1 Day Before Surgery
I made it to my pre-operative appointment at a rather new facility today. The place was impressive, boasting sleek, contemporary aesthetics and state-of-the-art technology. The overall ambiance was one of simplicity and modernity, reflected in everything from the clean-lined design of the building to the advanced equipment.
The staff too, impressed me with their cheerful and amiable demeanor. After years of mediocre medical care, I am convinced that the UCI medical system operates at an unmatched level of excellence.
My meeting with the surgeon consisted of him conducting a rapid strength assessment to verify the necessity of the impending surgery. We went over initial plans for the procedure scheduled for the following day. On the agenda was a right shoulder arthroscopy, rotator cuff repair, debridement, subacromial decompression, with the addition of a potential biceps tenodesis.
As evening fell, I stuck to showering protocol, intending not to avoid making the same blunders as last night. I even made the effort to blow-dry my hair, something I hadn't done in decades. I can't say I missed the scent of my hair wafting up in what smelt like burning sulfur.
Night time brought its own set of challenges. Despite the physical preparations for the surgery, sleep remained elusive. My restlessness wasn't due to anxiety about the upcoming operation, but rather from personal things causing my mind to race a bit more than I prefer.
