I travelled to QMC Nottingham yesterday for what is hopefully the last of the planning and preparation for my jawbone reconstruction surgery. It was a hectic day, I had 7 appointments one after the other, and I met most of the team who will be looking after me.
I'm one of those people who just likes a general idea of what is going on. Nothing too detailed and everything explained simply. I thought I'd got a pretty good idea about my forthcoming surgery, but I had a major wobble when I found out that I'm likely to be in hospital for 3 weeks and I'm going to have a temporary tracheostomy. I think the enormity of what I'm facing finally hit me then, my hands were shaking so much that they had to rescue the cup of tea I was holding at the time. Charts, diagrams and models were produced in an effort to help. It was all too much information, and it was like being back at school where I failed "O" Level biology.
I was mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the day. The hospital transport home was late. We then had to collect a patient from a nearby hospital and he was still having his radiotherapy. This meant we hit the Friday rush hour traffic. I was trying to cheer myself up by eating a little snack. I raised a spoon of strawberry jelly to my lips just as the car braked suddenly. The jelly slid down my scarf, cardigan, t-shirt and jeans, and ended up in my handbag.
Oh Margaret, you poor love 
what a lousy day you had. But, you still managed to inject humour into the saga and especially with the jelly fiasco. That speaks volumes that you'll be able to do whatever lies ahead and get yourself back on track.
Wishing you the very best for your upcoming surgery, and don't lose your great SOH. Big hugs my lovely xxx
Good evening Margaret, i remember when i had my appointment before the jaw reconstruction, like you, i was at the hospital most of the day, meeting and chatting with the team, it's very exhausting. Having a trachy fitted is ok, it's just uncomfortable for about two weeks, along with having suction if needed. It's quite an involved operation with a maxillofacial team and maybe an ENT team because of the tracheostomy. You sound like me; just having the basics explained to me is enough for me, rather than making things more complicated. I found having a tablet and a mobile phone a great way of passing the time, along with music and puzzle books, i was also lucky, as i was in a side ward, so I had my own TV and bathroom, which suited me rather than being on the main ward. Wishing you all the best for the operation, hugs.
Chris xx
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
