2. Your surgeon is not expecting you to ask him to be cautious of your vagus nerve (especially since he is
used to the pediatric population) so be prepared for an interesting reaction (thank YOU, speech-
pathology major!!).
3. They'll warn you about all of the tubes, wires, & lines: central line, chest tube, IV, catheter, EKG wires,
etc., etc...BUT they may have forgotten to warn you about the arterial line (A-line). The A-line is
probably the worst because they put a wooden splint on your arm and the stinkin' line sticks straight into
your wrist. As luck would have it, mine was in my left hand (and YES, I am a lefty).
4. You might wake up feeling like you were hit by a bus. Breathing seems impossible (think of that
medication commercial where the elephant is sitting on the woman's chest), but have no fears, it gets
better!
5. The day (or week) before your surgery when you meet your anesthesiologist, don't panic if he says, "Oh,
wow!! Your tonsils are HUGE!! Hopefully we can still intubate you..."
6. After you wake up from the surgery, it will save your nurse a heck of a lot of trouble if she just brings you
an entire pitcher of water...Actually, an entire lake might suffice.
7. On that note, it doesn't hurt to become best friends with your nurses. They're lifesavers and I had some
pretty great conversations with them (being on pain meds didn't hurt the conversations either!! :-)).
8. The actual pain from the surgery is not as bad as people make it sound like it is going to be (at least in my
case!). Take your meds on a regular schedule & don't let the pain get ahead of you, and it's tolerable.
Sure, it's not something I'd want to do again, but it's manageable. And I daresay it was good practice for
me in case I ever have to give birth...(but at least after labor, there's a prize at the end!!).
9. The love & support that you get from your family & friends is AMAZING.
10. Keep a positive attitude throughout & the recovery process will go so much faster. Never forget that
God is carrying you through the entire process & that there are other out there who truly do understand
what you are going through.
