As I embarked on my second meniscectomy, I thought I should take notes so I can help others with this. Sadly, the only notes I took were in my head which was then diluted with anesthesia and weird sleep schedules. I fear this will end up being a shell of what I had envisioned as profound thought and wisdom.

Prior to Surgery

This is where it helps to get ducks in a row. Get the laundry caught up. Stock up on easy to cook meals (looking at you, frozen pizzas). People might even drop off a meal or two, let them. Pick up some thank you notes (as people will help and you will have some down time afterwards).

Think about where you are going to be after surgery. Mine was outpatient and I knew ice and elevation were priority. Our bed has very cool drawers underneath. Great for storage, little hard to get into after surgery. I set up a nest in the day bed. I scoured the house for pillows to elevate and a few throws to cover this part of me and that part of me. I am glad I did because I got home and just wanted to be flat. Tiny table with some fresh water would have been a good plan too.

In the days leading up to surgery, drink lots of water. Lots of water. It makes inserting IVs easier and will help flush the anesthesia out. I even went so far as to get some electrolyte drinks and drank those the day prior. Even put it in a fancy glass because I am a bit much. Make sure you have chilled water when you get home too. Liquids are your friend. More hydrated, the better you will feel. (obviously don’t drink from midnight until surgery or whatever they tell you, but do front load).

Day of Surgery

Wear loose fitting clothing. (even with that I managed to get my t shirt on backwards and wore it home that way). Actually, I am not sure how it got dressed to go home.  If you are allowed to shower prior, you might want to. I was told to wait 48 hours to shower afterwards… very long 48 hours! Brush your teeth and leave your jewelry at home. No one cares how many steps you get in today.

You will check in at the registration desk and get your wristbands. They may give you a fall risk one, don’t take it personally, anesthesia makes you whacked. Someone will take you back to change into a gown. Depending on the surgery type you might be able to keep your unmentionables on. Everything else goes in a bag that they lock in a locker. They get you settled in bed and start asking many questions, many of which you have already answered. Be patient and charming, these are people with sharp objects and good pain killers. IV is started and if you want, you may get to have someone come back and hang out with you. (Again, depends on the surgery and the state of the world at the time).

The surgeon will come in and meet with you. He always initials my leg he is working on. The anesthesia person will come in, ask questions and explain what will happen.

I have been under seven times and every time I assume that I will not come out. I have absolutely no reason to think this. I am guessing it stems from my desire to always be in control and you really are not in this environment. Normally, they put something into your IV and you drift. This time I was out before they even got the oxygen mask on me. I think it just depends on the type and how deep you are under. When I was under for my colonoscopies, I remember the music playing and people talking.

And then you are magically in recovery. I have no idea how this happens. All of a sudden someone was asking me if I wanted peanut butter crackers or cookies. A small can of coke was sitting there with a straw like magic.

The thing with anesthesia and you need to make sure your “responsible adult” knows this also. You will seem very with it. You may ask questions and nod in agreement. You may make decisions regarding beverages (ok one time I told them I wanted apple juice, thankfully my responsible adult stepped in and said she does NOT want apple juice), but you cannot be trusted. And you will have no memory of this. I have asked things numerous times in a row much to the chagrin of my responsible adult.

One time after a colonoscopy, the next day I was all ticked off and said, “I am just so not impressed with them. I was so thirsty after and they never gave me any water”. I was told I drank two bottles of water there and then sent me home with two more. This is not the time to make big decisions.

Once you have had a snack and they ask how you feel, you will get dressed. They will take you out in a wheelchair (again, not a hill to die on. Just get in). You may want to think about this part prior to surgery also. With me, my knee was straight so I thought it would be better to get in the back seat… and I was right. Get home, go to the bathroom and settle into your nest of recovery.

After Surgery

When you get home you will be tired, but you will probably feel ok. Fuzzy brained but ok. Do not be fooled. If they send you home with pain meds, take them. At least for that first day. It is tempting to think, ah surgery is over, that wasn’t so bad and I feel fine. Let’s move forward. Along with anesthesia, they probably injected some local into the area where they were working. This is going to fade and if you don’t shore the pain meds up when the local stops working, it will feel like falling off a cliff. If you can stay on top of the pain (and not play catch up), it works so much better. I’ve done it both ways. I stayed on top of it this time, and honestly, within 36 hours I was only on Advil for inflammation. The key is that if you can rest or even sleep, you will heal so much faster and you cannot do that if it feels like weasels have been chewing on a part of your body.

I was fuzzy brained for longer this time than I had been prior. I could not concentrate to read or really do anything requiring more than one step. You know when you get lost in the “plot” of The Office episode (that you have seen many times prior), you are not having your A game. This time instead of muscling though it, I played Victorian Lady and took to my day bed with vapors. And guess what? The world went on without me doing all the things and I eventually was less fuzzy headed.

Do what they say. If they want you to ice 6 times a day or do exercise or what ever Do Them. Make a chart, treat it as a game. Reward yourself for doing them. Whatever they suggest, do it. BUT do not over do it. Like the paperwork they gave me says, if you are wondering if you should do a certain activity or not, probably don’t do it.

In person follow up is normally about a week. A nurse may call you the next day to follow up with you. Don’t lie to them, if something seems off or not like the paperwork says, just tell them. It may be a hassle but it is better to deal with it at two in the afternoon than two in the morning in ER.

Like everything, it may be different for you, but maybe this gets you started on what to think about and what questions to ask prior. It is scary, even after the first time. But knowledge is power and you got this.