The Penultimate Appointment**

Jake and I went to the penultimate appointment today, the last one before the surgery. It was very well organized. We were whisked from the front waiting area to a guy who typed everything there is possible to know about my medical condition into a computer. It seems to me that they were very well set up to avoid mistakes. For example, the ubiquitous plastic band bracelet one wears on the wrist was handed over to me to check that the spelling of my name and my date of birth were both correct. I have in the past just been handed a bracelet and no one has bothered about the spelling, including me.

Next we went to a cubical where a nurse checked yet again and more questions were asked. Oh, and that is where I found out that the surgery will be one where they go in to my body with a small cut and what the doctor does is watched on a screen. Laparoscopy?  {I can’t say the word never mind spell it and the spell checker offered me "leprosy"!} I was thinking that it would have to be a big incision since the doctor intends to cut out two different sections of my bowel but no. I had also been thinking that I would request rehab since I remember how much I couldn’t do after my left hip was replaced. I could dress myself but Fred had to put my socks on for me! He also helped me to the bathroom and cooked for me. The nurse said this time I would be amazed how quickly I would recover and how quickly I could look after myself…

Finally we saw the anesthesiologist who explained to me what would be happening to me in great detail. He assured me that I would be given something to help alleviate nausea which I always have after an anesthetic. Although I actually never threw up, I always felt as if I was going to but apparently not this time. He said the only discomfort I might have is after the tube down my throat was removed once I came round. Oh, and the surgery was scheduled for 5 hours. On the whole, I was reassured by all this well-organized competence. I have already met the surgeon and not only did I like him but he talked as if he know what he was doing!

So, surgery on the 20th. We have to be there at 5:15 AM and surgery is scheduled for 7:15 AM.

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. — Marcus Aurelius