Operation Day!

Finally, my operation day rolled around. I had said my goodbyes to my class at school, tidied my room all ready for the next teacher and bought myself some new nighties, some mini toiletries and half a newsagents-worth of magazines. I was ready!

I had to report to the admissions ward at 7.15 am and we arrived in good time. Unfortunately, there was a slight panic as my name was not listed on the admissions chart. I was extremely worried and thought it was all going to go wrong but we worked out that I was listed but under my maiden name. (I've been married for over a year and my letter confirming the operation was addressed to my married name but never mind!) With the panic over, I was shown to a bed and my husband was asked to leave. We said goodbye and then I settled in to wait.

A nurse was visiting each patient and going through some questions with them and issuing hospital bracelets. She hadn't come to me by the time the anaesthetist and surgeon came to meet with everyone. The anaesthetist explained how he would be putting me to sleep and would also inject around each ankle with nerve blocks which would last around 10 hours to completely block any feeling from my feet. The surgeon came to confirm exactly what we had agreed to do and have another quick look at my feet. They also drew arrows on my legs with some writing which I guess was their instructions of what to do! Finally, a medical student came and asked me quite a few questions about my medical history and the procedure I was having done.

A little while after meeting with the surgeon and anaesthetist, the nurse came to go through the questions and give me my bracelet as well as a gown and paper pants! She explained that I was third on the list so I didn't need to change into the gown until the woman opposite me had gone into surgery. Then I waited for a very long time. I wasn't actually called down to theatre until around one o'clock. The nurse wheeled me as it was quite a distance to theatre. I waited for a while in a little reception area and then I was called in by the anaesthetist. I had a small injection in my wrist and then they placed an IV line onto the side of my hand. He injected the anaesthetic and I drifted off.

I have some vague memories of being in a room where I was coming round and a nurse sitting next to me. I seem to remember my surgeon being there and saying the operation was a success but I may have dreamt or imagined this!! I believe I started to come around at about half past five. My first real recollection was coming around on the ward at about six thirty and feeling quite sleepy and confused. My husband and my parents came to visit me very soon after that and they have told me that I was still very very groggy and not at all with it. The nerve block around my ankles worked amazingly well and I felt nothing for quite some time.

My feet were bandaged up and I couldn't see them so I asked my husband to take photos with his phone to show me. There was not much to see but the K-wires were very prominent.

After my visitors had left, I was offered some toast and orange juice which was greatly appreciated as I hadn't eaten since nine o'clock the previous night. I was also given some diclofenac at this time. Then I drifted off to sleep. I woke a few times that first night and by then the nerve blocks had worn off and my feet felt extremely painful. I was telling the nurses that they were on an eight or nine out of ten and I was given extra painkillers including oral morphine which really helped! I managed to sleep most of the night and reasonably well.