Okay, now that I've gotten some rest, the pain is doable and my brain seems to be functioning, here's the rest of the story!
The folks in Pre-op were pretty good and remembered me from previous visit so were bound and determined I was having surgery this time. Anesthesiologist was pretty good, first time meeting him. We decided that since I had the L5/S1 fusion with likely scar tissue at this time and the fact that I have Spina Bifida Occulta that it would be much easier to go with General. He made a comment asking if I still drank gin, hubby and I both looked at him and said WHAT? He said it's written in your chart that you drink gin. Um no, maybe in my early twenties but that was a long time ago and wouldn't be in my chart, matter of fact I very rarely drink any alcohol anymore and have mentioned that time and again. Whatever! Gals from anesthesia were a couple of goofballs but pretty much what I needed as I was wheeled into the OR. Young lady in Post Op/ Recovery so sweet, kept feeding me ice chips, such bliss, and here you need more pain meds! She kept apologizing that it was taking so long to get me to my room. She kept calling my hubby on his cell to keep him updated and apologize for the wait.
Finally get taken to the room on the Ortho floor and this is where the hospital crashed and burned. Unbeknownst to me, I had been in recovery for over 3 hours because they didn't have the floor opened or anyone to man it. And I know there was at least another hip surgery by my Doc that day. I pretty much get out in a bed, my husband is sitting on the little couch in the room and we're left alone, this is around 3:30. Finally a nurse (I think) and a PT come in and start babbling about this and thst, asking questions, etc. My husband pipes in as they weren't seeming to pick up by our puzzled looks that we had no idea what was going on. He explains that they basically dumped me here after the long wait and left. The nurse realizes I'm still in the little paper gown from surgery so she helps me get changed into a cloth one. PT decided now would be a good time to get me on my feet and let's try the bathroom while you're up. Then he decides I should sit in the recliner type chair that he brought in, only puts my feet up a little and I'm sitting upright. He says he wants me to sit in this for at least 2 hours, he'll see me tomorrow and off he goes! They finally bring me some dinner, I believe they gave me some Oxy which makes me nauseous, and off they go. They gave me a plastic pan with these little disposable barf bags, which was a good thing, and off they go again. Someone wanders in to grab my pretty much untouched food tray and start to take off again. I'm like hello, can someone help me get back in my bed, I'm tired, I hurt, I want to try and sleep and would like for my husband to be able to go home and know I'm ok. We'll send somebody to help you. We sit there watching TV, it's getting later and later, finally tell my hubby to go home I'll sleep here if I have to. Don't remember how long after he left before they moved me to my bed.
Will take a quick breather here for a moment. A nap is calling.