Move Over Ring Finger Part 2: A Bone for A Bone

In the last episode, we left off with me saying "it is time to see a hand specialist."

Well, I visited a specialist by the name of Dr. Richard Barth, M.D. (or not M.D.? That is the question...)

After performing X-Rays, Dr. Barth informed me that my finger was not only broken, but rotated as well. He gave me two options: 1) Leave the finger as is (yeah right) or 2) Perform a surgery to repair the finger. The operation would consist of re-breaking my finger, grafting a piece of bone from my wrist, then wedging it into the break and finally, rotating my finger back. A small plate would also be used somehow. Here is my attempt to illustrate graphically what I just tried to transcribe:

So my fingertip looks more like a...rocket, than a bone. You get the idea. Anyway, because I tired of the winces I received whenever someone caught a glimpse of my finger, I decided to have the operation. This was to be my first real surgery, yet I was more excited than nervous about the experience.

I did feel kinda weird wearing a garment that fastened in the back and a shower cap, but hey, they let me keep my undies on!

My dad had to drive me to and from the hospital because I was to be anesthetized. He was chillin' doing crossword puzzles the whole time.

The doc came in to see me before the surgery and drew over the area on my wrist where he would extract bone.

I was then wheeled into the OR where I was greeted by...Marvin Gaye? OK! Not at all what I expected. I assumed the only sounds I would hear in the OR would be rhythmic beeping behind the soothing voice of the Anesthesiologist telling me "you're going to go to sleep now". But he didn't even say that...at least not before I was asleep...

...And then I woke up, had some shaved ice fed to me, and was told to move into a chair in order to let the effects of the anesthesia diminish. My throat hurt...I looked down at my hand...WHOA!

Was all that really necessary?! I guess so...I felt how I imagine a boxer must feel...

While I waited, they were nice enough to give me a snack (I'd stopped eating at 10pm the night before, and it was currently 3pm, so I was kinda hoping for a small lamb or lobster) which I obliterated within seconds. My throat hurt...

I asked a nurse about the pain in my throat. "You had a tube in your throat." she said, "you will feel the pain for a few days." She recommended I try Cēpacol to soothe the pain.

Over the next few days, I became very well acquainted with my pain medication, my bed and the taste of graham crackers.

I leave you with this...unless you enjoy feeling nothing at all inside your mouth and witnessing your ability to taste diminish before even the lozenge does, I implore you; avoid Cēpacol!