Home from the operation

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to let you all know how I am doing,

Tuesday 27th Feb was the day to be admitted to hospital, I had to

phone at 11am to confirm they had a bed for me. They couldn't answer

at that time and it was 3.30pm before i found out that all systems

where go and the hospital had found a bed for me. I was a bit

suprized to find the bed on the gynaecology word but at least I was

in hospital. A member of the consultants team came to see me in the

evening and talked through what they would do. The anaesthetist came

later to discuss how and what he would be doing.

Wednesday 28th Feb I was second on the list to go to surgery. Three

members of the team came to see me in the morning to discuss the

procedure and get me to sign the consent form. I had been nil by

mouth since midnight, I wasn't in need of a drink and didn't feel

hungry so that was fine with me. It was however 2.30 before they took

me down for surgery. I had been ok most of the day but became a

little tearful at 11ish, I sent a few text messages to friends which

got me though the moment. The anaesthetist tried to incert the

(forgot what you call it) into the back of my hand but the vain

collapsed, so he had to repeat on the right, that hurt. I don't

remember much after that. I was back on the ward for 6pm ish I think.

My husband and mum visited at 6.30pm I was on oxygen and according to

them looked dreadful. I don't remember much of there visit but tried

to stay awake. Once they left I fell to sleep until around 10.30pm

when the nurses came to give me painkillers and take the oxygen away.

That was about it for me I got very little sleep after that,

unfortunatly I was sharing a room with five other women and one of

the ladies snored all night, at 2.30pm I was in pain, my chest, my

back was sore and I was so stressed from the noise she was making I

started to cry which hurt. I called the nurse who gave me more

painkillers and pluged in my DVD player so I watched that. Two nurse

helped me into a more up right position, that was a bit of a nail

biting move. They also brought me a cup of hot water, I asked for

this and said it normally worked at home when I got chest pains and

yes it worked, the pain in my chest subsided and the DVD gave me a

break from her snoring. I will never go into hospital again and be on

a shared ward.

Thursday morning i tried to get out of bed by myself, I managed to

stand but then a nurse came and helped me back into bed, I wasn't

ready for that move yet. The three members of the team from the

previous day came to see me at about 9am and talked me through the

procudure. It had taken longer than expected because I have an artery

which runs down my oesophagus which they had to get around before

carrying out the procedure. Not happy with having achalasia i have to

have something else thats different. They were happy with the way

things had gone and wanted me to start eating stright away. So at

lunch time I had half a cup of soup and managed to take myself to the

bathroom. I found walking about ok, a little sore but ok. the half a

cup a soup went down ok but made my stomach feel stretched and full,

like I had the stitch. I continued to move around thoughout the day

and at tea time they brought me soup and very thin rice pudding. I

eat a small amount of the rice pudding I wanted something sweet more

than anything else. I had also been drinking hot water througout the

day. I find it helps settle any chest pain. I had visitors in the

afternoon and the evening and went to sit and watch TV in the day

room at 9pm. I came over really funny, light headed, sickly, and very

tearful and new I needed to lie down so I walked back to bed cris

crossing the corridor until I got to my bed I managed to climb in

but felt exhausted, the nurse came and I had more pain killers, some

kind words and went to sleep. My stomach flet full and painful I feel

I had eaten too much, the nurses explained that it could also be

trapped wind. I slept all night the first time since going into

hospital.

Friday morning I felt much better they took the thing out of my hand

and I had a yogurt for breakfast. I took myself off to the bathroom

and had a strip wash and washed my hair over the bath. I went back to

bed for a it of a rest and sleep and at lunch time had a cup of soup.

The doctors said I had done really well and that I should eat what I

feel able to and when. My husband came to pick me up at 1.30pm and I

went home. When I got home i walked round every room and then went to

see my mum. At 4.30pm ish I went back to bed and slept for a couple

of hours, I had done what i said I wouldn't and tryed to do too much

too soon, thinking everything was fine. After my sleep i sat and

watched tv and had porridge for my evening meal. I had a good nights

sleep waking only once for the bathroom.

Saturday three days after my op I'm sat letting you all know how I'm

getting on, moving slowly and still a little sore, not ready for a

good cough or able to laugh out lound yet but getting there. I don't

see my consultant for another 3 months and have the staples removed

in 10 days. The hospital gave me a sick note for a week off work but

adviced me to see mu GP next week for another one.

I would like a copy of the diet everyone recommends, I have tried

Anita's link but couldn't get it to work. The hospital left it up to

me but some advice would be helpful.

I still have pain and cannot breath too deeply yet, the pain in my

shoulders was the worst but that seems to have subsided now. I have

six staples two in the belly button area, two just under my breast

bone and one to either side of my belly button, I'm not looking

forward to having those out and cannot understand how people can have

body piecing it's scares me to look at them. The hospital wanted to

keep them exposed but I asked for things to be put over them. makes

me feel sick looking at them.

Any way I'll keep you posted and please let me have a copy of the

diet if anyone has one talk again soon Mel