Anatomy Lesson

On Thursday morning Dad drove me to the Baldwin Park Kaiser where I was scheduled for a bilateral meniscectomy (not to be confused with mastectomy). I checked in, met with multiple medical personnel who made SURE I wasn't allergic to anything and that it was, in fact, a bilateral procedure. An IV was started and "happy juice" (as the semi-annoying-yet-jovial anesthesiologist called it) was pumped into my body. It was indeed *ahem* HAPPY JUICE.

The deal was that if my right (and more painful) knee needed repairing, a.k.a. stitching, then only the right would be worked on due to the long 2-3 month recovery. But, if my right meniscus could be trimmed, a much less invasive process that doesn't require internal stitching, then the doctor would move on to the left leg.

I would only find out if one or both were done in the recovery room. The hardest thing for me coming out of anesthesia has always been opening my eyes. I can hear what others say and feel the pain of my knee(s)...but the physical act of lifting my eyelids is pretty impossible. So, with my eyes closed I felt my legs and found that they were both wrapped. Dad informed me that my right knee needed trimming of the medial and lateral meniscus along with the removal of debris that formed and scar tissue that developed. My left just required trimming of the medial meniscus.

I am recovering at my parent's and will be for the next few days. I'm hooked up to two ice machines with a ready supply of happy medicine, water and soda crackers.