Next Step, Surgery

So the next step was surgery, scheduled at Denver Health on December 20. 


And this is where my joyous experience with the American health system begins. I needed to know what time my surgery was and preparation details as I live 1.5 hours away in Fraser. I was also relying on my housemate to drive me due to needing to be driven home after surgery. It took 3 days of circles of phone calls, disconnected numbers and emails to finally find out what I needed to do to prepare for surgery, and find out that no one could possibly tell me what time I needed to be at the hospital until the day before. 


So the day before surgery I get a call that I need to be at the hospital at 6.30am. Yep, when I live 1.5 hours away. Thanks, so much. Thankfully friends in Golden put us up the night before so we could do the majority of the driving the night prior as opposed to getting up at 4am.


Arrived at the hospital, check in was smooth and was soon admitted. Time arrived for the nurse to administer my IV, despite my begs that no one can ever get one successfully in my hand, of course she knew better and put several holes in me until she realised that indeed I was correct and she would have to find a vein in my arm. Oh did I mention my intense hatred of needles? Awesome...


Not sure if this is normal but unlike in Australia I did not get to consult with my actual main surgeon, but instead one of the other attending surgeons. He was pleasant and explained what the process would be. More tears here when he explained I the recovery process = no riding until approximately March. Basically I would be having a plate, pins and a screw inserted into my ankle to stabilise it. I would be placed in a cast for 2 weeks and on crutches. Following this I would have a follow up appointment, 2 weeks after surgery, where my stitches and cast would be removed. I would then be put in a removable boot for 4 weeks, but still on crutches. At this point I am allowed to begin range of movement exercises but no weight bearing. Once the full 6 weeks is up I can slowly begin weight bearing and rehab. From experience this will take another good 4-6 weeks to get movement and strength back to be able to ride. 


I was asked whether I wanted a spinal (be awake during surgery - NO THANKS) or general anaesthetic. Think you can guess what I picked... After this, things got a little hazy.


Next I was slowly coming to, and allowed to recover. I was given apple juice, and also offered crackers which I politely declined. The nurse made sure I was ok and kept an eye on me. I asked whether the surgeon was coming to see me, the response was no. This I found strange, as also in Aus, after surgery the surgeon will then consult with you again to let you know how it went, etc. I asked if I could speak to him, I was grunted at that he had 'just scrubbed in, but sure, I'll get him'. Um, sorry for asking for so much? The same attending surgeon that saw me before surgery came back, albeit with a very different tone this time. I asked how the surgery went and what was actually put in my ankle. The response was that he wasn't entirely sure as he had to go into another surgery but 'he'd guess at a plate, 7 pins and a screw'. Great, a guess. Thanks. I asked a little more and the response was 'you won't even remember this conversation anyway'. Well guess what buddy, I do! I am appalled at this attitude, I have just had what I consider to be major surgery (for me), I think I am entitled to know what was installed in my ankle! My housemate was with me at this time and was also not impressed.


So time to be discharged came along. No x-rays given, no medical records, just a yellow piece of paper with home care instructions and not even my medical number. I was told by the nurse to make an appointment for 2 weeks to have my cast and stitches removed. As it's at the same hospital I asked if I could make the appointment right there and then, rather than having to call. The response was a very sarcastic 'do you have a phone? Call'. Wow. 


On the drive back to Fraser I called to make the appointment and finally spoke to someone pleasant who explained that it takes 24-48 hours for my information to appear and that she would call me back once she had that information.