Friday 18th August is biopsy round two. A second visit to the rectal verge to collect tissue to enable an accurate diagnosis and decide on the medical approach. Last week’s attempt using gas and air for pain relief failed to gather enough material for a conclusive diagnosis.
Today is a trip to Musgrove Park Day Surgery for a biopsy under general anaesthetic. Afternoon surgery, sign in at 12.45. I will need a driver to take me home and a responsible adult to look after me for the 24 hours following surgery. Fortunately I know one of these and their work allows them to finish at 11am.
The prep. There is always prep. Today it is no food after 8am. Then just clear liquids, which can include tea and coffee but no milk; and no energy drinks! Nothing at all after 12 noon.
At 8.30am the phone rings. It’s day surgery. Bugger, are they going to cancel me? No, it’s the opposite, when did I last eat? they can fit me in this morning. Unfortunately, I don’t miss breakfast if given the opportunity and my responsible adult is now in work. We stick with plan A.
For those of us who reside in Minehead, Musgrove Park is 25 miles and 45 minutes away by car. Friday 18th August is Dunster Show day. On Dunster Show day, all the people of West Somerset take all their sheep, Exmoor ponies and red Devon cattle to Dunster for the biggest social event of the year. Friday is also Butlins holiday camp change over-day and it is the actual school summer holidays.
So, we allow plenty of time and arrive 30 minutes early. I am admitted punctually at 12.45 and told that I am second on the list. We speculate that I may be in recovery by 3.00pm.
Admission for surgery is a layered approach requiring being identified several times and confirming date of birth, first line of address, next of kin and telephone number at each stage. I meet the nurse who is caring for me and we have a lengthy chat about all sorts of things, exchanging book recommendations and discovering that their partner worked at my GP practice and that we were both at a doctor’s leaving party a few years ago. West Somerset is a small World. She attaches a wrist band ID and we work our way through the pre-op checklist. I have already done this twice, once online and a second time during a telephone pre-op assessment with another nurse. There really is no reason why the wrong patient should get the wrong procedure. Best to check before the anaesthetic though.
I am in a 6-bed male bay. All six beds are occupied. Beside me a young man is admitted for ACL surgery and beyond him the patient has just arrived back from surgery in a sling.
I have brought a book and my new glasses, which I am getting used to. I have had varifocals for some years but these new frames are not quite as comfortable. The time ticks by. The young man is shown how to use crutches and is walked off for his op. Another patient returns on a bed to a bay opposite. The nurse informs me that the surgeon will be around soon.
The surgeon arrives. Like everyone I have met so far, he is kind and informative. He asks me why I am here, and we run through the checklist. He tells me that the procedure will not take very long. He leaves me a copy of the ‘procedure’ details, pointing out that his illegible handwriting is proof of his surgical prowess. I can’t read a word, I must be in safe hands. ‘The anaesthetist will be along in 45 minutes’ he says and departs, to the opposite bay and accompanies the patient to the theatre; case one has just gone in, it is 2.00pm. I am not going to be in recovery at 3pm!
The nurse returns with two gowns and some stockings and asks me to change. The stockings are to reduce the chance of deep vein thrombosis in the legs. A risk when people are immobile for lengthy periods (and I think sometimes a risk on long haul air flights?) I am now used to the backless gowns and ensure I am well covered, the trick is to bring the long ties around to your front and tie them there, this secures the gown over your bottom and is much easier than tying a knot behind your back. No dignity pants today though. I use the second gown as a blanket and sit back down with my book.
My responsible adult texts to ask ‘are you in recovery?’ I inform them that I am still waiting and suggest that they go for a coffee and something to eat and maybe I will be done by 5pm?
The anaesthetist arrives at around 3.30pm. Another kind and professional person. We confirm why I am here and go through the checklist again. The nurse brings some pre-meds. These are paracetamol and ibuprofen.
4pm. A theatre nurse arrives and walks me in. There are three anaesthetists and a theatre nurse. We run through the checklist again. Two of them check and read my wrist band. I think that is 5 time through the checklist? One of the anaesthetists is in training and is tasked with putting in the canula. A little bit of guidance from the senior anaesthetist but I really don’t feel it and say so. The senior anaesthetist engages me in conversation about the book I am reading, he is aware of the author and that they have written several other best sellers. I think this is just his ‘patient going to sleep’ ploy BUT no. There is an anaesthetist missing! The tone changes just a bit ‘we can’t start without him’ The nurse is sent in search of the errant anaesthetist and an oxygen mask placed over my mouth and nose. The errant staff member is found, ‘take three deep breaths’ I take two and….
To be continued…
Next time – toast or biscuits? The big knife and the missing marmalade…
(18 Aug 2023)
