Op Day - 10/6/15
Some recollections about the process on the day I want to record before I forget. The process I had at Walsall was to arrive at the ‘arrivals lounge’ at the hospital for 0700. All patients for ops start out there. One by one we were called in and had pre ops – I was weighed, blood pressure checked, urine test for pregnancy, finger prick test for blood sugars etc. I was also seen by the surgeon’s registrar and my consent was taken again, and I was asked to explain the procedure. They checked when I had last eaten, drank or smoked etc. They also asked if I had managed my bowels pre op! lol.
Then back to sit in the lounge whilst you wait to hear the running order. There were lots of other types of surgery going on so each list is different – they told me I would not be first as they had a band to do and as they are day patient only they do them first. I was quite shocked then to be called at 0910 and be told – you are first! I wheeled my suitcase down the corridor and was wrist banded with my ID and told to get into a gown – you can keep on your pants!!!! I was then asked to pop on a very fetching mesh mop hat and told to tuck all my hair into it.
They took my bag. I popped my own dressing gown over the hospital robe and waddled behind them to the operating theatre – it felt like a long walk and I can imagine it would be easy to freak out a bit then – I didn’t as I was in full babble mode but something to prepare for.
Into theatre to the anti room just before the main operation site – sat down and Mr Yousef the anaesthetist greeted me. Usual checks that I am Debbie and was having a sleeve. Cannula then placed into the left hand. Inserted some pre op pain relief, some anti-sickness and taped it all down. Then for the first time ever – I walked into the actual operating theatre – clock said 09.38hrs.
Dressing gown off, surgical gown loosened off and told to lie on the bed in the middle of the room. All the kit was on the table - yikes – and the room had people in there preparing for my op. The nurse got me to bring my feet right down so it pushed on the foot board of the theatre table. She then started tying my legs to the bed with a bandage. She explained the bed moved during the op and it prevented me falling off! She then asked me to pop my arms along the side of the bed – so I was in the 'on the cross' position and she strapped my arms to the bed at upper and mid arm with yet more bandages – then something else went into my hand – if felt cold – and then no memories until I woke in recovery at 11.05hrs.
I had a drip upon waking and indeed they pushed 5 bags through during my 24 hour stay. I got on the ward at 12pm. At 2pm I got up and walked to the toilet and when I got back I got changed into my pyjamas. Getting from lying in bed to standing wasn't fab! I could not easily sit up from lying anyhow and prefer to pull myself up - but with my tummy all tender it was just even harder. I sort of rolled out and hoped for the best - the grace of a hippo covers it I guess!
I woke 4 more times that day for the walk to the loo – long way it seemed at the time! I was sipping water throughout – but only 30mls at a time – 6-7 sips.
I was up to the loo 3 times during the night following obs etc. My cannula failed at 0300 and a doctor came to redo it at 0400 or so.
I woke the next day at 0600 and went and had a shower and pulled of the dressings as instructed. They applied replacements as it was still weeping a bit.
I was given unlimited water from 0900, a cup of tea and cup of milk. I had a watered down orange juice at 11am. The surgeon’s team visited me, the bariatric nurse and bariatric dietician also came to see me. I had blood tests at midday. The pharmacy sent my discharge meds at 1pm and at 3pm I left. I was sick 3 times in hospital – each time after I had been given Metoclopramide which ironically is an anti-sickness potion.
The nursing care was excellent - but they were all super, super busy. I was in a bay of 6 ladies - 2 were cancer patients in a very bad way whose family were allowed to stay longer due to the severity of their condition. Another lady was suffering with liver failure and was sick at least every 10 minutes and call out due to the awful pain she was sadly in. One lady was there with a stoma emergency, and another had a gastric emergency and was being line fed - she could not speak any English so her daughter was also there most of the day. One of the ladies went for surgery at 3 in the morning - so rest was impossible - and I could not complain because it was no ones fault and they were all far worse than me. I was quite guilty being there because I had essentially an eating disorder. The tiredness was overwhelming and made everything seem worse.
The journey home was very uncomfortable. I was so tired I fell asleep in the car - every bump causing pain to jolt me awake - the seat belt fell at the worse place and I was thankful of the pillow in the boot which helped once it was retrieved.
Being home - I crawled upstairs and slept. It was bliss!
