Pectus Excavatum Blog

It’s now becoming so real! I’m having my pectus excavatum surgery tomorrow!! I felt a little nervousness and anxiety coming on this morning as I was getting ready. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to the hospital! I would be seeing the hospital for the first time, meeting the doctor and nurses, and getting lab work done.

I was so thankful to have my family around me. I have never liked going to see a doctor and have always had anxiety about that, but Dan comforted me and talked me through it. My parents made me laugh. I soon felt much better and anxiety started to fade away.

I saw Dr. Georgeson at about 11:45. He is soooo nice! I really knew he was going to be nice from talking to him on the phone and hearing from my Uncle. He was actually beyond nice! He examined me and said that my pectus excavatum surgery will last about 2 hours. He wanted me to know again that this pectus surgery could have a lot of pain associated with it. He said it’s not that you are old , but typically we like to perform this pectus surgery on 10-11 years olds. As you grow older the cartilage in your chest calcifies and doesn’t like to be moved. He described the pectus surgery to us. The surgery to repair the Pectus Excavatum is called the Nuss Procedure. They will make two incisions on either side of my chest and insert a metal bar made out of steal and nickel. He made sure I wasn’t allergic to nickel because you can’t have the bar inserted if you are. The bar will be curved to fit the chest, inserted under the sternum, then rotated to cause the sternum to pop out away from my heart. It’s fairly simple. They will make adjusted as needed and then I’m good to go! In about 3 years they will take the bar out in a very simple outpatient surgery and my chest should remain the same! Isn’t that amazing? My pectus excavatum surgery will be at 12:30 or so. Four children are in line for surgery before me so the time may vary. We need to be at the hospital at 10:30 to start prepping.

We got to go see my uncle in his Radiology office after the appointment. He was dictating a chart when we walked in. He took us down to the doctor’s cafeteria for lunch. It was lots of fun! I am definitely getting special treatment. My uncle has worked at this hospital for 21 years and has known the doctor that is doing my pectus ecavatum surgery for 25 years. He also knows everyone else there as well. I can’t believe how blessed I am. It was really fun to have lunch with my uncle.

The next step after lunch was answering questions in a tiny office for a lady behind a computer and then having my lab work done. I have always hated needles, but I was very brave and got 2 Bugs Bunny band aids. They took a vial of blood from my arm and then pricked my finger for blood to check my blood type. I’ve never known my blood type, so I’m excited about that.

I felt like it went very well. I was definitely ready to leave, though. It was a long day of sitting and waiting. I can’t imagine how my family will feel tomorrow as they sit and wait through my pectus excavatum surgery! I will be happily sleeping through the whole thing!

I want all my family and friends out there checking this to know how much I love you all! I am thankful for your thoughts, prayers and support! I have felt very loved. You all are the best! I have a huge peace that everything will go wonderfully tomorrow. The Lord has wrapped his arms around me and is comforting me. I know He will be with me as I’m having pectus surgery. I am also thankful for my wonderful family who are around me as well. I am blown away by how blessed I am!

I am going to head off to watch Nacho Libre with my family. I love that movie!!! I have laughed harder at this movie than any other!! For some reason, my whole family laughs hysterically when we see it together. That will be fun. Tomorrow’s the big day!