Operation Day (Thursday)

I'm back home again now, but before I get into detail I want to talk about how it all happened, as if I was telling it on the day.

Thursday, 5 a.m. alarm call. Not much to do really, I can't eat or drink so basically just a shower and in theory a bowel movement.  In actual fact, not the latter, I guess it's the nerves. T and I get a lift from her Mum to the hospital, which is only 10 minutes away (less if you exclude the parking).  7 a.m. as requested, sign in at reception, very easy as I'd done most of the paperwork last week.  Up to the ward and shown to my room, a 2-bed room with shower/bath and toilet; no-one in the other bed when I got there.  I wasn't given an op time but I noticed 3 others on his list.  Two of them were a lot more serious than mine, and it's good to be reminded that actually, I'm quite lucky to be only in for elective surgery.  Although the temptation is to change my mind...

Into the gown - got T to tie it up at the back for me so at least for now no-one can see my backside.  The room is warm and clean and the bed comfortable.  No view though, unless you count an alleyway between me and the theatre block.  The nurse gets a medical history, about a hundred questions about allergies, past operations, etc. etc. We get an explanation of everything that's going on and eventually T leaves (did I notice a bit of eye-watering there?).  Now it's about 8 a.m. and I'm on my own.

The anaesthetist pays me a visit and introduces herself.  I wait.  Rather than stay in bed (I'm going to be lying down enough in the next 24 hours), I get up and walk about the room.  The sun is up now, but the view hasn't improved. The sky is grey and drizzly, not the sort of day you want really - I can't help thinking "What if something goes wrong and this is my last day?"  I'd rather a view of the sea and a blue sky, perhaps a bit of birdlife like at home.

Anyway, the call comes just before 11 a.m., I'm put on a trolley and go down a floor and round to the theatre waiting room where I watch TV for 10 minutes (no sound) before I'm wheeled into theatre.  The surgeon is cracking jokes to put me at my ease and everyone is smiling and laughing.  There is a TV, presumably for the laparoscope(s). Then the needle goes in (about 11.10) and it's goodnight, Vienna.

Come round (hooray!) about 12.45 in the recovery room.  Woozy but able to tell the time so not too bad.  The next couple of hours are a bit hazy - I'm in and out as I nap - but I can remember finding the cricket on TV, England vs Sri Lanka.  The start has been delayed by rain so I didn't miss any! Although in the end I see both wickets that fell today, I probably miss a lot of the play while napping.

There is some pain, but not excessive.  I get painkillers, very effective, and they also help me sleep.  They've managed to do the op laparoscopically (there's a chance that if there was a problem, I'd have to have the full incision, which basically doubles the recovery time and more painful).  I have 5 small-to-medium plasters in my stomach area: have a look at the photo (taken on Monday, after I'd managed a shower).  One is a mm or so below the breastbone and I notice over the next couple of days that this one gives me the most grief as its rubs against the bone occasionally.  The stitches aren't the dissolving kind, I have to return to have them taken out.

I am  given a glass of ice chunks to suck on (my mouth is quite dry) and the water goes down OK.  At some point I feel the urge to urinate, and a nurse watches me to the bathroom.  I don't need her help! The toilet is just inside the door and with the aid of the safety rail I make it on OK (I don't lock the door).  The stream is a bit weak but my diaphragm area is sore and squeezing is not easy.  Back to bed, very pleased with myself.  I'm a bit light headed but feel competent.  I probably shouldn't sign anything legally binding at this point, though.

One thing that worried me about what I found on the Internet is a lot of people found that after the op they could no longer burp.  My surgeon explained beforehand that he preferred a slightly less tight tying around of the fundus so this shouldn't be a problem.  There is a lot of gas coming out in the other direction at the moment - as I understand it they inflate with gas during the surgery.  I don't think you can possibly imagine how delighted I am when I get my first burp up!