Today

Lovely words ,

Thinking of all the ladies going though treatment and our two today having surgery, everyone is different but most and I say its not as bad as I thought it would be. Its OK to be scared but everyone is here wishing you well and virtually holding your hand all the way.

Wishing you well and sending you all a gentle hug

Good luck to all having surgery today. You will enter another world where a group of professional caring medical staff will guide you through everything.  The ward I was on made me feel very safe and I didn’t want to leave afterwards.

other patients are keen to help each other out with the loan of a phone or charger.

i took some earplugs with me as the ward will be noisy, even at night. Sleep will be the thing that heals you the most.

my advice  is to allow yourself to be looked after and use the buzzer if you need something - you’re not being a nuisance. Take comfortable fluffy clothes let yourself be Mothered a bit by staff. You might be tearful afterwards don’t worry it’s normal.

Try to eat something after the op- I was grateful for my husband bringing me drinks and crisps which I was able to eat slowly when I couldn’t eat anything else. That helps with effects of the anaesthetic.

keep in mind that it’s over now and you can start recovery but don’t do too much too soon. Xxxx

One other suggestion: Bisidol or similar for wind which will cause discomfort after your op

xxx

Thank you so much ladies for all of your support. I'll be glad when today is behind me! 

Much love, 

X

Hi ladies, I remember waking up from the anaesthetic and realising that I still felt just like myself.  Not sure quite what else I had been expecting! So hang on to that thought.

Surprised you dreamt under the anaesthetic.  For me, I just close my eyes and open them again at once, only of course a lot of time has passed but it doesn't feel.ike that to me. TBH I prefer that. 

I would also have to say while the staff were fantastic, I was treated on a large very busy ward, dealing only with major surgery for complex gynae and gynae-oncology cases, in a London teaching hospital, and the staff were kept busy treating patients.  There was not much evidence of what I would call mothering and certain no cups of tea.

And because it was all gynae, everyone was bedridden for at least 24 hours and then sent home as soon as they were mobile and pronounced fit. So not a lot of opportunity to interact with other patients.  DOn't get me wrong. I am not complaining not at all. But with all the tests and medications it was not a restful experience and while the staff were certainly caring, I would not describe the atmosphere as mothering. 

What a lovely thread, good luck for your operations today ladies.

take it easy and be pampered

lots of love 

xxx

Dear ladies

Frustratingly my surgery was cancelled at the very last minute yesterday so I am still in the land of waiting. I was on the ward prepped and ready to go but there were scheduling problems with the anaesthetist so it had to be cancelled. 

I feel utterly exhausted today after such an emotionally draining day yesterday.  I've got to make a decision now whether to have surgery next Monday or wait until after Christmas in early Jan.

Kazzie I hope your surgery went well yesterday,  I've been thinking of you. 

X

Hi Baker

what rotten luck. The same thing happened to two ladies scheduled after me and they were both very disappointed. The ward was also very very busy and I was prepped and left for an hour on a trolley not knowing when I would be wheeled in for surgery. Then pushed through with no warning. I guess it’s a sign of the times with our NHS.

i don’t envy you the decision you now face. There is one positive; at least you know what to expect for the first part of the procedure next time.

best wishes xxx

How very disappointing , I am really sorry to hear this, when do you have to put your decision though? I hope which ever you decide to do that in the end it happens. I have heard that some get postponed last minute but its never easy to deal with when you have prepared yourself for it. Fingers crossed for next time.