Surgery...again

YES
Before surgery they asked Russell to mark the area where they would be doing surgery. He put an X on it, but they said, “No, we need you to mark it with YES.” So, therefore he had an X and a YES on his arm. Also, they had to shave his arm before surgery. He felt like he was like so many young people who shave their arms all the time.


BAIR PAW
This was a new facility and they had these new “hospital gowns” called “Bair Paws.” They looked like regular hospital gowns but made out of a paper material and not fabric. They could be heated up and used like a heating blanket. They would hook a tube right into the gown and heat would flow through and keep the patients warm. You could adjust the heat yourself…high or low. It was quite awesome. Never a cold patient again.

Testing, testing... Finally after 9 months Russell can move his left arm properly so he can play his guitar!

Patriotic or Utes?...you decide.

Surgery
Utah Valley Outpatient Center

Provo, Utah

Last June, Russell’s bicep tendon on his left arm snapped and he had to have surgery to reattach it. As a result of that surgery a “new” bone grew that caused problems with the movement of his arm. He wasn’t able to supinate (palm up) or pronate (palm down), which also meant that he wasn’t able to play his guitar. Well, the doctor told us that the bone needed to fully mature and then they would go in and remove it. It was finally time and so here is the run down of events.

Day 1: Russell needed to be to the Utah Valley Outpatient Center at 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2009. Of course he was early (who's early to a 6:15 a.m. appointment?). The process went very smoothly and very professional. I stayed with him as they prepped him for surgery and at 7:30 they wheeled him into the operating room. At about 9:30 he came back to his little room directly from the recovery room. He was blessed with a young, spunky nurse by the name of Jen. During the next 2 ½ hour, Russell and Jen had fun being smart aleck’s to each other. Russell would dish it out and Jen would dish it right back. It was quite humorous. Anyway…when he came back from recovery he was quite sleepy. Doctor Curtis Johnson came by and checked Russell's movement in his fingers and thumb. Russell was able to move them just fine and Doctor Johnson said that everything went well. He had to make a larger incision then expected though. At about 10:30 they took Russell back to another room to give him a “block” in his shoulder area. This was supposed to block the pain for 12-24 hours. At noon we were on our way home. Once we were home he laid down and rested a few times throughout the day.

Day 2: We expected the block to possibly wear off during the night, but it didn’t! He slept well throughout the night. He felt just fine all day long and he didn’t need to take any pain medication! He went and ran errands with me during the day. He took a good nap later in the afternoon. We were very pleased with how well he seemed to be doing.

Day 3 & 4: Russell has to take medicine for 30 days to prevent any new bone of growing and it has many side effects, of which Russell as lots such as: dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, headaches, constipation, fatigue, and ringing in the ears.

Day 5: Russell went to the doctor in the morning to get a release form so he could go back to work. While he was there, the doctor removed the original bandage and put a red removable cast on. To me it looks patriotic with the white straps and navy trim, but to Tyson it shouts University of Utah Ute’s all over it. The doctor also told him to stop taking the bone medication and just to take Motrin, because it has the same ingredients, but without the many side effects.