Frozen

• Cryoablation on 2 liver tumors at Big Barnes with Dr. S

Today definitely didn't go like I thought it would go. As was explained to me prior to the procedure, I was placed under sedation rather than general anesthesia. I was told that it would be a deep sleep like what happens during a colonoscopy and I wouldn't feel or remember anything.

I don't like being awake when they roll me back to a procedure room. I don't like being awake while they move me around into position. I don't like being awake while they hook me up to various machines. I don't like being awake when they are preparing the procedure site. I don't like being awake to hear the conversations in the room. (I'm really not interested to know which resident went to the Muny over the weekend.) I don't like being awake to feel pain during the procedure that brings me to tears. I don't like having a bandage wrap placed across my arms to keep them in a position that is uncomfortable. So in summary, I did not like today.

After the procedure, I woke up in my patient room and I was in a lot of pain. It took a couple of hours to get it under control. The resident explained that because of the location of the tumors, very close to the diaphragm, that I could expect more pain than "normal". Whatever normal is.