Hi Everyone
It's Day Three of my recovery today. I thought I would check in to let you know how it went.
Surgery was on Friday very early. I slept OK actually and I was surprisingly calm heading to hospital at 6.45am. I can only thank you all for that as I felt so mentally prepared. I checked in to Day Surgery and only had to wait a short while to fill in forms and get kitted up with socks and talk to anaesthetist. I gowned up and had a long walk to pre-theatre down a few floors. I chilled out here for about half an hour talking to the nurse and porter. By this time it was about 8.45am? There was really nice music playing here, the kind of music you have when you're sat on a plane waiting for them to take off. Mmmmm.
I didn't have any cannula in at this point but got wheeled into anaesthetic room. We pretended I was going on holiday to Thailand. They gave me some gas and air and put cannula in and I was told to say when it felt like I'd had just a bit too much G&T. I remember nothing else other than waking up in a large recovery ward. I think it was about an hour and a half later? I had no catheter in. This had been taken out before I woke up. I was uncomfortable but not in agony (some of the other patients were really struggling and screaming - no idea what they had had done!). Someone was sat with me the whole time. even though he was looking for cars on his ipad (LOL) and I felt looked after and he was sweet. Here's where the problems started. As you know, I was due to go home later that day. I have always had issues with blackouts and low blood pressure and my pressure dropped very low and there was a bit of a kerfuffle. I don't remember much again for a bit but when I woke again my bed had been tilted so my feet were up.
I obviously had had no food since the night before and I know that's a big trigger for me. I was also concerned that by this time it was 1pm and my husband knew I'd gone down to theatre at 9am and would be worried. I asked for them to bring my phone and my bag. There was no food allowed in that ward but they got me some bourbons and I was allowed the lucozade I had packed myself. This made me feel a bit better. My husband had been very frightened and was on phone to reception when I text him - he was so relieved!
Consultant saw me here and said op had gone extremely well. My ovaries looked normal so they had been left in. He was keen for me to go to ward... but they had no beds! I was stuck there all day and eventually got up to ward at 5pm. The ward was quite yucky as it was visiting time and very noisy - some of the patients had just had local procedures and were talking.. A LOT. I was told I'd missed food time but they could try and get me a sandwich. I knew I had to eat but I couldn't stomach it. I asked if they had a banana but they didn't but got me a soy choc pot. I could feel myself getting worse again but it was quite hard to get any attention. My mum works at the hospital but by the time she had finished work visiting time was over and she wasn't allowed to see me but she ran in and chucked two bags of crisps onto my bed and pegged it before anyone saw. Funny now but at the time I was quite upset by this!
I called to go for a wee as I felt quite weak and a kind nurse took me to the loo. As soon as I was in here on my own I felt appalling. My hearing went and I just managed to grab the red cord. I don't remember much after that other than them all apologising they had "man handled" me and I would be bruised. The pain was then really bad. My blood pressure was ridiculously low. It stung to wee but I managed all night after that with them lifting me onto a kommode right next to my bed. They were really good after this and checking up on me all the time - I got their attention! ;)
The consultant came up to ward again to check on me and he didn't seem happy about how the day had panned out and asked me whether I would prefer to stay there overnight - a no brainer! Throughout the night I had about 5-6 turns which they said was Vasovagal Syncope.. nothing to do with actual procedure. I got it whenever I was vaguely sat up. Unfortunately, this meant I couldn't walk and move to shift the gas at all which really built up - that caused a lot of pain and is still my main issue.
I got out about 4pm the next day. I have been told I don't need blood thinner injections, socks can come off as soon as I'm walking around. If anything goes wrong I need to call 111 or go to A&E so no follow up but histology will be in 2-3 weeks. I have been told to expect a bit of blood in about 10 days and this will be normal. But if it's red that's wrong. I have now taken all dressings off. My belly button is gross looking but I've not washed yet.
I am not really in loads of pain but a lot of discomfort and I still can't really move around without fainting although I am sat up. I am bruised and pulled from falling and being caught. Feeling a bit brighter today as I had a better night's sleep and managed to lay down.
The actual staff, surgeons etc. were amazing - everyone was so wonderful and kind but I feel like I have been let down by the poor management, logistics and resources. They tried their best but I feel like the lack of bed caused so many problems that got me off to a really rocky start.
I hope this helps someone - really the procedure wasn't too scary - it's just the way my body's reacted to the stress I think. My low blood pressure is such a pain at the best of times. I know MarmiteFan59 etc told me to take snacks but I didn't quite anticipate how much that would have helped!
Hi Cakenport Oh what a rotten time you had after such a promising start. I'm so sorry to read about it. Still you're home and in the best hands now.
I'm always amazed, and pretty horrified, to read that patients who often end up on wards at odd times don't appear to have contingency plans in place to feed them! You always have to stop eating the night before and often don't go down to the op until lunchtime the next day so end up not eating for 20 hrs plus. I remember I was only allowed sips of luke warm water out of a cup used for dispensing tablets and that was the middle of a September heatwave. I finally went down for my op at 13.45
There wasn't a bed available on the gynae ward due to someone leaving later than anticipated so I was wheeled through the hospital to a thoracic ward which was really noisy with pumps and aspirators going all night and people having coughing fits (which sounded revolting!) My hubby couldn't find out where I was as the ward details I'd given him were wrong and no-one seemed to know where I was for a while, eventually he tracked me down but yes, worrying for the hubbys as well.
That must've been frightening the fainting even if you're used to low blood pressure! At least in the end you got the attention you should have got at the outset. I feel sorry for the Consultant, he must have been frustrated and embarrassed for you.
Hope you feel a bit better today and the bruises are easing.
Sending gentle hugs, Barb xx
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Dear Cakenport
We have all had those moments and more than once. Be kind to yourself -receiving your diagnosis and having a major operation is a lot to deal with both physically and mentally. Sending you a hug 
