On the 21st of January I went into hospital a day before surgery. I was incredibly bunged up from all the narcotic pain relief I had been on 4 weeks before surgery. I was quite anxious about having my bowels cut open while faecal impacted. I did comment on this about three occasions before the surgery. But alas my surgeon doesn't like using bowel prep, an prefers just a clear fluid diet a day before surgery. Doesn't eliminate all the pooh though. The thought of trying to get rid of that post major abdominal surgery was not appealing. After my hysterectomy I recalled trying to have a B.M and my god the pain. Not to be repeated type thing. So I and my friend Fi went on down to the anaesthetic room at 1.30pm. My wonderful absolutely fab friend Fiona was taking a photo/video journal. 'Eeew why, I hear you shriek'. Well it was for mwah to look back on when having a bad day. It about putting pain and yuckyness into perspective. 'At least I'm not that bad now' type thing and then moving forward. While in the anaesthetic room it was the usual prep, complete with brain monitor which looked completely naff. I was pre medicated but alas I recall everything in vivid detail. I'm one of those annoying people who if given Hynovail, midazolam or whatever it tends to backfire requiring more. I have been told that thinner people metabolise these drugs differently sometimes requiring more. The spinal was a complete mare. It hurt like hell and my right leg was immediately paralysed. It was like a thunder clap shooting down my leg. I had spinals and epidural s before (children/surgeries) But this was a new thing for me. So Into theatre, for me to have an awareness around midnight later that night. I was heavily medicated with Ketamine, Fentaynal and other various cocktails. The next day the 23rd January I saw the crash site my abdomen resembled. Nasty. But hey I was prepared emotionally, and academically for it. Having a neobladder operation is pretty up their. So having in two catheters, stents in ureters from the kidneys, local anaesthetic catheters x2 and a surgical drain to remove any free fluid and blood is common place. Having in a C.V.P line in the neck is for all the medications, and later on for the T.P.N required. The most pain I had was bowel pain. The wound was o.k the drains were o.k. But I had gut wrenching bowel pain. Later the reason for this gut pain will be described. Oh please don't be put off if you may have an option of going for this type of operation, this is just my experience and journey, everyone reacts differently. I must say that even after what I went through I do not regret having my urinary bladder out!
So I and my friend Fi went on down to the anaesthetic room at 1.30pm. My wonderful absolutely fab friend Fiona was taking a photo/video journal. 'Eeew why, I hear you shriek'. Well it was for mwah to look back on when having a bad day. It about putting pain and yuckyness into perspective. 'At least I'm not that bad now' type thing and then moving forward. While in the anaesthetic room it was the usual prep, complete with brain monitor which looked completely naff. I was pre medicated but alas I recall everything in vivid detail. I'm one of those annoying people who if given Hynovail, midazolam or whatever it tends to backfire requiring more. I have been told that thinner people metabolise these drugs differently sometimes requiring more. The spinal was a complete mare. It hurt like hell and my right leg was immediately paralysed. It was like a thunder clap shooting down my leg.
I had spinals and epidural s before (children/surgeries) But this was a new thing for me. So Into theatre, for me to have an awareness around midnight later that night. I was heavily medicated with Ketamine, Fentaynal and other various cocktails. The next day the 23rd January I saw the crash site my abdomen resembled. Nasty. But hey I was prepared emotionally, and academically for it. Having a neobladder operation is pretty up their. So having in two catheters, stents in ureters from the kidneys, local anaesthetic catheters x2 and a surgical drain to remove any free fluid and blood is common place. Having in a C.V.P line in the neck is for all the medications, and later on for the T.P.N required. The most pain I had was bowel pain. The wound was o.k the drains were o.k. But I had gut wrenching bowel pain. Later the reason for this gut pain will be described. Oh please don't be put off if you may have an option of going for this type of operation, this is just my experience and journey, everyone reacts differently. I must say that even after what I went through I do not regret having my urinary bladder out!