Categories: uncategorized
Date: 16 February 2008 13:36:26
I thought i would update my blog with the latest news about my Gallbladder op.
I went in as planned on the Wednesday morning and suprisingly was generally non anxious. I got there at 7.45am and my op was due at around 2.30pm. The time went quite quick as i either slept, read my book or chatting to the other women who were in my room. At about 2ish i had to get changed into my gown and operation pants (sounds like a straight to video movie doesnt it? ha ha)
Anyway, and i cant believe i am admitting this but i was really pleased to be wearing the pants. This is for two reasons. The first i was 4 stone heavier when i had my last op and couldnt get my bum into them. The second because as a result of not being able to wear them last time and drugs i announced to the whole surgical team "dont be alarmed when you lift my gown, im not wearing any pants" <blush>
As i said earlier i wasnt anxious but i was slightly concerned when i overheard the nurse tell the lady before me to take her dressing gown and slippers as she would be walking into theatre. Last time i was 'put under' in a little room beforehand.
The lady before me ended up taking longer than they thought so i ended up having to wait in the pre op room with another girl. We got chatting about studying and she said she felt older than her class mates as she was 20 and they were all 18. She was a Polish girl and really lovely. I told her not to worry about feeling old as i have gone back to college and im 33. Now the reason she is lovely is for the next statement. "Wow you dont look 33 you only look 25" I was even more happy, as no make up and surgical gowns dont tend to be the best look in the world and yet i still looked 8 years younger. I told her she had really cheared me up and that once she has completed her course she is going to make a wonderful nurse. (im such a creep)
She went in before me and one of the nurses came to sit with me. It was about 2.50 at this point. There was a small telly which was on ITV at the time, so i happen to mention that Diagnosis Murder was on BBC1 (dont judge me) so she turned it over. I was really pleased i was able to watch it till the end before they called me in.
Now obviously and also im relieved to say im not able to tell you everything that happened while i was in there but i was told afterwards that i had over 100 stones in my Gallbladder. It was also quite thin so it split during the removal and the stones went everywhere. Because of this they had to put a drain in one of the cuts.
When i came round i was in loads of pain. The nurse looking after me told me i had to breath properly and if i didnt she was going to be my worst nightmare. Good old NHS nurses and their tender ways ha ha (actually they were all fantastic) She was saying it lightheartedly but was still slightly concerned as everytime she came over to me i kept hearing "your worst nightmare is here". Even more scary as i was still half under the annesetic(spell). Once the pain had settled a bit and i was suitably drugged up on morphine (great stuff) i was able to be took back up to the ward.
Because of the drain i had to stay in until the friday. It was really painful and i found it hard to stand up for longer than a couple of minutes so i really missed going for my walks around the ward. I even had to stop half way through having a quick wash as it was really painful to stand.
On the Thursday morning someone was going to visit me. When they arrived my curtain was shut as the nurses were changing my dressing on the drain. The curtain being shut i always thought meant that it was the equivelent of a shut door and you dont go in there without permission if people are in there. One of the other ladies told me this person had looked under the curtain, so obviously they could see i had people with me. They then attempted to try to open the curtain to say they were there. I had to quickly tell them i was busy. They told me ok and they would speak to me once i was home. 3 weeks on i still havnt heard anything. I was fuming. I wouldnt mind but this person is a nurse so should no better. I could have been having anything done and they thought it was ok to just barge in. I wouldnt even expect Jono or my parents to do it, which after i told them, they said they wouldnt have anyway and they were equally annoyed. Anyway rant over lol.
On the friday most of the fluid had drained so they were able to take it out. It really hurt when they pulled it out but the pain practically went and i was able to move again which was fantastic. I had to wait a few hours for my tablets but by about 5pm i was allowed to go home.
Right i think that post is long enough so will update again in the next fews days. Who knows, i may shock you all and post later today or tomorrow :-)
Holly xxx