Following the preparation conducted by the nursing staff for the surgical procedure, I was transported to a designated recovery and preparation area for the administration of a nerve block. During this time, I was given a sedative, colloquially referred to as "happy juice," after which the nerve block was administered. My recollection of this moment is somewhat limited. Subsequently, I was moved into the operating room, transferred from the bed to a narrower surgical table, and I have no further memories until I regained consciousness in the recovery room.

The Day of Lisa’s Shoulder Surgery
(April 6, 2026)
The morning got off to an earlier start than expected. The hospital called around 8 AM asking if
we could come in sooner due to schedule adjustments — and since we were pretty much ready,
we headed out. Check-in at Zeeland Hospital was smooth since most of it had been handled
online, and we were directed straight back to pre-op. Nurses ran through all the standard
checks, the anesthesiologist came in to go over the procedure, and everything was in order.
They took Lisa back at 9:50 — nearly an hour ahead of the scheduled 10:45 start.
I settled into the waiting area with a coffee and my phone. The room had a big electronic status
board tracking all the procedures — which I photographed so I wouldn’t lose track of things as
they unfolded. I didn’t know which number was Lisa’s at first, but a helpful nurse sorted that out
quickly, handing me a card with her number and assigned post-op room. The board showed
surgery wrapping up at 12:45, and within five minutes someone came to bring me up. Lisa was
wheeled in right as I arrived. Along the way I’d also snapped photos of the whiteboards in both
the prep and recovery rooms — a handy way to keep all the details straight in the moment.
About four hours total from arrival to recovery room — as smooth as you could hope for. The
nerve block held well through the afternoon, and Lisa’s first Percocet came around 7 PM as it
began to wear off. After talking it over, I headed home for the night, fed the boys (Teddy & Chai),
and sat down to watch the NCAA Championship — which ended perfectly, with our beloved
Maize and Blue Wolverines taking the title.

On Monday night, while in the hospital, I had the thrill of watching Michigan clinch the National Championship in basketball! Go Blue! 🏀〽️

It’s been one week since my reverse shoulder replacement surgery, so I wanted to share a quick update. Overall, things are going well. My pain levels still have their ups and downs, but I’m gradually improving each day. I’ve started transitioning off Percocet and am now managing more with Tylenol, which feels like a big step forward.

I’m still wearing my sling full-time, only taking it off for showers. I’m hoping that might change after my post-op appointment next week. That visit should also give me the green light to start physical therapy, which I’m really looking forward to.

Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit restless—ready to move more instead of sitting around all day. I did get outside briefly yesterday to look over a few things that need to be done on the trailer to get ready for the upcoming season, which felt good.

I’ve also been keeping an eye on my blood pressure, as it’s been running a little low since surgery. And at home, the dogs are definitely confused having me around all the time… they’re not quite sure what to make of it!

In the ten days since my surgery, I've been sleeping relatively well, and my pain has significantly decreased. However, since discontinuing the opioid pain medication, I’ve encountered a new challenge. Last night was particularly difficult; I felt restless and only managed to get about four hours of sleep.

I reached out to my surgeon, who assured me that what I’m experiencing is normal. I just want to return to a restful sleep once again.

Two weeks post-operative, I attended my first appointment with the orthopedic doctor and physician assistant. They removed the bandage to examine my incision, which they confirmed looked good. After taking X-rays, I received positive feedback on those as well. I was advised to continue using the sling for two more weeks before gradually weaning off it. My next appointment is scheduled for four weeks from now, after which I will begin physical therapy twice a week for approximately 12 weeks.

After the doctor's visit, we explored the tulips at Water on the Waterfront and Centennial Park, capturing stunning photographs along the way. It was refreshing to stroll through the gardens. We also drove down Washington Avenue, recording a video of the tulips lining the boulevard. It felt great to get out and enjoy the scenery.

After experiencing low blood pressure both in the hospital and at home during the first ten days, I was advised to discontinue all my blood pressure medications. Now that my blood pressure has stabilized, we are reintroducing one of the medications, but I must continue monitoring my levels closely. If they drop too low again, I will need to consult my primary doctor.

Overall, I’m feeling quite good!

At three weeks post-surgery, I’m feeling quite good. By the fourth week, my doctor advised that I could start to wean off the sling. I’ve been taking it off for a few hours each day when I'm not engaged in any activities, and it feels great to have that freedom. However, I still wear it at night.

This week, the only concern has been my blood pressure. My primary care physician recommended that I reintroduce one of my blood pressure medications into my routine. I’ve done that and have been monitoring my blood pressure, which is currently on the lower end of normal. I contacted my doctor today, and we’ve decided to maintain my current course while keeping an eye on the situation. He believes that as I become more active, my medication may need to be adjusted.

I'm feeling quite good at the four-week mark post-op. My blood pressure has been fluctuating, but mostly on the normal side. I've started to wean off the sling during the day, and it's feeling comfortable. This past weekend, I enjoyed a lot of walking at the Tulip Festival with family on Saturday and attended a craft show on Sunday. Overall, I felt great—though I did get tired and my feet were sore, my arm felt good. I have just two more weeks until my six-week post-op appointment, after which physical therapy will begin. I must admit, I'm a bit nervous about that.