I had battery replacment surgery yesterday morning at University of Colorado Hospital. Most of you know that I had deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's Disease in Sacramento in May 2005. Every three to five years or so, when the DBS battery gets low, it must be replaced through surgery. It's my 3rd battery, and this time it's the Activa PC battery, which includes a new and improved DBS patient programmer.
For some reason, this time the recovery seems slow (it's only been a day!) and painful. It feels like I have a have been stabbed in the chest followed by a gunshot wound to finish me off. I am so macho that when the doctor asked me upon discharge "You don't want a prescription for any pain medication, do you?" my response was an adamant "NO!" I'm an idiot!!!!!!
I no longer experience device-envy with this new battery. Right now, it feels like device-impatience.
I've been fortunate to be one of those people who seldom experiences physical pain. At the doctors' appointments when asked about pain level from zero to ten, I usually respond with "zero" or "one." I'm impatient with pain, deny it and minimize it.
Singer, Carly Simon says it best with "I haven't got time for the pain."
Addendum:
Two days after surgery I feel much better than I did yesterday, one day post-op. I have Advil PM to thank for a good night's sleep, the purchase of a new bra for my sore body and sheep skin seat belt covers for the car to protect my wounded and bruised chest.
Related Article: Device Envy at: http://katekelsall.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/09/device-envy.html
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