nurse start to strip off my outer robe, leaving me with that skimpy looking inner blouse (which I have to tie behind my back) then she began to undo the knots…I suddenly became reactive and I told the nurse the operation was on my left ankle. “Don’t worry, its OK” was her answer. Then another person walked in , and by the way all of them are masked and I cannot differentiate who is who. She gave me an injection on my left hand and insert a plug in my veins. The she use a cloth peg lookalike thingy and clipped on my left index finger, then I heard the beeping sound of my heartbeat. Yupe, that was the measure my BP. I felt like I am in some sort of ER or House M.D. movie. The she ask me where I was operating, I told her it was my left ankle.
And I saw my surgeon! Yes, Dr Yung! I finally got to see him. He was also dressed in the cool green surgeon outfit with the same ugly shower cap. The he asked me, where I was operating. I thought he was joking. Then he said just to make sure it’s the correct place. Then he used a ‘Zebra’ marker and draw a mark on my inner left ankle and behind my knee. I felt like a pig waiting to be slaughter and was marked. I prayed and ask God to be there for me. The operating theatre was really cold. I think its around single digit degree Celsius. And I asked the masked nurse why is it so cold. She said this is to reduce the bacteria content in the room and to keep the surgeon awake. I was thinking, won’t the surgeon be shivering while holding the scalpel. That’s scary.
Another masked lady walked in and asked the same question, where I was operating. Now that is becoming scary. I told her the same answer. Then she began to pump in 4 syringes of different kind of liquid into my plug. She told me that I will fell very sleepy in a while. At this moment, I recalled me asking my friends how do you feel when you are on GA (general anaesthetic)? Will you dream? Will you wake up in the middle of the operation? How do you I feel? I felt like I am a chicken shit, asking this kind of questions. Some told me that they will ask you to count form 1-10 and then you will be gone, some told me to say out my NRIC number and before I can finish, I will be knock-out. Some say the nurses will crack some jokes to lighten up the atmosphere. Then I thought their joke is asking me where I am operating, and that is not funny when I was being asked so many times before the operation.
Arhh…that feels so comfortable. Being groggy, I decided to sleep again. I asked the nurse what time was it and she said it was almost 4pm. she mentioned to me that the operation took longer than expected as my nerves and blood vessels are encompassed together with the debris and scar tissue and they took a long while trying to trace my nerves and sort out my nerves and blood vessels away from the entire ‘big mess’. In the end, the operation was much complicated than it was expected but it when on successfully. I was half awaken to register what she was telling me. I closed my eyes again.
I couldn’t imagine that the time stood still since the time I walked into the operating theatre alone. Monday morning, I woke up at 8plus although my scheduled operation was at 11am. I decided to go for a shower to the surprise of my many colleagues because I do not have a habit of showering in the morning. But because I knew that I will not shower for the rest of the day, and/or maybe week. So I better get myself clean and shinny, just in case.
I took a bus to Paragon Medical Center, which is different from Paragon Shopping Center, in case you were wondering. And I was stuck in a traffic jam over at PIE. I was actually late for the operation! The day finally arrives. I was supposed to go for this op in January. I don’t know if the excuse of being too busy or I just don’t want to give up my active lifestyle. I just cannot imagine I am going to be bed-ridden for weeks. I think God knows this is my weak point. He knows that I am a person who cannot sit still. And every time when I came to realise that God knows my weakness, I am so scared that one day He will just test me and He will just take away the mobility from me… it is just so scary to know that God knows every part of my weakness and stronghold. And everyday , I just thank God for still keeping me mobile and having a pair of feet that can run and jump. I can never take this for granted, especially after this operation, when walking a few step is like hell.
And so, finally the pain becomes so unbearable, that when I play my weekly basketball game with my team mates, I have to limp. I decided that now is the time to get my leg fixed, for God’s sake. (and that’s what they always say, “For God’s sake, go and get it done!”) and by the way, I have stopped running for a while, so as to prolong the operation. However the week before my operation, I decided to give it all out. I exercise almost everyday, went for spin class, went for yoga, went for my core training class, rock climb every other day. I told my friends, since I am going for operation, might as well just whack. Nothing can be worst than now.
I walked passed all the branded boutiques in Paragon, but I have no mood to even look into the windows. Its just kinda weird that I am walking into a shopping center for my feet operation. And anyway, I was half running, as mentioned, I was late for the scheduled operation.
The day surgery room was an interesting place. There were a lot of rooms and a nurse asked me to sign many many forms, indemnity forms I guess. By the way, I also didn’t bother to read. Then I was brought to the changing room and was given a translucent robe some kind of funny clothes where you have to wear it through the front and tie behind. I was told to get rid of ALL things that is on my body, including bras, watches etc etc..and I was given a paper underwear. I scared I will tear it. Luckily its REALLY free size and its humongous! I have my weight taken, which after a while I understand why, they need to give me the correct dose of sedation and anaesthetic according to mg/kg. Wow, I was thinking to myself, then it value for money in my case, since I am so much heavier, ha, at least for what I paid for, I get more. Erm yah, typical Singaporean!
I think I really looked funny with the shower cap. Luckily there is no one familiar there with me. Although I went there alone, I got many SMS from many friends and loved ones telling me that all will be fine and I will be OK. Its like there are so many friends with me for this journey. I am glad and thank God for all the people He has put in my lives. Thank you all for your concern and being there with me when I was walking through the aisle to the operating theatre alone.
I lay down on the foldable bed and the nurse start to strip off my outer robe, leaving me with that skimpy looking inner blouse (which I have to tie behind my back) then she began to undo the knots…I suddenly became reactive and I told the nurse the operation was on my left ankle. “Don’t worry, its OK” was her answer. Then another person walked in , and by the way all of them are masked and I cannot differentiate who is who. She gave me an injection on my left hand and insert a plug in my veins. The she use a cloth peg lookalike thingy and clipped on my left index finger, then I heard the beeping sound of my heartbeat. Yupe, that was the measure my BP. I felt like I am in some sort of ER or House M.D. movie. The she ask me where I was operating, I told her it was my left ankle.
And I saw my surgeon! Yes, Dr Yung! I finally got to see him. He was also dressed in the cool green surgeon outfit with the same ugly shower cap. The he asked me, where I was operating. I thought he was joking. Then he said just to make sure it’s the correct place. Then he used a ‘Zebra’ marker and draw a mark on my inner left ankle and behind my knee. I felt like a pig waiting to be slaughter and was marked. I prayed and ask God to be there for me. The operating theatre was really cold. I think its around single digit degree Celsius. And I asked the masked nurse why is it so cold. She said this is to reduce the bacteria content in the room and to keep the surgeon awake. I was thinking, won’t the surgeon be shivering while holding the scalpel. That’s scary.
Another masked lady walked in and asked the same question, where I was operating. Now that is becoming scary. I told her the same answer. Then she began to pump in 4 syringes of different kind of liquid into my plug. She told me that I will fell very sleepy in a while. At this moment, I recalled me asking my friends how do you feel when you are on GA (general anaesthetic)? Will you dream? Will you wake up in the middle of the operation? How do you I feel? I felt like I am a chicken shit, asking this kind of questions. Some told me that they will ask you to count form 1-10 and then you will be gone, some told me to say out my NRIC number and before I can finish, I will be knock-out. Some say the nurses will crack some jokes to lighten up the atmosphere. Then I thought their joke is asking me where I am operating, and that is not funny when I was being asked so many times before the operation.
The first 3 tubes are transparent liquid, and the last tube was a milky white liquid, and the anaesthetists injected the complete full tube of that white liquid (which I later found out it was ‘propofol’). I told her, I felt my left hand numb. Then I don’t recalled what happened. It was just a split second, after my finish my last sentence. I do not recall they asked me to count nor recite my NRIC. It was almost immediate and I do not know what happen next until I heard the familiar voice of the nurse : “ Hello, are you OK? Its over, the operation is over. Are you OK?”
