Pre-op Part 2

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It turns out I was really nervous about the pre-op, and I don’t know why? It’s not like I havent been through something similar before and I kind of didn’t know the drill?! But I have been now and here’s what happened.

I went to the hospital in which I am having my operation (Spire Cheshire Hospital) and after waiting for just 10 minutes, I was called into the nurses office. I have to admit, whilst I wouldn’t have a word said against the NHS, but private health care is ace – everything is just a little slower, in a good way. The nurse really took her time to make me feel relaxed and comfortable and nothing was rushed.

She introduced herself and told me that she used to be a Senior Sisteron the ward and that SHE had had a hysterectomy at this hosptial 7 years ago and had never felt healthier ever since. She filled in the raft of paperwork and went through some basic medical history questions to go along with the lengthy questionnaire that I had already filled in whilst attending clinic. She then explained that she had to take some blood, do some MRSA swabs and ask some general questions. I am lucky in that I am not scared of needles at all, and she was very good and it was almost completely painless. The MRSA swabs are like big cotton buds and you have to swab the inside of your nose and  in your groin area, along your knicker line – easy.

After all the basic medicallness was taken care of, she talked me through the sequence of events upon my admission….. she said they would go like this:

• Day 1: I have to be at the hospital by 7:00am, having had nothing to eat from midnight, the night before. I will be in hospital for 4 nights and should bring, a face cloth, nightwear, a dressing gown, slippers, toiletries, any medication. The nurse also said I would have my own room with a TV, my own bathroom and even the internet – so I could bring my laptop and blog This is also the day I would have my operation, so I would be given a gown to get changed into and some embolic socks to prevent blood clots. The anaesthestatist and my consultant would come to see me prior to theatre and when it was my turn, a porter would come to get me. I would go to theatre and be put to sleep via a catheter in the back of my hand.

  I would wake up after an hour or so in recovery, usually with an oxygen mask on, a drip attached to the catheter and possibly a drain from my wound. The drip will have morphine attached to it or PCA. Apparently, I will have a button which will release 1mg of morphine every 5 minutes. This is so I can control my own pain and don’t have to keep asking the nurses. She also said I would be quite sleepy for most of this day.

• Day 2: I would get a bed bath on day 2 and the morphine would be withdrawn. The large dressing of the wound will be replaced with a small one and I would be encouraged to sit in the chair if I feel comfortable
• Day 3: By Day 3 I would be encouraged to have a shower, but I would have the help of the nursing staff. I should start to feel a bit better on Day 3.
• Day 4: On Day 4 I will be seen by the physiotherapist and walked up and down the corridor and up and down the stairs. This is to see if I am safe to go home.
• Day 5: I will be discharged on Day 5 with medication, instructions and exercises.

So there you go, this is what I have to look forward to next week. I felt better after talking to the nurse, especially about my irrational emetophobia. So after the weekend, I have only got 2 more days in work…. bit nervous, but its a good thing.

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