A selection from
by William Martin
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this is page 174
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After my medical Margarita, I would be
wheeled to the preparation room and an epidural
catheter would be inserted into my back, next to
the spinal cord. This would be the primary conduit
of the painkillers I would receive, applying
them at the point of greatest need rather than
flooding my entire system with drugs. He touted
this as a great innovation in pain management
that would not only eliminate most of the pain
formerly associated with this operation, but
would do so without making me feel too dopey.
It would remain in place for several days and I
would be able to punch a button and administer a
dose of painkiller whenever I needed it. During
the operation itself, I would also be given a general
anesthetic, first through an IV and then through
a tube in my throat. I could expect to feel some
soreness in my throat afterward, but this would
quickly pass.
My hand surgeries had all been scheduled for
the early morning, and I knew that Dr. Scardino
was usually through by noon. I was surprised,
then, when the anesthesiologist told me they
would come get me about 11:00 A.M. and that the
operation would start about noon. "You're his
second patient of the day," he explained. So that
was how I managed to get on his schedule.
"Will that be a problem?" I asked, not wanting
my surgeon to be at less than his best.
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