lalala – who said life had to be boring?
Here’s the story of my new year so far (mostly written at the time – yes, I took my laptop into hospital):
Wed 3rd Jan, 2007 Well, I was supposed to come to the fracture clinic for a checkup, maybe an x-ray, then a full cast fitted. Here’s a pic of my foot/ankle at that time:
What actually happened was I had a new full cast fitted with the doctor manipulating my ankle while I was sucking in gas and air to kill the pain (doesn’t work completely)…this done, it was off to x-ray to see how it had worked.
Back to the doctor who gave me the bad news – the manipulation hadn’t aligned the bones correctly so he wanted to admit me so I could keep the leg elevated to take down the swelling allowing him to operate and insert a small plate and screws. So that was me for the rest of Wednesday – being processed and ‘shown to my bed’ (and I missed lunch).
Thursday was REALLY boring – nothing to do but sit here, alternating between reading, sleeping and having my blood pressure/pulse/temperature taken, waiting for the next round of painkillers/food/drinks and people watching.
Friday was kinda exciting – I was allowed an early light breakfast (small bowl of rice krispies at 6.45) because I was on the waiting list for surgery…the day dragged – I was starving hungry, I swear I started hallucinating this immense succulent chicken burger floating above my bed. Anyway, at 4.30, I was given the good and bad news: good news, I could eat. Bad news, I wasn’t gonna get into theatre until tomorrow.
So here I sit at 10.30 – from midnight I can’t eat or drink anything, but I DO get a morphine drip when I come round from the anaesthetic…
So…Saturday…there I was – all washed and ready for theatre at 6.30…waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Finally got into theatre at 3.15 and had the weirdest experience of my life.
I’ve never had a general anaesthetic before so I wasn’t too sure what to expect. The anaesthetist told me to count backwards etc., then, as we were about to go through the doors into the theatre, she said “The next thing you know, you’ll be waking up in recovery.”
That was it – I was out. So the exact next thing I know, I’m coming through some swing doors into recovery – just like that ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ program (tonight Matthew, I’m going to be…slightly woozy) – it really freaked me out. Anyway, 7mg of morphine and I was ready to go back to the ward – got their for 6.00 and straight away ate my evening meal.
Spent Sunday completely resting with my leg up, got my lightweight full cast this morning, had an x-ray and was promptly discharged (but not before I’d had my dinner).
When they took off the cast which was put on following surgery – I saw the cut – it must be 8″ long and has 20 or so staples across it (didn’t have the chance to get a pic of it – I’ll try when they take ’em out) – they come out in 2 weeks time.
I can’t wait to spend the night in my own bed…
