The day case waiting room is interesting. Most patients appear to be hear for cataract operations. I watch them get called one by one to see the eye specialist and giggle as each of them appears with a giant black arrow drawn on their face, each pointing to their 'bad' eye. It takes a lot not to laugh out loud and I smirk to myself as I see the mass of 'drawn on' pensioners in front of me.
Eventually I am called in to see the anaesthetist. He seems quite young but he puts me at ease. I'm asked to confirm my name, date of birth and the type of operation I am having done today. He asks about my medical history and I tell him about the DVT I had when I was pregnant with my daughter 7 years ago. He explains I'll need to wear my DVT socks for a few extra days after the operation to be safe. Finally he asks if how I usually feel when I come round from anaesthetic (I've had quite a few operations in the past thanks to wrist injuries and a difficult nose, so I'm a pro). I tell him I just usually feel hungry. We laugh and I return to the waiting room.
20 minutes later the consultant arrives and takes me through the operation again. I'm first on her surgery list so she'll see me soon. I get changed into my gown, DVT socks and the fake NHS totes toastie style socks that I was given. I don my dressing gown and before I know it, the nurse is walking me down to theatre.
In the theatre I am met my the anaesthetist from earlier and he introduces me to the rest of the team. We chat as they prepare me, inserting my canular, putting chest monitor probes on me and the blood pressure monitor. A few minutes later I'm wearing an oxygen mask (vanilla flavoured oxygen apparently!) and I'm put to sleep.
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I wake up in recovery with one other lady next to me. The nurse checks my blood pressure and brings me a glass of water. She offers me a cup of tea and a piece of toast. I accept the toast - I'm hungry as expected! The toast is THE most amazing toast - salted butter glistens and melts on the surface. It's amazing. I have another glass of water and I need the loo. The nurse helps me up, she tells me I can go myself but under no circumstances can I lock the door.
Within an hour and a half my husabnd arrives and we head home with a bag of painkillers. The drive home is the worst one yet, every single stone in the road makes the car jump and sends pain through my body. It's definitely time for bed.
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