January and February 1992

I had a two-stage reconstruction during these two months. I had stage one on Tues., Jan. 28th and stage two on Tues., Feb. 18th. I had both surgeries done at MMC. I was twenty-seven (27) years old.

Background

I had not undergone any surgery since October 1989. I had been waiting patiently for PS to rebuild my columella. Finally, someone had the good sense to pull me out of the craniofacial program. It had been a long road and I needed a major change.

In Dec. 1991, my parents and I went to see my PS. He told us what would happen. I wasn't very excited about a fresh scar on the fold of my cheek at first. The surgery was scheduled for Jan. 1992. These are the only reconstructive surgeries that I've had on an outpatient basis so far.

January 1992

Tues., Jan. 28, 1992

I had to be at the hospital at 8:00 AM. My surgery was scheduled for 10:00 AM. I had to go thru the standard admitting procedures: questions and labwork. My parents and I walked down to Ambulatory Surgery. We met up with the anesthesiologist. Again I had to tell him that I didn't want any premeds. Again I was told that I had to have them. (I've learned along the way that I do NOT have to.)

Around 9:20 AM I was taken to holding. My parents could not come in with me. I remember the anesthesiologist starting my IV. I told him to put it in my right hand. I got a dose of premeds. And the effects never hit me until I got in the OR and I was ready to be put under.

Finally at a little after 10:00 AM, I was taken to the OR. I remember Maggie being there and I was holding her hand as I was being put under. Call me a big baby. :-) What was soo weird.. I felt like I was going thru a light tunnel. Totally wild. :-)

During the surgery, my longtime PS and the resident (my current PS) took skin from the fold of my right cheek and tunneled it under my nostril and attached it to my nose to form the columella. Confused?

The next thing I know I am in recovery. It's about 1:00 PM. I got taken back to Ambulatory Surgery at about 1:30 PM. I then fell asleep for 2 hours. I was finally released about 5:00 PM.

I remember some of my friends calling and leaving a message on my answering machine. :-)

The best thing of all, I never got sick.

The Period between the Two Surgeries

This period was filled with doctor's appointments. The surgery left a hole in thr giht side of my nose where the graft was tunneled. I got the most expensive pair of nasal stents that I've ever owned during this period. They were white plastic and cost like $150. They were custom made. And they were awful.

I made my first attempt to get online too. It was unsuccessful at first because the port for my modem had a conflict. I did eventually get online tho the evening after my second surgery.

I wasn't going to work between the two stages at first. But, when I was told in early Feb. that PS wanted to delay the second stage for a week, I decided to go back to work. Staying at home was driving me nuts. LOL

February 1992

Tues., Feb. 18, 1992

I had to be at the hospital at 6:00 AM. My surgery was scheduled for 8:00 AM. I went thru the usual admitting procedures. I had the same discussion with the anesthesiologist about no premeds. Again I was forced to have them.

I was taken to holding about 7:15 AM or so. Again my parents couldn't come into holding. I can remember the anesthesiologist starting my IV. In the bed next to mine was one of the wives' of my PS' partners. She was having some kind of reconstructive surgery.

I finally went to the OR about 8:00 AM. The anesthesiologist never gave me the premeds until right before I went to the OR. LOL I remember being put under.

During the short surgery, my PS and another resident released the graft that had been attached to the fold of my right cheek.

The next thing I know I am in recovery. It was 9:15 AM or so.

I was eventually taken back to Ambulatory Surgery where I rested for a bit. I was released around 11:30 AM or so.

I spent the afternoon dozing and resting. I actually ate some mashed potatoes.

That evening my computer guru at the time came over to help me get online. There was an IRQ conflict. (These days I know how to get rid of one.) I signed on to Prodigy for the very first time and spent like seven hours online that night. LOL

I went back to work the following Monday, Feb. 24th. Actually I went to work on that Saturday, Feb. 22nd, because there was a workshop that day.

Epilogue

My PS retired on June 30, 1993. It was a sad day for my parents and I. :-( He told us who would be my next PS. That PS was my PS from 1995 until 1999. The last time I saw my retired PS was back in Nov. 1995. My former PS consulted with retired PS about my case.