Thank you for the kind words @marybird.
I think you are absolutely correct about the nail polish. It's just I was surprised, and totally get it. Mayo is very precise about everything they do and they wouldn't want anything to go wrong. It's not everyday you have open heart surgery!
You sound like you have been through quite a journey yourself. And here you are! Helping others on Connect. It's a blessing!
The pain management thing was puzzling to me. I did receive half of something, Oxy? Norco? Not sure. Just half of one in ICU, and I got a little itchy. They decided no more and from then on it was only Extra Strength Tylenol the rest of my stay. For the terrible back pain, I was given a lidocaine patch that I could only have once every 12 hours. It didn't do much of anything either. But I must be tough, because I got through this on Tylenol. And started Advil the day I got out! I do not like taking pain meds, but in this case I think I would have accepted any side effects in exchange for mercy! It's okay, because it's all behind me now as you said!