My Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery Day! HSS ❤️‍🩹 Dr Gulotta

February 8th, I started fasting. I woke up at 6:30 AM knowing I had to get up to make sure I ate, so I could stop eating by 8:00 AM. I made a big omelet with four eggs and milk, and some veggies. I had a cup of high protein Chobani yogurt, topped with strawberries and some cacao nibs, and a little bit of granola. I had a cup of coffee. And a nice big hot tea with creamer, and that really kept me full.

I received communion at Mass at 11:00 AM, and then I just drank water. Stopped drinking water about 9:30, went to bed, woke up at 4:00 AM.

I took a shower and we got in the car, we headed to HSS, parked in the parking garage across from the ambulatory HSS office. We walked right in. Everyone was amazing. There was one woman there ahead of me checking in. Then I was checked in.

The woman at the desk was absolutely amazing. A third patient walked in, he was really rushed and kind of annoying, and I could hear him in the room next to me. This was like his seventh surgery, but he kind of barged in when I was at the desk. That was the only kind of weird vibe. But other than that, they explained everything so thoroughly, so calmly. It was just so nice.

Then the nurse brought me back into the pre-op. Niel waited and they were extremely caring with him as well. They explained that they would get me ready and then he could come back and sit with me until operation. They also gave him a card with my patient ID on it so he could follow on the screen in the waiting room.

The sweet young nurse also got me started with another nurse, Eric. They were both incredible, the two of them. They pre-oped me with the urine sample, and then they got me into my gown, they explained everything. They put any items I brought into a bag that went to post-surgery. They bathed my arm and they shaved any hair, so gently though, like everything was so gentle. Then the other nurse got the IV prick into my right hand. They emphasized over and over again in such a calm way that they knew I had the nickel allergy, so they put me at so much ease with that. The whole experience was just so professional. It is what you hope. All of your medical experience is an interactions to be like. From booking appointments, to front desk, to the nurses, to the surgeon!

An incredibly nurse, Eric, assured me Dr Gulotta was the best. He did all of the “high profile” shoulders. ☺️🤩 And they all said if they were to go with anyone for shoulder, he’s the one. I smiled and laughed. Great to hear. My instincts are on. And he wasn’t the first employee to assure me of that!

Another doctor came in to go over my pain management after surgery, reviewed the medications they had already called in to CVS that we actually had already picked up. They explained the nerve block. Then the anesthesiologist came in. He was incredible. He said they were gonna give me just the general anesthesia, not totally knocked out and intubated or whatever, with the mask and all. So it was just through the IV, and they put the nerve block in when I was under, so I didn’t feel anything. The nerve block is just wearing off and this is the next morning. He was just so thorough and so kind and said he would be with me the entire time.

Then Dr. Gulotta came in again. He was just to the point and thorough and all so open and just kind, and went over what we were gonna be doing. We’re gonna be removing all the arthritis, all the bone spurs, putting in the all titanium shoulder replacement, the new ball and socket, all titanium. And again, he emphasized, “We know you have the nickel allergy and that’s why there will be no nickel.” He said while he was in there, he would clean up any bicep tendonitis or any other tears, which is what happened.

LAt that point Niel had been with me too, like they did the simple pre-op and then they brought Neil in to the waiting area pre-surgery. So Neil was with me when all those three, the three doctors, including the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and pain management, were in there with me.

Then we said goodbye and they rolled me into the operating room, which was probably the scariest part. Just tons of staff in scrubs. There’s four or five operating rooms right in a row. I went to operating room one. They moved me onto the bed, which looked like a beach chair, they called it. That’s a little overwhelming, the operating room. Just so movie like, they had music playing and all the equipment was out. Quickly the anesthesiologist said, “We’re just gonna get you right under. You’re not gonna remember anything till you wake up.” And that was it. And that’s what happened.

I woke up a little groggy in the recovery room. I think my last thought was something about the basketball girls, like, “Don’t hurt them,” ’cause our last game was really rough. It took a while for it to wear off.

I guess in the surgery, which Dr. Gulotta explained to Niel and then to me in a follow-up call. He wasn’t thrilled. When he opened up the tools, there was a biofilm. He didn’t like the look of it and so he didn’t accept the package. He sent it back for another one, so that added an extra little bit of time, but I totally respect that thoroughness.

When I was ready they called Neil back and he sat with me and then he went and got the car when I was ready. They made sure I wasn’t sick. The ride home couldn’t have been smoother. The nerve block, again, was absolutely incredible and I didn’t feel a thing. The traffic at that time of day wasn’t terrible. Getting out of the city always is the FDR there to Harlem River Drive to the bridge. But it was smooth. I got home, I was in bed. I didn’t feel anything so it was just lay in bed and rest while you can. So that’s that. That was surgery day and I went to sleep about 9:00.

Woke up this morning with the girls about 6:00 AM. Still my fingers started to move and feeling’s coming back. Now it’s 10:15. It’s about 24 hours and definitely feeling more pain than I did as of yet. But it’s not in the joint, like all that joint pain that I had been living with is just gone. But there’s definitely a soreness going down my bicep and I’m just gonna try to get some more rest now.

I am taking the non-narcotic pain medication. I’m taking a Naproxen. I took a baby aspirin. I have Tylenol to have with lunch and I did take one heavier pain med just now just to, like, ’cause I feel the pain setting in. I’m also using the cryotherapy machine, which is incredible. For now, I’m happy I’ve done it. I went through it and HSS is incredible. I sent Dr. Gulotta a quick message last night after I got his voicemail and he sent back a message this morning. Just great to hear. “Sounds like a great recovery so far.” “Let us know if you need anything.” So, all is well.