Finding the chase and cutting to it

Having found I required an operation, we’re then looking at some fundamentals of how the NHS works.

There are two basic types of operation: scheduled/elective or emergency.  Because my operation was the result of an accident, although it wasn’t life threatening, it was deemed a “planned emergency”.  I was being admitted Sunday for a hopeful slot on Monday.

It has to be said, things get a little silly.  Pre-op without a scheduled time makes for an interesting situation when you’re type 1.  Having established that paracetamol was off the menu, the other interesting thing was pain relief.  Ibuprofen without food can chew up your stomach lining.

The nurses all loved my Libre though.  Hourly ob’s were easily established and despite not having food, were easily worked through with nudges on my basal.  Sunday night I was moved four times to different wards and beds.  But otherwise there were no incidents.

Monday the slot came up early afternoon – so the drip was properly set up.  I dosed most of the day before the op, enjoyed the trip down to theatre – apparently one of the nurses had injured himself in a similar way (although in a fight!) and the operation had made a huge difference.

Of course, I was soundly asleep.  They give good painkillers after such a procedure and Monday afternoon and evening were spent dozing.  My husband came in a couple of times but I really can’t remember now.

I had my emergency kit with me – a couple of pairs of pyjamas, socks, slippers, some clothes for going home with and my tooth paste, book and hairbrush.  I look a mess, but I was advised not to wash my hair for a couple of days to allow the stitches to do their work.  I was very keen not to rip the stitches out with my brush either!

The nurses were all great.  Food was not an option Monday and Tuesday am while I was hungry, I didn’t really have the capability of opening my jaw wide enough to eat yet.  I had a salad for Tuesday lunch taken at a snail’s pace.  Tuesday afternoon, I was taken up for an x-ray and you can see how much movement I have back from the photo.

I grinned at everyone while I was being wheeled through the hospital but I got some really odd looks back.  Which felt very odd, I probably looked like I had been in a fight but that really isn’t the point.

The surgeon was happy with the outcome, as was I so three hours later I was discharged from hospital with strict instructions not to lie on that side of my face in bed.  Definitely wasn’t happening any time soon!

Eating was much better, as the days passed, the swelling went down and my feeling returned.  It’s not as it was yet, but it’s all coming together.

I broke my arm in 2009 and that took best part of a year to fully heal, and I can feel things getting better everyday even in March, five months later.

I had damaged my teeth and my bike was a mess.  I had to fight with the insurers to get it fixed rather than have a new one: £180.  New lenses for my glasses were £480 and fixing my teeth was nearly a £1000.  (Having never had a filling, I had root canal surgery on my front tooth in December).

I wish I had been a little more focused on my dental health – it’s taken a while to sort everything out.  My sinus on the right side is potentially still blocked too.  That may need sorting.

I have been incredibly lucky.  It could have been a very different story.