The surgery was done yesterday as planned. Matt got in around 1 or so and we just hung out until it was time to go. I went to the Outpatient Wing with Matt and Dad at 2:45 and got registered. At 3:15 or so they called me back into a prepping room and allowed Matt to come with me. I swapped my clothes for the robe, hairnet and paper shoes they gave me and for the next hour and a half or so, Matt and I basically talked as we waited. Once in a while the nurses and doctors who were going to do the operation came in to introduce themselves and tell me briefly what was going to happen-- I made it clear that in order for me to stay relaxed I needed to know exactly what was going on, and they did a good job keeping me informed. Everyone seemed really friendly and thoughtful. A little before 4:45 they put an IV into the back of my left wrist and used it to give me fluids as well as two medications to keep me from getting nauseous from the anaesthesia. A few minutes before the surgery I started growing a little nervous, and they gave me a drug of some kind through the IV to help me relax. It went exactly as they said it would-- I don't remember anything past getting wheeled out of the prep room, about 30 seconds or so after they gave me that drug, although they told me I talked with the doctor and helped get myself situated on the operating table until they gave me the other stuff to knock me out completely. I woke up very slowly in the recovery ward, and once I was moderately responsive they wheeled me into another room where my family could meet me. According to the nurses I came out of it much quicker and easier than most people they see, though I figure that has something to do with the fact that walking into the waiting room of the hospital, we almost thought we'd stumbled into a retirement home. The nurses told me everything went normally, took out the IV and let me get dressed, and then helped me to the car so we could go home. Around 6:30 or so I had a little soup for dinner and then went straight to bed, waking up every few hours to have another painkiller.

I didn't wake up until 10:30 or so this morning, and spent the entire day napping or just relaxing on the couch and watching TV. Matt just left around an hour go... He was by my side just about every single minute he was here, except for when I was in the actual surgery, and helped me with absolutely everything... He was totally and completely there for me. I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't been there. I'm so insanely grateful to have him.

As for the wound itself, it hurts like fucking hell, naturally. They didn't go in through my scrotum but actually through the right side of my abdomen, several inches above it. I have no idea why. Whenever I walk it feels like someone is trying to stab off my right leg at the hip, and it looks so strange and disgusting. They told me it should be feeling a lot better after a couple more days, though, and I go back Thursday so they can remove the clear tape on it and tell me how it's healing. We'll see how it goes.