It's been such a long day for both Nathan and me. [Yes, that's correct English--it's not "Nathan and I" in this instance.] It started at 6 o'clock this morning when we woke up to get ready for the big day--surgery day. Nathan had to have his right shoulder operated on. He had a S.L.A.P. tear in his shoulder caused by the mixed martial arts fighting he's done for years as a hobby. This day has been nearly 4 years coming, and he's been dreading it for the last 6 weeks when he found out he'd have to get it done. If he didn't get the surgery he'd be looking at a complete shoulder replacement within a few years. He had to get his professors to allow him to take his final exams one week early, and couldn't go visit his Dad over this Christmas break like he'd wanted to and planned on.
The surgery went well, but in addition to re-attaching the labrum to the bone (with some kind of anchor) in three places, they also had to shave off a bone spur and clean up the cartiledge that had been torn over the last 4 years. The doctor said the cartiledge [am I spelling that right?] was damaged to the extent that is usually seen in senior patients, not a healthy guy in his 30s. Because there was so much to repair, his recovery will be very painful with physical therapy so he won't lose full range of motion from stiffness. It will be 6 months-1 year before he has full use of that arm back, but the short-term worst part of the recovery will only be about 6 weeks.
He slept most of the day once I got him home, but he always has a hard time getting sick from the general anesthesia. The nurse said every fair-skinned, red-headed person she's ever treated has always had a rough time and gotten sick from it. I thought that was interesting. We did at least have some experience 18 months ago when he had knee surgery, and were able to get his pain medication changed to something more gentle.
After both of us not sleeping very well last night and getting only about 5 hours of broken sleep (I think Nathan got 3), it's been a long day. It hit me tonight about 4:45, and I finally took an hour power nap at 6 tonight. I'm anxious for tonight and tomorrow as the pain block they put in his shoulder starts to wear off and we rely solely on the pain pills.
Going through this and other experiences with Nathan (back, knee, etc.), I've come to realize how important it is to have a network of support around for these times. It's so hard for me with just the two of us; two is not enough. I manage ok, but it would be so much better with a little help. Take, for instance, getting out of the car when we got home. It was pouring rain, and I was trying to find the umberrella (I had no idea we were expecting rain and hadn't prepared for it), get Nathan out of the car and up the steps, get him changed and situated in bed, go back out to the car and get all the stuff (ice pack machine he has to use for 48 hours, medication, etc.), and get back inside quickly to prepare something for him to eat so he could take a pain pill. It was hectic and stressful. Would have been nice to have an extra set of hands so I could tend to him and not have to worry about the peripherials. I just didn't know what to expect, and forgot how hard it is. I haven't bugged anyone at church about help, but I probably should have just for today. That is the only network of support we really have here being so far from family and close friends. So thanks for "listening" to me vent about the day, and maybe next time you know someone going through surgery, you can volunteer to lend a helping hand or a listening ear, or go visit them in the ensuing weeks of recovery. I don't know how I'm going to keep him happy and entertained until Christmas. He'll be boxed up in the house all day next week and the next when I'm at work. Poor guy. This really stinks, but I guess it could be worse...I'll be thankful that it's not.
