Post-Op with Dr. Sal Lettieri

 

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015

Post-Op with Dr. Sal Lettieri

This past week has been challenging, not because of the pain from the surgery. Staying home and not being able to drive has been difficult. Today, I had my post-op appointment with Dr. Lettieri. Sonya was so sweet to take me to Mayo. I don't like anyone to go with me because it is not a fun way to spend time. This time, I was forced to ask for help; Eric could not go because my appointment time was changed at the last minute. I wondered what she would think of Dr. Lettieri and hoped she would love him as much as I do. I warned her as soon as I introduced her as my sister Sonya, he would have an intelligent comeback about Monya-Sonya. I was right, and he asked why. "I said it was the '60s."  He laughed and asked if we had another sister named Tonya, and of course, I said, "Oh no, that would be too easy. Her name is Kris.
Today, he had a young resident with him, Dr. Deep, charming and incredibly young. Immediately, Dr. Lettieri announced he was not happy with the eye surgery. We will wait until all the swelling goes down, and then he will decide how to proceed with more surgery. My eyes started to open yesterday, dripping more than ever. He said it would get worse and wished he had been a little more aggressive with the bottom lid; it's drooping more than Dr. L wanted it to be.
Dr. Lettieri was pleased about my nerve cross graft he did in February; it is even better than he had expected. I plan to wait for eye surgery and have him do that simultaneously with the nerve surgery. I didn't mention that to him today; I will see him again soon.
Heather took out the rest of the stitches in my eye while Dr. Deep and Dr. Lettieri talked doctor talk-way over my head.
Today was good news about the nerve but surprising news about my eye. I could tell he was disappointed. I told him, "It's OK," and he said, "Not for me."  I assumed he was being hard on himself because he's a perfectionist. He said, "No, that has nothing to do with it. I just want you to have it working at the best it can, and I know it won't, so I want to fix it." He continued telling me I would have more drainage than I had before if I didn't take care of it.
Many people have questioned my choices; guess what? That's OK. I realize you are not living my life. You are not the one who has to kneel and ask what to do. I feel entirely comfortable with the decisions I have made. Many have given me natural path choices and questioned my choice to go medicinal; it's OK, too. Everyone has a different thought process; these choices were made by relying on the Lord to answer me and lead me to the right places. I only doubted a decision when I went to Cleveland Clinic. I felt rushed to make an answer, and Dr. Lettieri was out of the country when this all happened a year ago. We made a fast reactive choice, based on the fact we were told with a nerve we only had a small gateway--because I didn't know a "small" gateway didn't mean I needed it taken care of within a week or two. I could have waited for Dr. Lettieri. I don't look at things that way; my mind doesn't process them that way. If I hadn't gone to Cleveland Clinic, I would not appreciate and love Dr. Lettieri like I do; I wouldn't appreciate Mayo Clinic like I do. So, to those skeptics who like to give me their opinions, I will not apologize for following my heart, listening to the spirit, and doing what we thought was best at the time.

Surgery With Dr. Sal Lettieri

 

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015

Surgery with Dr. Sal Lettieri

Eric and I waiting to be called back--we are now frequent
flyers here at Mayo--I think I should have a punch card with some
a great reward after X number of surgeries. When the registration
the nurse knows you by name, and nurses remember you by name
It's a sign you've overstayed your welcome.

June 24, 4:45 am, on our way to Mayo Clinic. I talked Eric's ear off trying to keep from taking any anxiety medication--hey, who knew....it worked? While entering the Clinic, I refused to look to the left; I intentionally jabbered to Eric about positive experiences with Dr.Lettieri I wanted----NO, I needed to keep my head in a good place for at least a few more minutes while we registered.
Just over a year ago was a dreaded day. I'd been discharged from this same hospital with a disfigured face. Hearing a doctor tell me, "You need to get used to the new Monya; your face will never be the same" If I were to look to the left, I would have a vivid remembrance of being wheeled out in a wheelchair and while waiting for Eric to bring the car around I watched a woman fall to the ground have a massive heart attack. I listened as "code blue" echoed through the corridor. I watched as healthcare professionals did all they could to revive her life. They were unsuccessful, and I felt nothing but jealousy. I wouldn't necessarily say this was the lowest point of my life, but it ranked in the top 5.
I've seen and felt tragedy, separation anxiety, depression, heartache, enormous unexplainable pain, loss of hearing, sight, smell, breasts, and all my hair. I've had a temporary loss of feeling in my hands and feet. I still look back at all of this and know the positive outweighs the negative. I'd do it all again, feel every ache and pain to know what I know now. What I know to be true is there is life after this earth; it is beautiful and peaceful; there is no pain, hurt, or jealousy. It is like no other place you have been here on earth. I want to go there again; I will accept and take on all that happens to me here on earth to have that feeling for eternity.
After being registered, Eric and I headed up to the 2nd floor for surgery. When I got into the elevator
I couldn't help but look at that spot; it was empty, too early in the morning for visitors. The rush of reality came flashing back to that day a year ago. Eric asked if I was OK, and I responded, "Yeah, sure, I'm good." After checking in with surgery, they took me right back. Dr. Lettieri is on time. After vitals, question after question about allergies, and when was the last time I ate or drank anything, I started to dose off. My thought was, "Read my chart. Can't you see how many times I've answered these questions? This is not my 1st rodeo" I saw Dr. Magtibay walks by and into the patient's room across the hall; I suddenly sat up and wanted to talk to him. The nurse continued with her questions, but I kept asking her to ask Dr. Magtibay to come to see me when he was done...she was looking at me like really? I told her I would answer all her questions; you could start my IV quickly if she promised to get Dr. Magtibay. This time the IV only took a one-time poke; that's new. It usually takes several digs to obtain a different, more efficient RN to poke me.
Soon Eric returned, and just after that came Dr. Magtibay; I just love him. He hugged me and wanted to know about my surgery. I asked about his children and wife, then Dr. Lettieri came in. I didn't have to introduce them. They knew each other. Dr. Magtibay excused himself, turned, smiled, and wished me blessings on a great outcome.

ready to go, Dr. Lettieri took this picture so I could see
the difference in my smile

Dr. Lettieri smiled at me, and when I smiled back.....he said, "Do that again." Not knowing what the heck he was doing, I said, "Why?" he said, "Quit being difficult, just do that again, that thing you just did with your face" I shook my head and said with a big smile "This?" he smiled big, he said, "Where's Heather?" "I haven't seen her yet" Dr. Lettieri went out to find her, but she was walking in at the same time. "Do that again for Heather" I smiled as best I could. They both, in unison, said, "It's working" Dr. Lettieri asked me to do that same thing repeatedly. His surgery in February with the cross nerve was starting to show. By their responses, I could tell this was good news; he was happy. Heather has been with me since my 1st diagnosis with breast cancer, and we have become great friends. I can honestly say she has been faithful to the end. She watched as I suffered through chemo, radiation, expansions numerous surgeries she has assisted me with. She was there last year when I was rushed to the hospital in horrible pain, curled up in a fetal position, losing all control of my bodily functions. She stayed with my sisters and helped them to understand what was happening to me. I love her like a sister; I really, really love her. She was happy for me, genuinely happy for this bit of HOPE I was finally feeling.

Dr. Lettieri, Me, and Heather
I love them both.

After Dr. Lettieri gave his pre-op assessments on me, he walked out, and I yelled, "I love you" he answered, "I love you too" I was rolled into the OR and off to my Happy Place in Paris. I seriously don't remember a lot about recovery. I only remember saying I needed to go to the bathroom. In the past, I have not been able to have outpatient surgery because either the surgery required me to be observed for more than a few days or my bladder didn't work. After all, I was under anesthetic for so long. The recovery nurse helped me into the bathroom; when she went to shut the door, I said, "No, don't shut the door" "Honey, don't you want some privacy?" "Heck no, I want you to hear the stream of pee hit the toilet, and all those people in recovery are on drugs they won't remember,"  "She laughed. I immediately pee'd....it was long and loud, and I was proud--she said, "You didn't take any time at all" She helped me back to bed, and I slept for three days. Some funny things happened; that night, Eric woke up, and I wasn't in bed, so he went looking for me, 1st the bathroom, then he went downstairs, no Monya. He said he walked upstairs again to check the bedrooms, but I was asleep in the hall closet. He got a picture of it, but I'm not posting it. The following day I went to the bathroom; Eric said, "A man is coming to fix our cable in the bedroom" I told him OK, but I needed to lay in the bed if that was OK with him. The doorbell rang, and Eric brought the man into our room. I could hear him and Eric talking. I was throwing up on the ground with my head in the toilet. Eric came in and said, "Are you OK? The guy will be done soon"  I don't remember any answer; I just remember continuing to throw up. I fell asleep sitting on the floor in front of the toilet with my head on the seat. He got a laugh out of that one, and no, I'm not posting the pictures. I'm glad to be home but I never want to fall asleep on a toilet seat again.