My Prostate Biopsy

This morning, I was up at 5:00 am so that I could give myself and enema before leaving the house for my surgery.  Doing that was an interesting experience to say the least and not as messy as I had anticipated that it would be.  It took several minutes for it to work but as soon as the evacuation (words on the box) was complete, I showered, dressed, and we left the house.  45 minutes later, we were at the Surgical Center where the procedure was to be performed and after singing in at the desk, only had to wait about 15-20 minutes...  I was third in line...

Before I was able to put on my gown, I spent a good 30 minutes or so answering questions and signing papers that were placed in a 3 ring binder that must have been an inch thick with paper...  that eventually would have to be filed or scanned into a computer.  The latter seem more practical and certainly would not take up as much space.

My blood pressure was taken.  My oxygen level was assessed.  And, a nurse tried twice to stick me for an IV through which my antibiotics, pain meds, and "knockout" drugs would be administered.  This was the second time I had been in a for profit hospital and there was not much difference other than these nurses were more precise with their timing whereas in the non profits the nurses were more carefree and the clock and timing did not seem to matter with them.

After being rolled into the surgical room on my bed, I was told to lie on my left side and scoot my butt back until it was hanging over the edge just a little.  The surgeon arrived and sat on his chair and asked, "are we ready?"

"almost," replied a nurse.

"I'm still awake," I exclaimed...  and, that was the very last thing that I remember until I was waking up in the recovery room.

I was in the recovery room long enough to drink a small can of ginger ale, told to get dressed, and was immediately taken out to the car in a wheelchair.  If this had been a non profit hospital, I would have had to wait for an orderly to take me out to the car in a wheelchair.

I will know my results next Thursday...  about the same time we know the results of the Presidential Election.