So after sharing my surgery news with my colleagues today, I went ahead and stopped by to have my pre-op testing done.

I started at the lab where I got stabbed in both arms (poor young kid didn’t have much luck with my left arm), had to pee in a cup, and have a swab up my nose.  Good times.  I’m pretty sure I’ll have a mighty bruise to show for his digging around in my elbow-pit before finally switching to my right arm.  The nose swab thing was a MRSA screening test.

My next stop was radiology where I had 10 stickers attached to various body parts, and then probes attached to those, and 30 or so seconds later she pulled them all off.  And that was my EKG.

I don’t have any other pre-op testing to do, so I’m glad that’s been checked off the list anyway.  I’m now under doctors orders to stay off all medications and supplements that are known blood thinners.  I don’t generally take a lot, but the Vitamin E supplements, and my random use of aleve.  Apparently most of the NSAIDS like aleve, motrin, etc. are a no-no pre-surgery.  So I’m relegated to tylenol for the next couple of weeks if I need to take something.  I generally avoid taking much anyway, so it shouldn’t be much of a challenge.  I have a pretty high pain tolerance, and I’ve been living with chronic aches and pains my whole adult life, and so I generally only take something during a bad pain flare.   I also went ahead and cancelled my physical therapy appointment that was scheduled for later this week.  I figured I would just save that co-pay for my recovery time in a couple months when I will be doing the rehabilitation side of recovery and in there a couple times a week for a while.

So now I just have to continue to tackle my to-do list to make sure I’m as prepared as possible before going in for surgery.  A bit of random cleaning projects, a batch of lotion and probably some salve, cooking ahead and freezing leftovers, and making sure I have a back up supply of toiletries and paper goods since I won’t be able to stop and pick stuff up on the way home for a couple of weeks.  It’s not unlike planning for a vacation – making lists, packing stuff, cleaning stuff, etc.  It’s just the destination is a hospital bed and then my couch for a few weeks.

The verse I’ve chosen for today is Psalm 20:4 May He give you the desires of your heart, and may all your plans succeed.

My desire today is to be free of radiating nerve pain, muscle spasms, and grinding bones so that I may serve my Lord with greater focus.  I desire to be a blessing to those around me, and to serve with kindness.

What is your hearts desire today?