24 May 1998
Things that completely crack me up:
After having three surgeries in my life, I now officially hate being under anesthesia...more specifically, I hate
waking up from anesthesia. I hate the feeling of being semi-awake, but not being able to fully snap out of it,
and not being able to go back to sleep, either.
Last winter I had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy performed on the same day. The procedures were scheduled as outpatient, meaning I didn't have to stay in the hospital overnight, so I assumed the sedation wouldn't bother me as much as it usually does. Well, after having a tube shoved down my esophagus and one crammed up my...well...my seat, I wasn't feeling too spiffy, and it turned out that the "mild sedative" had rendered me useless. When the doctor was done with his prodding, the nurses left me lying on a gurney in this group recovery room filled with fellow recovering inpatients and summoned Andy to wait with me until I was sober enough to get up and go home. I lolled my head around trying to wake up and act like a lady while Andy rubbed my back and clucked over me.
A bit later, a nurse came by and encouraged me to pass gas, should I feel the need. "Everyone in here has had the same procedure done. You don't have to feel embarrassed. Let it go. It's just room air."
Andy and I exchanged a delighted look, thinking of what the recovery room could potentially sound like should her instructions be followed.
Now, whenever Andy passes gas and I scold him because the ensuing smell is less than pleasant, he looks at me innocently and says, "What? It's just room air."