Ward 10 – An Extended Stay –

Saturday , 12 th July

Maybe Thursday, maybe Friday, almost certainly Saturday!

Unfortunately…..no.

A bummer to hear this morning ( Saturday 12 th ) that Monday, 14 th would be my earliest possibility of a discharge;,speaking of which, that’ s part of the problem, apparently.

Backtrack to last Wednesday, first, independent shower, despite two tubes to manage, plus bag. This was a break in what I shall refer to as the ” Gas Attacks”, which are a consequence of a procedure used during Surgery to expand the organs; some of this resides in the system and intermittently and painfully makes its escape ! At the time it was gripping.
I also suffered from bouts of retching up nothing which occurred twice a day ,for three days – thankfully, these, at least, have abated.
I shall not go in to the after effects of this, but to say that they were distressing at times, draining energy, and any interest in the world around me.
Tough work for my regular visitors, Barbara,Hannah and Tom – though they would deny this – as neither they, nor I, could anticipate what state I should be in.
( Daniel and family had kindly driven up on Sunday, to see me )

Roller coaster – good parts and painful parts of each day – tide.

To say that I never expected anything of this proportion would be a classic understatement.
Other experiences – involuntary emissions from the penis – nappy for a day!

Meantime, I have learnt how to clean up my Stoma, replace the bag and attach a night extension – checked by Margaret a nurse who specialises in this procedure and will make a home visit, next week.

One of the senior nurses, Margaret, described my operation as ” the biggest we do on here”.She and Tracey,were particularly good to me.
Wen Tracey heard my going home had been postponed , she sympathised and said,” We like to hang on to the good ones!” Ha Ha….

AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS

Still Saturday morning and returning from the shower with my “lamppost”,
Margaret stated that MR Ibrahim, my consultant/surgeon had been on the phone and hearing that a junior house doctor had extended my stay,was coming in to see me; raised eyebrows.

Having come to terms with a two day extension, I tried not to let my hopes rise too much.
In he came, jeans and open- necked shirt, greeted me , looked at the charts, checked the drain lead, checked my pee colour and said to the nurse to get the necessary prescription from the Pharmacy – she seemed to say that would not be possible as it was the week end.
He asked me if someone could collect that tomorrow, Sunday?
Not a problem.
Then he said ” I’ ll just make a couple of phone calls….”
Moments later he returned to say the Prescription was en route!
Out came the lead, fresh dressing; out came the catheter,by himself and I was ready for the off.
What can you say in gratitude to a consultant, who goes to such lengths,in his own time,to help his patient? ” I was just passing” he said, with a smile.
It is something I shall never forget,amongst many things I would not want to recall!

Someone described the “keyhole” surgery I underwent with MR Ibrahim,as
” Painting the hall, landing and stairs, through the letterbox”-Such skill!