Sewing Two Mop Heads Together

Exactly two years ago to the day, I had surgery on my ruptured right tricep tendon.  My dad went with me to the outpatient surgery center here in Rochester, New York.  We arrived at 7am.  I had never had surgery before, so all of this was a learning experience.  I was surprised that Dr. Raymond was able to get me into surgery so soon.  After everything that transpired, others have had at least a week or two in-between their injury.  I was in surgery less than 48 hours after my injury.

I checked in at the front desk, filled out some paperwork, and began signing my life away.  Before entering the waiting room I must have signed at least twenty documents.  Similar to when you buy a house, but totally different circumstances.

Once in the waiting room, my name was called after ten minutes.  I said bye to my dad, and went through the double doors.  Not knowing what to expect, I asked my nurse if my dad could come back with me and hang out until my surgery.  She said that was fine.  I do not remember every specific detail immediately before going into the operating room, but I do remember the nurse assigned to me.  She was about 5'5", and ripped.  By ripped, I mean two garden hose veins running through each of her biceps.  I asked her what she trained for, and she said powerlifting and a little bit of figure/bikini competitions.  My mind was put at a little more ease knowing that the person going into surgery with me to help me understood my concern that I may not ever powerlift again.  She had me sign a few more papers, and within an hour of entering the pre-op room, I was ready for surgery.  I told my dad I loved him, and was wheeled off.

When I entered the operating room, I remember it looking like something out of a television show or movie.  I had never been in an operating room before, so television was the only thing I could compare it to.  My nurse put a mask over my face, and told me to take deep breaths like I was getting ready to deadlift.  I don't remember anything after the third breath.

Upon waking up, Dr. Raymond was standing to my right and my dad was sitting to my left.  "It was like sewing two mop heads together."  Those were the first words I remember hearing after waking up.  I asked him what he meant.  He said that my tricep tendon looked like two mop heads.  It took him an hour and a half to sew them back together, in his words.  I asked him how long it would take for me to fully recover.  He said I would probably be able to start lifting again in a few months, depending on how my tricep was healing.  He also said the hole in my tricep would be there for a long time.  I still think I have a hole in my tricep. 

I was able to wait in the recovery room for an hour before being discharged.  My dad and I scheduled an appointment for the following week.  Before leaving, I made sure to thank my powerlifting nurse and the other staff that worked with me that morning.