6:30 am:
I arrived at the hospital. My good friend from the firm brought me (thank you, Molly!). I waited for only just a bit before they called me back to go to a room since I had pre-registered the day before.
I went up to a room, changed into my hospital gown, and waited only a few minutes before a nurse came and started the IV. That went smoothly. Then, around 8:20 am, they told me that my surgeon was just about ready for me!
8:30 am:
Travel to OR area in a wheelchair. I saw my surgeon briefly (he had just finished the op before mine). Then I met with the anesthesiologist who asked me questions about drug allergies, if I had enjoyed a big breakfast that morning (no joke! I think he was trying to trick me or something), if I had ever had trouble with anesthesia before. He asked me which nostril I breathed out of better.
Two nurse anesthetists also came and explained exactly what would happen. I would go to sleep, and then they would start a larger IV. Because of the nature of the surgery being in the mouth, I would have a breathing tube placed through my nose and down my throat. The breathing tube would still be in place when I woke up in recovery, and then removed once they were certain that my airway was okay. They said there would be a 50/50 chance that I would remember the breathing tube (I do not remember it at all). They also explained that because of the length of the surgery that I would have a catheter (I don't remember the catheter at all either and experienced NO discomfort after surgery from it). They also put some sort of pressure socks on that would help keep up good circulation in my legs.
The MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE they gave me: when I would wake up from surgery, there would be a lot of blood in my mouth. They said not to swallow it, but keep pushing it forward into my mouth to let it drain out (or later be suctioned out). They said this would help me not be sick. I remembered this when I woke up, and I did not get sick once, or even feel like I was going to be sick.
9:15 am:
They started giving me something that would make me feel sleepy. I remember the nurse asking me if I felt dizzy and I said "no." She said, "Well, you'll feel something soon." Then I noticed the lights spinning and I said (or tried to say), "Oh, it's happening now." But I don't think I ever managed to say it, and that is the last thing I remember before the op.
Sometime around 3:30 pm:
I am aware that I am awake. I don't think I'm in the OR anymore; it must be recovery; but my surgeon is standing over me saying, "Oh, I don't like that." Then he opens my mouth, does some clipping and twisting of wires, and says, "There, a bit of orthodontic work." (What he had done during the surgery is cut my top archwire so that he could expand my upper palate. He had to cut it because the expansion was of the entire palate, meaning that I have about a 3.5 mm gap between my top front incisors. It's very, um, not so cute.)
ANYWAY, then I remember that they took x-rays. I was still in the bed, so they just sort of propped me up and snapped them quickly.
I was very hot after the surgery. I remember they asked me if I wanted blankets and I tried to say no, and then they felt me and said, "Oh, she's really hot." Then they started to wheel me to my room. I heard my surgeon say, "Make sure she has her wire cutters," and that's when I knew that I was wired shut.
My surgeon actually came up to the room with me and made sure I was all settled in before he left.
After 5:00 pm, etc:
In my room, pretty much out of it. I had to go to the bathroom A LOT, I think because of all the fluids I was hooked up to. I don't remember too much of this first night. The pain was not awful (of course, I am sure they were giving me pain meds through the IV). I mostly felt numb. There was a lot of blood in my mouth from the surgery, and a lot of new blood that came from my nose and the surgery site. There was a suction thing at my bed that I basically used all night. Fortunately, I never was sick. They expected me to be, because they had this giant bucket ready in case I was, but I am so happy I wasn't. Being wired, it would have been awful.
So, that is the run-down of my surgery day (at least, what I can remember of it).
Honestly, I can say the first night was rough mostly because of the blood and, just coming out of anesthesia, not always knowing exactly what was going on. I did manage to get some sleep, and all-in-all, it was not horrible, just not the most pleasant experience. My pain was manageable. They gave me ice packs to help with the swelling. Everyone did their utmost to help me stay comfortable.
