My wife and I arrived to the clinic Monday at noon, one hour before the scheduled time of the surgery. I was without eating or drinking since midnight the day before. After filling some more forms they called me to get changed into a purple robe wearing only underwear. There were also matching socks and a cafeteria style hat made of a white net. The room was very cold. As I struggled to place my clothes in a plastic bag I removed my glasses abruptly and accidentally scratched my nose which started to bleed profusely. Somehow I managed to stop the bleeding with my hands and get ready before the nurse showed up to place an IV in my left arm. I then asked to go to the bathroom to wash my bloody hands. My wife and a friend joined me to wish me well. The doctor explained the procedure and signed "Yes" in my left leg in two places. Then came the anesthesiologist, a big guy who pulled a chair and started to tell me how he broke his Achilles ten years back playing basketball. He seemed to walk normal so that was encouraging. Soon after they took me to the operating room and placed some sticky electrodes in my upper body while checking again which leg was the "right" one. Immediately the anesthesiologist got to work and told me I was going to feel like a double margarita running through my veins. A cool sensation invaded my arm and that was it... I woke up and my wife was there...it was done. I had a soft cast in my leg. She told me that the doctor was surprised to see that my Achilles was not completely ruptured, which was great because they did not need to pull the tendon together. This means an easier recovery. That was what I needed to hear. Then a nurse took me to the car in a wheelchair. At least that is how I think I got to the car... It was about four pm and we were heading back home.
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