I.V., Surgery & Pizza

Apr 032012

“Which shoulder are we doing today?”

“The left one.” The nurse proceeded to write with a magic marker, “This shoulder” and added an “X” ” on my left upper arm.

“When did you eat last?” “Drink?” “Are you allergic to any medications?” “What did you do to our arm?” “Did you feel that?”

“OUCH – YES !,” as she inserted the I.V. into my forearm.

I’d been lying in the pre-op room about an hour when word came down that my surgeon had just completed his preceding surgery.

“OK, we’re going to begin the anesthesia now – you’ll feel very relaxed in a minute,” predicted Mr. Anesthesiologist.

Where's my cranberry juice?

“Welcome back. Your doctor said everything went well.” My rotator cuff surgery was completed!

I was a bit groggy, pain-free (at that moment), and trying to bring the clock on the post-op room wall into focus. Wow, I had completely “missed” the past 2.5 hours – certainly a good thing.

The shoulder's okay - the hair so-so

The nurse offered me a glass of cranberry juice. My best friend, Jan, offered a corned-beef sandwich and chocolate brownie on the drive back to Berkeley. I accepted all.

Now I’m sitting here in Berkeley with a tubed device circulating ice water through a blue rubber bladder wrapped around my left shoulder. Over top of that is a black velcrose-laden apparatus that secures and supports my left arm and shoulder. For the past 3 days, I’ve been free to wiggle my left fingers, type with my right hand, and stray from the ice machine anywhere the 5-foot tube and 6-foot electrical cord will allow me to roam.

So how do I get back to Saigon??

I have between now and May 20 to figure that out. I’m optimistic that my physical therapy will be routine and I’ll be able (and more than ready) to head back to be with Hai and continue our Eating Saigon! adventures 7 more weeks from now.

I also want to continue my blog while I’m recovering here and offer some tips on what to do between meals in Saigon, as well as introduce a wonderful guide in Phnom Penh to anyone heading that way and who could use a welcoming and knowledgeable contact there.

But, before I end today, I want to assure you that my quest for and enjoyment of great food continues. (One must eat even with one functional shoulder!)

Last night, my wonderful friends and neighbors delivered to my dining table a great home-cooked meal. A large baked potato, dressed with perfectly prepared bacon segments – meaty and crispy. Sour cream, chopped spring onion, and shredded cheeses dressed it wonderfully. The grilled asparagus grew in their garden earlier in the day, as did the mixed greens in the fresh garden salad.