Saturday we decided to take a spur-of-the-moment trip to Devil's Den since it was only going to be in the lower 50's (Farenhight) and since we have been wanting to test out our cold weather hammocks, it was a perfect time. It was such a beautiful day and we loved the drive. Only 2.5 hours away from our apartment, we were able to make it with plenty of time before it was dark. This was one of those places where there was no cell phone or internet coverage so we really had a chance to disconnect.
Between that and the night sky being so clear, the stars were so bright, and the full moon was so beautiful it gave us an amazing night under the trees and stars.
Waking up at 4 am on Sunday morning, we headed out to find breakfast. We found the temperature for the day was going to be going from 53 degrees Farenhight to 31 degrees, the decision to just head home was made. Being in Fayetteville, AR, we would be going through Prairie Grove so we stopped at the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. It was a nice stop as we were heading home and gave us another Arkansas State Park to mark off the list.
By the time we arrived home from our short trip, I was in full blown cold mode. I am unsure where this cold came from but it was there complete with sniffling, sneezing, and sore throat. I hope to think it was not because we slept under the stars; however, a cold is a virus that is spread by tiny droplets when people sneeze and/or cough. So, it is safe to say, I touched something that had these virus droplets on it and somehow got it in my eyes, nose, or mouth.
As for Scott's hand, this was something we knew about going into the weekend. Knowing that he would be down for a short while, we wanted to do a little something fun. Unfortunately, Scott suffers from travel boredom. He wants to be on-the-go all the time and if he is not traveling, he is pacing back and forth throughout the apartment driving me crazy. Because of this and knowing he will be down, I wanted us to do something fun. I hope he can make it the next few days without me killing him.
This brings us to today, Monday, November 26; surgery day. Scott has what's called a "trigger finger." This is where the finger catches or locks into a bent position. It is not a dangerous thing; it is just more annoying than anything. After dealing with this issue for a while, the doctor and Scott decided surgery would be the thing to do. This surgery is mainly outpatient and only take a few minutes to perform. Scott's arm at the shoulder was "blocked" so he could feel nothing and he is put into a "twilight" state.
"Twilight anesthesia is an anesthetic technique that uses mild doses of drugs to block pain, reduce anxiety, and provide a temporary memory loss, thus enabling patients to feel comfortable during and after surgical procedures. With twilight anesthesia a patient is sedated but remains conscious in what’s commonly referred to as a “twilight state”. The patient is sleepy but still responsive and able to follow direction or communicate with their surgeon. Typically, a local anesthetic that’s applied to the surgical site is used in conjunction with twilight anesthesia to ensure a pain-free experience for the patient."
Once he has been put into the twilight state, IV set up and transported to the surgical room, the doctor can proceed with the surgery without worry about any discomfort to the patient, well, Scott, in this situation. The surgeon makes a small cut at the base of the finger where the hand creases and then the tendon will be trimmed where it is causing the issue. Once finished, the cut is closed and the short surgery is over. It takes much longer to prep the patient than it does to perform the surgery; approximately a six-minute surgery!
Over the next few days, I am resting, drinking plenty of water, and helping Scott while he keeps his hand above his heart (keeping the swelling down) and begins to bend the finger throughout the next few days. Yes, we are recuperating from the weekend with plenty of rest.
Remember, Get Out and Live Life Outside Your Box...
You know we are... Once we are feeling better.
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