Victoria's Pectus Repair

The night before your surgery, you'll probably be nervous, but there's nothing to fear. The night before, the surgeons will probably ask you to wipe your body down with disinfectant towels. Although my surgery was three years ago, I distinctly remember this because it makes your entire body itch and in some areas, burn. Also, try to get a good nights rest.

On the day of your surgery, they will get you prepared by taking your vitals, measuring you, etc. You then meet with the anesthesiologist, who will tell you a little about what being under anesthesia is like and will then make you choose a flavor of anesthesia gas to have. Although they have super interesting flavors of anesthesia, you never get to taste it because they put you to sleep with a liquid, which is actually really easy.

In what feels like seconds, you are awake with the bar(s) in your chest! Although you may not feel the same when you wake up, I woke up feeling pretty groggy and in pain. I slept for the rest of that day basically. The next day was a little different- the doctors make you get up and try walking. The walking is probably going to be the worst pain you'll feel during this process, but as time goes on, it gets better. You will also be exhausted the second day as well, but most of this is due to the drugs the doctor prescribes to you.

Personally, I stayed in the hospital for a week and a half because the morphine reacted poorly with me. I began to throw up often due to it. My sister had quite the opposite reaction and was fine by the end of the week. She was walking fine and she did not get sick from the medicine. After discharge from the hospital, your body takes a while to adjust to actions. I slept on a reclining couch for over a month since I was unable to sleep flat and I was also homeschooled by my teachers for two months so that I didn’t fall behind on work. Looking back on my surgery and recovery, I realize that it wasn’t bad and wasn’t something to fear.