5) The opSo I arrived at 8am and was taken to my room. Soon after the catering staff came in and I made my choices for lunch and dinner. After that was a blood test followed by getting changed into the gown and dreaded paper pants! I even asked the nurse if I really had to wear them to which she replied "oh yes!" haha they're really not that bad though, nothing to worry about.
After chilling out for a while watching the tv, Levick came in and cracked a few jokes! He really does put you at ease
He said he was doing someone else first while we were waiting for my blood test results and that I'd be in next.
I was waiting for an hour or so during which time the anesthetist came in to ask some questions and let me know what was going to happen.
Next the nurse came in and took me down to the anesthetic room. I was pretty nervous at this point as I had never had anesthetic before but then in walked Levick again to put my mind at ease! He was saying how the guy before me had gone perfectly and that he was now 'warmed up' and ready to go!
He took some pictures and left the anesthetist to it.
The nurse told me that that doctor was going to give me something that would make me feel like I'd had 5 pints. I felt a slightly cold feeling go up my arm and then the next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room.
I wasn't in any pain I just felt really tired, like it was a struggle to keep my eyes open. I was shivering for 5 minutes or so at first but the nurse gave me an electric blanket and some oxygen and within 15 minutes I was taken back to my room.
I was in out and out of sleep for the next few hours as the nurses came in every half an hour to take my blood pressure etc... Lunch was a struggle but I think the chocolate ice cream helped to wake me up a bit!
Later that evening I felt fine, no pain at all just slightly sore under the arm pit area. The drains are a bit annoying but I managed to get up and go to the toilet. I think getting up and moving about is a good idea, I felt great afterwards.
I didn't get much sleep at all on the night, not because of my chest, I was just really uncomfortable lying on my back. Deal or no deal at 4am kept me entertained though
The next morning I was sore and tired and just wanted to go home and get to bed. Levick popped in around 10am to check on me, he showed me some pictures of the op and talked me through the healing process. Around half an hour later the nurse came in to take the drains out... this was the worst part of the whole procedure!
I knew it as going to hurt as I was already sore but wow, this really hurt! Some people have said that it's not that bad and to be fair, my left side drain was bearable. I think I was just unlucky with the right side though as it hurt like hell!
Anyway, I was done! I got my things together, the nurse gave me my meds and I was on my way home!
All in all, it really wasn't that bad. Surgery is never going to be a 'fun' experience but I think Levick and the priory staff make it as good as it can be. The staff are fantastic, they really help to make you feel comfortable and Levick will have you laughing about the whole thing! I'm so glad that I went through with it and I don't regret it at all.
Now comes the roller coaster of recovery, I've started taking arnica again along with the prescribed meds so hopefully all will go smoothly. Looking forward to the 5th now when the bandages come off and the compression vest goes on!
For now here are some pics including some taken by Levick:
Topic: Surgery with Levick - 28th November (With pics) - Post-op pics page 3 (Read 13196 times)
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