Meggie
New Member
Ok, ok I have taken a few days to finally get around to writing my tale but here it is!!!
I went to the hospital by 6.45 a.m. on the 19th of February. My Mum and lovely friend Roch came with me. I want to the 3rd floor and had to wait in the reception area of the Patient Admissions Unit as it wasn't open until 7. We just sat there with some other nervous looking people, and we were all trying to work out whether there were any other WLS patients there as everyone who has surgery are admitted to the same area.
We were then asked to sign in and taken down to the PAU ward. It wasn't the ward we'd finally end up on. Just an area to have all pre-checks etc before the op. I was last to leave the PAU and I didn't leave for my op until about 12 so lots of waiting around!! It was also really cold so i crawled into the tiny bed and had a little nap!! During my time at the PAU I was given blood tests, weighed, told all about my op by at least 3 different people, saw two anaethetists, and probably a few other people I've forgotten. I was also given a blood-thinning injection. Then I changed into my gown. I originally asked for a bigger gown but was given one that was way too big (for those of you nervous that the gowns won't be big enough, don't be!! I'll post a picture tomorrow to show how big the gowns get!!). Then I walked down to the theatre.
Firstly I sat in the anaesthetic room until they finished setting everything up. The nurse stayed with me until one of the anaesthetists came. She just started chatting about my life and work etc. I had been really calm up to this point but I nearly started crying and had a little mini-panic here!!! I'll be honest, even up to this point I was convinced I was going to die!!! The anaethetist explained what the room looked like so I felt prepared when I went in. Then I went through and saw the bed in the middle of the room. The actual room wasn't as I'd expected. It was far less clinical and more relaxing (obviously apart from the big bed in the middle!!) than I thought it would be. I had to sit down and they spent a few minutes reassuring me. Then started putting in all of my canulas etc, all of the while talking to me and reassuring me that its all good!! I had an oxygen mask on the whole time and I felt a bit nauseous at this point!!! They also told me I was going straight on Victoria Ward at this point instead of going to HDU. There were a few other people buzzing around but it was mainly very relaxing. Then they knocked me out (with drugs!!!).
I woke up in recovery and was quite nauseous. I was only semi-conscious at this point. Then I was wheeled onto Victoria Ward. I saw my Mum who has since said was shocked at how awful I looked!!! They chucked me in bed, explained about the Morphine pump etc then left me to it.
Everything up to this point was absolutely fantastic and cannot be faulted!
I have debated putting the next bit as I know there are a few upcoming Whit patients but I have decided to mention it so if they have the same problems then COMPLAIN STRAIGHT AWAY!!!!!!!!
Victoria ward is not great!! It is clean and the nurses are generally pleasant. But they are massively overworked. The other patients on the ward consisted of slightly senile older patients, one of whom kept on asking where my baby was as she was convinced I came onto the ward to give birth. Sadly many of these patients were not able to use the toilet so had many accidents.
My morphine pump stopped working at about 8 on the first day after and no-one managed to sort it out so I was in agony all night and for some of the next day. They didn't even give me paracetamol at this point, depsite me asking many times. I also still had my catheter in and it didn't work properly. They also didn't sort this out until they finally removed it two days later! I got the impression that some of the things that are done on the ward is for convenience rather than for the good of the patient!!! The nurses on the ward clearly have no idea of what we're allowed to eat/drink. I was offered fruit juice, chicken pie, toast (every morning) and various other things. I obviously had to point out that I wasn't allowed any of these things. I was finally allowed some soup after insisting I was allowed some!!!
Overall, apart from an unnecessarily painful 2 days, my experience was positive. Everything up to going onto the ward was great, and I would highly recommend the Whit for this. However, Victoria Ward seriously need to sort themselves out!!! I have been lucky to been doing well since leaving and getting better by the day!! Had a really tired day but otherwise am feeling great!!!
Sorry this is so long!!!!
I went to the hospital by 6.45 a.m. on the 19th of February. My Mum and lovely friend Roch came with me. I want to the 3rd floor and had to wait in the reception area of the Patient Admissions Unit as it wasn't open until 7. We just sat there with some other nervous looking people, and we were all trying to work out whether there were any other WLS patients there as everyone who has surgery are admitted to the same area.
We were then asked to sign in and taken down to the PAU ward. It wasn't the ward we'd finally end up on. Just an area to have all pre-checks etc before the op. I was last to leave the PAU and I didn't leave for my op until about 12 so lots of waiting around!! It was also really cold so i crawled into the tiny bed and had a little nap!! During my time at the PAU I was given blood tests, weighed, told all about my op by at least 3 different people, saw two anaethetists, and probably a few other people I've forgotten. I was also given a blood-thinning injection. Then I changed into my gown. I originally asked for a bigger gown but was given one that was way too big (for those of you nervous that the gowns won't be big enough, don't be!! I'll post a picture tomorrow to show how big the gowns get!!). Then I walked down to the theatre.
Firstly I sat in the anaesthetic room until they finished setting everything up. The nurse stayed with me until one of the anaesthetists came. She just started chatting about my life and work etc. I had been really calm up to this point but I nearly started crying and had a little mini-panic here!!! I'll be honest, even up to this point I was convinced I was going to die!!! The anaethetist explained what the room looked like so I felt prepared when I went in. Then I went through and saw the bed in the middle of the room. The actual room wasn't as I'd expected. It was far less clinical and more relaxing (obviously apart from the big bed in the middle!!) than I thought it would be. I had to sit down and they spent a few minutes reassuring me. Then started putting in all of my canulas etc, all of the while talking to me and reassuring me that its all good!! I had an oxygen mask on the whole time and I felt a bit nauseous at this point!!! They also told me I was going straight on Victoria Ward at this point instead of going to HDU. There were a few other people buzzing around but it was mainly very relaxing. Then they knocked me out (with drugs!!!).
I woke up in recovery and was quite nauseous. I was only semi-conscious at this point. Then I was wheeled onto Victoria Ward. I saw my Mum who has since said was shocked at how awful I looked!!! They chucked me in bed, explained about the Morphine pump etc then left me to it.
Everything up to this point was absolutely fantastic and cannot be faulted!
I have debated putting the next bit as I know there are a few upcoming Whit patients but I have decided to mention it so if they have the same problems then COMPLAIN STRAIGHT AWAY!!!!!!!!
Victoria ward is not great!! It is clean and the nurses are generally pleasant. But they are massively overworked. The other patients on the ward consisted of slightly senile older patients, one of whom kept on asking where my baby was as she was convinced I came onto the ward to give birth. Sadly many of these patients were not able to use the toilet so had many accidents.
My morphine pump stopped working at about 8 on the first day after and no-one managed to sort it out so I was in agony all night and for some of the next day. They didn't even give me paracetamol at this point, depsite me asking many times. I also still had my catheter in and it didn't work properly. They also didn't sort this out until they finally removed it two days later! I got the impression that some of the things that are done on the ward is for convenience rather than for the good of the patient!!! The nurses on the ward clearly have no idea of what we're allowed to eat/drink. I was offered fruit juice, chicken pie, toast (every morning) and various other things. I obviously had to point out that I wasn't allowed any of these things. I was finally allowed some soup after insisting I was allowed some!!!
Overall, apart from an unnecessarily painful 2 days, my experience was positive. Everything up to going onto the ward was great, and I would highly recommend the Whit for this. However, Victoria Ward seriously need to sort themselves out!!! I have been lucky to been doing well since leaving and getting better by the day!! Had a really tired day but otherwise am feeling great!!!
Sorry this is so long!!!!
