Friday 13th April
Mark and I arrived on Eastwood ward before 7.30am as instructed. Initially the night staff knew nothing of my case, nor were they expecting me which was slightly worrying, but advised us to wait for the staff handover. While waiting my Mum arrived and her positivity helped to improve the atmosphere in the waiting room.
Around 8am we moved from the waiting room (a terrible little room, no windows, no pictures, just hard plastic chairs and looked like an old office). I was lucky to be put into a side room and this was to be our next waiting room for the day.
The day seemed to be endless. I hadn’t slept at all the night before, and was encouraged to try to rest. So I dozed a little on and off, but woke with a start when anyone entered the room... a guy to check the alarms, cleaners, lovely nurse Gabrielle to do further pre-op checks and .... what I wasn’t at all prepared for ... to sign a consent form regarding disposal of the tissue to be removed during surgery. Oh my, I REALLY wasn’t prepared for that. Cue more tears. Poor Mark didn’t seem to be prepared either but we eventually made a decision and opted to ask the hospital to arrange cremation.
Gabrielle brought me in a gown and surgical stockings at 12.30pm and advised me to get ready.
Christine (mum-in-law to be) popped by in her lounge hour. We were all pleased to have some fresh conversation!
The afternoon continued to drag on. Mum and Mark tried to leave me for half an hour around 3 but I really couldn’t sleep.
I was fitted with a cannula and given fluids that afternoon, most of which went in until the cannula slipped - wow that hurt- and Nurse Mandy (yes, another friendly and now familiar face looking after me again) had to remove it.
The nurses advised I might not be sent down to theatre until later that evening and to prepare for that.
Then, at 5pm the Anaesthetist suddenly appeared and before I knew it, I was being whisked along the corridors to threatre with my mum and HCA Mariena alongside me before Mum then had to say goodbye outside the theatre doors. Theatre 8 ....
I felt so anxious, not knowing what to expect or feel. As I went behind the threatre doors, I was greeted by the Consultant Anaesthetist who introduced herself to me, along with her registrar and nurse. Mariena began to carry out the task of sticking numerous heart monitoring pads to me, the consultant explained what they would do and promised to look after me after knowing and understanding what I had been through so far. All the while, the registrar had so gently been fitting a cannula and beginning to administer the anaesthetic. All I remember is looking up at the ceiling and thinking this is already having some effect...
When I woke up, I found myself in a large post op room with other patients, and nurses buzzing around. I realised there was a lady in the bed next to me, and almost in a drunken stupor said hello to her. She replied hello back though!
A lovely nurse called Charmaine appeared at my side very promptly and advised me that all had gone well and they hoped to get me back on to the ward shortly.
I arrived back on the ward at 7pm ish, and was greeted by Mark, Mum and Christine.
I was soooo glad to finally then be given a cup of tea!!! I didn’t really feel hungry but knew that if I didn’t eat anything I wouldn’t be able to get home quickly. Although, to be fair the chicken soup and toast tasted good.
Whilst trying to eat, I managed to knock the cannula out of my arm again... cue blood all over the bed!
Both incredibly tired and exhausted, Mark and I finally left the ward at 10.45pm.