Surgery on Deck... Day 20 @ Northwestern...

After giving me numerous medications and running numerous tests for the past 20 days, the decision had finally been made that for the time being, the best treatment was the surgery to place the feeding tube more permanently in my stomach to my intestine, rather than thru my nose (a little more attractive at least).
The morning after making the decision with the consult of family, friends, Rabbi's, and Dr's, I met the team of surgeons that would be involved in my case. Dr. Alex Nagle's nurse and co-surgeons came to see me VERY EARLY in the morning to see me and explain in brief about the surgery and when we anticipated it taking place. I was told I'd be on the schedule for the following day at 930am.
A little more than 24 hours to really reflect on what had taken place the previous 20 days and what was going to take place in the next phase of this process. A feeding tube... It was difficult for me to grasp the idea of having a feeding tube more permanently and relying on that solely for my nutrition as we continued to try and find the cause of these symptoms that had hit me so hard. What was my daily life going to be like? How was this going to affect my work at A-Z INDUSTRIES ? (This is a perfect opportunity to say THANK YOU to everyone at A-Z who has been behind me 100% thru this difficult time and times I'd encounter ahead!!!) When would this supposed viral-gastroparesis (gastroparesis is the paralysis of the stomach functions which causes a delay in stomach emptying and passing of liquids) reverse itself ? So many questions that would flow thru my head, that this day before the surgery was probably the most difficult of all to this point.
That afternoon after meeting Dr. Nagle's team in the morning, I was able to meet Dr. Nagle himself. He was an extremely nice guy who was extremely sensitive to my situation and was sure to re-assure me that everything was going to be OK. I asked him a few questions about the procedure and he explained it all from start to finish. I was re-assured by Dr. Nagle, yet still nervous for the next day's 930am surgery.
The night before the surgery I was sure to read thru my prayer book about healing and surgery, I met with the anesthesiologist and signed all the consent forms necessary for the surgery, and cried a little bit in fear. I slept very little this night (I think I watched "Knocked Up" and "Harry Potter" all night until the routine 6am blood draw that was my wake-up call) and was constantly thinking. The clock was ticking until the surgery.
My parents arrived the morning of the surgery around 630am (as they did for the entire 31 days I would be hospitalized for). I read my prayer book again. We talked and tried to not dwell on what was about to happen. I still shed some tears as 930am was getting closer. 945am and Transport arrives to take me downstairs to Pre-Op. As I'm getting loaded onto the cart to go down, my team of Dr's arrive to see me before the surgery. 1 thing you must know is that the Transport people don't wait for anything or anyone. When the patient is ready they take off. So my Dr's ran next to us in the halls wishing me luck as Transport, my family and I entered the elevator to go downstairs.
So there I am waiting in Pre-Op, for how long I didn't know. The nurse asked me a few questions and hooked me up to the IV bag, and told me that it should be within the half hour or so and I'd be going in. Time felt like it lasted forever. A half hour came and went. No action. The nurse came over to tell my family and I that they were still tied up in procedure and should hopefully be "closing" soon. At 11am Dr. Nagle's team came out to see me in Pre-Op. They re-assured me that all would be OK, and put the black "X" in marker on my abdomen where they would be doing the surgery. After that, the Anesthesiologists came out to see me. They gave me a nice shot of Valium to help calm my nerves. Then Dr. Nagle himself came out to see me and meet my family. He was so nice and re-assuring. I remember him vividly saying to both my parents and I, "I'm sorry that I have to do this surgery to a 27 year old, but it'll be my pleasure to take it out as soon as possible." I was ready to go.
I said goodbye and kissed my parents. And I was wheeled into the freezing cold, bright fluorescent lights known as the Operating Room. Here it goes. Take a few deep breaths of some oxygen and funny medicine and you're sleeping for the next 3 hours as the surgery takes place. Waking up extremely fatigued and in pain in the Recovery Room, where I'd spend a few hours before returning to #1404 for the night.
I got up to my room around 5pm. I saw my parents, my nurse and I was sleeping. It was over...