I’m back home, fine n well, albeit for some pain in my left knee. The op ystd was way much later than I thought. There was a delay n my intended B2 ward is full, so I got transferred to the B1 ward, which is air-conditioned n comes with a little TV. Got pushed into the operating theatre at 2pm. Dunno why, the air-con in the OT is damn cold. I was wearing this thin layer of operation “robe”, a shower cap n absolutely nothing else underneath that thin layer of cloth. Unlucky as I am, the nurse failed to find my vein on the back of my left hand. She inserted the 3cm long needle n freaking maneuvered it under my skin to find the vein. The doc came, saw the pain I was under n took over the job. He found another vein in my left forearm. I don’t blame the nurse though. Usually, I have massive veins popping out under my skin, but the air-con was too cold that they all collapsed, which made the job tougher for the nurse.

The doc gave me 2 little doses of anesthetic initially. I could feel its effect almost immediately. It was strong, but not good enough to knock me out. Then the doc smiled said “Still dun wanna fall asleep?” .He then pushed my bed under the huge lights at the surgery area n gave me the last n largest dose. A nurse put an oxygen mask over my face n I breathed slowly, looking at the lights above me. Soon, I gave up keeping awake n went to sleep.

When I woke up, it was already 5pm. The surgery was completed an hour ago. I could hear the nurse talking to me. “Wai Lay, how are u feeling? Is it painful?” she said. I gathered all the strength I could n blurted out “I’m ok…” The sleeping effect was still there. I still couldn’t open my eyes fully n was half conscious when they pushed me back to my ward. Mum was there, waiting for me in my room.

I felt weak, sleepy n painful. My left leg was being bandaged heavily, I had no idea how my knee looked. Went back to sleep instantly after lying on my bed in the ward. When I woke up again an hour later, sis was here. Felt really nauseous, I couldn’t eat anything. The nurse said it’s normal after a surgery. So yup, I skipped dinner but sipped down half a glass of water slowly. The water didn’t help. I threw up twice in a span of 5minutes. All the water I had drank got expelled out of my body.

Looking at how bad my shape was, the nurse gave me a anti-vomiting jab. Felt better afterwards but was still weak n sleepy. Drifted in n out of sleep while I tried to watch the TV programmes to keep my mind off the pain. I could barely move my left leg.

Dad came by at around 10pm to fetch mum n sis home. There I was, alone in the dark n cold ward. I couldn’t keep my mind off her. The moment the largest dose got injected into me, I thought of her. The moment I opened my eyes after surgery, I thought of her.

SMSed her at 1am, but the reply I was waiting for the whole night didn’t come. How I wish she was there at the moment to hold my hand.

Morning came really slow, made worse by the waiting. I had to be helped to the toilet by the nurse. Never felt so helpless b4. Had my breakfast at 9am. That was the 1^st time I put food into my stomach for 37hrs. I felt fine, at least not throwing up anymore. The doc came shortly after my meal n assessed my condition. He said I could be discharged by noon today.

So ya, the nurse came n took out the huge bandage. I saw 2 holes on my knee, being stitched up. The sight was not that horrifying, better than I 1^st thought. Went for physiotherapy afterwards to see how well I can cope with the surgery.

I walked slowly, one step at a time, without any help. Then, I did some minor exercises to strengthen the muscles. The physiotherapist was amazed n said I have very well developed quadriceps. Yeah, nice muscles, but I still run like a tortoise. She foresee that I can start running slowly very soon.

Went back to my ward, waited for mum, received my medicine n I was ready to be discharged. I don’t need any crutches but I’ll have to be really careful when I walk.

So here I am, limping in pain with every step I take. Thank god the pain is bearable. Hope the pain will get less severe soon. Christmas is sure going to be spent at home. Like what the nurse said before I left: “Wai Lay, no partying during this Christmas ah, n definitely no alcohol for u.”

Can’t wait to walk properly again to be able to see u…