After the bone marrow transplant
Well, the best way I can say it is that the bone marrow transplant was both very stressful and anti-climactic at the same time. It was scheduled at 10:30 am here on Friday, and all was ready, not too nervous, but then there was some sort of delay in the operating room (OR, I guess) – hopefully not too bad for the person (people) involved – but we had to wait an extra 2 hours. As everyone can probably guess or relate to, the waiting kinda sucked. But finally the wait was over and I was whisked away in my bed down to the OR. I haven’t had surgery since I was 3 years old, so it was interesting to see the ceiling whizzing by. Got to the OR, got on the operating bed on my right side to take the marrow from my left hip, and then I laid there listening to all the activity (in Chinese!) around me wondering when the general aneshetic would start to kick in so I could stop thinking about size of the needle they were going to use! And then, after what seemed like less than a minute, the doctor says, “OK, all finished.” I was stunned and impressed. The anaesthetic was so good I literally felt nothing. What a relief! Half an hour in the recovery room flirting with the nurses in my (very) limited Chinese and I was back in my room. A few hours a bit groggy, and then I felt fine. 24 hours of strict bedrest was imposed, though; but as I was weak as a babe, it was no problem. Still recovering and weak today (Sunday), but the most major procedures are now over. The next lumbar puncture will be on Wednesday afternoon Mar. 25 here (14 hours earlier in Calgary). I will try to give a more exact time when I can.
Oh, I forgot the best part! At 8:00 on Friday morning, while I was still dozing in bed, I had the unique experience of having a nurse come in and shave my entire hips and bum – with a safety razor no less! Certainly an interesting way to start an interesting day!
8 comments March 22nd, 2009
