Our wonderful NHS!

Saturday 18th July, 2020

I am back home. Last Tuesday I arose at 5.30am, adjusted Philomena, my catheter bag, had a glass of water and a mug of tea with only a tiny drop of milk, as prescribed for the day of admission to hospital. I had slept well after my last meal at 8pm. At 6am with bag on leg and one in hand ( no valuables...the NHS warned it would take no responsibility, so no watch, wallet, iPad ), face mask on ( supplied by NHS and one for driver also) I got in to the back seat (again as designated by instructions) of friend's car and opened the window (another requirement).

10 minutes from the hospital I rang the given telephone number of Ward 7 to say I was nearly there. A designated car park, no exit from car, a nurse would collect and escort me. She arrived, took my temperature and then we went to Ward 7 via a specific lift ( used only by those going to and from surgical ward). In the Ward 5 people in turn came with questions, advice, explanations, warnings and forms to be filled in, checked and re checked and signed. By 8.30am I was in hospital gown wheeled on my bed and outside the theatre. There were 5 theatres but only 2 being used that day. 3 anaesthetists, 2 nurses gelled my back and injected me but I was to remain fully conscious during the procedure. I was offered a chance to watch the operation but refused. I was fully awake and so heard the conversations, off and on, of the 9 people involved in the theatre. During the 95 minutes I heard do Tabitha the cat, how to ripen tomatoes, the new registrar of some hospital and various other gems including something to do with 'much blood' and 'this is a big one!' Finally wheeled out in to recovery and hovered over by 2 nurses and various proddings and questions asked. Then 2 nurses from Ward 7 came and wheeled me back. Later the surgeon came and was delighted by it all. So was I even though some pain getting through the anaesthetic and paracetamols.

Ward 7 has a capacity for 36 beds of which on the first night 7 were occupied. The second night only 4 and my bay had only myself in it. The night nurses seemed a little bored at times but we're delighted to make tea or coffee. My 58 hours in the Ward showed me the excellence, professionalism, expertise and kindness and time giving generosity of all the staff from Consultant to cleaner. The food also was good and the hot food was very hot, which I like and marvelled at.

On the Thursday morning my catheter ( a new one implanted after the operation and which I dubbed Euphemia) was removed. The return to natural functions was monitored closely. A scanner, like the one used in pregnancies, was employed to check the levels of urine in my bladder. Was the bladder getting back to normal? If not I would have to stay Thursday night and have another catheter inserted on Friday for two weeks followed by another attempt to remove etc undertaken.

Finally freed at 7pm. Lovely to get back to my own bed and to be away from the noise and bustle of a ward. And no catheter! Recovery is ongoing. At times it is painful but I have been warned etc so not too scared. I am healing. Not always comfortable I am yet on the mend and being careful to rest and obey instructions.

Gratitude and appreciation abound. One suddenly realises how dependent one is on so many others and how often one fails to notice such when one is well. I have a few observations to impart and ponder but they can wait until tomorrow. For now I am just so grateful to so many...thank you to the staff to friends to tax payers to medical researchers, an army of people who have made the TURP possible.