Thought I’d better update this while I can still remember… had my surgery yesterday.
So I arrived at the EPU at 2.30pm as arranged. Saw a nurse who confirmed my blood results, PCR, MRSA test and all the rest of it came back fine, so we were good to go. She also had to check my forms and calculate my BMI. Then a doctor came who was super thorough, probably because she had a student in tow. Explained the procedure in great detail (more than I wanted to hear tbh!) and had me sign consent forms. I had to choose if I wanted to take any remains home or have the hospital cremate them. I very definitely chose hospital. Then it was back to the waiting area.
A lovely nurse came and walked me down to the day surgery ward. Set me up with a bed and a chair, but I stayed in the chair. Lots more forms and health questions, blood pressure check and then I had to get changed into surgical gown and stockings. You can keep your pants on at this point which I was happy about! Dressing gown and slippers over the top (you should 100% take a dressing gown if nothing else, spent almost the whole time in it or under it) and then you just sit and wait. And wait! There was one woman before me, and one after. The one before got taken quite soon after I got there and I hoped I’d be soon after but apparently they had a few emergencies so the theatres were tied up. So I just sat there, for ages. I had a book but I just read my phone really. The worst bit was being so hungry, I’d been nil by mouth for food since 8am and water since 11am. But it was manageable.
Finally about 5.45pm I had to get on the bed and have 2 tablets of misoprostol inserted to soften the cervix, so it’s pants off at this point! I was then told I had to stay laid down and not to move for an hour so they could take effect. So more waiting, just read on my phone the whole time. Then a little before 6.45pm, two nurses came to wheel me down to the theatre. Two anaesthetists were there and talked me through it, put a canula in my hand. Got off the bed and onto the surgical table. Then they put an oxygen mask on me, and injected something, she said a little now, more later. As soon as she did it my vision went strange, I was focusing on the clock opposite me and it was moving really strangely, not unpleasant at all, just weird. That’s the last thing I remember until I woke up.
Came round in recovery room, had a horrible taste in my mouth but they give you water with a straw immediately which helps. The two nurses kept me talking, about anything really, food, holidays etc. I was really shaky from the anaesthetic which always happens to me but it was fine, it wore off fairly quickly, about half an hour maybe. Once they were happy they wheeled me back to the same bed space I’d waited in originally and got me some toast. I wasn’t really hungry but I knew they won’t let you go til you’ve eaten so I had it anyway, and it was fine. Drank more water. They did a few blood pressure checks, I was on the low side but still acceptable. The surgeon came round and said the procedure had gone fine, all sorted but that I’d lost more blood than is usual so they needed to do an extra test. I don’t really know what the test was but it was just a fingerprick test which they then put on a small slide into a handheld machine and my result came back as 109 which they were happy with. Didn’t really understand that bit but it was ok so I didn’t really care!
Then they let me get up and get dressed, I felt totally fine, not shaky at all. Got dressed and walked to the toilet, had a wee and changed pad for a nicer one, had the hospital one I woke up with and they are not great. So def take some nicer ones of your own with you. They were then happy as I’d eaten, drank and peed so they said I could let my partner know to come get me, which I did.
While I was waiting a truly lovely nurse had a chat with me, about the procedure, about feelings after, about looking after yourself and each other, she really was amazing. Gave me all my paperwork and some leaflets. Then my partner turned up and off we went home! It was about 9.15pm when I left.
Last night I had some cramps but no worse than a period. Bleeding has slowed right down already. I slept really well, thank you general anaesthetic! I’ve had no painkillers at all so far today and still feeling ok, just like I’m having a period really. I could take paracetamol and or ibuprofen and I expect I will later but for now I feel good. Just going to lay about watching crap telly today. But I wanted to get this down while I still remembered!
Should add I don’t have to go back at all, unless I get any adverse symptoms or if a pregnancy test is still positive in 3 weeks time. They said I can expect my first period in 4-6 weeks, and after that it’s totally fine if we want to try again.
Please don’t be too anxious about it, obviously it’s far from ideal but all the doctors and nurses were incredible, so nice and a few hours later you’re at home feeling super relieved that that stage is done. Good luck @RainbowLiverpool and I hope they get you booked in soon, if you haven’t been given a date yet 💛