Surgery Eve

The count down is now on. Tomorrow morning I will be entering Bethesda Hospital, hopefully for the last time, to get the hook plate removed from my shoulder.

To say I am looking forward to it would be an understatement. It is strange to be looking forward to surgery, but I definitely am. Well, perhaps not the surgery so much, but the outcome of that surgery. I have lots of questions about post-op, like will there be any weakness, do I need to be careful, how quickly can I return to training? The list goes on for quite some time. I guess they are all questions that will have to wait until I am in there and I have a chance to chat to Dr Hewitt. Whatever the rehab looks like though, at least the plate will be out and I can make a start. That is the main thing.

There are so many things I am looking forward to once the plate is out. Firstly will be sleeping on my side. Oh how I miss sleeping on my side. That is probably the first thing I will do after surgery.
Reaching above my head is something else that I am looking forward to. Swimming is definitely on that list as well, although that will probably have to wait until a week or so post surgery until the wound in my shoulder is healed. Using aerobars probably deserves a mention too. Just generally doing things without pain will also be nice.

In many ways it feels like the last 14 weeks have gone by in a bit of a blur. It kind of feels like I only got the plate put in the other day. On the flip side though, when I think about it I realise that the plate has been in there long enough to kind of become the norm. When I think back on recent experiences most of them include the plate. Those memories make me realise it has been in there for longer than it feels.

The whole shebang kicks off tomorrow morning at 6:30 and I should be out and clear by around lunch time. Unfortunately surgery means a complete fast from tonight, which is probably one of my least favourite parts of this process. It does mean that first post surgery coffee is extra nice though.

Can't wait.